### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **pôwl**, represented by `{{H6321}}`, refers to **beans**. Derived from an unused root meaning "to be thick," the word suggests plumpness. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in scripture, where it is always listed as a food staple.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical appearances, `{{H6321}}` is presented as a practical source of sustenance. It is listed among the provisions, including wheat and barley, that were brought to David and his people to sustain them [[2 Samuel 17:28]]. In a different context, the prophet Ezekiel is commanded by God to mix **beans** with wheat, barley, and lentiles into one vessel to make bread, symbolizing a period of scarcity [[Ezekiel 4:9]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words for grains and legumes appear alongside **pôwl**, establishing its context as a common foodstuff:
* `{{H2406}}` **chiṭṭâh** (wheat, whether the grain or the plant; wheat(-en)): This primary grain is mentioned with **beans** in both of its occurrences ([[2 Samuel 17:28]], [[Ezekiel 4:9]]) and is listed as a feature of a promised land [[Deuteronomy 8:8]].
* `{{H8184}}` **sᵉʻôrâh** (barley (as villose); barley): This grain is consistently grouped with **beans** and wheat as a key provision ([[2 Samuel 17:28]], [[Ezekiel 4:9]]) and was a staple of the ancient economy and diet.
* `{{H5742}}` **ʻâdâsh** (a lentil; lentile): Also listed with **beans** in both instances ([[2 Samuel 17:28]], [[Ezekiel 4:9]]), **lentiles** are famously part of the pottage for which Esau sold his birthright [[Genesis 25:34]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H6321}}` is grounded in its practical role within the biblical narrative.
* **Essential Sustenance:** It is consistently shown as a basic foodstuff, part of the provisions necessary to sustain David's company in a time of need [[2 Samuel 17:28]].
* **Ingredient in Hardship:** In Ezekiel's symbolic act, **beans** are combined with other grains to create a bread of scarcity, indicating that they were a known food source used during times of distress [[Ezekiel 4:9]].
* **Agricultural Staple:** The inclusion of **beans** with major crops like wheat `{{H2406}}`, barley `{{H8184}}`, and lentiles `{{H5742}}` solidifies its place as a fundamental component of the agricultural life and diet in ancient Israel.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6321}}` **pôwl** is a straightforward term for **beans**, a food item mentioned infrequently but significantly. Its appearances in scripture, though few, highlight its practical importance as a source of sustenance. Whether provided as a gift in a time of need or used as an ingredient in a symbolic bread of hardship, **pôwl** is defined by its role as a dietary staple alongside the more common grains of the Bible.
TRV