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

Ne 5:1-2 See also Ge 28:20-22; 1Ki 17:12; 1Ki 19:3-8; 2Ki 25:3

Eating as a sign of life and health

Dt 4:28 See also 2Sa 13:5-10; Ps 102:4; Mk 5:35-43 pp Lk 8:49-56; Lk 24:36-43; Jn 6:48-58

Enjoyment of eating as a gift of God

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

God blesses his people with sufficient food

Ps 37:25 See also Lev 26:3-5,23-26; Dt 8:16; Dt 11:15; Dt 12:7; Jos 24:11-13; Ps 22:26; Ps 78:23-29; Ps 127:2; Ps 128:1-2; Pr 13:25; Isa 1:19; Isa 7:22; Isa 65:13,21-22; Joel 2:26; Am 9:14; Mic 6:9-16; Hag 1:5-11

Eating should not be one’s chief priority

Mt 4:1-4 pp Lk 4:1-4 See also Dt 8:3; Nu 11:4-34; Mt 6:25-34 pp Lk 12:22-31; Lk 12:16-20; Col 2:13-17

Eating as a religious observance

Sacrificial meals Ex 18:12 See also Ex 29:32-33; Ex 32:6; Lev 6:14-7:10; Lev 8:31; Lev 21:21-23; Nu 18:8-13; Dt 15:19-20; 1Sa 1:1-5; 1Sa 9:11-13; 1Sa 20:24-29; Eze 44:3; Hos 8:13; Heb 13:9-10

Sacrificial meals for pagan gods Ex 34:15 See also Eze 18:5-6,14-15; Eze 22:9; 1Co 8:4-13; 1Co 10:23-28

The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread Ex 12:1-11 See also Ex 12:14-20; Lev 23:4-8; Nu 28:16-25; Dt 16:1-8; Mt 26:17-19 pp Mk 14:12-16 pp Lk 22:7-13

The Lord’s Supper Mt 26:26-29 pp Mk 14:22-25 pp Lk 22:17-20 See also 1Co 11:23-34

Restrictions on eating

Ge 9:1-4 See also Ge 2:15-17; Ge 3:1-7 Eve and Adam eat the fruit of the tree; Ge 3:22; Ge 32:22-32; Ge 43:32; Ex 22:31; Lev 7:19,22-27; Lev 11:1-47 pp Dt 14:3-20 clean and unclean food; Lev 22:4-8; Lev 23:6; Nu 6:1-4; Dt 12:23-25; Eze 44:31; Mk 7:14-19; Ro 14:1-3,19-21

Eating and hospitality

Eating at a royal court 1Ki 2:7 See also 2Sa 9:1-13; 1Ki 18:19; Da 11:26

Eating as a guest in another’s home Ge 18:3-5 See also Ge 19:3; Ge 43:16; Ex 2:18-20; Jdg 19:5-9; 2Ki 4:8; Pr 23:6-7; Mt 9:9-13 pp Mk 2:14-17 pp Lk 5:27-32; Mt 26:6-7 pp Mk 14:3; Lk 14:1-14

Fasting

Est 4:16 See also 2Sa 3:35; Mt 4:1-2 pp Lk 4:1-2

Cannibalism

Dt 28:53 See also 2Ki 6:24-29; Jer 19:9

Metaphorical references to eating

Jn 6:50 Coming to faith in Jesus Christ; Rev 3:20 Having fellowship with Jesus Christ. See also Ps 14:4 pp Ps 53:4; Ps 141:4; Pr 1:29-31; Pr 4:17; Pr 18:21; Pr 31:27; SS 5:1; Isa 55:1-2; Eze 3:1-3; Mic 3:1-3; Rev 2:7; Rev 10:9; Rev 17:16; Rev 19:17-19

See also