Bible Dictionary
Rye
“Rye” in older English translations probably refers to spelt, a species of wheat, rather than the rye grain commonly known today.
Definition
“Rye” in older English versions probably refers to spelt, a species of hard, rough-grained wheat, rather than to modern rye. The Hebrew term occurs in passages concerning crops and grain.
Biblical Usage
The term appears in Exodus and Isaiah, where the margins identify it as spelt, and in Ezekiel, where the translations vary between “fitches,” “rie,” and “spelt.”
Historical Background
Spelt is Triticum spelta, a grain differing only slightly from common wheat. It was grown in parts of southern Germany.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
=Rie, (Heb. kussemeth), found in Ex. 9:32; Isa. 28:25, in all of which the margins of the Authorized and of the Revised Versions have “spelt.” This Hebrew word also occurs in Ezek. 4:9, where the Authorized Version has “fitches’ (q.v.) and the Revised Version “spelt.” This, there can be no doubt, was the Triticum spelta, a species of hard, rough-grained wheat.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(Heb. cussemeth) occurs in (Exodus 9:32; Isaiah 28:25) in the latter the margin reads “spelt.” In (Ezekiel 4:9) the text has “fitches“ and the margin “rie.” It is probable that by cussemeth “spelt” is intended. Spelt (Triticum spelta) is grown in some parts of the south of Germany; it differs but slightly from our common wheat (T. vulgare).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ri.</p><p>See SPELT.</p>