Grains of the Bible

Grain is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. The King James Version translators used the word “corn” instead, with its old English meaning of “grain.”

Types of grain

The Hebrews sowed only wheat, barley, and spelt; rye and oats are not mentioned in Scripture.

Mentions of grain (partial list)

• “…the valleys are covered with grain…” —Psalm 65:13 NASB
• Vast amounts of grain grown in Egypt and stored by Joseph —Genesis 41:47-49
• Grain in Israel: “a land of grain and new wine” —Deuteronomy 33:28 NASB
• Exported to Tyre: “Judah and the land of Israel, they were your traders; with the wheat of Minnith, cakes, honey, oil and balm they paid for your merchandise.” —Ezekiel 27:17 NASB
• Grain used as camouflage: “And the woman took a covering and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered grain on it, so that nothing was known.” —2 Samuel 17:19 NASB
• Grain eaten by the Israelites: “On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land.” —Joshua 5:11-12 NASB
• Shocks of grain burned by Samson —Judges 15:4-5
• Heads of grain were plucked by Christ’s disciples —Matt. 12:1
• Mosiac laws about grain —Exodus 22:6; Deuteronomy 23:25
• Parable of the seed —Mark 4:28

Parched grain (roasted)

• “…he served her roasted grain, and she ate…” —Ruth 2:14 NASB
• “Then Jesse said to David his son, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain…” —1 Samuel 17:17 NASB
• “Abigail hurried and took… five measures of roasted grain…” —1 Sam. 25:18 NASB
• “…brought…wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched seeds…” —2 Samuel 17:28 NASB

Figurative grain

Jesus Christ said,

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. —John 12:24

The Psalms use grain poetically.

May there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains;
May its fruit wave like the cedars of Lebanon;
And may those from the city blossom like vegetation of the earth. —Psalm 72:16

Prophecy in the book of Hosea,

Those who live in his shadow
Will again raise grain,
And they will flourish like the vine.
His name of remembrance will be like the wine of Lebanon. —Hosea 14:7

Symbolic grain

God gave a Pharaoh a dream about grain, and then He provided Joseph with the correct interpretation—a prophecy of future events in Egypt.

He again fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good. —Genesis 41:5

Individual seeds or kernals

Grain, meaning an individual seed or kernal

He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; —Matthew 13:31

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. —John 12:24

For behold, I am commanding,
And I will shake the house of Israel among all nations
As grain is shaken in a sieve,
But not a kernel will fall to the ground. —Amos 9:9

More information

• Agriculture in the Bible
• barley
• barn
• beer—from grains
• bread—made from grain
• chaff—from grain processing
• “Corn”
• strong drink—from grains
• first fruits
• flax
• flour—from grains
• gleaning
• harvest
• linen—from flax
• millet
• “Rye”—in King James Version
• spelt
• straw—from grain grasses
• threshing
• tithes
• wheat
• winnow