# glean, gleans, gleaned, gleanings # ## Definition: ## The term "glean" means to go through a field or orchard and pick up whatever grain or fruit the harvesters have left behind. * God told the Israelites to let the widows, poor people, and foreigners glean the leftover grain in order to provide food for themselves. * Sometimes the owner of the field would allow the gleaners to go directly behind the harvesters to glean, which enabled them to glean much more of the grain. * A clear example of how this worked is in the story of Ruth, who was generously allowed to glean among the harvesters in the fields of her relative Boaz. * Other ways to translate "glean" can be "pick up" or "gather" or "collect." (See also: [Boaz](../names/boaz.md), [grain](../other/grain.md), [harvest](../kt/harvest.md), [Ruth](../names/ruth.md)) ## Bible References: ## * [Deuteronomy 24:21-22](rc://en/tn/help/deu/24/21) * [Isaiah 17:4-5](rc://en/tn/help/isa/17/04) * [Job 24:5-7](rc://en/tn/help/job/24/05) * [Ruth 02:1-2](rc://en/tn/help/rut/02/01) * [Ruth 02:15-16](rc://en/tn/help/rut/02/15) ## Word Data:## * Strong's: H3950, H3951, H5953, H5955