Dictionary of Bible Themes: 4438 eating

4438 eating

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 4000 Creation » 4400 Vegetation and food » 4438 eating

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.

Eating for survival

Nehemiah 5:1-2 See also Genesis 28:20-22; 1 Kings 17:12; Kings 19:3-8; 2 Kings 25:3

Eating as a sign of life and health

Deuteronomy 4:28 See also 2 Samuel 13:5-10; Psalm 102:4; Mark 5:35-43 pp Luke 8:49-56; Luke 24:36-43; John 6:48-58

Enjoyment of eating as a gift of God

Ecclesiastes 3:13 See also Genesis 27:1-25; Ecclesiastes 2:24-25; Ecclesiastes 5:18; Ecclesiastes 8:15; Ecclesiastes 9:7

God blesses his people with sufficient food

Psalm 37:25 See also Leviticus 26:3-5,23-26; Deuteronomy 8:16; Deuteronomy 11:15; Deuteronomy 12:7; Joshua 24:11-13; Psalm 22:26; Psalm 78:23-29; Psalm 127:2; Psalm 128:1-2; Proverbs 13:25; Isaiah 1:19; Isaiah 7:22; Isaiah 65:13,21-22; Joel 2:26; Amos 9:14; Micah 6:9-16; Haggai 1:5-11

Eating should not be one's chief priority

Matthew 4:1-4 pp Luke 4:1-4 See also Deuteronomy 8:3; Numbers 11:4-34; Matthew 6:25-34 pp Luke 12:22-31; Luke 12:16-20; Colossians 2:13-17

Eating as a religious observance

Sacrificial meals

Exodus 18:12 See also Exodus 29:32-33; Exodus 32:6; Leviticus 6:14-7:10; Leviticus 8:31; Leviticus 21:21-23; Numbers 18:8-13; Deuteronomy 15:19-20; 1 Samuel 1:1-5; Samuel 9:11-13; Samuel 20:24-29; Ezekiel 44:3; Hosea 8:13; Hebrews 13:9-10

Sacrificial meals for pagan gods

Exodus 34:15 See also Ezekiel 18:5-6,14-15; Ezekiel 22:9; 1 Corinthians 8:4-13; Corinthians 10:23-28

The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread

Exodus 12:1-11 See also Exodus 12:14-20; Leviticus 23:4-8; Numbers 28:16-25; Deuteronomy 16:1-8; Matthew 26:17-19 pp Mark 14:12-16 pp Luke 22:7-13

The Lord's Supper

Matthew 26:26-29 pp Mark 14:22-25 pp Luke 22:17-20 See also 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

Restrictions on eating

Genesis 9:1-4 See also Genesis 2:15-17; Genesis 3:1-7 Eve and Adam eat the fruit of the tree; Genesis 3:22; Genesis 32:22-32; Genesis 43:32; Exodus 22:31; Leviticus 7:19,22-27; Leviticus 11:1-47 pp Deuteronomy 14:3-20 clean and unclean food; Leviticus 22:4-8; Leviticus 23:6; Numbers 6:1-4; Deuteronomy 12:23-25; Ezekiel 44:31; Mark 7:14-19; Romans 14:1-3,19-21

Eating and hospitality

Eating at a royal court

1 Kings 2:7 See also 2 Samuel 9:1-13; 1 Kings 18:19; Daniel 11:26

Eating as a guest in another's home

Genesis 18:3-5 See also Genesis 19:3; Genesis 43:16; Exodus 2:18-20; Judges 19:5-9; 2 Kings 4:8; Proverbs 23:6-7; Matthew 9:9-13 pp Mark 2:14-17 pp Luke 5:27-32; Matthew 26:6-7 pp Mark 14:3; Luke 14:1-14

Fasting

Esther 4:16 See also 2 Samuel 3:35; Matthew 4:1-2 pp Luke 4:1-2

Cannibalism

Deuteronomy 28:53 See also 2 Kings 6:24-29; Jeremiah 19:9

Metaphorical references to eating

John 6:50 Coming to faith in Jesus Christ ; Revelation 3:20 Having fellowship with Jesus Christ. See also Psalm 14:4 pp Psalm 53:4; Psalm 141:4; Proverbs 1:29-31; Proverbs 4:17; Proverbs 18:21; Proverbs 31:27; Songs 5:1; Isaiah 55:1-2; Ezekiel 3:1-3; Micah 3:1-3; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 10:9; Revelation 17:16; Revelation 19:17-19