Lentiles. A leguminous plant, produce ing a kind of pulse resembling small beans. They are chiefly used for pottage, which is of a red or chocolate color. Such was that for which Esau sold his birthright Genesis 25:29-34. An illustration of this is furnished in the tomb-paintings of Egypt, where there is a representation of a man cooking lentiles for soup or porridge. Sometimes lentiles, in seasons of scarcity, and by the poor, were employed for making bread. Ezekiel 4:9. Mixed with barley they are said to be frequently so used in the southern parts of Egypt.