Spelt

SPELT.—See Fitches, Rie.

spelt (כּסּמת, kuṣṣemeth; ὄλυρα, ólura, ζέα, zéa (Exo 9:32, the King James Version “rye”; Isa 18:1-7:25, the King James Version “rye,” margin “spelt”; Eze 4:9, the King James Version “fitches” margin “spelt”; the Revised Version (British and American) adopts “spelt,” influenced by the Septuagint, in all passages)): Spelt is the seed of Triticum spelta, a kind of wild wheat. Several writers would identify this kuṣṣemeth with the Arabic kirsenneh (Vicia ervilia), a kind of vetch much used as camels’ fodder.

Spelt. An inferior kind of wheat. Although the bread made from this grain was of a poorer quality than that made from wheat, spelt was preferred over barley by many in the ancient world. The KJV translates this word as rye in ( Exo 9:32) and ( Isa 28:25), and as fitches in ( Eze 4:9). Spelt was sown later than wheat. It thrived in poor soil and under adverse conditions.

A kind of grain like wheat.

Spelt is a hardy member of the wheat family. The "rye" mentioned in Isaiah 28:25 is thought to be spelt. Spelt is also mentioned in Exodus 9:32 and Ezekiel 4:9. It is a hard-grained type of wheat with loose ears and grains that are triangular when cut across. Spelt was the most common form of wheat in ancient times.

This grain has a stronger stem than regular wheat and strong spikes of grain. Bread made from spelt flour is not as good as bread made from wheat flour. However, spelt will grow well in almost any kind of soil and will produce a crop on land that is not suitable for wheat. People that lived a long time ago preferred spelt to barley for making bread.

Aquifer Open Bible Dictionary © 2026 Mission Mutual, an adaptation of the Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.