מַכֹּלֶת
nourishment
Definition
מַכֹּלֶת (makkôleth) refers to nourishment or food, specifically denoting sustenance provided for consumption. In its sole biblical occurrence in 1 Kings 5:11, it describes the provisions King Solomon sent to King Hiram of Tyre as part of their agreement for building materials for the temple. The term emphasizes not just any food, but a regular, supplied provision, likely of high quality given the royal context. It conveys the idea of sustenance that supports life and enables work or service.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Kings 5:11. It is used in a diplomatic and economic context, detailing the annual payment of food from Solomon to Hiram in exchange for cedar and cypress timber and skilled labor for the temple construction. The usage highlights a formal, covenantal provision of sustenance rather than casual eating.
Etymology
Derived from the root אָכַל (ʾākhal, H398), meaning 'to eat' or 'to consume.' As a noun formed from this root, מַכֹּלֶת specifically denotes 'that which is eaten' or 'nourishment.' It is related to other words for food like מַאֲכָל (maʾăkhāl, H3978), but with a nuance of supplied provision.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word theologically underscores God's provision through human means. In 1 Kings 5:11, the nourishment supplied by Solomon enables the fulfillment of God's command to build the temple, linking daily sustenance to divine purpose. It reminds readers that God often provides through structured agreements and human generosity to accomplish His work.
In the ancient Near East, food payments were a common form of royal exchange and treaty fulfillment. Solomon's provision of 'makkôleth' to Hiram reflects a typical diplomatic arrangement where one kingdom supplied agricultural products (like wheat and oil) in return for resources or services, showcasing the economic interdependence of Israel and Phoenicia during the united monarchy.
מַאֲכָל (maʾăkhāl, H3978) — a more general term for food or something eaten. לֶחֶם (lekhem, H3899) — often 'bread' but broadly used for food or sustenance, especially basic provisions.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →