אֹכֶל
food
Definition
The Hebrew noun אֹכֶל (ʼôkel) primarily means 'food' or 'that which is eaten.' It refers to sustenance in a general sense, such as the provisions gathered during the seven years of plenty in Egypt (Genesis 41:35-36). In some contexts, it can denote a specific 'meal' or 'meal-time,' as when Joseph's brothers are invited to dine (Genesis 43:16, 25). The word can also extend metaphorically to 'prey' for animals, emphasizing consumption (e.g., Ezekiel 34:8).
Biblical Usage
אֹכֶל appears 41 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in narrative books like Genesis, Exodus, and Nehemiah. It is frequently used in contexts of provision, storage, and consumption. Key examples include the story of Joseph, where it describes the stored grain for the famine (Genesis 41:35, 48), and the account of the plunder taken from Sodom (Genesis 14:11). It also appears in legal and prophetic texts concerning sustenance and survival (e.g., Leviticus 25:7, Ezekiel 34:8).
Etymology
The noun אֹכֶל is derived from the common Hebrew root אכל (ʼākal, H398), meaning 'to eat' or 'to consume.' This root is widespread in Semitic languages, appearing in Akkadian and Ugaritic with similar meanings. The noun form essentially denotes the concrete result or object of the action—'that which is eaten.' Its meaning development is straightforward, moving from the act of eating to the substance consumed.
Semantic Range
אֹכֶל is significant in narratives of divine provision and human stewardship. In Genesis, God's forewarning and Joseph's wise storage of אֹכֶל become instruments of salvation for Israel and Egypt, highlighting God's sovereignty over creation and human affairs. The word also touches on themes of trust, as seen when Jacob's family must go to Egypt for food (Genesis 43:2), and justice, as in laws ensuring the poor have access to sustenance (Leviticus 25:7). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by connecting physical nourishment to God's covenantal care.
In ancient Israelite culture, אֹכֶל was not merely about nutrition but survival and social stability. Storing food, as in Egypt, was a critical strategy against famine. Sharing a meal (אֹכֶל) often carried covenantal or relational significance, as seen in hospitality customs. The concept of 'prey' as אֹכֶל reflects an agrarian and pastoral worldview where the provision for animals was part of the natural order.
לֶחֶם (leḥem, H3899) — 'bread' or 'food,' often a more specific staple; מַאֲכָל (maʼăkāl, H3978) — 'food' or 'something edible,' a close synonym; תְּרוּמָה (terûmâh, H8641) — 'contribution' or 'offering,' sometimes of food for priests.
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.
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