βρῶμα (brōma)
brōma
food
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 15 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek noun brōma simply means "food," referring to that which is eaten. It appears fifteen times in the New Testament, with a notable concentration in Paul’s letters to the Corinthians and Romans, as well as in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. In its most basic sense, it denotes physical sustenance, such as the loaves and fish provided for the crowds or the dietary laws discussed in early Christian communities.
While primarily literal, the word carries a significant metaphorical weight in specific contexts. Paul uses it to discuss how eating certain foods might cause a weaker brother to stumble, emphasizing that spiritual well-being outweighs dietary freedom (1 Corinthians 8:13). Similarly, John describes Jesus’ obedience to the Father as His "food" (John 4:34), elevating the term from mere nourishment to spiritual fulfillment. This dual usage shows how early Christians applied everyday concepts to profound theological realities.
Translators typically render brōma as "food" or "meat," depending on whether the context involves general sustenance or specific animal products. Its presence in passages about Christian liberty highlights the tension between personal freedom and communal responsibility, reminding readers that physical acts often carry deeper relational consequences.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word brōma reminds us that our daily meals are more than just biological maintenance; they are opportunities for love and spiritual focus. In the New Testament, this term bridges the gap between physical hunger and deeper relational responsibilities. When Paul discusses food in Corinth, he is not merely debating dietary rules but highlighting how our freedom can impact those who are weaker in faith. It invites us to consider whether our personal choices build up or tear down the community around us.
Similarly, Jesus’ declaration in John that doing God’s will is His food shifts our perspective entirely. It suggests that obedience and connection with the Father provide a sustenance that physical bread cannot match. This dual meaning encourages believers to seek spiritual nourishment first, trusting that God provides for our physical needs while we prioritize His purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 15 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- food7×
- food.3×
- foods2×
- solid food;1×
- from foods1×
- for foods;1×
- by foods1×
- Food1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βρῶμα4×
- βρώματα.2×
- βρώματα2×
- βρώμασιν2×
- βρῶμά1×
- βρῶμα·1×
- βρώματί1×
- βρώματος1×
- βρώματα.¶1×
- βρώμασιν·1×
- βρωμάτων1×
Key Verses
-
John 4:34
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
Jesus redefines brōma as the active fulfillment of the Father's will, showing that spiritual obedience is more sustaining than physical nourishment.
-
Romans 14:15
Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don’t destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
Paul warns that exercising dietary freedom must never cause a fellow believer to stumble, placing love above personal rights.
-
I Corinthians 8:13
Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.
The apostle commits to never eating meat again if it causes a brother to sin, demonstrating the extreme lengths of sacrificial love.
-
I Corinthians 3:2
I fed you with milk, not with solid food, for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, you aren’t ready even now,
Paul contrasts milk with solid food (brōma) to illustrate that spiritual maturity requires moving beyond basic teachings to deeper understanding.