Bran
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Topical Encyclopedia
Bran, the outer layer of cereal grains, is mentioned in the Bible in the context of food and sustenance. In ancient times, bran was a byproduct of milling grain into flour and was often used as animal feed or as a component in bread-making. The biblical references to bran highlight its role in the diet and economy of the people during biblical times.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 30:24 : "The oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder, winnowed with the shovel and pitchfork." This verse, while not directly mentioning bran, alludes to the process of winnowing, which separates the grain from the chaff and bran. The reference to "salted fodder" suggests that bran, as part of the chaff, was used to feed livestock, indicating its value in agricultural practices.

2. Ezekiel 4:9 : "Take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into a single vessel and make them into bread for yourself." Although bran is not explicitly mentioned, the process of making bread from whole grains would naturally include bran as part of the flour. This verse underscores the use of various grains, including their outer layers, in sustaining the prophet Ezekiel during his symbolic act of laying siege.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In biblical times, bread was a staple food, and the process of milling grain was crucial for daily sustenance. The separation of bran from the grain was a common practice, and while refined flour was often preferred for human consumption, bran was not wasted. It was frequently used as animal feed, as indicated in Isaiah 30:24, and sometimes included in bread-making, especially in times of scarcity or for specific dietary purposes.

The use of bran in bread-making, as seen in Ezekiel 4:9, reflects the holistic approach to food in ancient Israel, where nothing was wasted, and every part of the grain was utilized. This practice aligns with the biblical principle of stewardship and resourcefulness, emphasizing the importance of using God's provisions wisely.

Theological Implications:

Bran, as part of the grain, symbolizes the completeness and provision of God's creation. The use of whole grains, including bran, in biblical narratives can be seen as a metaphor for the wholeness and sufficiency found in God's word and His provision for His people. Just as bran is an integral part of the grain, every part of God's creation has a purpose and value.

In a spiritual sense, the inclusion of bran in the diet of biblical figures like Ezekiel serves as a reminder of the sustenance and nourishment that come from living according to God's commandments and relying on His provision. The holistic use of grain, including bran, reflects the biblical theme of abundance and the call to trust in God's care for His creation.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The broken coat of the seed of wheat, rye, or other cereal grain, separated from the flour or meal by sifting or bolting; the coarse, chaffy part of ground grain.

2. (n.) The European carrion crow.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BRAN

(ta pitura): The women of Babylon are described as burning "bran for incense" in their unchaste idolatrous worship (Baruch 6:43).

CITY OF DAVID

See ZION.

CITY OF SALT

See SALT, CITY OF.

CITY OF WATERS

See RABBAH.

CITY, GOLDEN

See GOLDEN CITY.

Greek
3200. membrana -- parchment
... parchment. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: membrana Phonetic Spelling:
(mem-bran'-ah) Short Definition: a parchment leaf Definition: a parchment ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3200.htm - 6k
Library

The Scientific Aspects of Positivism.
... Undoubtedly "Dieu" disappeared, but the "Nouveau Grand-Etre Supreme," a gigantic
fetish, turned out bran-new by M. Comte's own hands, reigned in his stead. ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/viii the scientific aspects of.htm

Temptations.
... There is nothing that Satan more desires than to get good men in his sieve to sift
them as wheat, that if possible he may leave them nothing but bran; no grace ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xv temptations.htm

The Resurrection.
... It is the same wheat; yet behold how the fashion doth differ from what was
sown. And our BRAN will be left behind, when we rise again. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxv the resurrection.htm

The Rebuilding of the Temple.
... It used to be said that only the bran, or coarse sort of people, returned, the fine
flour remained; but it must have in truth been in general the lovers of ...
/.../yonge/the chosen people/lesson xiii the rebuilding of.htm

Declension from First Love
... Arminianism will never go down with us; the doctrine of men will not suit our taste.
The husks, the bran, and the chaff, are not things that we can feed upon. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/declension from first love.htm

Jesus Heals a Leper and Creates Much Excitement.
... And as the furfuraceous or bran-like, scales were daily rubbed off, the flesh appeared
quick or raw underneath." In addition to the scaly symptoms, the skin ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxiv jesus heals a leper.htm

Concerning the Festivals; and How Each Day of Such Festival is to ...
... barley, and that in the manner following: They take a handful of the ears, and dry
them, then beat them small, and purge the barley from the bran; they then ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 concerning the festivals.htm

Judging, Asking, and Giving
... When all manner of costly dishes were set before the guests, the sow asked, "Have
you no bran?" Even so, said he, we preachers set forth the most dainty dishes ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/judging asking and giving.htm

A Casket of Jewels
... A bowl and pair of chop-sticks is the sum total of the table requirements of each
girl; a cotton wadded quilt and a small, bran-stuffed pillow comprise her ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xxiii a casket of.htm

The Stone of Stumbling
... at Christianity, will go to the tomb where all the rest have gone; and dead old
infidelities will rise up from their thrones, and say to the bran-new ones of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the stone of stumbling.htm

Thesaurus
Bran
...BRAN. (ta pitura): The women of Babylon are described as burning "bran for incense"
in their unchaste idolatrous worship (Baruch 6:43). CITY OF DAVID. See ZION. ...
/b/bran.htm - 7k

Rubble (17 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) The whole of the bran of wheat before it is sorted into pollard, bran,
etc. Multi-Version Concordance Rubble (17 Occurrences). ...
/r/rubble.htm - 12k

Games (2 Occurrences)
... If the balls used in Palestine were like those used by the Egyptians, they were
sometimes made of leather or skin stuffed with bran or husks of corn, or of ...
/g/games.htm - 40k

Tanner (3 Occurrences)
... The hair and fleshy matter are removed, the skins are plumped in lime, bated in
a concoction first of dog dung and afterward in one of fermenting bran, in much ...
/t/tanner.htm - 11k

Mash (2 Occurrences)
... water for making the wort. 3. (n.) A mixture of meal or bran and water fed
to animals. 4. (n.) A mess; trouble. 5. (vt) To convert ...
/m/mash.htm - 8k

Metallurgy
... The comparatively heavy gold particles were then gathered from the table, dried,
and melted in a closed crucible with lead, salt and bran, and kept in a molten ...
/m/metallurgy.htm - 8k

Provender (10 Occurrences)
... pasturage, is tibn, ie straw broken on the threshing floor, kursenneh (Vetch, Vicia
errilia), given especially to camels and milch cows; bran, for fattening ...
/p/provender.htm - 10k

Poultice (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A soft composition, as of bread, bran, or a mucilaginous substance, to be
applied to sores, inflamed parts of the body, etc.; a cataplasm. ...
/p/poultice.htm - 7k

Brambles (5 Occurrences)

/b/brambles.htm - 7k

Bolt (5 Occurrences)
... 22. (vt) To sift or separate the coarser from the finer particles of, as bran from
flour, by means of a bolter; to separate, assort, refine, or purify by other ...
/b/bolt.htm - 11k

Resources
Bran: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Bran

Related Terms

Vine-branch (2 Occurrences)

Palm-branch (2 Occurrences)

Branchbough

Calyxes (6 Occurrences)

Graft (1 Occurrence)

Bowls (47 Occurrences)

Bud (23 Occurrences)

Knob (4 Occurrences)

Knop (4 Occurrences)

Flower (33 Occurrences)

Extending (15 Occurrences)

Blossoms (16 Occurrences)

Bulb (4 Occurrences)

Bush (14 Occurrences)

Cups (28 Occurrences)

Capital (29 Occurrences)

Almond-blossoms (4 Occurrences)

Almonds (6 Occurrences)

Shaped (10 Occurrences)

Stem (18 Occurrences)

Almond (7 Occurrences)

Bough (8 Occurrences)

Shoot (51 Occurrences)

Branches (103 Occurrences)

Zoan (7 Occurrences)

Olive-tree (17 Occurrences)

Olivetree

Twig (4 Occurrences)

Roots (31 Occurrences)

Ethiopic

Dayspring (2 Occurrences)

Pi-beseth (1 Occurrence)

Plow (11 Occurrences)

Pibeseth (1 Occurrence)

Becomes (138 Occurrences)

Philistines (224 Occurrences)

Sprout (25 Occurrences)

Lampstand (38 Occurrences)

Rush (35 Occurrences)

Branching (12 Occurrences)

Tender (66 Occurrences)

Candlestick (34 Occurrences)

Stock (16 Occurrences)

Six (198 Occurrences)

Root (54 Occurrences)

Palm (49 Occurrences)

Nose (23 Occurrences)

Nazarene (19 Occurrences)

Nile (37 Occurrences)

Nostrils (22 Occurrences)

Laban (52 Occurrences)

Learn (76 Occurrences)

Lamp-stand (17 Occurrences)

Leaves (55 Occurrences)

Industry (5 Occurrences)

Tigris (2 Occurrences)

Thickets (14 Occurrences)

Tikvath (1 Occurrence)

Tikvah (2 Occurrences)

Twigs (8 Occurrences)

Rephidim (5 Occurrences)

Eshcol (6 Occurrences)

Ethan (9 Occurrences)

Example (54 Occurrences)

Midian (60 Occurrences)

Midianites (30 Occurrences)

Nigh (243 Occurrences)

Purgeth (1 Occurrence)

Puts (197 Occurrences)

Project (6 Occurrences)

Putteth (182 Occurrences)

Purge (35 Occurrences)

Proceeding (18 Occurrences)

Plain (113 Occurrences)

Prunes (1 Occurrence)

Bears (62 Occurrences)

Buds (20 Occurrences)

Beareth (108 Occurrences)

Continue (144 Occurrences)

Brambles
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