Food is a recurring theme in the Bible, symbolizing both physical sustenance and spiritual nourishment. In both the Old and New Testament, food plays a crucial role in illustrating certain truths about spiritual principles, and it is often used to teach about God’s provision, the value of fellowship, gratitude and thanksgiving, the importance of sharing, and dietary laws. Each of these lessons has significant implications for Christian living.
What Significance Does Food Have in the Bible?
Food underlines many essential lessons and principles throughout the Bible. The Bible repeatedly highlights God’s provision of food as a demonstration of His love and care for His people. From the manna given to the wandering Israelites, to the feeding of the five thousand in the New Testament, food serves as a powerful reminder of God’s provision.
In addition, food is often used to symbolize spiritual truths. When Jesus broke the bread during the Last Supper, He used it as a symbol of His body, sacrificed for humanity’s salvation. Food also represents the Word of God, which is described as sweeter than honey and more satisfying than physical food. This metaphor illustrates how reliance on the spiritual nourishment of God’s Word is essential for sustaining the Christian faith.
Why is Gratitude and Thanksgiving for Food Emphasized?
In the Bible, food often accompanies acts of gratitude and thanksgiving. Supplication before meals, for instance, is seen as an integral part of acknowledging God’s provision. This practice serves to connect the physical act of eating with the spiritual act of worship, expressing appreciation for God’s blessings.
Moreover, holidays such as the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and other biblical celebrations, involve food and drink. They serve to acknowledge God’s bounty as well as foster community among believers. In this sense, food becomes a conduit for expressing gratitude, cultivating fellowship, and affirming faith.
Where Does the Bible Address the Importance of Sharing?
Sharing food is also a frequent practice in the Bible. The act of sharing food represents a loving community habit rooted in generosity and empathy. For instance, during the Early Church era, the act of eating together was an essential part of the Christian community’s worship. Believers would gather together to share meals, demonstrating their mutual love and acceptance.
Beyond sharing with fellow believers, the Bible encourages feeding the hungry and caring for the needy. In such acts, food becomes more than mere sustenance; it a tool for practicing generosity, expressing compassion, and building relationships. Through these shared meals, believers are encouraged to uphold the principles of love, generosity, and kindness.
Who Should Follow the Dietary Laws?
In the Old Testament, God gives the Israelites dietary laws in the book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. These dietary laws, such as avoiding certain types of meat, were given as part of God’s covenant with Israel. Customarily, many of these laws aren’t obliged by most Christians today, since they believe their diets aren’t a basis of their righteousness but are a matter of personal conviction and good health.
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul encourages believers to eat whatever their conscience allows and abstain from causing others to stumble. Thus, food becomes a subject of personal discernment, understanding, and respect for the convictions of others. These teachings emphasize the importance of a moderate and balanced approach to eating. The paramount principle isn’t necessarily what one eats but how food can be used to glorify God, meet needs, and foster fellowship among believers.
Below is our full list of bible verses on food (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Food
1 Corinthians 10:31
“31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
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Genesis 1:29
“29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”
John 6:35
“35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
Genesis 9:3
“3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”
1 Corinthians 8:8
“8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.”
1 Timothy 4:4-5
“4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
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Matthew 4:4
“4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
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Ecclesiastes 9:7
“7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.”
Mark 7:14-23
“14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Proverbs 15:17
“17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.”
John 6:27
“27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”
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Isaiah 1:19
“19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:”
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Psalm 104:15
“15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.”
Matthew 6:25
“25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”
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Matthew 5:6
“6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
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Proverbs 25:27
“27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.”
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Psalm 136:25
“25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
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Genesis 1:30
“30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.”
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Psalm 107:9
“9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”
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Malachi 3:10
“10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
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Colossians 2:16-17
“16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
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Proverbs 16:24
“24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
2 Corinthians 9:10
“10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)”
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Genesis 43:11
“11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:”
1 Peter 2:2
“2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
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Proverbs 27:7
“7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”
3 John 1:2
“2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
1 Corinthians 6:13
“13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.”
John 6:51
“51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
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Exodus 16:12
“12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.”
