Pulse refers to vegetable food grown from seed, especially herbs, peas, beans, and other legumes. Daniel and his companions requested this kind of food instead of the king’s provisions.
Definition
Pulse refers to vegetable food grown from seed. In the account of Daniel, it denotes herbs or vegetables forming a vegetable diet. The term can also suggest leguminous plants such as peas and beans, though its broader sense includes various things sown.
Biblical Usage
Daniel and his companions requested pulse and water instead of the king’s food, and pulse was provided as their vegetable diet. The supplied material also notes another occurrence where “pulse” is used in connection with parched food, probably referring to leguminous plants.
Historical Background
The biblical words translated pulse are connected with sowing and seed. They may include herbs, grains, barley, wheat, millet, and vetches, while the ordinary English sense especially suggests peas and beans. The precise range depends on the passage.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Dan. 1:12, 16), R.V. “herbs,” vegetable food in general.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(seeds) usually means peas, beans and the seeds that grow in pods. In the Authorized Version it occurs only in (Lamentations 1:12,16) as the translation of words the literal meaning of which is “seeds” of any kind. Probably the term denotes uncooked grain of any kind, as barley wheat, millet, vetches, etc.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>puls (zero'-im (Da 1:12 margin, "herbs"), zere'onim (Da 1:16); compare zerua`, "sowing seed" (Le 11:37), and zeru'im, "things sown" (Isa 61:11)):</p><p>(1) In Da 1:12,16, it must mean herbs or vegetables grown from seeds; a vegetable diet is what is implied.</p><p>(2) In 2Sa 17:28, "pulse" after "parched" is not in the original, but is probably more correct than the translation in (1), as "pulse" usually implies leguminous plants, peas, beans, etc.</p>
