Pottage is a term used in the Bible to describe a type of thick soup or stew made from vegetables, grains, and sometimes meat. It is a staple food in ancient Near Eastern diets and is mentioned in several biblical narratives, most notably in the account of Esau and Jacob.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 25:29-34: The most famous reference to pottage is found in the account of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob. Esau, returning famished from the field, encounters Jacob cooking a pot of red lentil stew. Driven by hunger, Esau impulsively trades his birthright for a meal. The Berean Standard Bible recounts this transaction: "Jacob was cooking some stew, and Esau came in from the field, famished. He said to Jacob, 'Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am famished.' ... Jacob replied, 'First sell me your birthright.' 'Look,' said Esau, 'I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?' ... So Esau despised his birthright."

2. 2 Kings 4:38-41: Another significant mention of pottage occurs during the ministry of the prophet Elisha. In a time of famine, the sons of the prophets gather wild gourds to make a stew. Unbeknownst to them, the gourds are poisonous, and the stew becomes deadly. Elisha intervenes by adding flour to the pot, purifying the stew and making it safe to eat. The BSB states: "Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, 'Put on the large pot and cook some stew for these men.' ... But as they were eating the stew, they cried out, 'O man of God, there is death in the pot!' And they could not eat it. Then Elisha said, 'Get some flour.' He put it into the pot and said, 'Serve it to the people to eat.' And there was nothing harmful in the pot."

Cultural and Theological Significance:

Pottage, as a simple and nourishing meal, reflects the agrarian lifestyle of the biblical world. It was a common dish, easily prepared with available ingredients, and served as a primary source of sustenance for many.

Theologically, the account of Esau and Jacob highlights themes of impulsivity, the value of spiritual inheritance, and the consequences of prioritizing immediate physical needs over long-term spiritual blessings. Esau's decision to trade his birthright for a mere bowl of pottage serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of undervaluing one's spiritual heritage.

In the account of Elisha, the miraculous purification of the poisonous stew underscores God's provision and care for His people, even in times of scarcity. It also demonstrates the power of faith and obedience to God's prophets, as Elisha's actions, guided by divine insight, bring life and safety to the community.

Overall, pottage in the Bible is more than just a meal; it is a symbol of sustenance, a test of character, and a medium through which God's power and providence are revealed.Hebrews nazid, "boiled", a dish of boiled food, as of lentils (Genesis 25:29; 2 Kings 4:38). (n.) A kind of food made by boiling vegetables or meat, or both together, in water, until soft; a thick soup or porridge.POTTAGE

pot'-aj.

See FOOD, III.

5138. nazid -- something sodden or boiled, pottage
... 5137b, 5138. nazid. 5139 . something sodden or boiled, pottage. Transliteration:
nazid Phonetic Spelling: (naw-zeed') Short Definition: stew. ... pottage. ...
/hebrew/5138.htm - 6k

Pottage Versus Birthright
... GENESIS POTTAGE VERSUS BIRTHRIGHT. 'Esau despised his birthright'"Genesis 25:34. ...
II. Broad General Lessons. 1. The Choice."Birthright versus Pottage. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/pottage versus birthright.htm

Here Beginneth the Life of Isaac
... Jacob on a time had made a good pottage, and Esau his brother had been an hunting
all day and came home sore an hungred, and found Jacob having good pottage ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/here beginneth the life of.htm

A Bad Bargain
... And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau
said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a bad bargain.htm

Jacob and Esau
... And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau
said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon vi jacob and esau.htm

The victory of Faith.
... Esau came from the hunting-field worn and hungry; the only means of procuring the
tempting mess of his brother's pottage was the sacrifice of his father's ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/ii the victory of faith.htm

A Prophet of Peace
... It was on the occasion of one of his visits to the school established
at Gilgal that he healed the poisoned pottage. "There was ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 19 a prophet of.htm

How Esau and Jacob, Isaac's Sons Divided their Habitation;
... from the toil of hunting very hungry, [it was when he was a child in age,] he lighted
on his brother when he was getting ready lentile-pottage for his dinner ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how esau and.htm

And Judas Iscariot
... Coming in from the hunt one day, weary with his exertions, he detects the savory
smell of the mess of pottage, and his crafty brother says, "I will give you ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/and judas iscariot.htm

Jacob and Esau
... Esau sold it himself; he sold it for a mess of pottage. ... Did you not take the mess
of red pottage of your own voluntary will, in lieu of the birthright? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/jacob and esau.htm

Jacob and Esau.
... older. One day Esau came in from hunting, very tired and hungry, and sold
his birthright to Jacob for a kind of stew called pottage. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/wee ones bible stories/jacob and esau.htm

Pottage (7 Occurrences)
...POTTAGE. pot'-aj. ...Pottage (7 Occurrences). Genesis 25:29 And Jacob sod pottage: and
Esau came from the field, and he was faint: (KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT RSV). ...
/p/pottage.htm - 9k

Edom (108 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) The name of Esau (qv), Genesis 25:30, "Feed me,
I pray thee, with that same red pottage [Hebrews haadom, haadom, ie, `the red ...
/e/edom.htm - 53k

Esau (89 Occurrences)
... The name of Edom, "red", was also given to him from his conduct in connection with
the red lentil "pottage" for which he sold his birthright (30, 31). ...
/e/esau.htm - 41k

Lentils (4 Occurrences)
... known food, Revalenta arabica, is simply one form, specially prepared; `adas are
highly esteemed in Palestine, and are used in soup and as a "pottage" known as ...
/l/lentils.htm - 9k

Lentiles (4 Occurrences)
... The red pottage made by Jacob was of lentils (Genesis 25:29-34). They were among
the provisions brought to David when he fled from Absalom (2 Samuel 17:28). ...
/l/lentiles.htm - 8k

Habakkuk (3 Occurrences)
... A very interesting story is found in Bel and the Dragon (33-39), according to which
Habakkuk, while on his way to the field with a bowl of pottage, was taken ...
/h/habakkuk.htm - 26k

Faint (76 Occurrences)
... YLT NAS). Genesis 25:29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field,
and he was faint: (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Genesis 25:30 ...
/f/faint.htm - 38k

Gourd (4 Occurrences)
... another species, called the Cucumis prophetarum, from the idea that it afforded
the gourd which "the sons of the prophets" shred by mistake into their pottage. ...
/g/gourd.htm - 12k

Weary (77 Occurrences)
... the opening. (YLT). Genesis 25:29 And Jacob boileth pottage, and Esau cometh
in from the field, and he 'is' weary; (YLT). Genesis 25 ...
/w/weary.htm - 29k

Riseth (165 Occurrences)
... Genesis 25:34 and Jacob hath given to Esau bread and pottage of lentiles, and he
eateth, and drinketh, and riseth, and goeth; and Esau despiseth the birthright ...
/r/riseth.htm - 37k

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