Corn

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

CORN. —In Authorized Version of the Gospels ‘corn’ is used to translate four distinct words in the original:

(1) σπόριμα: ‘Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn ’ ( Matthew 12:1). Here ‘corn’ should be ‘cornfields,’ the rendering of Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 in this verse, and of both Authorized Version and Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 in the parallel passages in Mk. ( Mark 2:23) and Lk. ( Luke 6:1). σπόριμα properly means seed land (σπείρω), and in classical Greek is not found in its NT sense of ‘cornfields.’

(2) σῖτος, in  Mark 4:28, where a contrast is drawn between the different stages in the growth of the cornstalk—‘first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.’ In LXX Septuagint, as in classical Greek, σῖτος is a generic word for cereals, but refers especially to wheat as the staple grain food. Corresponding to this, we find that elsewhere in the NT, both in Authorized Version and Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885, the word is always translated ‘wheat’ ( Matthew 3:12;  Matthew 13:25;  Matthew 13:29-30,  Luke 3:17;  Luke 16:7;  Luke 22:31,  John 12:24).

(3) στάχυς = ‘an ear of corn ’ ( Matthew 12:1 ||  Mark 4:28). So in LXX Septuagint as an equivalent for שִׁבּל֥ח in  Genesis 41:5 etc.

(4) κόκκος = a single grain or ‘corn.’ It is rendered ‘corn’ only in  John 12:24 (Authorized Version): ‘Except a corn of wheat [ὁ κόκκος τοῦ σίτου] fall into the ground and die …’ (cf. the use of the words ‘peppercorn,’ ‘barleycorn’). Elsewhere in Authorized Version ( Matthew 13:31 || 17:20 ||), as always in Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885, it is rendered ‘a grain.’

‘Corn’ is thus used in Authorized Version in four distinguishable senses—as applying to a cornfield, to a ripe cornstalk, to an ear of wheat, and to a single grain. And it is noteworthy in each case how intimately the Gospel references to corn are associated with our Lord’s revelation of the mysteries of the Kingdom and the truth regarding His own person and saving work. The parable of the Blade, the Ear, and the Full Corn was used to unfold the law of growth in the Kingdom of God. The incident of the plucking of the ears of corn in the cornfields on the Sabbath day served as the occasion for a notable declaration regarding both the dignity of the Son of Man and the graciousness of Him who loves mercy more than sacrifice. The death and fruitful resurrection of the grain of wheat became the prophecy and type of Christ’s Passion and consequent power to draw all men unto Himself. And these lessons from the corn in the records of the Lord’s ministry may be greatly extended as we recall what He said about the sowing of the corn (parable of the Sower) and its reaping (the Tares and the Wheat); how He saw in the white fields a vision of a great spiritual harvest only waiting to be gathered ( John 4:35); how at Capernaum He turned the people’s minds from the barley bread of the previous day’s miracle to think of Himself as the Bread of Life (John 6); and said of the broken loaf at the Last Supper, ‘Take, eat, this is my body.’

For further information the reader is referred to Agriculture, Barley, Sowing, etc.

Literature.—Candolle, Origine des Plantes Cultivées  ; Löw, Aramaische Pflanzennamen  ; Tristram, Natural History of the Bible  ; see also Bruder’s Concord. NT Graeci  ; Grimm-Thayer’s Lex. s.vv.

J. C. Lambert.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In the Bible, is the general word for grain of all kinds, including various seeds, peas, and beans. It never means, as in America, simply maize, or Indian corn. Palestine was anciently very fertile in grain, which furnished in a great measure the support of the inhabitants. "Corn, wine, and oil-olive" were the staple products, and wheat and barley still grow there luxuriantly, when cultivated. Wheat was often eaten in the field, the ripe ear being simply rubbed in the hands to separate the kernels,  Deuteronomy 23:25   Matthew 12:1 . Parched wheat was a part of the ordinary food of the Israelites, as it still is of the Arabs,  Ruth 2:14   2 Samuel 17:28,29; by the feet of cattle,  Deuteronomy 25:4; or by "a sharp threshing instrument having teeth,"  Isaiah 41:15 , which was something resembling a cart, drawn over the corn by means of horses or oxen. See Threshing .

When the grain was threshed, it was separated from the chaff and dust by throwing it forward across the wind, by means of a winnowing fan, or shovel,  Matthew 3:12; after which the grain was sifted, to separate all impurities from it,  Amos 9:9   Luke 22:31 . Hence we see that the threshing-floors were in the open air, and if possible on high ground, as travellers still find them in actual use,  Judges 6:11   2 Samuel 24:18 . The grain thus obtained was sometimes pounded in a mortar,  Numbers 11:8   Revelation 18:22 , but was commonly reduced to meal by the hand-mill. This consisted of a lower millstone, the upper side of which was slightly concave, and an upper millstone, the lower surface of which was convex. These stones were each about two feet in diameter, and half a foot thick; and were called "the nether millstone," and the rider,  Job 41:24   Judges 9:53   2 Samuel 11:21 . The hole for receiving the corn was in the center of the upper millstone; and in the operation of grinding, the lower was fixed, and the upper made to move round upon it with considerable velocity by means of a handle. The meal came out at the edges, and was received on a cloth spread under the mill on the ground. Each family possessed a mill, and the law forbade its being taken in pledge,  Deuteronomy 24:6; one among innumerable examples of the humanity of the Mosaic legislation. These mills are still in use in the East, and in some parts of Scotland. Dr. E.D. Clarke says, "In the island of Cyprus I observed upon the ground the sort of stones used for grinding corn, called querns in Scotland, common also in Lapland, and in all parts of Palestine." These are the primeval mills of the world; and they are still found in all corn countries where rude and ancient customs have not been liable to those changes introduced by refinement. The employment of grinding with these mills is confined solely to females, who sit on the ground with the mill before them, and thus may be said to be "behind the mill,"  Exodus 11:5; and the practice illustrates the prophetic observation of our Savior concerning the day of Jerusalem's destruction: "Two women shall be grinding at the mill; one shall be taken and the other left,"  Matthew 24:41 . To this feminine occupation Samson was degraded,  Judges 16:21 . The women always accompany the grating noise of the stones with their voices; and when ten or a dozen are thus employed, the fury of the song rises to a high pitch. As the grinding was usually performed in the morning at daybreak, the noise of the females at the hand-mill was heard all over the city, and often awoke their more indolent masters. The Scriptures mention the want of this noise as a mark of desolation,  Jeremiah 25:10   Revelation 18:22 .

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Job 24:24 (b) This is a picture of the fruitless and useless life of the wicked whose plans are frustrated by GOD.

 Psalm 4:7 (b) This type indicates the temporal prosperity of the people of this earth. They are happy when their crops increase. David was more happy than they with just the presence of GOD in his life.

 Psalm 65:13 (c) This may be taken to indicate GOD's great blessing upon His people and His loving care for them.

 Psalm 72:16 (b) Probably this represents the great blessing that shall come upon Israel and which will radiate out to the nations of the earth when GOD restores His people to be the head of the nations. Christ is the principal grain. It may be that this blessing refers also to the Word of GOD.

 Proverbs 11:26 (c) This is a type of the blessed ministry of the Word of GOD, its promises, its assurances, and its Gospel messages, all of which are for the rich blessing of men. Those who fail to distribute the precious things from the Scripture are compared to persons who withhold corn when the people are hungry.

 Isaiah 36:17 (b) This type is used by the King of Assyria to assure Israel that they would be contented in his land of Babylon even though they were strangers.

 Hosea 2:22 (b) The figure here describes the blessing that will come to Palestine when Israel is fully restored as a nation.

 Hosea 14:7 (a) As the grain comes up freshly in the spring, so Israel will, again grow as a thriving nation.

 Amos 9:9 (a) This is a prophecy concerning the scattering of Israel among the nations. He will not overlook a single grain.

 John 12:24 (a) This is plainly a type of the Lord Jesus who had life in Himself and who, when buried, could not be kept down but rose the third day. It is a type also of the believer who has GOD's eternal life in him. The Holy Spirit is the gardener who takes the grain of earth, the Christian, plants him in His harvest field where He wants him to be, and places him where he will produce the best crop. (See  Matthew 13:38).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 27:28,37 Numbers 18:27 Deuteronomy 28:51 Lamentations 2:12 John 12:24

In  Genesis 41:35,49 ,  Proverbs 11:26 ,  Joel 2:24 ("wheat"), the word thus translated (bar; i.e., "winnowed") means corn purified from chaff. With this corresponds the use of the word in the New Testament (  Matthew 3:12;  Luke 3:17;  Acts 7:12 ). In  Psalm 65:13 it means "growing corn."

In   Genesis 42:1,2,19 ,  Joshua 9:14 ,  Nehemiah 10:31 ("victuals"), the word (sheber; i.e., "broken," i.e., grist) denotes generally victuals, provisions, and corn as a principal article of food.

From the time of Solomon, corn began to be exported from Palestine (  Ezekiel 27:17;  Amos 8:5 ). "Plenty of corn" was a part of Issac's blessing conferred upon Jacob ( Genesis 27:28; Compare  Psalm 65:13 ).

King James Dictionary

CORN, n. G., L. See Grain.

1. A single seed of certain plants, as wheat, rye, barley and maiz a grain. In this sense, it has a plural as, three barley corns make an inch. It is generally applied to edible seeds, which, when ripe, are hard. 2. The seeds of certain plants in general, in bulk or quantity as, corn is dear or scarce. In this sense, the word comprehends all the kinds of grain which constitute the food of men and horses. In Great Britain, corn is generally applied to wheat, rye, oats and barley. In the United States, it has the same general sense, but by custom, it is appropriated to maiz. We are accustomed to say, the crop of wheat is good, but the corn is bad it is a good year for wheat and rye, but bad for corn. In this sense, corn has no plural. 3. The plants which produce corn, when growing in the field the stalks and ears, or the stalks, ears and seeds, after reaping and before thrashing. We say, a field of corn, a sheaf or a shock of corn, a load of corn. The plants or stalks are included in the terms corn, until the seed is separated from the ears. 4. In surgery, a hard excrescence, or induration of the skin, on the toes or some part of the feet, occasioned by the pressure of the shoes so called from its hardness and resemblance to a corn. 5. A small hard particle. See Grain.

CORN,

1. To preserve and season with salt in grains to sprinkle with salt as, to corn beef. 2. To granulate to form into small grains.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Wheat, barley, spelt (as the Hebrew for "rye,"  Exodus 9:32, ought to be translated, for it was the common food of the Egyptians, called Doora , as the monuments testify; also in  Ezekiel 4:9 for "fitches" translated "spelt".) "Principal wheat," i.e. prime, excellent ( Isaiah 28:25). "Seven ears on one stalk" ( Genesis 41:22) is common still in Egypt. The sheaves in harvest used to be decorated with the lilies of the field, which illustrates  Song of Solomon 7:2. "Plenty of grain" was part of Jacob's blessing ( Genesis 27:28).

From Solomon's time the Holy Land exported grain to Tyre ( Ezekiel 27:17). See  Amos 8:5. It is possible Indian grain or maize was known and used in Palestine as it was at Thebes in Egypt, where grains and leaves of it have been found under mummies. The wheat root will send up many stalks, but never more than one ear upon one stalk. But seven full ears upon one maize grain stalk have often been found. Maize grain in the milky state roasted is delicious: this, if meant in  Leviticus 2:14, would give zest to the offering.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (v. t.) To render intoxicated; as, ale strong enough to corn one.

(2): (n.) A single seed of certain plants, as wheat, rye, barley, and maize; a grain.

(3): (n.) A thickening of the epidermis at some point, esp. on the toes, by friction or pressure. It is usually painful and troublesome.

(4): (n.) The plants which produce corn, when growing in the field; the stalks and ears, or the stalks, ears, and seeds, after reaping and before thrashing.

(5): (n.) A small, hard particle; a grain.

(6): (n.) The various farinaceous grains of the cereal grasses used for food, as wheat, rye, barley, maize, oats.

(7): (v. t.) To preserve and season with salt in grains; to sprinkle with salt; to cure by salting; now, specifically, to salt slightly in brine or otherwise; as, to corn beef; to corn a tongue.

(8): (v. t.) To form into small grains; to granulate; as, to corn gunpowder.

(9): (v. t.) To feed with corn or (in Sctland) oats; as, to corn horses.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Corn. The most common kinds were wheat, barley, spelt, Authorized Version,  Exodus 9:32 and  Isaiah 28:25, "rye;"  Ezekiel 4:9, "fitches" and millet; oats are mentioned only by rabbinical writers. Our Indian corn was unknown in Bible times. Corn-crops are still reckoned at twentyfold what was sown, and were, anciently, much more.  Genesis 41:22.

The Jewish law permitted any one in passing through a field of standing corn to pluck and eat.  Deuteronomy 23:25. See also  Matthew 12:1. From Solomon's time,  2 Chronicles 2:10;  2 Chronicles 2:15, as agriculture became developed, under a settled government, Palestine was a corn-exporting country, and her grain was largely taken by her commercial neighbor, Tyre.  Ezekiel 27:17. Compare  Amos 8:5.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Corn. A general name for grain. The most common kinds were wheat, barley, spelt, R. V.,  Exodus 9:32 and  Isaiah 28:25, "rye;"  Ezekiel 4:9, "fitches" and millet; oats are mentioned only, by rabbinical writers. Our Indian corn was unknown in Bible times. The Jewish law permitted any one in passing through a field of standing corn to pluck and eat.  Deuteronomy 23:25; see also  Matthew 12:1. From Solomon's time,  2 Chronicles 2:10;  2 Chronicles 2:15, as agriculture became developed under a settled government, Palestine was a corn-exporting country, and her grain was largely taken by her commercial neighbor Tyre.  Ezekiel 27:17; comp.  Amos 8:5.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Various Hebrew words are translated 'corn,' and usually signify any kind of grain. The 'Old Corn Of The LAND'was what the Israelites began to eat after crossing the Jordan, when the manna ceased.  Joshua 5:11,12 ). It typifies a heavenly Christ, on whom those feed who have spiritually passed through Jordan — who are experimentally dead and risen with Christ. The manna is rather heavenly grace for wilderness circumstances. In the N.T. Christ speaks of Himself as a 'Corn Of WHEAT,'which had to die or it would abide alone: there could be no association in life with Christ except through death and resurrection.  John 12:24 .

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

The corn of wheat is worthy notice in our Concordance, because Jesus is beautifully represented, and by himself, under this figure. ( John 12:24) When the Son of God became incarnate, like a pure grain of corn, yea, and of the finest kind, he fell into the ground. And what an abundant harvest of redeemed souls hath he since produced to the glory of the Almighty Husbandman, his father! ( John 15:1)

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

CORN . This term may be taken to include (1) Barley, (2) Wheat, (3) Fitches, (4) Lentils, (5) Beans, (6) Millet, (7) Rye, wrong translation for ‘Vetches,’ (8) Pulse for most of which see separate articles. Rye and oats are not cultivated in Palestine.

E. W. G. Masterman.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

There are several words thus translated in the English version of the Scriptures, in which it is used in the proper sense of grain of any kind, and never in the American application of maize or "Indian corn" (Zea mays of Linn.), which it is generally thought was anciently unknown. In 1817, Parmentier (Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Hist. Naturelle, vol. 18), founding on the silence of Varro, Columella, Pliny, and the other agricultural and botanical writers of classical antiquity, concluded that maize was unknown till the discovery of America; and in 1834 Meyer asserted that "nothing in botanical geography is more certain than the New-World derivation of maize" (quoted by Duchartre in Orbigny's Dict. d'Hist. Natur.). But since then, in the magnificent monograph (Hist. Naturelle du Mais, 1836), M'. Bonafous, the director of the Royal Garden of Agriculture at Turin, has shown that it is figured in a Chinese botanical work as old as the middle of the sixteenth century — a time when the discoveries of Columbus could scarcely have penetrated to the Celestial Empire; and; what is more conclusive, in 1819 M. Rifaud discovered under the head of a mummy at Thebes not only grains, but leaves of Indian corn. Nor is it at all impossible that the Ζειά of Homer and Theophrastus may include the plant in question. The wide diffusion of this corn through the Indian archipelago, and on the Indian continent itself, is in favor of the hypothesis which claims it as a native of the Old World; and if it was known to the Egyptians, nothing could be more natural than its early introduction into Palestine. (See Cereals).

1. The word דָּגָן , Dagan (from its increase), which is rendered grain," "corn," and sometimes "wheat" in the Auth. Vers., is the most general of the Hebrew terms representing "corn," and is more comprehensive than any word in our language, seeing that it probably includes not only all the proper cereals, but also various kinds of pulse and seeds of plants, which we never comprehend under the name of "corn," or even of "grain." It may therefore be taken to represent all the commodities which we describe by the different words corn, grain, seeds, pease, beans. Among other places in which this word occurs, see  Genesis 27:28-37;  Numbers 18:27;  Deuteronomy 28:51;  Lamentations 2:12,. etc. (See Grain).

2. There is another word, בִּר Bar (i e. Winnowed ), which denotes any kind of cleansed corn, that is, corn purified from the chaff and fit for use ( Genesis 41:35-49;  Proverbs 11:26;  Jeremiah 4:11;  Joel 2:24). The same word is more rarely used to describe corn in a growing state ( Psalms 65:13). It elsewhere signifies the open "fields" or country. (See Land).

3. The word שֶׁבֶר , She'Ber (Broken , i.e. grist), which is sometimes rendered corn, denotes in a general sense "provisions" or "victuals," and by consequence "corn," as the principal article in all provisions ( Genesis 42:1-2;  Genesis 42:20;  Exodus 8:5;  Nehemiah 10:32, etc.). (See Victuals).

4. The Greek Σῖτος corresponds to the first two of the above Hebrew words, for which it often stands in the Sept. ( Matthew 3:12;  Luke 3:17;  John 12:24;  Acts 7:12, etc.). (See Ear) ( Of Corn ).

The other words occasionally translated "corn" in the Bible are בְּלַיל , belil' ( Job 24:6), "provender" ( Isaiah 30:24) or "fodder" ( Job 6:5); גֹּרֶן , go'ren ( Deuteronomy 16:13), elsewhere "threshing-floor;" קָמָה , Kamah ( Deuteronomy 16:9;  Isaiah 17:5), "standing corn," as often elsewhere; Κόκκος ( John 12:24), a "grain" of any kind, as elsewhere; and Σπόριμα ( Matthew 12:1), a "corn-field," as elsewhere; besides kindred or different tarins rendered "beaten corn," "standing corn," "cars of corn," "heap of corn," "corn ground," etc. A single ear is שַׁבֹּלֶת , Shibboleth ; "pounded wheat,'" רַיפוֹת , Riphoth ( 2 Samuel 17:19;  Proverbs 27:22). The most coninmon kinds of corn were wheat, חַטָּה , chittah'; barley, שְׂעֹרָה , Seorah ; spelt, (A. V.,  Exodus 9:32, and  Isaiah 28:25, ‘ "rye;"  Ezekiel 4:9, ‘ fitches"), כֻּסֶּמֶת , Kusse'Meth (or in plur. form כֻּסְּמַים , Kussemimn ); and millet, דֹּהִן , Do'Chazs : oats are mentioned only by rabbinical writers. The doubtful word שׂוֹרָה , Sorah , rendered "principal," as an epithet of wheat, in the A. V. of  Isaiah 28:25, is probably not distinctive of any species of grain (see Gesenius, s.v.). The different products coming under the denomination of corn are noticed under the usual heads, as Barley, Wheat etc.; their culture under AGRICULTURE; their preparation under (See Bread), (See Food), (See Mill), etc.

"Corn crops are still reckoned at twenty-fold what was sown, and were anciently much more. ‘ Seven ears on one stalk' ( Genesis 41:22) is no unusual phenomenon in Egypt at this day. The many-eared stalk is also common in the wheat of Palestine, and it is of course of the bearded kind. The ‘ heap of wheat set about with lilies' (which probably grew in the field together with it) may allude to a custom of so decorating the sheaves ( Song of Solomon 7:2). Wheat (see  2 Samuel 4:6) was stored in the house for domestic purposes-the ‘ midst of the house' meaning the part more retired than the common chamber where the guests were accommodated. It is at present often kept in a dry well, and perhaps the ‘ ground corn' of  2 Samuel 17:19, was meant to imply that the well was so used. From Solomon's time ( 2 Chronicles 2:10;  2 Chronicles 2:15), i.e. as agriculture became developed under a settled government, Palestine was a corn-exporting country, and her grains were largely taken by her commercial neighbor Tyre ( Ezekiel 27:17; comp.  Amos 8:5). ‘ Plenty of corn' was part of Jacob's blessing ( Genesis 27:28; comp.  Psalms 65:13). The ‘ store-houses' mentioned  2 Chronicles 32:28, as built by Hezekiah, were perhaps in consequence of the havoc made by the Assyrian armies (comp.  2 Kings 19:29); without such protection, the country, in its exhausted state, would have been at the mercy of the desert marauders. Grain crops were liable to יֵרָקוֹן , Yerakon , ‘ mildew' and שַׁדָּפוֹן , Shiddaphon , ‘ blasting' (see  1 Kings 8:37), as well as, of course, to fire by accident or malice ( Exodus 22:6;  Judges 15:5). Some good general remarks will be found in Saalschutz, Archaol. d. Hebr. " (See Husbandry).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kôrn ( דּגן , dāghān  ; σίτος , sı́tos ): A word used for cereals generally ( Genesis 27:28 ,  Genesis 27:37 , etc., the King James Version) much as our English word "corn." the American Standard Revised Version almost invariably substitutes "grain" for "corn." The latter may be taken to include (1) barley, (2) wheat, (3) fitches (vetches), (4) lentils, (5) beans, (6) millet, (7) rye - the wrong translation for vetches, (8) pulse - for all these see separate articles. Rye and oats are not cultivated in Palestine For many references to corn see Agriculture; Food . "A corn κόκκος , kókkos , the Revised Version (British and American) "grain" of wheat" is mentioned ( John 12:24 ).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

The word dagan, which is rendered 'grain,' 'corn,' and sometimes 'wheat' in the Authorized Version, is the most general of the Hebrew terms representing 'corn,' and is more comprehensive than any word in our language, seeing that it probably includes not only all the proper corn-grains, but also various kinds of pulse and seeds of plants, which we never comprehend under the name of 'corn' or even of 'grain.' It may, therefore, be taken to represent all the commodities which we describe by the different words corn, grain, seeds, peas, beans. Among other places in which this word occurs, see;;; , etc.

The different products coming under the denomination of corn, are noticed under the usual heads, as Barley Wheat etc.; their culture, under Agriculture; their preparation, under Bread Food Mill etc.