Provender
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Provender in the Bible?
Provender refers to fodder for cattle, including straw, vetch, bran, and hay. It was an important aspect of agriculture in ancient Palestine.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the specific types of provender used helps readers understand the economic constraints and daily labor described in biblical narratives involving shepherds and farmers.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Provender. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Provender in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Provender clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Provender." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/provender/