Biblical References and Context:

Onions are mentioned in the Bible in the context of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The specific reference to onions is found in the Book of Numbers, where the Israelites express their longing for the foods they enjoyed in Egypt. Numbers 11:5 states, "We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic." This verse highlights the Israelites' nostalgia for the variety and abundance of food they had in Egypt, contrasting it with their current diet in the wilderness.

Cultural and Historical Significance:

In ancient Egypt, onions were a staple food and held significant cultural importance. They were commonly consumed by the Egyptians and were considered a symbol of eternity due to their concentric layers. Onions were often included in the diet of laborers, including those who worked on monumental projects like the pyramids. The Israelites, having lived in Egypt for several generations, would have been familiar with onions as a common and flavorful part of their diet.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

The mention of onions in Numbers 11:5 is part of a broader narrative where the Israelites express dissatisfaction with their circumstances in the wilderness. Their longing for onions and other foods from Egypt symbolizes a deeper spiritual struggle. It reflects a tendency to look back longingly at past comforts, even when those comforts were part of a life of bondage. This yearning for the past can be seen as a lack of faith in God's provision and a reluctance to embrace the freedom and future He promised.

From a theological perspective, the Israelites' desire for onions and other foods from Egypt serves as a reminder of the human inclination to prioritize physical desires over spiritual growth. It underscores the challenge of trusting in God's plan and provision, especially when faced with uncertainty and hardship.

Practical Lessons:

The reference to onions in the Bible, though brief, offers several practical lessons for believers. It encourages Christians to reflect on their own lives and consider whether they are holding onto past comforts that may hinder their spiritual journey. It also serves as a call to trust in God's provision, even when the path forward seems difficult or uncertain.

In a broader sense, the account of the Israelites' longing for onions and other foods from Egypt is a reminder of the importance of gratitude and contentment. It challenges believers to focus on the blessings and promises of God, rather than dwelling on what has been left behind.ONIONS

un'-yunz (betsalim; krommuon): One of the delicacies of Egypt for which the children of Israel pined in the wilderness (Numbers 11:5). The onion, alllium cepa (Natural Order Liliaceae), is known in Arabic as bucal and is cultivated all over Syria and Egypt; it appears to be as much a favorite in the Orient today as ever.

1211. batsal -- an onion
... 1210, 1211. batsal. 1212 . an onion. Transliteration: batsal Phonetic
Spelling: (beh'-tsel) Short Definition: onions. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1211.htm - 5k

! is that Foul Smell...
... But the same gods have given to you both cumin, cress, turnips, onions, parsley,
esculent thistles, radishes, gourds, rue, mint, basil, flea-bane, and chives ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/16 what say you o.htm

Heaven's Nurse Children
... The grace to eat the paschal lamb, to strike the blood upon the lintel, and to gird
up the loins, and leave the land of leeks, and garlic, and onions, is given ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/heavens nurse children.htm

The Morning-Meal in the Pharisee's House - Meals and Feasts among ...
... Others, who were better off, had a soup made of vegetables, especially onions, and
meat, while the very poor would satisfy the cravings of hunger with bread ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii the morning-meal in.htm

Things Unknown
... Israel in Egypt might live on garlic and onions, but Israel in the wilderness must
be fed with the manna that came down from heaven, and with the water that ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/things unknown.htm

Christian Morals. Part ii.
... acceptable; whereby Epicurus himself found Jupiter's brain [96] in a piece of
Cytheridian cheese, and the tongues of nightingales [97] in a dish of onions. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/christian morals/christian morals part ii.htm

Proceeding to the History of Israel, Tertullian Shows that ...
... here have come into our mind the fish which in Egypt we were wont to eat freely,
and the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the ...
/.../chapter v proceeding to the history.htm

Christ Our Passover
... and frozen by the snows, yet we have never since that time gone back to Egypt; although
our hearts may sometimes have desired the leeks, the onions, and the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/christ our passover.htm

The Power of Rome Romanized Aspect of all the Heathen Mythology. ...
... In this want they are even found to be irreligious! For if gods are selected as
onions are, [925] then such as are not chosen are declared to be worthless. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/ad nationes/chapter ix the power of rome.htm

Argument: nor is it Only Hatred that they Arouse against the ...
... These same Egyptians, together with very many of you, are not more afraid of Isis
than they are of the pungency of onions, nor of Serapis more than they ...
/.../felix/the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xxviii argument nor is it.htm

For the Sake of a Nation.
... They had better stomachs than hearts. The odorous onions of Egypt made more
lasting impressions than this tender, patient, planning God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/for the sake of a.htm

Onions (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ONIONS. un'-yunz (betsalim; krommuon ... as ever.
Multi-Version Concordance Onions (1 Occurrence). Numbers 11 ...
/o/onions.htm - 7k

Food (2953 Occurrences)
... It was of "red lentils" that Jacob brewed his fateful pottage (Genesis 25:29, 34),
a stew, probably, in which the lentils were flavored with onions and other ...
/f/food.htm - 36k

Onion
... The Israelites in the wilderness longed for the "onions and garlick of Egypt" (Numbers
11:5). This was the betsel of the Hebrews, the Allium cepe of botanists ...
/o/onion.htm - 6k

Leeks (1 Occurrence)
... word, elsewhere translated "grass," is in Numbers 11:5 rendered "leeks" in all the
ancient VSS, on account of its association with garlic and onions; such a ...
/l/leeks.htm - 7k

Mealtime (1 Occurrence)
... The lentils were sometimes roasted, as they are today, and eaten like "parched corn."
They were sometimes stewed like beans, and flavored with onions and other ...
/m/mealtime.htm - 24k

Meal-time (1 Occurrence)
... The lentils were sometimes roasted, as they are today, and eaten like "parched corn."
They were sometimes stewed like beans, and flavored with onions and other ...
/m/meal-time.htm - 24k

Meals (8 Occurrences)
... The lentils were sometimes roasted, as they are today, and eaten like "parched corn."
They were sometimes stewed like beans, and flavored with onions and other ...
/m/meals.htm - 27k

Onlookers (1 Occurrence)

/o/onlookers.htm - 6k

Garlic (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 11:5 We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt for nothing; the cucumbers,
and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic; (WEB KJV ...
/g/garlic.htm - 8k

Garlick (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 11:5 We have remembered the fish which we do eat in Egypt for nought, the
cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick ...
/g/garlick.htm - 6k

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