Lexical Summary okel: Food, nourishment, provision Original Word: אֹכֶל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance eating, food, mealtime, meat, prey, victuals From 'akal; food -- eating, food, meal(-time), meat, prey, victuals. see HEBREW 'akal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom akal Definition food NASB Translation food (34), food supply (1), mealtime* (1), prey (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֹ֫כֶל40 noun masculineGenesis 41:36 food (Arabic  , Aramaic אוּכְלָא,  , Assyrian akalu DlW, Ethiopic  ) — ׳א absolute Genesis 41:35 +; construct Genesis 41:35,48; suffix אָכְלֶ֑ךָ Leviticus 25:37; אָכְלו Malachi 1:12, etc.; — Hexateuch mostly J E D, not Ezekiel — food, food-supply, especially cereals of store in Egypt Genesis 41:35 (twice in verse) + 12 t. Genesis 41-44; Genesis 47:24; compare Genesis 14:11(JE); also Leviticus 11:34; Leviticus 25:37 (P) Deuteronomy 2:6,28 (D); ׳נֶשֶׁךְ א usury of food Deuteronomy 23:20 (D) ("" כֶּסֶף ׳נ, etc.); לְעֵת הָאֹבֶל at meal-time Ruth 2:14; in poetry 17 t.; — food Psalm 107:18; of offerings Malachi 1:12; particular food Job 12:11 (as tasted); Job 36:31 (as given by God) so Psalm 145:15; לְהָשִׁיב נָפֶ֑שׁ ׳א Lamentations 1:11 compare Lamentations 1:19; especially cereals Proverbs 13:23; Joel 1:16; Habakkuk 3:17; but also flesh Psalm 78:18; Psalm 78:30; of food (prey) of wild animals Psalm 104:21 ("" טרף):27; of prey of eagles Job 9:26; Job 39:29; ravens Job 38:41. Topical Lexicon Creation and Original Provision The very first appearance of אֹכֶל (ókel, “food”) frames human life under God’s care: “They will be yours for food” (Genesis 1:29). Before sin entered the world, nourishment was an unqualified gift. After the flood the word re-appears when the Creator expands man’s diet to include animals (Genesis 9:3). Thus אֹכֶל marks two covenant stages—Edenic and Noahic—each declaring divine generosity. Patriarchal Stewardship and Famine Joseph’s narrative revolves around אֹכֶל. He “stored up grain in great abundance… for food” (Genesis 41:35-36), preserving nations during drought. What the brothers call simply “food” (Genesis 43:2) becomes a theological sign that God can turn evil intent into blessing (Genesis 50:20-21). The word therefore carries the idea of providence orchestrated through wise administration. Wilderness Training In the desert Israel was taught to trust daily provision: “I will rain down bread from heaven for you” (Exodus 16:4). Though manna itself is named differently, Moses identifies it as “food” (Deuteronomy 2:7; 8:3). The lesson is echoed by Christ—“Man shall not live on bread alone” (Matthew 4:4 quoting Deuteronomy 8:3)—affirming that אֹכֶל ultimately points to God’s word. Cultic and Priestly Usage Leviticus repeatedly calls the sacrificial portions “the food of their God” (Leviticus 21:6-8, 21-22). Here אֹכֶל denotes that which ascends to Yahweh on the altar and also sustains the priesthood. Holiness regulations safeguard this food, teaching that worship and daily sustenance are inseparable. Royal Provision and Government Solomon’s administration required vast “food for one day” (1 Kings 4:22). Later, Nehemiah forgoes “the food allotted to the governor” (Nehemiah 5:14). Both texts use אֹכֶל to evaluate leadership—whether indulgent or self-denying—in light of covenant ethics. Wisdom and Moral Order Proverbs employs the term to illustrate consequences: laziness seeks “food” yet finds none (Proverbs 13:25); the excellent wife “brings her food from afar” (Proverbs 31:14). אֹכֶל thus becomes shorthand for diligence, foresight and righteous satisfaction. Prophetic Promises and Warnings Isaiah foretells a reversal of covenant curse: “Your grain as food will no longer be given to your enemies” (Isaiah 62:8). Joel pictures restored abundance: “The threshing floors will be filled with grain” (Joel 2:24). Conversely, Ezekiel dramatizes scarcity by rationing “food by weight” (Ezekiel 4:10), a sign of impending judgment. Figures of Judgment and Devouring Fire Although literal in most texts, אֹכֶל can be employed metaphorically. A consuming pest or fire is described as “eating” (e.g., Joel 1:4; Isaiah 9:18), reminding readers that what normally sustains life can, under sin’s curse, become an agent of destruction. Christological Foreshadowing The Old Testament pattern of God-given אֹכֶל prepares for Jesus Christ, the true “bread of life” (John 6:35). The feeding miracles and the Last Supper reveal the substance behind every earlier meal: fellowship with God through the Messiah’s broken body. Ministry and Practical Application 1. Hospitality: sharing food enacts the gospel (Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2). Selected References Genesis 1:29; 6:21; 9:3; 41:35-36; 43:2 Exodus 12:4; 16:8; 23:25 Deuteronomy 2:7; 8:3; 11:15 1 Kings 4:22; 17:4 Proverbs 13:25; 31:14 Ezekiel 4:10; 44:7 Theological Summary אֹכֶל traces a redemptive arc from Edenic bounty, through wilderness discipline, into sacrificial worship, royal administration, prophetic hope, and finally Messianic fulfillment. Every appearance reaffirms that the God who feeds bodies also nourishes souls, inviting His people to trust, obey and share His provision. Forms and Transliterations אָכְל֑וֹ אָכְל֔וֹ אָכְל֖וֹ אָכְלֶֽךָ׃ אָכְלָ֖ם אָכְלָ֣ם אָכְלָ֥ם אָכְלָֽם׃ אָכְלֽוֹ׃ אֹ֑כֶל אֹ֔כֶל אֹ֖כֶל אֹ֙כֶל֙ אֹ֣כֶל אֹ֣כֶל ׀ אֹ֥כֶל אֹ֧כֶל אֹ֭כֶל אֹֽכֶל׃ אכל אכל׃ אכלו אכלו׃ אכלך׃ אכלם אכלם׃ בְּאֹ֖כֶל באכל הָאֹ֗כֶל הָאֹ֜כֶל הָאֹ֤כֶל האכל וּֽלְאָכְלְכֶ֛ם ולאכלכם לְאָכְל֑וֹ לאכלו ’ā·ḵə·lām ’ā·ḵə·le·ḵā ’ā·ḵə·lōw ’āḵəlām ’āḵəleḵā ’āḵəlōw ’ō·ḵel ’ōḵel acheLam acheLecha acheLo bə’ōḵel bə·’ō·ḵel beOchel hā’ōḵel hā·’ō·ḵel haOchel lə’āḵəlōw lə·’ā·ḵə·lōw leacheLo ochel ū·lə·’ā·ḵə·lə·ḵem ūlə’āḵələḵem uleacheleChemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 14:11 HEB: וְאֶת־ כָּל־ אָכְלָ֖ם וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃ NAS: and all their food supply, and departed. KJV: and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. INT: and Gomorrah and all their food and departed Genesis 41:35 Genesis 41:35 Genesis 41:36 Genesis 41:48 Genesis 41:48 Genesis 41:48 Genesis 42:7 Genesis 42:10 Genesis 43:2 Genesis 43:4 Genesis 43:20 Genesis 43:22 Genesis 44:1 Genesis 44:25 Genesis 47:24 Exodus 12:4 Exodus 16:16 Exodus 16:18 Exodus 16:21 Leviticus 11:34 Leviticus 25:37 Deuteronomy 2:6 Deuteronomy 2:28 Deuteronomy 23:19 44 Occurrences |
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