Hay

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

חציר . In the two places where this word occurs,  Proverbs 27:25 , and Isaiah 15:16, our translators have very improperly rendered it "hay." But in those countries they made no hay; and if they did, it appears from inspection that hay could hardly be the meaning of the word in either of those texts. The author of "Fragments," in continuation of Calmet, has the following remarks: "There is a gross impropriety in our version of  Proverbs 27:25 : ‘The hay appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered.' Now, certainly, if the tender grass is but just beginning to show itself, the hay, which is grass cut and dried after it has arrived at maturity, ought by no means to be associated with it, still less ought it to be placed before it. And this leads me to observe, that none of the dictionaries which I have seen seem to me to give the accurate import of the word, which, I apprehend, means the first shoots, the rising, budding, spires of grass. So, in the present passage, נלה ח ציר , ‘the tender shoots of the grass rise up; and the buddings of grass,' grass in its early state, as is the peculiar import of רשא , ‘appear; and the tufts of grass,' proceeding from the same root, ‘collect themselves together, and, by their union, begin to clothe the mountain tops with a pleasing verdure.'" Surely, the beautiful progress of vegetation, as described in this passage, must appear too poetical to be lost; but what must it be to an eastern beholder! to one who had lately witnessed all surrounding sterility, a grassless waste!

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Hay. (Hebrew, chatsir ). The rendering of the Authorized Version in  Proverbs 27:25 and  Isaiah 15:6, of the Hebrew term, which occurs frequently in the Old Testament, and denotes "Grass" of any kind. It is quite probable that the modern Orientals do not make hay in our sense of the term; but it is certain that the ancients did mow their grass, and probably made use of the dry material. See  Psalms 37:2.

We may remark that there is an express Hebrew term for "Dry Grass" or "Hay", namely, chashash , which, in the only two places where the word occurs,  Isaiah 5:24;  Isaiah 33:11, is rendered "chaff," in the Authorized Version.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

The Hebrew has no word for it, Chatsir ( Proverbs 27:25;  Isaiah 15:6) expressing grass as well as hay. For in the hot East the grass becomes hay as it stands; compare  Matthew 6:30. It was cut as it was used, and not stacked ( Psalms 37:2;  Psalms 72:6;  Psalms 129:7).  Amos 7:1, "the latter growth," is that which springs up after mowing. Chashash ( Isaiah 5:24) is not "chaff," but the withered grass. In  Isaiah 15:6;  Proverbs 27:2, translated "the hay grass."

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Isaiah 15:6 (c) This is symbolical of the desolation in the lives of those who are disobedient to GOD, and to His Word.

 1 Corinthians 3:12 (a) Here is a type which represents the worthless character of many religious works done in the name of the Lord as religious enterprises. Many of these activities in the name of Christianity will not stand the test of GOD's judgment, but will be destroyed in the day when GOD judges the secrets of men by Jesus Christ

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) Grass cut and cured for fodder.

(2): ( v. i.) To lay snares for rabbits.

(3): ( n.) A hedge.

(4): ( n.) A net set around the haunt of an animal, especially of a rabbit.

(5): ( v. i.) To cut and cure grass for hay.

King James Dictionary

HAY, n. Grass cut and dried for fodder grass prepared for preservation.

Make hay while the sun shines.

To dance the hay, to dance in a ring.

HAY, To dry or cure grass for preservation.

HAY, n. A hedge.

1. A net which incloses the haunt of an animal.

HAY, To lay snares for rabbits.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In  Proverbs 27:25;  Isaiah 15:6 , denotes the first shoots of grass. The Jews did not prepare and store up hay for winter use, as is customary in cold climates.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Proverbs 27:25  Isaiah 15:6

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

HAY . See Grass.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( חָצַיר , Chatsir', Grass,  Job 8:12;  Job 40:15;  Psalms 104:14; Leeks,-  Numbers 11:15; also a Court-Yard,  Isaiah 34:13;  Isaiah 35:7; Greek Χόρτος , fodder, i.e. Grass or herbage,  Matthew 6:30, etc., or growing Grain,  Matthew 13:26, etc.). We are not to suppose that this word, as used in the, Bible, denotes dried grass, as it does with us. The management of grass by the Hebrews, as food for cattle, was entirely different from ours. Indeed, hay was not in use, straw being used as provender. The grass was cut green, as it was wanted; and the phrase mown-grass ( Psalms 72:6) would be more properly rendered grass that has just been fed off: So in  Proverbs 27:25, the word translated Hay means the first shoots of the grass; and the whole passage might better be rendered, "The grass appeareth, and the green herb showeth itself, and the plants of the mountains are gathered." In  Isaiah 15:6, Hay is put for Grass. In summer, when the plains are parched with drought, and every green herb is dried up, the nomads proceed northwards, or into the mountains, or to the banks of rivers; and in winter and spring, when the rains have re-clothed the plains with verdure, and filled the water-courses, they return. (See Grass); (See Leek); (See Fuel); (See Mowing).