Greek word · G2562

καλάμη

kalamē

straw/stubble

The stalk of a grain plant; the stubble left standing after harvest; straw.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

καλάμη, -ης, ἡ

(cf. κάλαμος), [in LXX chiefly for קַשׁ, Exodus 5:12, Isaiah 5:24, al. ;]

a stalk of corn, stubble: 1 Corinthians 3:12.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 Corinthians 3:12

Range of meaning

The stalk of a grain plant; the stubble left standing after harvest; straw.

Against the English

KJV's 'stubble' is the more exact rendering of the field picture and links to the KJV wording of Malachi 4:1. 'Straw' (BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV) is also fine and fits the building picture.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exod 5:12 (Greek): the Israelites gather stubble to use as straw for bricks, a well-known use in building. The prophets use the word for what fire consumes on God's day of judgment: Isa 5:24; Joel 2:5; Obad 18; and especially Mal 4:1 (3:19 in the Greek numbering), where evildoers become stubble and 'the coming day will set them ablaze'.

Where it appears

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:12 καλάμην, straw,

    If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,

    Here: The dry stalks left after grain is harvested. It is the cheapest and most flammable item, which makes it the low point of the list, and it is the word the prophets use for what the fire of God's day burns up (Mal 4:1; Isa 5:24).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.