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, 1 Kings 19:3–8; 2 Kings 25:3

About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.”

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 parallel Luke 8:49–56; Luke 24:36–43; John 6:48–58

And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.

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

and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor — this is the gift of God.

God blesses his people with sufficient food

Psalm 37:25 See also Leviticus 26:3–5, Leviticus 26:23–26; 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, Isaiah 65:21–22; Joel 2:26; Amos 9:14; Micah 6:9–16; Haggai 1:5–11

I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.

Eating should not be one's chief priority

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

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

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, 1 Samuel 9:11–13, 1 Samuel 20:24–29; Ezekiel 44:3; Hosea 8:13; Hebrews 13:9–10

Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.

Sacrificial meals for pagan gods

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

Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices.

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 parallels Mark 14:12–16, Luke 22:7–13

The Lord's Supper

Matthew 26:26–29 parallels Mark 14:22–25, Luke 22:17–20 See also 1 Corinthians 11:23–34

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

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, Leviticus 7:22–27, Leviticus 11:1–47 parallel 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, Romans 14:19–21

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on every living creature on the earth, every bird of the air, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are delivered into your hand. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you all things. But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.

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

But show loving devotion to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

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 parallels Mark 2:14–17, Luke 5:27–32; Matthew 26:6–7 parallel Mark 14:3; Luke 14:1–14

“My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. After that, you may continue on your way.” “Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”

Fasting

Esther 4:16 See also 2 Samuel 3:35; Matthew 4:1–2 parallel Luke 4:1–2

“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

Cannibalism

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

Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you.

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 parallel Psalm 53:4; Psalm 141:4; Proverbs 1:29–31, Proverbs 4:17, Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 31:27; Song of Solomon 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

This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.