In the Bible, the concept of appetite is often used metaphorically to describe human desires and inclinations, both physical and spiritual. The Scriptures provide guidance on how to manage and understand these appetites in a way that aligns with God's will.

Physical Appetite:

The Bible acknowledges the natural human need for food and drink, yet it warns against gluttony and overindulgence. Proverbs 23:1-3 advises, "When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you, and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive." This passage highlights the importance of self-control and discernment, especially in situations where indulgence might lead to moral compromise.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul addresses the issue of physical appetite in the context of Christian liberty. In 1 Corinthians 6:12-13 , he writes, "'Everything is permissible for me,' but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible for me,' but I will not be mastered by anything. 'Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,' but God will destroy them both." Here, Paul emphasizes that while Christians have freedom, they should not be dominated by their appetites.

Spiritual Appetite:

The Bible also speaks to the spiritual appetite, encouraging believers to hunger and thirst for righteousness. In the Beatitudes, Jesus declares, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6). This spiritual appetite is portrayed as a deep longing for God's presence and a desire to live according to His commandments.

Psalm 42:1-2 beautifully captures the essence of spiritual longing: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?" This imagery of thirst and longing underscores the believer's need for a relationship with God, which is as essential as physical sustenance.

Appetite and Temptation:

The Bible also addresses how unchecked appetites can lead to temptation and sin. In Genesis 3, the serpent tempts Eve by appealing to her appetite for the forbidden fruit, leading to the fall of humanity. Similarly, Esau's impulsive decision to sell his birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29-34) serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing immediate gratification over long-term blessings.

In the New Testament, James 1:14-15 explains the process of temptation: "But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." This passage highlights the progression from unchecked desire to sin, emphasizing the need for vigilance and self-control.

Appetite and Self-Control:

Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and is essential in managing both physical and spiritual appetites. Proverbs 25:28 states, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper." This proverb illustrates the vulnerability that comes from a lack of self-discipline, likening it to a defenseless city.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul speaks of those "whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things" (Philippians 3:19). This warning serves as a reminder that when appetites become idols, they can lead one away from God.

Overall, the Bible provides a comprehensive view of appetite, encouraging believers to cultivate a hunger for righteousness while exercising self-control over physical desires. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Christians are called to align their appetites with God's will, seeking fulfillment in Him above all else.1. (n.) The desire for some personal gratification, either of the body or of the mind.

2. (n.) Desire for, or relish of, food or drink; hunger.

3. (n.) Any strong desire; an eagerness or longing.

4. (n.) Tendency; appetency.

5. (n.) The thing desired.

APPETITE

ap'-e-tit (chai, nephesh): This word occurs four times in Old Testament text and once in the King James Version margin. Once (Job 38:39) it is a translation of chai, "life"; "Canst thou. satisfy the appetite (life) of the young lions?" Twice (Proverbs 23:2 Ecclesiastes 6:7; also Isaiah 56:11, the King James Version margin) it is a translation of nephesh: Proverbs 23:2, ba`al nephesh "a man given to appetite"; Ecclesiastes 6:7, "the nephesh is not filled." In Isaiah 56:11, "strong of nephesh" is translated "greedy." Nephesh means originally "breath," hence "the soul," psuche, "the vital principle," "life"; therefore in certain expressions referring to the sustaining of life the nephesh hungers (Proverbs 10:3), thirsts (Proverbs 25:25), fasts (Psalm 69:10). Nephesh then comes to mean the seat of the senses, affections, emotions, and to it is ascribed love, joy, desire (compare Deuteronomy 12:20 Proverbs 6:30 the Revised Version, margin; Micah 7:1, where the nephesh "desires"). The idea of desire or appetite of the nephesh may include all forms of longing; e.g. lust (Jeremiah 2:24; "her desire" is literally "the desire of her nephesh"), the appetite for revenge (Psalm 41:2, "the will of his enemies" is literally "the nephesh," etc.). The next step is to identify the nephesh with its desire, hence in the cases above nephesh is translated "appetite." In the 4th case (Isaiah 29:8) "His soul hath appetite" is a free translation of naphsho shoqeqah, literally "His soul runneth to and fro."

S. F. Hunter

3552. noseo -- to be sick
... dote. From nosos; to be sick, ie (by implication, of a diseased appetite) to hanker
after (figuratively, to harp upon) -- dote. see GREEK nosos. 3551, 3552. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3552.htm - 6k

3715. orexis -- desire, longing
... of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: orexis Phonetic Spelling: (or'-ex-is)
Short Definition: strong desire, lust Definition: strong desire, lust, appetite ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3715.htm - 6k

2237. hedone -- pleasure
... to the () . 2237 ("satisfaction of physical appetite") has a strong , generally
referring to pleasure that is made an . That is, the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2237.htm - 7k

2719. katesthio -- to eat up
... 2068 , "eat") -- properly, eat all the way ; (figuratively) devour, leaving nothing;
consume all the way , ie with a rapacious, voracious appetite -- leaving ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2719.htm - 8k

2836. koilia -- belly
... Word Origin from koilos (hollow) Definition belly NASB Word Usage appetite (1),
appetites (1), belly (1), innermost being (1), stomach (7), womb (11), wombs (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2836.htm - 6k

776. asitia -- abstinence from food
... abstinence, a fast Definition: either: lack or wheat, lack of food (the literal
meaning), or: abstinence from food, a fast, loss of appetite, sea-sickness (the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/776.htm - 6k

1468. egkrates -- strong, master of, self-controlled
... temperate. From en and kratos; strong in a thing (masterful), ie (figuratively and
reflexively) self-controlled (in appetite, etc.) -- temperate. see GREEK en. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1468.htm - 7k

5315. nephesh -- a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire ...
... a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion.
Transliteration: nephesh Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-fesh) Short Definition: soul. ...
/hebrew/5315.htm - 7k

8264. shaqaq -- to run, run about, rush
... have appetite, long, range, run to and fro. A primitive root; to course
(like a beast of prey); by implication, to seek greedily ...
/hebrew/8264.htm - 6k

2416. chay -- alive, living
... Definition: age. age, alive, appetite, wild beast, company, congregation,
lifetime, lively, From chayah; alive; hence, raw (flesh ...
/hebrew/2416.htm - 6k

2421b. chayyah -- living thing, animal
... Word Origin from chayah Definition living thing, animal NASB Word Usage animals
(2), appetite (1), beast (27), beasts (43), creature (2), creatures (3), life (9 ...
/hebrew/2421b.htm - 5k

Spiritual Appetite
... Spiritual Appetite. A Sermon (No.1227) delivered ... It is a great blessing when
food and appetite meet together. Some have appetite and no ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/spiritual appetite.htm

Whether the Act of the Sensitive Appetite is Commanded?
... OF THE ACTS COMMANDED BY THE WILL (NINE ARTICLES) Whether the act of the sensitive
appetite is commanded? ... But to lust is an act of the sensitive appetite. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the act of the 3.htm

Whether Delight is in the Intellectual Appetite?
... OF DELIGHT CONSIDERED IN ITSELF [*Or, Pleasure] (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether
delight is in the intellectual appetite? Objection 1: It ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether delight is in the.htm

Whether Passion is in the Sensitive Appetite Rather than in the ...
... TREATISE ON THE PASSIONS (QQ -48)OF THE SUBJECT OF THE SOUL'S PASSIONS (THREE ARTICLES)
Whether passion is in the sensitive appetite rather than in the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether passion is in the 2.htm

Whether the Appetite is a Special Power of the Soul?
... OF THE APPETITIVE POWERS IN GENERAL (TWO ARTICLES) Whether the appetite
is a special power of the soul? Objection 1: It would seem ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the appetite is a.htm

Whether the Sensitive Appetite is Divided into the Irascible and ...
... OF THE POWER OF SENSUALITY (THREE ARTICLES) Whether the sensitive appetite is
divided into the irascible and concupiscible as distinct powers? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sensitive appetite is.htm

Whether Concupiscence is in the Sensitive Appetite Only?
... OF CONCUPISCENCE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether concupiscence is in the sensitive appetite
only? ... Therefore concupiscence is not only in the sensitive appetite. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether concupiscence is in the.htm

Whether Humility Has to do with the Appetite?
... OF HUMILITY (SIX ARTICLES) Whether humility has to do with the appetite?
Objection 1: It would seem that humility concerns, not ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether humility has to do.htm

Whether the Will is Moved by a Passion of the Senstive Appetite?
... OF THE CAUSE OF SIN, ON THE PART OF THE SENSITIVE APPETITE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether
the will is moved by a passion of the senstive appetite? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the will is moved 11.htm

Whether There is an Irascible and a Concupiscible Appetite in the ...
... THE WILL OF THE ANGELS (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether there is an irascible and
a concupiscible appetite in the angels? Objection 1: It ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there is an irascible.htm

Appetite (22 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. APPETITE. ap'-e-tit (chai, nephesh): This word occurs
four times in Old Testament text and once in the King James Version margin. ...
/a/appetite.htm - 15k

Lust (42 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Longing desire; eagerness to possess or enjoy; -- in a had sense; as,
the lust of gain. 4. (n.) Licentious craving; sexual appetite. ...
/l/lust.htm - 24k

Relish (1 Occurrence)
... 5. (n.) Savor; quality; characteristic tinge. 6. (n.) A taste for; liking;
appetite; fondness. 7. (n.) That which is used to impart ...
/r/relish.htm - 7k

Satisfy (32 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 23:24 When thou comest into thy neighbor's vineyard, then thou mayest
satisfy thy appetite with grapes at thy own pleasure; but thou shalt not put ...
/s/satisfy.htm - 16k

Satiate (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To satisfy the appetite or desire of; to feed to the full; to furnish enjoyment
to, to the extent of desire; to sate; as, to satiate appetite or sense. ...
/s/satiate.htm - 7k

Stomach (40 Occurrences)
... See Gastric. 2. (n.) The desire for food caused by hunger; appetite; as, a good
stomach for roast beef. 3. (n.) Hence appetite in general; inclination; desire. ...
/s/stomach.htm - 19k

Keen (3 Occurrences)
... 5. (superl.) Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite. 6. (vt) To sharpen; to
make cold. 7. (n.) A prolonged wail for a deceased person. Cf. Coranach. ...
/k/keen.htm - 8k

Knife (10 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Proverbs 23:2 put a knife
to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite. (WEB ...
/k/knife.htm - 13k

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)
... An answer came. God sent "a prodigious flight of quails, on which the people
satiated their gluttonous appetite for a full month. ...
/k/kibroth-hattaavah.htm - 10k

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)
... An answer came. God sent "a prodigious flight of quails, on which the people
satiated their gluttonous appetite for a full month. ...
/k/kibrothhattaavah.htm - 10k

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