Lexical Summary adashah: Lentil Original Word: עָדָשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lentile From an unused root of uncertain meaning; a lentil -- lentile. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a lentil NASB Translation lentil (1), lentils (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs [עֲדָשָׁה] noun feminine lentile (Late Hebrew עֲדָשָׁה id.; LöwNo. 140; Arabic image u%navailable; on formation see LagBN 50); — plural עֲדָשִׁים growing 2 Samuel 23:11; article of food, 2 Samuel 17:28; Ezekiel 4:9; ׳נְזִיד ע Genesis 25:34 (J) pottage of lentiles. עַוָּא see עַוָּה עוב (√ of following; compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Botanical and Agrarian Background עָדָשׁ (adash) corresponds to the cultivated lentil (Lens culinaris), a cool-season legume well suited to the semi-arid climate of ancient Israel. Sown with the early rains and reaped in late spring, lentils required minimal irrigation, fixed atmospheric nitrogen for the soil, and provided a dependable yield even in years of marginal rainfall—an asset for subsistence farmers and pastoralists alike. Culinary and Nutritional Significance Rich in protein, complex carbohydrates, iron, and trace minerals, lentils furnished a compact, shelf-stable staple that could be: Their reddish or brownish hue also explains the “red stew” that captivated Esau and gave rise to his nickname, Edom (“red”). Key Biblical Occurrences 1. Genesis 25:34 – Immediate gratification versus covenant blessing “Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.” 2. 2 Samuel 17:28 – Hospitality to the anointed king During Absalom’s revolt, loyal supporters bring “wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, and roasted seeds” to sustain David and his weary followers. Lentils symbolize practical compassion toward God’s chosen leader in crisis. 3. 2 Samuel 23:11 – Courage in the commonplace “Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered at Lehi where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the troops fled from the Philistines.” 4. Ezekiel 4:9 – Prophetic witness amid judgment “But take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into a single container and use them to make bread for yourself.” Historical and Rabbinic Notes Second-Temple sources mention lentils at funerary meals, perhaps because their round shape signified the cycle of life and mourning. Yet Scripture maintains no ritual taboo regarding lentils; they remain ordinary fare, emphasizing their accessibility to all social strata. Theological Reflections • Providential Provision Lentils attest to a Creator who furnishes nutrition through humble means. Their resilience mirrors God’s sustaining grace in both plenty and scarcity. • The Peril of Carnal Appetite Esau’s exchange cautions believers to esteem spiritual birthrights above material cravings. Hebrews 12:16–17 later invokes the episode as a sobering exhortation against godlessness. • Stewardship and Defense of the Ordinary Shammah’s valor encourages believers to protect seemingly insignificant callings—“lentil fields” that nonetheless belong to God. • Bread of Affliction, Bread of Hope Ezekiel’s mixed-grain loaf foreshadows both chastening and preservation, pointing to the ultimate Bread of Life who sustains the covenant people through exile and beyond. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Discipleship: Teach self-denial by contrasting Esau’s haste with Christ’s forty-day fast. Summary עָדָשׁ, though a simple lentil, weaves through Scripture as a witness to God’s provision, human choice, and covenant faithfulness. From Jacob’s kitchen to Ezekiel’s exile rations, its presence calls believers to value spiritual inheritance, practice courageous stewardship, and trust the Lord who feeds both body and soul. Forms and Transliterations וַעֲדָשִׁ֖ים וַעֲדָשִׁ֜ים ועדשים עֲדָשִׁ֔ים עדשים ‘ă·ḏā·šîm ‘ăḏāšîm adaShim vaadaShim wa‘ăḏāšîm wa·‘ă·ḏā·šîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 25:34 HEB: לֶ֚חֶם וּנְזִ֣יד עֲדָשִׁ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אכַל וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ NAS: Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate KJV: and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat INT: bread stew and lentil ate and drank 2 Samuel 17:28 2 Samuel 23:11 Ezekiel 4:9 4 Occurrences |
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, 
be absent, hidden, of sun, set; 
hidden place, thicket, wood, so Syriac 
; hence obscuring clouds, compare Late Hebrew עָב, Aramaic עִיבָא cloud(s)).