Cummin, also spelled "cumin," is an aromatic plant mentioned in the Bible, known for its seeds that are used as a spice. It is referenced in both the Old and New Testaments, highlighting its agricultural and symbolic significance in biblical times.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 28:25, 27 : "When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cummin? Does he not plant wheat in rows, barley in plots, and spelt as their border? ... For caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cummin; but caraway is beaten out with a stick, and cummin with a rod."

In this passage, the prophet Isaiah uses cummin as an example of God's wisdom in agriculture. The careful and specific methods of planting and harvesting cummin illustrate the divine order and understanding in creation. The passage emphasizes the importance of following God's guidance in all aspects of life, including agriculture.

2. Matthew 23:23 : "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."

In the New Testament, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their meticulous tithing of spices, including cummin, while neglecting the weightier matters of the law. This rebuke highlights the tendency to focus on minor ritualistic details at the expense of fundamental moral principles. Jesus calls for a balanced approach, where both the letter and the spirit of the law are observed.

Cultural and Historical Context:

Cummin is a small annual plant native to the Mediterranean region and parts of the Middle East. It was cultivated in ancient Israel and surrounding areas for its seeds, which were used as a spice and for medicinal purposes. The seeds have a distinctive flavor and were often used to season food, making them a valuable commodity in biblical times.

The process of harvesting cummin, as described in Isaiah, involved gentle methods to avoid damaging the delicate seeds. This reflects the care and precision required in ancient agricultural practices, as well as the value placed on this spice.

Symbolic Significance:

In biblical symbolism, cummin represents the meticulous observance of religious duties. However, as illustrated in Jesus' teaching, it also serves as a caution against prioritizing minor rituals over the core values of faith. The mention of cummin in the context of tithing underscores the importance of sincerity and integrity in worship and obedience to God.

Overall, cummin in the Bible serves as a reminder of the balance between external religious practices and the internal virtues of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.(Hebrews kammon; i.e., a "condiment"), the fruit or seed of an umbelliferous plant, the Cuminum sativum, still extensively cultivated in the East. Its fruit is mentioned in Isaiah 28:25, 27. In the New Testament it is mentioned in Matthew 23:23, where our Lord pronounces a "woe" on the scribes and Pharisees, who were zealous in paying tithes of "mint and anise and cummin," while they omitted the weightier matters of the law." "It is used as a spice, both bruised, to mix with bread, and also boiled, in the various messes and stews which compose an Oriental banquet." Tristram, Natural History. (n.) Same as Cumin.CUMMIN

kum'-in (kammon; kuminon): The seed of the herb Cuminum cyminum (Natural Order Umbelliferae). It has carminative properties and is used for flavoring various dishes, especially during fasts. In flavor and appearance it resembles caraway, though it is less agreeable to western palates. As an illustration of Yahweh's wisdom it is said (Isaiah 28:25, 27) that cummin is scattered in sowing and beaten out with a rod in threshing. These facts are true in Palestine today. The Jews paid tithes of cummin (Matthew 23:23) (see cut on following page).

2951. kuminon -- cummin
... cummin. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: kuminon Phonetic Spelling:
(koo'-min-on) Short Definition: cumin Definition: cumin, a plant used as a spice ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2951.htm - 6k3646. kammon -- cummin (a plant grown as a condiment)
... 3645, 3646. kammon. 3647 . cummin (a plant grown as a condiment). Transliteration:
kammon Phonetic Spelling: (kam-mone') Short Definition: cummin. ...
/hebrew/3646.htm - 6k

The Husbandman and his Operations
... 25. When lie hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches,
and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the husbandman and his operations.htm

Isaiah's Discourse
... When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and
scatter the cummin, and put in the wheat in rows and the barley in the ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/iv isaiahs discourse.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xi. 39, "Now do Ye Pharisees ...
... Not wheat only, but wine, and oil; nor this only, but even the most trifling things,
cummin, rue, mint, and anise, [3386] in obedience to God's precept, they ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lvi on the words.htm

Good Works
... The Pharisee said he tithed mint, anise, and cummin; could he prove that God commanded
him to tithe his mint, his anise, and his cummin? Perhaps not. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/good works.htm

Jesus' Last Public Discourse. Denunciation of Scribes and ...
... for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters
of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cx jesus last public discourse.htm

Christian Morals. Part I.
... Offer not only peace-offerings but holocausts unto God: where all is due make no
reserve, and cut not a cummin-seed with the Almighty: to serve Him singly to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/christian morals/christian morals part i.htm

Hypocrisy
... broken, than if really wrong and wicked things are done; and like the Pharisees
of old, to be careful in paying tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, the commonest ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxxvii hypocrisy.htm

But Now, what it is Necessary for Me to Say on the Subject of The. ...
... For the Pharisees truly looked to the "tithing of anise and cummin, and left undone
the weightier matters of the law;" [1621] and while devoting great care to ...
/.../the acts of the disputation with the heresiarch manes/21 but now what it.htm

"But if Ye have Bitter Envying and Strife in Your Hearts, Glory ...
... upon ceremonies, and an indifferency upon the very substance itself, truly, I think,
it may be said unto us, you tithe mint, anise, and cummin, and pass over ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon iv but if ye.htm

The Second Part.
... But what in their case hath been done? "Ye tithe mint and cummin, and have forsaken
the weightier matters of the law, mercy, and judgment, straining a gnat ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/the second part 2.htm

Cummin (3 Occurrences)
... in Matthew 23:23, where our Lord pronounces a "woe" on the scribes and Pharisees,
who were zealous in paying tithes of "mint and anise and cummin," while they ...
/c/cummin.htm - 9k

Fitches (3 Occurrences)
... in the Mediterranean countries, and is cultivated in Egypt and Syria for its seed."
It is rendered in margin of the Revised Version "black cummin." The seeds ...
/f/fitches.htm - 9k

Cartwheel (1 Occurrence)
... Isaiah 28:27 For the black cummin is not threshed with a threshing-sledge, neither
is a cart-wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the black cummin is beaten ...
/c/cartwheel.htm - 6k

Caraway (2 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 28:27 For the black cummin is not threshed with a threshing-sledge, neither
is a cart-wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the black cummin is beaten ...
/c/caraway.htm - 7k

Anise (1 Occurrence)
... Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have
left undone the weightier matters of the law," etc. In the ...
/a/anise.htm - 9k

Sledge (3 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 28:27 For the fitches are not threshed with a sharp threshing instrument,
neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are ...
/s/sledge.htm - 7k

Rolled (38 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 28:27 For the fitches are not crushed with a sharp instrument, and a
cart-wheel is not rolled over the cummin; but the grain of the fitches is hammered ...
/r/rolled.htm - 18k

Vetches (1 Occurrence)
... Isaiah 28:25 When he hath made even the face of it, doth he not cast abroad the
vetches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat, and the ...
/v/vetches.htm - 6k

Omitted (2 Occurrences)
... for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters
of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and ...
/o/omitted.htm - 7k

Levelled (5 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 28:25 When he hath levelled the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the
fitches, and scatter the cummin, and put in the wheat in rows, and the barley ...
/l/levelled.htm - 8k

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