Topical Encyclopedia
Dung, commonly referred to as manure or excrement, is mentioned several times in the Bible, often symbolizing waste, uncleanness, or judgment. In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, dung had practical uses as fertilizer, but it also carried connotations of impurity and was used metaphorically to convey disdain or divine judgment.
Old Testament References1.
Fertilizer and Fuel: In the ancient Near East, dung was used as a fertilizer to enrich the soil and as a fuel source for cooking.
Ezekiel 4:12-15 provides an example where God instructs Ezekiel to bake bread using human dung as fuel, symbolizing the defilement of Israel. However, upon Ezekiel's protest, God allows him to use cow dung instead, highlighting the cultural practice of using animal dung for fuel.
2.
Symbol of Judgment and Disgrace: Dung is often used in the Old Testament as a symbol of judgment and disgrace. In
Malachi 2:3, God warns the priests, "Behold, I will rebuke your descendants, and I will spread dung on your faces, the dung of your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it." This vivid imagery underscores the severity of God's displeasure with the priests' corrupt practices.
3.
Uncleanliness: Dung is associated with uncleanness in the Mosaic Law.
Deuteronomy 23:12-14 instructs the Israelites to designate a place outside the camp to relieve themselves and to cover their excrement, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and holiness in the camp where God dwells.
New Testament ReferencesWhile the New Testament does not frequently mention dung, it does use the concept metaphorically. In
Philippians 3:8, the Apostle Paul uses the Greek word "skubalon," often translated as "dung" or "rubbish," to describe all things he once valued compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. This reflects the idea that worldly achievements and status are worthless compared to the spiritual riches found in Christ.
Cultural and Theological SignificanceIn biblical times, dung was a part of daily life, yet it also served as a powerful symbol in Scripture. Its use in metaphors and prophetic imagery underscores themes of purity, judgment, and the transient nature of earthly things. The biblical portrayal of dung reminds believers of the importance of spiritual cleanliness and the futility of worldly pursuits when compared to the eternal value of a relationship with God.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
DungThe uses of dung were two-fold --as manure and as fuel. The manure consisted either of straw steeped in liquid manure, (Isaiah 25:10) or the sweepings, (Isaiah 5:25) of the streets and roads, which were carefully removed from about the houses, and collected in heaps outside the walls of the towns at fixed spots --hence the dung-gate at Jerusalem --and thence removed in due course to the fields. The difficulty of procuring fuel in Syria, Arabia and Egypt has made dung in all ages valuable as a substitute. It was probably used for heating ovens and for baking cakes, (Ezra 4:12,15) the equable heat which it produced adapting it pecularily for the latter operation. Cow's and camels dung is still used for a similar purpose by the Bedouins.
ATS Bible Dictionary
DungAmong the Israelites, the dung of animals was used only for manure, but, when dried, for fuel. In districts where wood is scarce, the inhabitants are very careful in collecting the dung of camels and asses; it is mixed with chopped straw, and dried. It is not unusual to see a whole village with portions of this material adhering to the walls of the cottages to dry; and towards the end of autumn it is piled in conical heaps or stacks on the roof. It is employed in heating ovens, and for other similar purposes,Ezekiel 4:12-16. The use of dung for manure is intimated inIsaiah 25:10.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) Used as manure (Luke 13:8); collected outside the city walls (Nehemiah 2:13). Of sacrifices, burned outside the camp (Exodus 29:14;Leviticus 4:11;8:17;Numbers 19:5). To be "cast out as dung," a figurative expression (1 Kings 14:10;2 Kings 9:37;Jeremiah 8:2;Psalm 18:42), meaning to be rejected as unprofitable.
(2.) Used as fuel, a substitute for firewood, which was with difficulty procured in Syria, Arabia, and Egypt (Ezek. 4:12-15), where cows' and camels' dung is used to the present day for this purpose.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. p.) of Ding.
2. (n.) The excrement of an animal.
3. (v. t.) To manure with dung.
4. (v. t.) To immerse or steep, as calico, in a bath of hot water containing cow dung; -- done to remove the superfluous mordant.
5. (v. i.) To void excrement.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DUNG; DUNG GATEdung ('ashpoth, domen, peresh; skubalon, etc.): Nine different words occurring in the Hebrew have been translated "dung" in the Old Testament. The word used to designate one of the gates of Jerusalem ('ashpoth,Nehemiah 2:13;Nehemiah 3:14) is more general than the others and may mean any kind of refuse. The gate was probably so named because outside it was the general dump heap of the city. Visitors in recent years riding outside the city walls of Jerusalem, on their way to the Mt. of Olives or Jericho, may have witnessed such a dump against the wall, which has existed for generations.
The first mention made of dung is in connection with sacrificial rites. The sacred law required that the dung, along with what parts of the animal were not burned on the altar, should be burned outside the camp (Exodus 29:14Leviticus 4:11;Leviticus 8:17;Leviticus 16:27Numbers 19:5). The fertilizing value of dung was appreciated by the cultivator, as is indicated byLuke 13:8 and possiblyPsalm 83:10 andIsaiah 25:10.
Dung was also used as a fuel.Ezekiel 4:12, 15 will be understood when it is known that the dung of animals is a common fuel throughout Palestine and Syria, where other fuel is scarce. During the summer, villagers gather the manure of their cattle, horses or camels, mix it with straw, make it into cakes and dry it for use as fuel for cooking, especially in the winter when wood or charcoal or straw are not procurable. It burns slowly like peat and meets the needs of the kitchen. In Mesopotamia the writer saw it being used with forced draft to fire a steam boiler. There was no idea of uncleanness in Ezekiel's mind, associated with the use of animal dung as fuel (Ezekiel 4:15).
Figuratively: Dung was frequently used figuratively to express the idea
(a) of worthlessness, especially a perishable article for which no one cares (1 Kings 14:102 Kings 6:25;2 Kings 9:37Job 20:7Psalm 83:10Jeremiah 8:2;Jeremiah 9:22;Jeremiah 16:4;Jeremiah 25:33Zephaniah 1:17Philippians 3:8 (the American Standard Revised Version "refuse")). Dunghill was used in the same way (1 Samuel 2:8Ezra 6:11Psalm 113:7Isaiah 25:10Daniel 2:5;Daniel 3:29Luke 14:35Lamentations 4:5);
(b) as an expression of disgust (2 Kings 18:27Isaiah 36:12);
(c) of rebuke (Malachi 2:3).
James A. Patch
Greek
2874b. koprion --dung... koprion. 2875 .
dung. Transliteration: koprion Short Definition: fertilizer. Word
Origin from the same as kopria Definition
dung NASB Word Usage fertilizer (1
...4657. skubalon -- refuse
... refuse. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: skubalon Phonetic Spelling:
(skoo'-bal-on) Short Definition: refuse, dregs Definition: refuse, dregs,dung...
2874. kopria -- a dunghill
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine; Noun, Neuter Transliteration: kopria Phonetic Spelling:
(kop-ree'-ah) Short Definition: manure Definition: manure; adung-hill....
2874a. kopria -- a dunghill
... a dunghill. Transliteration: kopria Short Definition: manure. Word Origin from kopros
(dung) Definition a dunghill NASB Word Usage manure pile (1)....
954. Beelzeboul -- Beelzebul, a name of Satan
... Beelzebub. Of Chaldee origin (by parody on Ba'al Zbuwb);dung-god; Beelzebul,
a name of Satan -- Beelzebub. see HEBREW Ba'al Zbuwb....
906. ballo -- to throw, cast
... A primary verb; to throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense) --
arise, cast (out), Xdung, lay, lie, pour, put (up), send, strike, throw...
Strong's Hebrew
1561. gelel --dunggelel or gel. 1560, 1561. gelel or gel. 1562 .
dung. Transliteration: gelel
or gel Phonetic Spelling: (gay'-lel) Short Definition:
dung.
...1557. galal --dung
...dung. Transliteration: galal Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-lawl') Short Definition:dung.
Word Origin from galal Definitiondung NASB Word Usagedung (2).dung....
6832. tsephua --dung (of cattle)
... 6831, 6832. tsephua or tsaphia. 6833 .dung (of cattle). Transliteration: tsephua
or tsaphia Phonetic Spelling: (tsef-oo'-ah) Short Definition:dung....
2716. chere --dung
...dung. Transliteration: chere Phonetic Spelling: (kheh'-reh) Short Definition:dung.
Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definitiondung NASB Word Usagedung (2)...
1686. dibyonim -- probably dove'sdung
... 1685, 1686. dibyonim. 1687 . probably dove'sdung. Transliteration: dibyonim
Phonetic Spelling: (dib-yone') Short Definition:dung....
1828. domen --dung
...dung. Transliteration: domen Phonetic Spelling: (do'-men) Short Definition:dung.
Word Origin from an unused word Definitiondung NASB Word Usagedung (6).dung...
2755. chare yonim -- doves'dung
... 2754, 2755. chare yonim. 2756 . doves'dung. Transliteration: chare yonim Phonetic
Spelling: (khar-ay'-yo-neem') Short Definition:dung.... doves'dung...
4087. madmenah -- place ofdung,dung pit
... 4086, 4087. madmenah. 4088 . place ofdung,dung pit. Transliteration: madmenah
Phonetic Spelling: (mad-may-naw') Short Definition: pile....
6627. tseah -- filth, human excrement
... 6626, 6627. tseah. 6628 . filth, human excrement. Transliteration: tseah
Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-aw') Short Definition:dung. Word...
6569. peresh -- fecal matter
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition fecal matter NASB Word Usage refuse
(7).dung. From parash; excrement (as eliminated) --dung. see HEBREW parash....
Library
Philippians iii. 10-Jul
... things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for
whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them butdung, that I...
St. Ambrose Gives Additional Rules Concerning Repentance, and...
... it cumber the ground?" [3049] And unless the vine-dresser should intercede and say:
"Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig about it anddung it, and...
Application of these Motives
... And oh that we may cast out thedung of our pride, contention, self-seeking, and
idleness; lest God should cast our sacrifices asdung in our faces, and should...
Ephesians iv. 17
... "But," say they, "he nourishes the plants and the seeds." What then, at that
rate is not the verydung a god? for even that also nourishes....
The Vengeance of Rome
... I may say the world has become to me butdung and dross, but that I should become
dung and dross to the world, is another matter." For Christ, it was sweet to...
Meditations for the Sick.
... tells us, that there is no more comparison between the joys of eternal life, and
the pleasures of this world, than there is between the filthiestdung and the...
"How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds. "
... Me ewh wan je me noo da ad Owh duh ya bwa yandung. 2 Me ewh wan je pe zaun uh yaud
Owh ma goosh kah dandung; Owh a ya koo zid e ne ne Oo dun wa be e goon....
On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xiii. 6, Where we are Told of the...
... "I will dig about it, and put a basket ofdung about it; if it bear fruit, well;
but if not, thou shalt come and cut it down." [3444] "Thou shalt come:" When?...
Wesley Rides Twenty-Four Hundred Miles in Seven Months
... Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spreaddung upon your faces, even thedung
of your solemn feasts, and one shall take you away with it" [Mal.2-1-3]....
Idols Unprofitable.
... I do not think, if one were to say to a king, I give you an equal share of honour
with that which I give to corpses and to worthlessdung,'"I do not think...
Thesaurus
Dung (27 Occurrences)... Of sacrifices, burned outside the camp (Exodus 29:14; Leviticus 4:11; 8:17; Numbers
19:5). To be "cast out as
dung," a figurative expression (1 Kings 14:10; 2
...Dung-gate (4 Occurrences)
Dung-gate. Dunggate,Dung-gate. Dunghill . Easton's Bible Dictionary (Nehemiah...
Multi-Version ConcordanceDung-gate (4 Occurrences). Nehemiah...
Dung-hill (3 Occurrences)
Dung-hill. Dunghill,Dung-hill. Dunghills . Easton's Bible Dictionary
To... Multi-Version ConcordanceDung-hill (3 Occurrences). 1...
Dung-hills (1 Occurrence)
Dung-hills. Dunghills,Dung-hills.Dung-pit . Multi-Version
ConcordanceDung-hills (1 Occurrence). Lamentations 4:5...
Dung-port (1 Occurrence)
Dung-port.Dung-pit,Dung-port. Duplicates . Multi-Version
ConcordanceDung-port (1 Occurrence). Nehemiah 2:13 And I...
Dung-pit (1 Occurrence)
Dung-pit.Dung-hills,Dung-pit.Dung-port . Multi-Version Concordance
Dung-pit (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 25:10 For in this mountain...
Dunghill (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A heap ofdung.... DUNGHILL.dung'-hil ('ashpoth, 1 Samuel 2:8, madhmenah, etc.,
with other words; kopria, Luke 14:35):Dung heap, or place of refuse....
Offal (6 Occurrences)
... Offal (6 Occurrences). Exodus 29:14 But the flesh of the bullock, and its skin,
and itsdung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp; it is a sin-offering....
Filth (21 Occurrences)
... fil'-thi-nes, fil'-thi (tso'ah, Tum'ah; rhupoo): The word once translated "filth"
in the Old Testament is tso'ah, "excrement" or "dung," elsewhere translated...
Gate (248 Occurrences)
...DUNG;DUNG GATE.dung ('ashpoth, domen, peresh; skubalon, etc.): Nine different
words occurring in the Hebrew have been translated "dung" in the Old Testament....
Resources
What was/is the importance of the gates of Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Beelzebub? | GotQuestions.orgDung: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
