Food in the Bible

     When we read our bible, we do run across several verses about food and how Jesus feed the people; or how people were struggling and they had to eat something we haven't heard of. Here are a few things that have been mentioned "food wise" in the bible. 

Seasoning

• Anise (Matthew 23:23)
• Coriander (Exodus 16:31; Numbers 11:7)
• Cinnamon (Exodus 30:23; Revelation 18:13)
• Cumin (Isaiah 28:25; Matthew 23:23)
• Dill (Matthew 23:23)
• Garlic (Numbers 11:5)
• Mint (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42)
• Mustard (Matthew 13:31)
• Rue (Luke 11:42)
• Salt (Ezra 6:9; Job 6:6)
• 
  
• Fruit and nuts 
• Apples (Song of Solomon 2:5)
• Almonds (Genesis 43:11; Numbers 17:8)
• Dates (2 Samuel 6:19; 1 Chronicles 16:3)
• Figs (Nehemiah 13:15; Jeremiah 24:1-3)
• Grapes (Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 23:24)
• Melons (Numbers 11:5; Isaiah 1:8)
• Olives (Isaiah 17:6; Micah 6:15)
• Pistachio Nuts (Genesis 43:11)
• Pomegranates (Numbers 20:5; Deuteronomy 8:8)
• Raisins (Numbers 6:3; 2 Samuel 6:19)
• Sycamore Fruit (Psalm 78:47; Amos 7:14)

Vegetables 

• Beans (2 Samuel 17:28; Ezekiel 4:9)
• Cucumbers (Numbers 11:5)
• Gourds (2 Kings 4:39)
• Leeks (Numbers 11:5)
• Lentils (Genesis 25:34; 2 Samuel 17:28; Ezekiel 4:9)
• Onions (Numbers 11:5)
• 
  

Grains 

• Barley (Deuteronomy 8:8; Ezekiel 4:9)
• Bread (Genesis 25:34; 2 Samuel 6:19; 16:1; Mark 8:14)
• Corn (Matthew 12:1; refers to "grain" such as wheat or barley)
• Flour (2 Samuel 17:28; 1 Kings 17:12)
• Millet (Ezekiel 4:9)
• Spelt (Ezekiel 4:9)
• Unleavened Bread (Genesis 19:3; Exodus 12:20)
• Wheat (Ezra 6:9; Deuteronomy 8:8)

     Fish was mentioned several times in the bible, but unlike today, it had to have a fin and scales so they did not eat shell fish. 

Fowl (birds they considered eating)

• Partridge (1 Samuel 26:20; Jeremiah 17:11)
• Pigeon (Genesis 15:9; Leviticus 12:8)
• Quail (Psalm 105:40)
• Dove (Leviticus 12:8)

Meat: these animals had to have cloven hoofs and chew from the cud.

• Calf (Proverbs 15:17; Luke 15:23)
• Goat (Genesis 27:9)
• Lamb (2 Samuel 12:4)
• Oxen (1 Kings 19:21)
• Sheep (Deuteronomy 14:4)
• Venison (Genesis 27:7 KJV)

Diary 

• Butter (Proverbs 30:33)
• Cheese (2 Samuel 17:29; Job 10:10)
• Curds (Isaiah 7:15)
• Milk (Exodus 33:3; Job 10:10; Judges 5:25)

     Just like we eat a variety of foods in our every day life, so did those back in bible times. There are several books out there for a bible diet. Have you every tried it? Let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear back from our readers! 

Josh is a blogger at Christian Pals Blog.

He is about three things in life: God, Family, and Football.

He also enjoys basketball and playing golf.

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