In the Bible, vegetables are mentioned in various contexts, often symbolizing sustenance, simplicity, and the provision of God. They are part of the diet that God provided for humanity and are referenced in both the Old and New Testaments.

Creation and Diet:
In the Genesis account of creation, God provides plants and vegetation as food for humans and animals. Genesis 1:29 states, "Then God said, 'Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food.'" This verse indicates that vegetables, along with fruits, were part of the original diet intended for mankind.

Daniel's Diet:
One of the most notable references to vegetables in the Bible is found in the Book of Daniel. Daniel and his companions, while in Babylonian captivity, chose to eat vegetables and drink water instead of partaking in the royal food and wine. Daniel 1:12 records Daniel's request: "Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink." This decision was made to maintain their dietary laws and to avoid defilement. The outcome was favorable, as they appeared healthier than those who consumed the king's food, demonstrating God's blessing on their faithfulness.

Symbolism and Simplicity:
Vegetables are often associated with simplicity and humility. In Proverbs 15:17 , it is written, "Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred." This proverb highlights the value of love and contentment over wealth and abundance, using vegetables as a metaphor for a simple, yet fulfilling life.

Provision and Sustenance:
Vegetables are also seen as a symbol of God's provision. In the wilderness, God provided manna for the Israelites, which is described as having the taste of something made with olive oil (Numbers 11:8). While not directly a vegetable, the reference to olive oil connects to the broader category of plant-based sustenance that God provided for His people.

Agricultural Context:
The agricultural practices of ancient Israel included the cultivation of various vegetables. While specific vegetables are not always named, the Bible references gardens and fields where such produce would have been grown. In Deuteronomy 11:10 , the land of Egypt is described as a place "where you sowed your seed and irrigated it by foot, like a vegetable garden." This illustrates the commonality of vegetable gardens in the ancient Near Eastern agrarian society.

Conclusion:
Throughout the Bible, vegetables are depicted as a fundamental part of the diet and a symbol of God's provision and care. They represent simplicity, faithfulness, and the sustenance that God provides for His people.3001. lachanon -- a garden herb, a vegetable
... Word Origin from lachaino (to dig) Definition a garden herb, a vegetable NASB
Word Usage garden herb (1), garden plants (2), vegetables (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3001.htm - 6k2235a. zeroa -- vegetable
... vegetable. Transliteration: zeroa Short Definition: vegetables. Word Origin from
zara Definition vegetable NASB Word Usage vegetables (1). 2235, 2235a. ...
/hebrew/2235a.htm - 5k

2235b. zereon -- vegetable
... vegetable. Transliteration: zereon Short Definition: vegetables. Word Origin from
zara Definition vegetable NASB Word Usage vegetables (1). 2235a, 2235b. ...
/hebrew/2235b.htm - 5k

3419. yaraq -- herbs, herbage
... Word Origin from the same as yereq Definition herbs, herbage NASB Word Usage
green (2), vegetable (2), vegetables (1). green, herbs. ...
/hebrew/3419.htm - 6k

Ep. xxvi. What a Very Small Quantity of Vegetables You have Sent ...
... Ep. XXVI. What a very small quantity of vegetables you have sent me! They must surely
be? What a very small quantity of vegetables you have sent me! ...
/.../cyril/select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/ep xxvi what a very.htm

The Germination of the Earth.
... law for it; it gave fertility and the power to produce fruit for all ages to come;
"Let the earth bring forth." The production of vegetables shows first ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily v the germination of.htm

Ep. xxv. Amphilochius was Acquitted of the Charges Made against ...
... and retired to a sort of hermitage at a place called Ozizala, not far from Nazianzus,
where he devoted his hours of labour to the cultivation of vegetables. ...
/.../select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/ep xxv amphilochius was acquitted.htm

Why the Manich??ans Prohibit the Use of Flesh.
... So then, if food consisting of vegetables and fruits comes to the saints, that is,
to the Manich??ans by means of their chastity, and prayers, and psalms ...
/.../chapter 15 name the manichaeans.htm

"Well Then, when I Entered Upon the Nearest Parts of the Desert...
... be a thousand or more feet deep. There was also a garden there full of
a variety of vegetables. This, too, was contrary to what ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xiii well then when.htm

Give us Today Our Needful Bread
... In my opinion the words: One man hath faith to eat anything, but he that is weak
eats vegetables are also in his intention meant to refer not to material forms ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/chapter xvii give us today.htm

Description of the Symbol of the Hands among the Manich??ans.
... As for your not plucking fruits or pulling up vegetables yourselves, while you get
your followers to pluck and pull and bring them to you, that you may confer ...
/.../chapter 17 name of the.htm

God's Approbation of his Works
... 9. On the third day God commanded all kind of vegetables to spring out of the earth;
and then, to add thereto innumerable herbs, intermixed with flowers of all ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 56 gods approbation of.htm

The Morning-Meal in the Pharisee's House - Meals and Feasts among ...
... the blessing was spoken over the bread, and this was supposed to cover all the rest
of the food that followed, such as the meat, fish or vegetables - in short ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii the morning-meal in.htm

And they Went Away from Capernaum into the City which is Called ...
... And on a certain day Joseph called to him his first-born son James, [1688] and sent
him into the vegetable garden to gather vegetables for the purpose of ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of pseudo-matthew/chapter 41 and they went.htm

Vegetables (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Vegetables (5 Occurrences). Romans 14:2 One man has faith
to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. ...
/v/vegetables.htm - 7k

Meal-time (1 Occurrence)
... 2. Vegetables: Lentils, several kinds of beans, and a profusion of vegetables,
wild and cultivated, were prepared and eaten in various ways. ...
/m/meal-time.htm - 24k

Mealtime (1 Occurrence)
... 2. Vegetables: Lentils, several kinds of beans, and a profusion of vegetables,
wild and cultivated, were prepared and eaten in various ways. ...
/m/mealtime.htm - 24k

Meals (8 Occurrences)
... 2. Vegetables: Lentils, several kinds of beans, and a profusion of vegetables,
wild and cultivated, were prepared and eaten in various ways. ...
/m/meals.htm - 27k

Vegetation (18 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The plant life of a region or locale. 2. (n.) The sum of vegetable life;
vegetables or plants in general; as, luxuriant vegetation. ...
/v/vegetation.htm - 11k

Irrigation
... to the gardens, where it is distributed in turn to the different square plots bounded
by banks of earth, or along the rows of growing vegetables planted on the ...
/i/irrigation.htm - 9k

Vegetable (3 Occurrences)

/v/vegetable.htm - 8k

Food (2953 Occurrences)
...Vegetables were cooked by boiling (Genesis 25:30, 34; 2 Kings 4:38, 39), and thus
also other articles of food were prepared for use (Genesis 27:4; Proverbs 23:3 ...
/f/food.htm - 36k

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)
... a disgust fell on the multitude at having nothing to eat but the manna day after
day, no change, no flesh, no fish, no high-flavoured vegetables, no luscious ...
/k/kibroth-hattaavah.htm - 10k

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