מַאֲכָל (ma.a.khal)
ma.a.khal
food
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 25 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun maʾăkâl refers broadly to anything fit for eating, encompassing food, fruit, and meat. Derived from the verb "to eat," it describes the physical substance consumed by people or animals. In Genesis 2:9 and 3:6, the term identifies the edible produce of the Garden of Eden, while in Leviticus 19:23 it distinguishes fruit trees that provide sustenance from those not yet mature for harvest.
Its usage extends beyond human diet to include animal feed, as seen in Genesis 6:21 where Noah gathers provisions for every living creature. The word also appears in poetic imagery, such as Psalm 44:12, where the people are described as "meat" or prey for their enemies, highlighting its concrete sense of being consumed. Translators render it variously as food, meat, fruit, or victuals depending on the specific context of the passage.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word maʾăkâl simply means food, yet its range in Scripture is surprisingly wide. It covers the fruit of the Garden of Eden, the provisions Noah gathered for the animals, and even the grim reality of bodies left as prey for birds. This breadth reminds us that God cares about every level of physical need, from the sweetest harvest to the most basic sustenance required for survival.
In your daily life, this word invites you to see meals not just as routine tasks but as gifts from a Creator who provides. When you sit down to eat, remember that the same God who gave manna in the wilderness and fruit in Eden is present at your table. It is a small moment to pause and acknowledge His care.
Even when food represents judgment or scarcity, the underlying truth remains: life depends on what we consume. This perspective helps us value our physical bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit and approach nutrition with gratitude rather than anxiety or guilt.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 25 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- food10×
- <into>/ food4×
- for/ food2×
- and/ [the] food of2×
- to/ food1×
- food/ your1×
- food/ its1×
- food of1×
- and/ food/ his1×
- and/ food1×
- [the] food of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַאֲכָ֖ל3×
- לְ/מַֽאֲכָ֔ל3×
- מַאֲכָ֔ל2×
- מַאֲכַ֥ל2×
- לְ/מַאֲכָ֔ל2×
- וּ/מַאֲכַ֣ל2×
- מַֽאֲכָל֙1×
- מַאֲכָלָֽ/הּ\׃1×
- מַאֲכָל֙1×
- מַאֲכַלְ/כֶ֖ם1×
- מַֽאֲכָל֙1×
- מַ֭אֲכָל1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 2:9
Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
This verse establishes food as a good gift from God in the original created order, highlighting His provision before the fall.
-
Genesis 6:21
Take with you some of all food that is eaten, and gather it to yourself; and it will be for food for you, and for them.”
Noah’s gathering of food shows practical obedience and stewardship, ensuring life for both humans and animals during judgment.
-
Deuteronomy 20:20
Only the trees that you know are not trees for food, you shall destroy and cut them down. You shall build bulwarks against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.
The distinction between trees for food and others reveals God’s wisdom in preserving resources even during times of war and scarcity.
-
Daniel 1:10
The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age? Then you would endanger my head with the king.”
Here the word refers to royal rations, showing how food choices can become a matter of faithfulness and identity in a foreign land.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word maʾăkâl mean?
How is maʾăkâl different from other words for food?
Why does this word appear in verses about judgment?
Every Occurrence (25 verses across 16 books)
Genesis 4 verses
Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the…
Genesis 3:6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be…
Genesis 6:21Take with you some of all food that is eaten, and gather it to yourself; and it will be for food for you, and for them.”
Genesis 40:17In the uppermost basket there were all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my…