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SEORAH - BARLEY
14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.”
15 He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he[a] went back to town.
Ruth 3: 14-15 (NIV)
(1)
INTRODUCTION
Six measures of barley Boaz measured. He could not let Ruth return home empty-handed. There was Naomi to think of. He measured them into her shawl. “This should be enough for now,” he thought. Sure enough, it kept both Ruth and Naomi well fed for several weeks until all necessary was finalized. He would make sure they had all they needed.
At the beginning of the barley harvest, Ruth and Naomi traveled to Bethlehem. In the circumstances of uncertainty, they found God’s amazing grace. He provided for them beyond what they could have imagined. The Hebrew word for barley is seorah.
THE HEBREW WORD SEORAH
The Hebrew word seorah primarily describes barley; the plural form seorim more specifically denotes barley grain. The word Seorim can also denote an Israelite priest in the order of Aaron during the reign of King David in the 10th century BCE. The word has the same origins as the word sear, meaning hair. (2)
BARLEY - AN ANCIENT STAPLE
Barley is one of the seven characteristic products of the land of Israel. This primary grain is one of the earliest cultivated grains and has been a household staple since antiquity. It was often grown alongside wheat and typically sown in the autumn, then harvested in the spring during the festival of firstfruits. It was, and still is, used to make bread, porridge, and even beer.
THE HEBREW MEANING OF THE WORD BARLEY
In ancient times, barley was also used to feed animals and therefore represents strength and hard work. In general, a person's livelihood in ancient times depended on livestock. (4)
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF BARLEY
Usually, spiritually, barley symbolizes abundance and provision (ex. 2 Kings 7:1), but has at times been used to denote scarcity and economic distress (Revelation 6:6). It also played a key role in religious practices. (3)
Grain spiritually represents the good of truth. Barley signifies the good of the exterior natural, while wheat, on the other hand, signifies the good of the interior natural. (5)
THE GROOMSMEN
In the book of Revelation, the groomsmen represent the barley harvest. They are the most faithful and reliable disciples of Yeshua. Per some Christian views, Yeshua will come first for His groomsmen at a future Festival of firstfruits. Together they will prepare everything for the Bride, which will be snatched away at a future Shavuot, during the wheat harvest.
CONCLUSION
Barley. This member of the grass family has been a major cereal grain and household staple in temperate climates globally since antiquity. The Hebrew word for barley is seorah. It is one of the seven characteristic products of the land of Israel. From it, people, especially among the poor, made bread, porridge, and beer. They also used it as animals’ food. Hence, it represents strength and hard work. Barley spiritually symbolizes abundance and provision (ex. 2 Kings 7:1), but has at times been used to denote scarcity and economic distress (Revelation 6:6). In the book of Revelation, the groomsmen of Yeshua Messiah represent the barley harvest. They are the most faithful and reliable disciples of Yeshua. They will be snatched away at a future Festival of Firstfruits.
Application
Dear Abba, lead and guide your most faithful ones. Keep us safe, and provide for us our portion of barley today.
SOURCES
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Bible Hub. Seorah. Available at https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8184.htm
Bible Hub. Barley. Available at https://biblehub.com/topical/b/barley.htm
Hebrew Versity. Revealing the Hebrew Meanings of the Seven Species of the Land of Israel. Available at https://www.hebrewversity.com/revealing-hebrew-meanings-seven-species-land-israel/
E. Swedenborg. Spiritual meaning of Barley. Available at https://www.biblemeanings.info/Words/Plant/Barley.htm
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