### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **betsel**, represented by `{{H1211}}`, is defined as an **onion**. The term is derived from an unused root that apparently means "to peel." It is a highly specific term, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire biblical text.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H1211}}` is found in a moment of complaint by the Israelites in the wilderness. In [[Numbers 11:5]], while longing for their former life, they recall the variety of foods they ate freely in Egypt. The **onions** are listed among other remembered provisions, including fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, and garlic, highlighting their dissatisfaction with the manna provided by God.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several other words for foods and plants are used in the same context as **betsel**:
* `{{H7180}}` **qishshuʼ** (cucumber): This word appears in the list of Egyptian foods remembered by the Israelites in their complaint [[Numbers 11:5]].
* `{{H20}}` **ʼăbaṭṭîyach** (melon): Also listed alongside **onions** as a food the people ate in Egypt [[Numbers 11:5]].
* `{{H2682}}` **châtsîyr** (grass; also a leek): In the context of the foods of Egypt, this word is translated as **leeks** [[Numbers 11:5]]. Elsewhere, it is commonly rendered as **grass**, often used metaphorically to describe the temporary nature of humanity [[Isaiah 40:6]].
* `{{H7762}}` **shûwm** (garlic): This is the final item mentioned in the list of remembered Egyptian foods in [[Numbers 11:5]].
### Theological Significance
While `{{H1211}}` itself does not carry a deep theological weight, its context is significant.
* **A Symbol of Worldly Longing:** The **onion** is part of a list that represents the earthly comforts and physical sustenance of Egypt, which the Israelites valued over the divine provision of manna in the wilderness.
* **Focus of Discontent:** The specific memory of **onions** and other foods in [[Numbers 11:5]] becomes the focal point of Israel's rebellion and lack of faith. Their craving for these items reveals a heart turned back toward bondage rather than forward toward the Promised Land.
* **Selective Memory:** The inclusion of **onions** underscores the selective nature of the people's memory, where they recall the "free" food of Egypt but forget the bitterness of their slavery.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1211}}` is a simple word for **onion** whose importance is tied entirely to its singular context. Its appearance in [[Numbers 11:5]] serves as a powerful detail in the narrative of Israel's unfaithfulness in the desert. It illustrates how a common, everyday object can become a symbol of human discontent and a preference for past comforts over God's present and future promises.
TRV