Original Word: אֲלֻמָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: alummah
Pronunciation: ah-loo-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (al-oom-maw')
Definition: Sheaf
Meaning: something bound, a sheaf

sheaf

Or (masculine) ealum {aw-loom'}; passive participle of 'alam; something bound; a sheaf -- sheaf.

see HEBREW 'alam

Word Origin
from the same as alam
Definition
a sheaf
NASB Translation
sheaf (2), sheaves (3).

[אֲלֻמָּה] noun feminine sheaf, in Joseph's dream Genesis 37:7 (4 t. in verse) (E) followed by suffix אֲלֻמָּתִי, plural אֲלֻמִּים, אֲלֻמֹּתֵיכֶם; also Psalm 126:6 אֲלֻמֹּתָיו (in figurative of ret. from captivity).

Word Origin: Derived from the root אָלַם (alam), meaning "to bind" or "to tie."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of a sheaf in the Greek New Testament is less directly paralleled, but related agricultural terms include:
• Strong's Greek Number 2325 (θερισμός, therismos): Referring to the harvest or the act of reaping.
• Strong's Greek Number 4719 (στάχυς, stachys): Referring to an ear of grain, which is part of the sheaf.

These Greek terms, while not direct equivalents, share thematic connections with the Hebrew concept of אֲלֻמָּה in the broader biblical narrative of harvest and divine provision.

Usage: The term אֲלֻמָּה is used in the context of agriculture, specifically in the gathering and binding of grain stalks into sheaves. It appears in the Hebrew Bible in narratives and imagery related to harvest and dreams.

Context: • Occurrences in Scripture: The word אֲלֻמָּה appears in the Hebrew Bible in Genesis 37:7, where it is used in the context of Joseph's dream: "We were binding sheaves of grain in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf" (BSB). This passage is significant in the narrative of Joseph, as it foreshadows his future rise to power and the eventual subservience of his brothers.
• Cultural and Agricultural Context: In ancient Israel, the process of harvesting grain involved cutting the stalks and binding them into sheaves for easier transport and processing. The sheaf, therefore, symbolizes not only the physical act of gathering but also the provision and sustenance that comes from the harvest.
• Symbolic Meaning: Beyond its literal agricultural meaning, the sheaf can symbolize abundance, blessing, and the fulfillment of God's promises. In Joseph's dream, the sheaf represents his future authority and the divine plan for his life.
• Theological Implications: The imagery of sheaves in the Bible often points to themes of divine providence, the cycles of sowing and reaping, and the ultimate gathering of God's people. The sheaf, as a bound unit, can also symbolize unity and the bringing together of God's purposes.

אֲלֻמִּים֙ אֲלֻמָּתִ֖י אֲלֻמֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם אֲלֻמֹּתָֽיו׃ אלמים אלמתי אלמתיו׃ אלמתיכם לַאֲלֻמָּתִֽי׃ לאלמתי׃ ’ă·lum·mā·ṯî ’ă·lum·mîm ’ă·lum·mō·ṯāw ’ă·lum·mō·ṯê·ḵem ’ălummāṯî ’ălummîm ’ălummōṯāw ’ălummōṯêḵem alummaTi alumMim alummoTav alumMoteiChem la’ălummāṯî la·’ă·lum·mā·ṯî laalummaTiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts