The act of tasting is used figuratively of experiencing the goodness of God and his word and of a variety of experiences: misery, sin, wisdom, love, death and blessing.
The taste of food or drink
Exodus 16:31 See also Genesis 25:28, Genesis 27:4, Genesis 27:7, Genesis 27:9, Genesis 27:14, Genesis 27:17, Genesis 27:31; Numbers 11:7–8; 2 Samuel 19:34–35; John 2:9
Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.
Legalistic prohibitions against tasting certain foods are condemned by Paul
If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.
Taste used figuratively
Of the experience of misery
Job 6:6–7 In his complaint against God, Job compares the unacceptability of his lot to inedible food. See also Job 27:2
Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg? My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.
Of the experience of the goodness of God
Psalm 34:8 See also Hebrews 6:4–5; 1 Peter 2:3
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Of the experience of the goodness of the word of God
Psalm 119:103 See also Psalm 19:10; Jeremiah 15:16; Ezekiel 3:3; Revelation 10:9–10
How sweet are Your words to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth!
Of the experience of sin
Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
Of the experience of wisdom
Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste. Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.
Of the experience of love
Song of Solomon 2:3 See also Song of Solomon 4:11, Song of Solomon 4:16
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
Of the effectiveness of Christian influence
Matthew 5:13 parallel Luke 14:34–35
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
Of the experience of death
Hebrews 2:9 See also Matthew 16:28 parallels Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27; John 8:52
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Of the blessings of the kingdom of God
To determine not to taste food until a task was completed was commonly used as an oath
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.