The consumption of food, necessary for survival. Scripture cites enjoyment of eating as a gift of God but emphasises that it is not the main priority in life, for God will provide abundantly for his children.

Nehemiah 5:1-2

Eating for survival

See also

Genesis 28:20-22
1 Kings 17:12; 19:3-8
2 Kings 25:3
Deuteronomy 4:28

Eating as a sign of life and health

See also

2 Samuel 13:5-10
Psalms 102:4
Mark 5:35-43
Luke 24:36-43
John 6:48-58

pp Lk 8:49-56

Ecclesiastes 3:13

Enjoyment of eating as a gift of God

See also

Genesis 27:1-25
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25; 5:18; 8:15; 9:7
Psalms 37:25

God blesses his people with sufficient food

See also

Leviticus 26:3-5,23-26
Deuteronomy 8:16; 11:15; 12:7
Joshua 24:11-13
Psalms 22:26; 78:23-29; 127:2; 128:1-2
Proverbs 13:25
Isaiah 1:19; 7:22; 65:13,21-22
Joel 2:26
Amos 9:14
Micah 6:9-16
Haggai 1:5-11
Matthew 4:1-4

Eating should not be one's chief priority

See also

Deuteronomy 8:3

pp Lk 4:1-4

Numbers 11:4-34
Matthew 6:25-34
Luke 12:16-20
Colossians 2:13-17

pp Lk 12:22-31

Exodus 18:12

Eating as a religious observance

See also

Sacrificial meals

Exodus 29:32-33; 32:6
Leviticus 6:14-7:10; 8:31; 21:21-23
Numbers 18:8-13
Deuteronomy 15:19-20
1 Samuel 1:1-5; 9:11-13; 20:24-29
Ezekiel 44:3
Hosea 8:13
Hebrews 13:9-10
Exodus 34:15

See also

Sacrificial meals for pagan gods

Ezekiel 18:5-6,14-15; 22:9
1 Corinthians 8:4-13; 10:23-28
Exodus 12:1-11

See also

The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread

Exodus 12:14-20
Leviticus 23:4-8
Numbers 28:16-25
Deuteronomy 16:1-8
Matthew 26:17-19

pp Mk 14:12-16

Matthew 26:26-29

pp Lk 22:7-13

The Lord's Supper

See also

pp Mk 14:22-25

1 Corinthians 11:23-34

pp Lk 22:17-20

Genesis 9:1-4

Restrictions on eating

See also

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
Genesis 3:22; 32:22-32; 43:32
Exodus 22:31

Eve and Adam eat the fruit of the tree

Leviticus 7:19,22-27; 11:1-47
Leviticus 22:4-8; 23:6

pp Dt 14:3-20

Numbers 6:1-4

clean and unclean food

Deuteronomy 12:23-25
Ezekiel 44:31
Mark 7:14-19
Romans 14:1-3,19-21
1 Kings 2:7

Eating and hospitality

See also

Eating at a royal court

2 Samuel 9:1-13
1 Kings 18:19
Daniel 11:26
Genesis 18:3-5

See also

Eating as a guest in another's home

Genesis 19:3; 43:16
Exodus 2:18-20
Judges 19:5-9
2 Kings 4:8
Proverbs 23:6-7
Matthew 9:9-13
Matthew 26:6-7

pp Mk 2:14-17

pp Lk 5:27-32

Luke 14:1-14

pp Mk 14:3

Esther 4:16

Fasting

See also

2 Samuel 3:35
Matthew 4:1-2

pp Lk 4:1-2

Deuteronomy 28:53

Cannibalism

See also

2 Kings 6:24-29
Jeremiah 19:9
John 6:50

Metaphorical references to eating

Revelation 3:20

Coming to faith in Jesus Christ

See also

Psalms 14:4

Having fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Psalms 141:4
Proverbs 1:29-31; 4:17; 18:21; 31:27

pp Ps 53:4

Songs 5:1
Isaiah 55:1-2
Ezekiel 3:1-3
Micah 3:1-3
Revelation 2:7; 10:9; 17:16; 19:17-19

See also

4293 water
4404 food
4410 banquets
4476 meals
5312 feasting
7328 ceremonies
7354 feasts and festivals
7406 Passover
7435 sacrifice, in OT
7933 Lord's Supper
8434 giving
8445 hospitality