LEEK

7 sources

Biblical and Theological Dictionary by Richard Watson (1831)

הציר , in Num 11:5, translated “leek;” in 1Ki 18:5; 2Ki 19:26; Job 40:15; Psa 37:2; Psa 90:5; Psa 103:15; Psa 104:14; Psa 129:6; Psa 147:8; Isa 35:7; Isa 37:27; Isa 40:6, it is rendered “grass;” in Job 8:12, “herb;” in Pro 27:25; Isa 15:6, “hay;” and in Isa 34:13, “a court.” It is much of the same nature with the onion. The kind called karrat by the Arabians, the allium porrum of Linnaeus, Hasselquist says, must certainly have been one of those desired by the children of Israel, as it has been cultivated and esteemed from the earliest times to the present in Egypt. The inhabitants are very fond of eating it raw, as sauce for their roasted meat; and the poor people eat it raw with their bread, especially for breakfast. There is reason, however, to doubt whether this plant is intended in Num 11:5, and so differently rendered every where else: it should rather intend such vegetables as grow promiscuously with grass. Ludolphus supposes that it may mean lettuce and sallads in general; and Maillet observes, that the succory and endive are eaten with great relish by the people in Egypt: some or all of these may be meant.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary by American Tract Society (1859) ↑

A bulbous vegetable resembling the onion. The Hebrews complained in the wilderness, that manna grew insipid to them; they longed for the leeks and onions of Egypt, Num 11:5 . Hassel-quist says the karrat, or leek, is surely one of those after which the Israelites pined; for is has been cultivated in Egypt from time immemorial. The Hebrew word is usually translated "grass" in the English Bible. Its original meaning is supposed to be greens or grass.\par

People's Dictionary of the Bible by Edwin W. Rice (1893) ↑

Leek. A vegetable similar to the onion, after which the Israelites longed in the wilderness. Num 11:5. The same word is elsewhere rendered "grass," 1Ki 18:5; 2Ki 19:26; Job 40:15; Psa 37:2;" herb," Job 8:12: "hay," Pro 27:25, tea. 15:6. The specific translation "leek" is questionable.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types by Walter L. Wilson (1957) ↑

Num 11:5 (c) The six vegetables mentioned in this passage refer to six kinds of pleasures with which the Egyptians regaled themselves. None of them are stable, none of them are very profitable, all of them have an unhappy odor, none of them are a source of strength for the body. These are used as types of various kinds of pleasures and pursuits offered by the world to those who belong to this world and have never tasted the heavenly manna. The things which the world offer hardly satisfy for more than one day at a time. The game played today does not satisfy the craving for tomorrow. The music played today is not acceptable tomorrow. The show that is seen today has no attraction for tomorrow.

Plants and Animals of the Bible by David Cox (1970) ↑

Leek. A bulbous vegetable resembling the onion which grows 15 centimeters (about six inches) high. The stems and bulbs of leeks were eaten raw and used to flavor foods. Named with garlic and onions, the leek was a food which the Hebrew people ate in Egypt ( Num 11:5).

Aquifer Open Bible Dictionary by Mission Mutual, adapted from the Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary (2023)

A garden herb related to onions and garlic (Numbers 11:5). Leeks (Allium porrum) have long, straight leaves that form a cylindrical bunch. The edible part is the white stem or stalk that grows underground.

The bulb of the leek is different from that of the onion and garlic because it is slender, cylindrical, and more than 15.2 centimeters (six inches) long. The flavor is similar to the onion but stronger. People eat the leaves as a relish or cook them in soups. They cut the bulbs into small pieces and use them as seasoning for meat.

See Onion.

Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS) by United Bible Societies

Reference:”

Hebrew חָצִיר (chatsir)

NUM 11:5

Discussion:

According to Zohary, supported by Moldenke, the Hebrew word chatsir in NUM 11:5 refers to the True Leek Allium porrum, but Hepper argues that it is more likely the Salad Leek Allium kurrat (also known as Egyptian Leek), specimens of which have been found in Egyptian tombs. Moldenke and others hold that chatsir could also have been the Fenugreek Trigonella foenum-graecum, which was also known both in Egypt and in the Holy Land. The word chatsir occurs elsewhere in the Old Testament with the meaning of “grass,” “herb” or “hay,” so it could be a generic word for any edible green plant (see 5.1.2 Grass). However, in the context of “onions” and “garlics,” it is likely to refer to the leek. Zohary suggests that chatsir first referred to a specific plant and became a general word later.

Description:

Leeks have leaves like onions and taste like them, although leek leaves are flat whereas onion leaves are round and hollow. The “bulb” of the leek, if it can be called such, is long (at least 10 centimeters [4 inches]) and slender. They are used fresh in salads and cooked in stews.

Special significance:

In the ancient world the leek was considered the food of the poor. In Numbers leeks are listed with onions and garlic as plants the Israelites longed for when they left Egypt.

Translation:

Leeks are known throughout the world. They are less common in West Africa than onions, but I have seen them for sale in the big cities of Nigeria and in The Gambia. Depending on what is done for the other items in the list in NUM 11:5 (garlic and onions), translators may find three local types of Allium or transliterate the word for garlic from a major language (for example, French poireau, Spanish puerro, Portuguese alho porro). The context is non-rhetorical.