Corn

A cereal crop cultivated for food use. An important agricultural crop in biblical times, it is mentioned frequently in Scripture.

The importance of corn

It was a basic foodstuff

Psalm 65:9 See also 2 Kings 4:42–44; Ezekiel 36:24–31; Matthew 12:1–8 parallels Mark 2:23–28, Luke 6:1–5

You attend to the earth and water it; with abundance You enrich it. The streams of God are full of water, for You prepare our grain by providing for the earth.

It was an important cereal crop

Psalm 72:16 See also Judges 15:1–6; Psalm 65:11–13; Isaiah 36:16–17

May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, the people of its cities like the grass of the field.

Harvesting corn

Mark 4:26–29 See also Deuteronomy 16:9–10; Job 24:22–24; Isaiah 17:4–6; Jeremiah 9:22

Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how. All by itself the earth produces a crop— first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within. And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Legislation relating to corn

Deuteronomy 23:25 See also Exodus 22:6

When you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not put a sickle to your neighbor’s grain.

Corn featuring in dreams

Genesis 37:5–8 See also Genesis 41:5–7, Genesis 41:22–32

Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 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 mine.” “Do you intend to reign over us?” his brothers asked. “Will you actually rule us?” So they hated him even more because of his dream and his statements.

The metaphorical use of corn

Hosea 14:5–7 See also Jeremiah 50:11–13

I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. His shoots will sprout, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. They will return and dwell in his shade; they will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.