What does the Bible say about food?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that food is God’s good gift, to be received with gratitude, used in freedom and self-control, and never valued above Christ or the glory of God. Genesis 1:29 and Genesis 9:3 show God’s generous provision, while 1 Timothy 4:4-5 calls believers to receive his creation thankfully. Christians should eat and drink to God’s glory, as 1 Corinthians 10:31 teaches, while avoiding quarrels and needless offense over disputable dietary matters (Romans 14:1-23; 1 Corinthians 8:8). Food sustains bodily life, but Jesus is the true bread who satisfies eternally (John 6:35), and God’s word is more necessary than physical bread (Matthew 4:4).
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
- Genesis 1:29
God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.
- John 6:35
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
- Genesis 9:3
Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As the green herb, I have given everything to you.
- 1 Corinthians 8:8
But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don't eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.
- Romans 14:1-23
[1] Now receive one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions. [2] One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. [3] Don't let him who eats despise him who doesn't eat. Don't let him who doesn't eat judge him who eats, for God has received him. [4] Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand. [5] One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. [6] He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks. He who doesn't eat, to the Lord he doesn't eat, and gives God thanks. [7] For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. [8] For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord's. [9] For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. [10] But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is written, "'As I live,' says the Lord, 'to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.'" [12] So then each one of us will give account of himself to God. [13] Therefore let's not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother's way, or an occasion for falling. [14] I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; except that to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. [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. [16] Then don't let your good be slandered, [17] for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. [18] For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. [19] So then, let us follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up. [20] Don't overthrow God's work for food's sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating. [21] It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak. [22] Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn't judge himself in that which he approves. [23] But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn't of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin. (14:24) Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages, (14:25) but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations; (14:26) to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
- Matthew 4:4
But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"
- 1 Timothy 4:4-5
[4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving. [5] For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.
- Ecclesiastes 9:7
Go your way--eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works.
- John 6:27
Don't work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him."
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- ARTICLES OF
- Milk Genesis 49:12; Proverbs 27:27
- Butter Deuteronomy 32:14; 2 Samuel 17:29
- Cheese 1 Samuel 17:18; Job 10:10
- Bread Genesis 18:5; 1 Samuel 17:17
- Parched (roasted) corn (grain) Ruth 2:14; 1 Samuel 17:17
- Meat 2 Samuel 6:19; Proverbs 9:2
- Fish Matthew 7:10; Luke 24:42
- Herbs Proverbs 15:17; Romans 14:2; Hebrews 6:7
- Fruit 2 Samuel 16:2
- Dried fruit 1 Samuel 25:18; 1 Samuel 30:12
- Honey Song of Solomon 5:1; Isaiah 7:15
- Oil Deuteronomy 12:17; Proverbs 21:17; Ezekiel 16:13
- Vinegar Numbers 6:3; Ruth 2:14
- Wine 2 Samuel 6:19; John 2:3; John 2:10
- Prepared by females Genesis 27:9; 1 Samuel 8:13; Proverbs 31:15
- Thanks given before receiving Mark 8:6; Acts 27:35
- A hymn sung afterward Matthew 26:30
- Men and women did not partake together Genesis 18:8; Genesis 18:9; Esther 1:3; Esther 1:9
- See BREAD
- See EATING
- See OVEN
- FROM GOD Genesis 1:29; Genesis 1:30; Genesis 9:3; Genesis 48:15; Psalms 23:5; Psalms 103:5; Psalms 104:14; Psalms 104:15; Psalms 111:5; Psalms 136:25; Psalms 145:15; Psalms 147:9
- THINGS PROHIBITED AS FOOD Exodus 22:31; Leviticus 11:1-47; Leviticus 17:13-15
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