Basic HTML Version
literally, as when one “eats” human beings in times of serious famine (Lev. 26:29). Eccl.
4:5 uses the expression, “eat one’s own flesh,” for allowing oneself to waste away.
Abstinence from eating may indicate deep emotional upset, like that which overcame
Hannah before the birth of Samuel (1 Sam. 1:7). It may also indicate the religious self-
denial seen in fasting. Unlike the pagan deities (Deut. 32:37-38)God “eats” no food (Ps.
50:13); although as a “consuming” fire (Deut. 4:24), He is ready to defend His own honor
and glory. He “consumes” evil and the sinner. He will also “consume” the wicked like a
lion (Hos. 13:8). There is one case in which God literally “consumed” food—when He
appeared to Abraham in the form of three “strangers” (Gen. 18:8).
God provides many good things to eat, such as manna to the Israelites (Exod. 16:32)
and all manner of food to those who delight in the Lord (Isa. 58:14), even the finest food
(Ps. 81:16). He puts the Word of God into one’s mouth; by “consuming” it, it is taken
into one’s very being (Ezek. 3:2).
B. Nouns.
(
'
, 400), “food.” This word occurs 44 times in the Old Testament.
>
appears twice in Gen. 41:35 with the sense of “food supply”: “And let them gather all the
food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let
them keep food in the cities.” The word refers to the “food” of wild animals in Ps.
104:21: “The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.”
>
is
used for “food” given by God in Ps. 145:15. The word may also be used for “food” as an
offering, as in Mal. 1:12. A related noun,
, also means “food.” This noun has 18
occurrences in the Old Testament.
ELDER; AGED
%
( , 2204,
, 2205), “old man; old woman; elder; old.”
# %
occurs 174
times in the Hebrew Old Testament as a noun or as an adjective. The first occurrence is in
Gen. 18:11: “Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to
be with Sarah after the manner of women.” In Gen. 19:4, the word “old” is used as an
antonym of “young”: “But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of
Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young [
“young man”], all the
people from every quarter” (cf. Josh. 6:21). A similar usage of
%
and “young”
appears in other Bible references: “But [Rehoboam] forsook the counsel of the old men,
which they had given him, and consulted with the young men [
, “boy; child”] that
were grown up with him …” (1 Kings 12:8). “Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance,
both young men [
$
] and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and
will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow” (Jer. 31:13). The “old man”
is described as being advanced in days (Gen. 18:11), as being satisfied with life or full of
years. A feminine form of
%
refers to an “old woman” (
%
). The word
%
has a more specialized use with the sense of “elder” (more than 100 times). The “elder”
was recognized by the people for his gifts of leadership, wisdom, and justice. He was set
apart to administer justice, settle disputes, and guide the people of his charge. Elders are
also known as officers (
), heads of the tribes, and judges; notice the parallel
usage: “Joshua called for all Israel, and for their
and for their heads, and for their