Leeks
Smith's Bible Dictionary [1]
Leeks. (Hebrew, chatsir ). The leek was a bulbous vegetable resembling the onion. Its botanical name is Allium porrum . The Israelites in the wilderness longed for the leeks and onions of Egypt. Numbers 11:5. The word chatsir , which in Numbers 11:5 is translated Leeks , occurs twenty times in the Hebrew text.
The Hebrew term, which properly denotes Grass , is derived from a root signifying "To Be Green", and may therefore stand in this passage for any green food - lettuce, endive, etc.; it would thus be applied somewhat in the same manner as we use the term "greens;" yet as the chatsir is mentioned together with onions and garlic in the text, and, as the most ancient versions unanimously understand Leeks by the Hebrew word, we may be satisfied with our own translation.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary [2]
Chazir , literally, grass. The leek is green, and grasslike in its form of leaf. The Allium Porrum , the Welshman's national emblem, worn on David's day. The poor in Egypt eat them raw with bread, and as sauce to roast meat. So Numbers 11:5, "we remember the leek," etc. Hengstenberg suggests that clover-like grass is meant, which the poor much relish, under the name Halbeh , scientifically Τrigonella Foenum Graecum . But Septuagint and the Egyptian usage favor KJV.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [3]
LEEKS , The Heb. word châtsîr , which is elsewhere tr. [Note: translate or translation.] ‘grass’ or ‘herb,’ is rendered ‘leeks’ in Numbers 11:5 , and in this passage, owing to the association with onions and garlic, the tr. [Note: translate or translation.] is probably correct, leeks being the herb par excellence . The leek ( Allium porrum ) is much grown in Palestine, where it is a general favourite.
E. W. G. Masterman.
Morrish Bible Dictionary [4]
chatsir. The Hebrew word seems to refer to what is 'green,' and is often translated 'grass;' twice it is rendered 'hay ' and once 'herb,' but the leek is very likely referred to in Numbers 11:5 . The Israelites longed for such as they had eaten in Egypt. The Allium porrum has long been a favourite in the East. Dr. Kitto preferred the Trigonella foerum graecum, a grass similar to clover.
Holman Bible Dictionary [5]
Allium porrum Tragonella foenumgraecum Numbers 11:5
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [6]
lēks ( חציר , ḥācı̄r ; τὰ πράσα , tá prása ): This word, elsewhere translated "grass," is in Numbers 11:5 rendered "leeks" in all the ancient Vss , on account of its association with garlic and onions; such a use of the word occurs in the Talmud The leek ( Allium porrum ) is much grown today in Palestine, while in ancient Egypt this vegetable was renowned.
