Jump to: Smith's • ISBE • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia Cooking in biblical times was an essential part of daily life and is frequently mentioned throughout the Scriptures. The preparation of food is depicted in various contexts, from everyday meals to significant religious feasts. The Bible provides insights into the methods, ingredients, and cultural significance of cooking in ancient Israel and the surrounding regions.Methods and Tools Cooking methods in biblical times were simple yet effective, utilizing the resources available. Common methods included boiling, roasting, baking, and frying. The Israelites often used open fires, clay ovens, and hearths for cooking. In Genesis 18:6-8, Abraham prepares a meal for his divine visitors, instructing Sarah to bake bread and selecting a tender calf to be prepared, illustrating the use of both baking and roasting. Clay ovens, known as "tannur," were used for baking bread, a staple in the diet. Leviticus 2:4 mentions the use of ovens for baking unleavened bread as part of grain offerings: "Now if you bring a grain offering of baked goods from the oven, it must consist of fine flour—unleavened cakes mixed with oil or unleavened wafers anointed with oil." Ingredients The diet in biblical times was largely based on agriculture and livestock. Grains such as wheat and barley were fundamental, often ground into flour for bread. Vegetables, fruits, and legumes were also common, with lentils and beans being mentioned in passages like 2 Samuel 17:28. Meat was consumed less frequently, often reserved for special occasions or religious sacrifices. Fish was a significant part of the diet for those living near bodies of water, as seen in the New Testament when Jesus feeds the multitude with loaves and fish (Matthew 14:17-21). Olive oil was a crucial ingredient, used for cooking, as a condiment, and in religious rituals. Honey and spices were used to enhance flavors, as seen in the offerings described in Exodus 30:34-35, which include sweet spices and pure frankincense. Cultural and Religious Significance Cooking and meals held deep cultural and religious significance. The preparation and sharing of food were acts of hospitality and fellowship. In the account of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:23), the father celebrates his son's return by instructing his servants to "bring the fattened calf and kill it," highlighting the importance of a shared meal in celebrating reconciliation and joy. Religious feasts and offerings often involved specific cooking practices. The Passover meal, as described in Exodus 12:8-9, required the lamb to be roasted and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, symbolizing the haste of the Israelites' departure from Egypt and the bitterness of their slavery. Symbolism and Metaphors Cooking and food are also used metaphorically in the Bible to convey spiritual truths. Jesus refers to Himself as the "bread of life" in John 6:35, emphasizing the sustenance and life He provides to believers. Similarly, the process of refining and purifying, akin to cooking, is used to describe spiritual growth and testing, as seen in passages like Malachi 3:3, where God is likened to a refiner and purifier of silver. In summary, cooking in the Bible is not only a practical activity but also a rich symbol of community, worship, and divine provision. The preparation and sharing of food reflect the values and beliefs of the biblical world, offering insights into the daily lives and spiritual practices of its people. Smith's Bible Dictionary CookingAs meet did not form an article of ordinary diet among the Jews, the art of cooking was not carried to any perfection. Few animals were slaughtered except for purposes of hospitality or festivity. The proceedings on such occasions appear to have been as follows: --On the arrival of a guest, the animal, either a kid, lamb or calf, was killed, (Genesis 18:7; Luke 15:23) its throat being cut so that the blood might be poured out, (Leviticus 7:26) it was then flayed, and was ready for either roasting or boiling. In the former case the animal was preserved entire, (Exodus 12:46) and roasted either over a fire, (Exodus 12:8) of wood, (Isaiah 44:16) or perhaps in an oven, consisting simply of a hole dug in the earth, well heated, and covered up. Boiling, however, was the more usual method of cooking. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (p. pr & vb. n.) of Cook.International Standard Bible Encyclopedia COOKINGkook'-ing. Greek 3582. xestes -- a sextarius (about a pint), a pitcher (of wood or ... ... As if from xeo (properly, to smooth; by implication, (of friction) to boil or heat); a vessel (as fashioned or for cooking) (or perhaps by corruption from the ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3582.htm - 6k Strong's Hebrew 3600. kir -- cooking furnace... 3599, 3600. kir. 3601 . cooking furnace. Transliteration: kir Phonetic Spelling: (keer) Short Definition: stove. ... a cooking range. ... /hebrew/3600.htm - 6k 6745. tselachah -- a pot (for cooking) 4018. mbashshlah -- cooking hearths 4018a. mebashsheloth -- cooking hearths 1217. batseq -- dough (for cooking) 5518a. sir -- a pot 1310. bashal -- to boil, seethe, grow ripe 3595. kiyyor -- pot, basin Library Caste viewed as a Doer How Brother Juniper once Cooked for the Brethren Enough to Last ... Chapter twenty-eight The Exercises Suited to a Good Life. Christ among the Common Things of Life When Lord Morley Said that the House of Lords must be Either ... My Second Year in Benares. Faustus Avows his Disbelief in the Old Testament and his Disregard ... "Pan, Pan is Dead" Call to China and Voyage Hence Thesaurus Cooking (14 Occurrences)...COOKING. kook'-ing. See FOOD. ...Cooking (14 Occurrences). John 21:9 When they got to land, they saw a fire of coals there, with fish cooking on it, and bread. ... /c/cooking.htm - 10k Cooking-pot (8 Occurrences) Range (9 Occurrences) Cook (17 Occurrences) Meal-time (1 Occurrence) Mealtime (1 Occurrence) Meals (8 Occurrences) Pot (46 Occurrences) Kettle (2 Occurrences) Boil (29 Occurrences) Resources When the Bible is translated into English, how do the translators decide what punctuation to use? | GotQuestions.orgWhy is eating dairy products and meat in the same meal considered not kosher? | GotQuestions.org What is a laver in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Cooking: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Cooking (14 Occurrences)John 21:9 Genesis 25:29 Leviticus 7:9 Leviticus 11:35 Leviticus 26:26 1 Samuel 25:18 2 Samuel 13:8 1 Kings 19:21 1 Chronicles 9:31 Ezekiel 4:12 Ezekiel 11:3 Ezekiel 24:3 Zechariah 14:20 Zechariah 14:21 Subtopics Cooking: A Kid (Young Goat) Must not be Boiled in Its Mother's Milk Cooking: Ephraim, a Cake Unturned Related Terms |
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