Lexical Summary
okel: Food, nourishment, provision
Original Word:אֹכֶל
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:okel
Pronunciation:oh'-kel
Phonetic Spelling:(o'-kel)
KJV: eating, food, meal(-time), meat, prey, victuals
NASB:food, food supply, prey
Word Origin:[fromH398 (אָכַל - eat)]
1. food
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
eating, food, mealtime, meat, prey, victuals
From'akal; food -- eating, food, meal(-time), meat, prey, victuals.
see HEBREW'akal
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
akalDefinitionfood
NASB Translationfood (34), food supply (1), mealtime* (1), prey (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
40Genesis 41:36 food (Arabic
, Aramaic ,
, Assyrian
akalu Dl
W, Ethiopic
) — absolute
Genesis 41:35 +; construct
Genesis 41:35,48; suffix
Leviticus 25:37;
Malachi 1:12, etc.; — Hexateuch mostly J E D, not Ezekiel —
food, food-supply, especially cereals of store in Egypt
Genesis 41:35 (twice in verse) + 12 t.
Genesis 41-44;
Genesis 47:24; compare
Genesis 14:11(JE); also
Leviticus 11:34;
Leviticus 25:37 (P)
Deuteronomy 2:6,28 (D);
usury of foodDeuteronomy 23:20 (D) ("" , etc.);
at meal-timeRuth 2:14; in poetry 17 t.; —
foodPsalm 107:18; of offerings
Malachi 1:12; particular food
Job 12:11 (as tasted);
Job 36:31 (as given by God) so
Psalm 145:15;
Lamentations 1:11 compare
Lamentations 1:19; especially cereals
Proverbs 13:23;
Joel 1:16;
Habakkuk 3:17; but also flesh
Psalm 78:18;
Psalm 78:30; of food (prey) of wild animals
Psalm 104:21 ("" ):27; of prey of eagles
Job 9:26;
Job 39:29; ravens
Job 38:41.
Topical Lexicon
Creation and Original ProvisionThe very first appearance of אֹכֶל (ókel, “food”) frames human life under God’s care: “They will be yours for food” (Genesis 1:29). Before sin entered the world, nourishment was an unqualified gift. After the flood the word re-appears when the Creator expands man’s diet to include animals (Genesis 9:3). Thus אֹכֶל marks two covenant stages—Edenic and Noahic—each declaring divine generosity.
Patriarchal Stewardship and Famine
Joseph’s narrative revolves around אֹכֶל. He “stored up grain in great abundance… for food” (Genesis 41:35-36), preserving nations during drought. What the brothers call simply “food” (Genesis 43:2) becomes a theological sign that God can turn evil intent into blessing (Genesis 50:20-21). The word therefore carries the idea of providence orchestrated through wise administration.
Wilderness Training
In the desert Israel was taught to trust daily provision: “I will rain down bread from heaven for you” (Exodus 16:4). Though manna itself is named differently, Moses identifies it as “food” (Deuteronomy 2:7; 8:3). The lesson is echoed by Christ—“Man shall not live on bread alone” (Matthew 4:4 quotingDeuteronomy 8:3)—affirming that אֹכֶל ultimately points to God’s word.
Cultic and Priestly Usage
Leviticus repeatedly calls the sacrificial portions “the food of their God” (Leviticus 21:6-8, 21-22). Here אֹכֶל denotes that which ascends to Yahweh on the altar and also sustains the priesthood. Holiness regulations safeguard this food, teaching that worship and daily sustenance are inseparable.
Royal Provision and Government
Solomon’s administration required vast “food for one day” (1 Kings 4:22). Later, Nehemiah forgoes “the food allotted to the governor” (Nehemiah 5:14). Both texts use אֹכֶל to evaluate leadership—whether indulgent or self-denying—in light of covenant ethics.
Wisdom and Moral Order
Proverbs employs the term to illustrate consequences: laziness seeks “food” yet finds none (Proverbs 13:25); the excellent wife “brings her food from afar” (Proverbs 31:14). אֹכֶל thus becomes shorthand for diligence, foresight and righteous satisfaction.
Prophetic Promises and Warnings
Isaiah foretells a reversal of covenant curse: “Your grain as food will no longer be given to your enemies” (Isaiah 62:8). Joel pictures restored abundance: “The threshing floors will be filled with grain” (Joel 2:24). Conversely, Ezekiel dramatizes scarcity by rationing “food by weight” (Ezekiel 4:10), a sign of impending judgment.
Figures of Judgment and Devouring Fire
Although literal in most texts, אֹכֶל can be employed metaphorically. A consuming pest or fire is described as “eating” (e.g.,Joel 1:4;Isaiah 9:18), reminding readers that what normally sustains life can, under sin’s curse, become an agent of destruction.
Christological Foreshadowing
The Old Testament pattern of God-given אֹכֶל prepares for Jesus Christ, the true “bread of life” (John 6:35). The feeding miracles and the Last Supper reveal the substance behind every earlier meal: fellowship with God through the Messiah’s broken body.
Ministry and Practical Application
1. Hospitality: sharing food enacts the gospel (Romans 12:13;Hebrews 13:2).
2. Stewardship: Joseph’s example commends prudent planning without anxiety (Matthew 6:25-34).
3. Compassion: James links true religion with providing “daily food” (James 2:15-16).
Selected References
Genesis 1:29; 6:21; 9:3; 41:35-36; 43:2
Exodus 12:4; 16:8; 23:25
Leviticus 21:6-8, 21-22
Numbers 28:2
Deuteronomy 2:7; 8:3; 11:15
1 Kings 4:22; 17:4
Nehemiah 5:14
Job 20:20
Proverbs 13:25; 31:14
Isaiah 62:8
Jeremiah 40:5
Ezekiel 4:10; 44:7
Hosea 9:4
Joel 2:24
Haggai 2:12
Theological Summary
אֹכֶל traces a redemptive arc from Edenic bounty, through wilderness discipline, into sacrificial worship, royal administration, prophetic hope, and finally Messianic fulfillment. Every appearance reaffirms that the God who feeds bodies also nourishes souls, inviting His people to trust, obey and share His provision.
Forms and Transliterations
אָכְל֑וֹ אָכְל֔וֹ אָכְל֖וֹ אָכְלֶֽךָ׃ אָכְלָ֖ם אָכְלָ֣ם אָכְלָ֥ם אָכְלָֽם׃ אָכְלֽוֹ׃ אֹ֑כֶל אֹ֔כֶל אֹ֖כֶל אֹ֙כֶל֙ אֹ֣כֶל אֹ֣כֶל ׀ אֹ֥כֶל אֹ֧כֶל אֹ֭כֶל אֹֽכֶל׃ אכל אכל׃ אכלו אכלו׃ אכלך׃ אכלם אכלם׃ בְּאֹ֖כֶל באכל הָאֹ֗כֶל הָאֹ֜כֶל הָאֹ֤כֶל האכל וּֽלְאָכְלְכֶ֛ם ולאכלכם לְאָכְל֑וֹ לאכלו ’ā·ḵə·lām ’ā·ḵə·le·ḵā ’ā·ḵə·lōw ’āḵəlām ’āḵəleḵā ’āḵəlōw ’ō·ḵel ’ōḵel acheLam acheLecha acheLo bə’ōḵel bə·’ō·ḵel beOchel hā’ōḵel hā·’ō·ḵel haOchel lə’āḵəlōw lə·’ā·ḵə·lōw leacheLo ochel ū·lə·’ā·ḵə·lə·ḵem ūlə’āḵələḵem uleacheleChem
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