In Pr 27:25; Isa 15:6, denotes the first shoots of grass. The Jews did not prepare and store up hay for winter use, as is customary in cold climates.

properly so called, was not in use among the Hebrews; straw was used instead. They cut the grass green as it was needed. The word rendered "hay" in Pr 27:25 means the first shoots of the grass. In ISA 15:6 the Revised Version has correctly "grass," where the Authorized Version has "hay."

The Hebrew has no word for it, chatsir (Pr 27:25; Isa 15:6) expressing grass as well as hay. For in the hot East the grass becomes hay as it stands; compare Mt 6:30. It was cut as it was used, and not stacked (Ps 37:2; 72:6; 129:7). Am 7:1, "the latter growth," is that which springs up after mowing. Chashash (Isa 5:24) is not "chaff," but the withered grass. In Isa 15:6; Pr 27:2, translated "the hay grass."

(Heb. chatsir), the rendering of the Authorized Version in

Pr 27:25

and Isai 15:6 of the Hebrew term, which occurs frequently in the Old Testament, and denotes "grass" of any kind. It is quite probable that the modern Orientals do not make hay in our sense of the term; but it is certain that the ancients did mow their grass, and probably made use of the dry material. See

Ps 37:2

We may remark that there is an express Hebrew term for "dry grass" or "hay," viz. chashash, which, in the only two places where the word occurs,

Isa 5:24; 33:11

is rendered "chaff" in the Authorized Version.

HAY, ????. In the two places where this word occurs, Pr 27:25, and Isa 15:9, our translators have very improperly rendered it "hay." But in those countries they made no hay; and if they did, it appears from inspection that hay could hardly be the meaning of the word in either of those texts. The author of "Fragments," in continuation of Calmet, has the following remarks: "There is a gross impropriety in our version of Pr 27:25: 'The hay appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered.' Now, certainly, if the tender grass is but just beginning to show itself, the hay, which is grass cut and dried after it has arrived at maturity, ought by no means to be associated with it, still less ought it to be placed before it. And this leads me to observe, that none of the dictionaries which I have seen seem to me to give the accurate import of the word, which, I apprehend, means the first shoots, the rising, budding, spires of grass. So, in the present passage, ??? ????, 'the tender shoots of the grass rise up; and the buddings of grass,' grass in its early state, as is the peculiar import of ???, 'appear; and the tufts of grass,' proceeding from the same root, 'collect themselves together, and, by their union, begin to clothe the mountain tops with a pleasing verdure.'" Surely, the beautiful progress of vegetation, as described in this passage, must appear too poetical to be lost; but what must it be to an eastern beholder! to one who had lately witnessed all surrounding sterility, a grassless waste!