מַאֲכָל

an eatable (includ. provender, flesh and fruit)

Definition

The Hebrew noun מַאֲכָל (maʼăkâl) refers broadly to any kind of food or edible substance. It encompasses the full range of what is consumed, including plant-based food like fruit (Genesis 2:9, 3:6), grain-based provisions or provender (Genesis 6:21), and meat or baked goods (Genesis 40:17). In legal contexts, it can specify the produce of a tree, as in Leviticus 19:23 regarding fruit from newly planted trees. Its meaning is flexible, defined by context, covering everything from human sustenance to animal fodder.

Biblical Usage

מַאֲכָל is used 29 times across various genres, including narrative, law, and prophecy. It frequently appears in stories about provision, such as God instructing Noah to gather food for the ark (Genesis 6:21) or the food in Pharaoh's baker's dream (Genesis 40:17). In legal texts, it regulates the use of food resources, like the fruit of young trees (Leviticus 19:23) or siege provisions (Deuteronomy 20:20). It also appears in covenantal curses, describing the fate of the disobedient (Deuteronomy 28:26).

Etymology

The word is a nominal form derived from the common Hebrew root אָכַל (ʼākal, H398), meaning 'to eat' or 'to consume.' As a noun derived from this verb, מַאֲכָל literally means 'that which is eaten' or 'food.' This derivation highlights its fundamental connection to the act of eating and sustenance.

Semantic Range

מַאֲכָל is significant in narratives of divine provision and human obedience. In Genesis, it is central to the story of the Garden of Eden (the tree's fruit as 'good for food' in Genesis 3:6) and God's command to Noah to preserve life. Its use in covenantal contexts (Deuteronomy 28:26) ties the concept of food directly to blessings and curses, making sustenance a matter of theological consequence and a sign of God's favor or judgment.

In the ancient Near East, 'food' was not a generic concept but intimately tied to survival, hospitality, and religious practice. מַאֲכָל could refer to basic staples like grain, which was far more central to the diet than meat for most people, as well as luxury items like choice fruits. Understanding it as 'eatable' includes animal fodder, reflecting an agrarian society where the line between human and animal provisions was practical, not absolute.

לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — specifically 'bread' or 'grain food,' often meaning a basic meal or staple. אֹכֶל (ʼōkel, H400) — another noun from the same root, very close in meaning but less frequent; it can emphasize the act of eating or the food itself. תְּבוּאָה (tᵉḇûʼâ, H8393) — 'produce' or 'yield,' specifically from the ground or harvest.

Word Details

Scripture References