Esek in the Bible — Hidden Meaning & Symbolism

oppression strife; violence; injury; distress; straits, contention. A well that Isaac's herdsmen dug in the valley."And the herdsmen of Gerar strove with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him" (Gen. 26:20). Meta. A warring that takes place in the subconsciousness (valley) between the sense animal desires (the herdsmen of Gerar, a Philistine city) and the attempt of the awakening spiritual understanding (Isaac, a type of Christ,) to lift up the animal forces of the organism. The digging of the well signifies the uncovering of, or coming into touch with, the hidden life force. This is accomplished by Isaac's herdsmen, the spiritual thoughts that have care of the forces in man that are represented by the animals. These thoughts desire to elevate these seemingly animal qualities to a spiritual basis of expression; but the energy and vigor of life that man gains by his conscious contact with Spirit are claimed at once by his sense desires to be used for their gratification and pleasure, for the strengthening of sense instead of the building up of his spiritual nature. Thus contention and strife (Esek) arise.