In biblical terminology, the concept of "fattened" often carries both literal and metaphorical significance. It is frequently associated with prosperity, abundance, and preparation for sacrifice or celebration. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, illustrating both the blessings of God and the moral and spiritual lessons for His people.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the idea of fattening is often linked to livestock, which were fattened for sacrifices or feasts. For instance, in 1 Samuel 28:24, we read about the preparation of a fattened calf: "Now the woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread." This passage highlights the use of a fattened calf in a context of hospitality and significant events.

The concept also appears in the context of judgment and warning. In Jeremiah 46:21, the prophet speaks of the mercenaries of Egypt as "fattened calves," indicating their readiness for slaughter due to their complacency and false security: "Even her mercenaries are like fattened calves; they too will turn back; they will flee together. They will not stand their ground, for the day of disaster is upon them, the time of their punishment."

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the term "fattened" is used metaphorically to describe spiritual and moral conditions. James 5:5 warns the wealthy who live in self-indulgence: "You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter." Here, the imagery of fattening is used to depict the moral decay and impending judgment of those who prioritize earthly pleasures over spiritual righteousness.

Parable of the Prodigal Son

One of the most well-known uses of a fattened calf is found in the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:23. When the prodigal son returns home, the father instructs his servants: "Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate." The fattened calf symbolizes the father's joy and the restoration of the son, illustrating God's grace and forgiveness toward repentant sinners.

Symbolism and Lessons

The imagery of fattening in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of both blessing and warning. On one hand, it represents God's provision and the joy of celebration in His presence. On the other hand, it serves as a caution against complacency and self-indulgence, reminding believers of the importance of spiritual vigilance and readiness for the Lord's return.

In summary, the biblical concept of "fattened" encompasses themes of preparation, celebration, and moral introspection, urging believers to live lives marked by gratitude, repentance, and spiritual readiness.(imp. & p. p.) of Fatten.4618b. siteutos -- well-fed, ie fattened
... 4618a, 4618b. siteutos. 4619 . well-fed, ie fattened. Transliteration: siteutos
Short Definition: fattened. Word Origin from a derivation ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4618b.htm - 5k

4619b. sitistos -- fattened
... 4619a, 4619b. sitistos. 4620 . fattened. Transliteration: sitistos Short
Definition: fattened. Word Origin from a derivation of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4619b.htm - 5k

4618. siteutos -- a pit (for grain storage)
... a pit (for grain storage). Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: siteutos Phonetic
Spelling: (sit-yoo-ros') Short Definition: fattened Definition: fattened ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4618.htm - 5k

4619. sitistos -- grain
... grain. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: sitistos Phonetic Spelling:
(sit-is-tos') Short Definition: fattened Definition: fattened; subst: a fatling ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4619.htm - 5k

5142. trepho -- to make to grow, to nourish, feed
... verb Definition to make to grow, to nourish, feed NASB Word Usage brought (1), fattened
(1), fed (1), feed (1), feeds (2), nourished (2), nursed (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5142.htm - 7k

75. abas -- to feed, fatten
... to feed, fatten. Transliteration: abas Phonetic Spelling: (aw-bas') Short Definition:
fattened. ... root Definition to feed, fatten NASB Word Usage fattened (2). ...
/hebrew/75.htm - 5k

4770. marbeq -- a stall
... 4769, 4770. marbeq. 4771 . a stall. Transliteration: marbeq Phonetic Spelling:
(mar-bake') Short Definition: fattened. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4770.htm - 5k

3694. Kesulloth -- a place in Issachar
... Chesulloth. Feminine plural of passive participle of kacal; fattened; Kesulloth,
a place in Palestine -- Chesulloth. see HEBREW kacal. 3693, 3694. ...
/hebrew/3694.htm - 6k

1257. barburim -- capons or geese, fowl
... fowl. By reduplication from bar; a fowl (as fattened on grain) -- fowl. see HEBREW
bar. 1256, 1257. barburim. 1258 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1257.htm - 6k

How Great are the Benefits Conferred on Man through the Advent of ...
... of heaven; so, had we nor known the Word, and been illuminated by Him; we should
have been nowise different from fowls that are being fed, fattened in darkness ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter xi how great are the.htm

The Physical Tendencies of Fasting and Feeding Considered the ...
... On the other hand, he whose "heart" was habitually found "lifted up" [1039] rather
than fattened up, who in forty days and as many nights maintained a fast ...
/.../chapter vi the physical tendencies of.htm

The First Ministry of the Baptist.
... fishermen from the Lake of Gennesaret, dusky sons of Ishmael from the desert of
Gilead; the proud Pharisee; the detested publican, who had fattened on the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/v the first ministry of.htm

The Faithful Servant
... even could not prevent the young man from weakening at times before the charnel
pit in Tophet where countless thousands of vultures fattened with roaring of ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xxi the faithful servant.htm

National Privileges
... in ignorance and misery. That priests only taught the people lies, and
fattened themselves at their expense. That, in short, as ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon xxii national privileges.htm

The Sixth Clause.
... [8808] In the former petition, "Give us this day our daily bread.". [8809] Such
as "daily bread.". [8810] That is, if we are just to be fed and fattened by them ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on prayer/chapter vii the sixth clause.htm

Argument: the Story About Christians Drinking the Blood of an ...
... They also are not unlike to him who devour the wild beasts from the arena, besmeared
and stained with blood, or fattened with the limbs or the entrails of men. ...
/.../felix/the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xxx argument the story about.htm

Argument: Tortures Most Unjustly Inflicted for the Confession of ...
... fall down lower. For these are fattened as victims for punishment, as
sacrifices they are crowned for the slaughter. Thus in this ...
/.../chapter xxxvii argument tortures most unjustly.htm

Epistle Lx. To Euchratius, About an Actor.
... seek thence, from such gain as takes men away from the banquet of Abraham, and Isaac,
and Jacob, and leads them down, sadly and perniciously fattened in this ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lx to euchratius about.htm

Cannot be Proved from Scripture, that Believers under the Old ...
... or, which is the worst of all, as though I seem to identify myself with those who
say, "the Fathers were like swine that were fed and fattened without any hope ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/article x it cannot be.htm

Fattened (19 Occurrences)
... & pp) of Fatten. Multi-Version Concordance Fattened (19 Occurrences). ... Luke 15:23
Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; (WEB NAS NIV). ...
/f/fattened.htm - 12k

Kill (310 Occurrences)
... NIV). Luke 15:23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and
celebrate; (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Luke ...
/k/kill.htm - 36k

Killed (352 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:27 He said to him,'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the
fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.' (WEB KJV ...
/k/killed.htm - 36k

Fat (150 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate;
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/f/fat.htm - 44k

Fatted (17 Occurrences)

/f/fatted.htm - 12k

Calf (39 Occurrences)
... Calf (39 Occurrences). Luke 15:23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us
eat, and celebrate; (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/c/calf.htm - 49k

Kneaded (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Knead. Multi-Version Concordance Kneaded
(3 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 28:24 The woman had a fattened calf in the house. ...
/k/kneaded.htm - 7k

Leopard (6 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 11:6 The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with
the young goat; The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together; and ...
/l/leopard.htm - 13k

Gazelles (5 Occurrences)
... 4:23 ten head of fat cattle, and twenty head of cattle out of the pastures, and
one hundred sheep, besides harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fattened fowl ...
/g/gazelles.htm - 8k

Fatling (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) A calf, lamb, kid, or other young animal fattened
for slaughter; a fat animal; -- said of such animals as are used for food. ...
/f/fatling.htm - 8k

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son? | GotQuestions.org

What should we learn from the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Obed-Edom in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Fattened: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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