In the context of biblical literature, the term "browse" is not directly mentioned in the Scriptures. However, the concept of browsing, particularly in relation to animals grazing or feeding on foliage, can be inferred from various passages that describe pastoral and agricultural life in ancient Israel.

Pastoral Imagery in Scripture

The Bible frequently uses pastoral imagery to convey spiritual truths, often depicting God as a shepherd and His people as sheep. This imagery is rich with references to grazing and feeding, which are akin to browsing. For instance, Psalm 23:1-2 states, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters." Here, the "green pastures" symbolize a place of provision and rest, where sheep would browse and find sustenance.

Agricultural Practices

In ancient Israel, agriculture and animal husbandry were central to daily life. The land was often described in terms of its ability to support livestock. Deuteronomy 11:15 promises, "And I will provide grass in your fields for your livestock, and you will eat and be satisfied." This verse highlights the importance of fertile land for grazing, which would allow animals to browse and thrive.

Symbolism of Browsing

Browsing, in a symbolic sense, can also be related to the spiritual nourishment that believers receive from God's Word. Just as animals browse to sustain themselves physically, Christians are encouraged to "feed" on Scripture for spiritual growth. In John 6:35 , Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst." This metaphorical language underscores the idea of finding sustenance and satisfaction in Christ.

Prophetic Imagery

Prophetic books often use the imagery of animals and their feeding habits to convey messages of judgment or restoration. In Isaiah 11:6-7 , a vision of peace is described: "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and young lion and fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox." This passage envisions a future harmony in creation, where natural enemies browse peacefully side by side.

Conclusion

While the specific term "browse" is not found in the Bible, the concept is woven throughout the Scriptures in the context of pastoral life, agricultural practices, and spiritual symbolism. The imagery of grazing and feeding serves as a powerful metaphor for God's provision and the spiritual nourishment found in a relationship with Him.1. (n.) The tender branches or twigs of trees and shrubs, fit for the food of cattle and other animals; green food.

2. (n.) To eat or nibble off, as the tender branches of trees, shrubs, etc.; -- said of cattle, sheep, deer, and some other animals.

3. (n.) To feed on, as pasture; to pasture on; to graze.

4. (v. i.) To feed on the tender branches or shoots of shrubs or trees, as do cattle, sheep, and deer.

5. (v. i.) To pasture; to feed; to nibble.

Hypotheses Hypochondriacae {211}
... The deer should browse around her undisturbed; The whin bird by, her lonely nest
should build All fearless; for in life she loved to see Happiness in all things ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/hypotheses hypochondriacae 211.htm

The Fourth Beatitude
... possessed. Better to climb, though the summit be far and the path be steep,
than to browse amongst the herds in the fat valleys. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the fourth beatitude.htm

The Heavenly Race
... in this life they make a trip, and down they go; the church discovers them, and
they are sent out like the ass stripped of the lion's skin to browse once more ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the heavenly race.htm

Further Proofs of the Same Proposition, Drawn from the Promises ...
... shall do no harm, nor have power to hurt anything in my holy mountain." And again
he says, in recapitulation, "Wolves and lambs shall then browse together, and ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxiii further proofs of the.htm

The Death of Darius.
... The island is now silent, deserted, and desolate, a dreary pasture, where cattle
browse and feed, with stupid indifference, among the ancient ruins. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter xii the death of.htm

The Rock and the Water
... Many of you have no wish for God, and no desire after high and noble things, and
are perfectly contented to browse on the low levels, or to feed on 'the husks ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the rock and the water.htm

A Discourse of the Building, Nature, Excellency, and Government of ...
... us'd to oppose; Those under hedges, high-way men, or they That would not God, nor
yet good men obey; Those that among the bushes us'd to browse, Or under ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse of the building.htm

Sky, Earth, and Sea: a Parable of God
... But upon the level where we live there are the green fields where the cattle browse,
and the birds sing, and men live and till and reap and are fed. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/sky earth and sea a.htm

The Lively Stones. Rev. W. Morley Punshon.
... No filleted firstling need now be led to the altar, the flocks of Kedar and the
rams of Nebaioth may browse quietly in their pastures, for the Great Sacrifice ...
/.../king/the wesleyan methodist pulpit in malvern/the lively stones rev w.htm

The Cocal
... But the Manatis usually only come in at night, to put their heads out of water and
browse on the lowest mangrove leaves; and the Boas hide themselves so ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xiii the cocal.htm

Browse (2 Occurrences)
... cattle, sheep, and deer. 5. (vi) To pasture; to feed; to nibble. Multi-Version
Concordance Browse (2 Occurrences). Song of Songs 4 ...
/b/browse.htm - 7k

Brows (10 Occurrences)

/b/brows.htm - 9k

Graze (11 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To feed on; to eat (growing herbage); to eat grass from (a pasture);
to browse. 3. (vt) To tend (cattle, etc.) while grazing. ...
/g/graze.htm - 10k

Philippians (2 Occurrences)
... To-day, in silent meadows, quiet cattle browse among the ruins which Mark the site
of what was once the flourishing Roman colony of Philippi, the home of the ...
/p/philippians.htm - 42k

Browses (2 Occurrences)

/b/browses.htm - 6k

Crop (33 Occurrences)
... 10. (n.) A riding whip with a loop instead of a lash. 11. (vt) To cut off the tops
or tips of; to bite or pull off; to browse; to pluck; to mow; to reap. 12. ...
/c/crop.htm - 17k

Myrrh (22 Occurrences)
... In Cyprus at the present time the gum is collected from the beards of the goats
that browse on these shrubs, as was done in the days of Herodotus iii.112). ...
/m/myrrh.htm - 18k

Thorn (30 Occurrences)
... their uses. On them the goats and camels browse; scarcely any thorns seem
to be too sharp for their hardened palates. The thorny ...
/t/thorn.htm - 35k

Flesh (468 Occurrences)
... their uses. On them the goats and camels browse; scarcely any thorns seem
to be too sharp for their hardened palates. The thorny ...
/f/flesh.htm - 69k

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