Bible Encyclopedias
Breed

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

brēd : Found in the past tense in Exodus 16:20 as a translation of רוּם , rūm = "to bring up," "to rise." In this verse, the manna is said to have arisen, i.e. "become alive" (with worms), to indicate that God's gifts are spoiled by selfish and miserly hoarding. The pres. act. occurs in Genesis 8:17 for שׁרץ , shārac = "to wriggle," "swarm," "abound," hence, "breed abundantly"; and in Deuteronomy 32:14 for בּן , bēn = "son," "descendant," "child," "colt," "calf," "breed." The present participle is found in Zephaniah 2:9 the King James Version for ממשׁק , mimshāḳ , a derivative of משׁק fo evit , mesheḳ = "possession," "territory," "field." The passage in question should therefore be translated "field of nettles" (the Revised Version (British and American) "possession of nettles").