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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

MEALS, Significance of

The meal played a significant role in family, social, and religious life. The evening meal was the time when all family members normally were gathered together, and was thus an important time of fellowship. Providing food for the traveler was both a social and a religious responsibility, while the ideal of a quiet social life was realized by having friends break bread with the family and discuss the problems of the day by the light of small oil lamps. The significance of the meal retains its central focus both in the Jewish religion with the Passover meal and in Christianity with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

In the ancient Near East two meals were normally eaten during the day. The first was the noonday meal, usually consumed by laborers in the field and consisting of such items as small cakes or flat loaves, figs or olives, and possibly cheese or curds of goats’ milk. This was considered a small meal, eaten for sustenance and refreshment at a time of relaxation and respite from the heat of the sun and the labor of the day (Ru 2:14 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Breakfast was considered unnecessary, and biblical references to any such form of early morning meal are very few (Jgs 19:5 OET (RV-only · LV-only); Jn 21:12 OET (RV-only · LV-only)).

RUT 2:14: OET RUT 2:14 (RV-only RUT 2:14 · LV-only RUT 2:14)

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OET-RV RUT 2:14

14 Then when it was time to eat, Boaz told Ruth, “Come and join us. Take some bread and dip it in the sauce and eat.” So she sat beside the harvesters, and he also offered her some roasted grain. She ate until she was full and even had some left over.

OET-LV RUT 2:14

14 And_he/it _said to_her Boˊaz to_the _time _of the _meal approach here and_you _will _eat some _of the_food and_you _will _dip of _bread_of_your _piece in_vinegar and_she _sat _down from_the _side _of the _harvesters and_he _held _out to/for_her/it roasted _grain and_she/it _ate and_she _was _satisfied and_she _had _excess.

JDG 19:5: OET JDG 19:5 (RV-only JDG 19:5 · LV-only JDG 19:5)

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OET-RV JDG 19:5

5 Then on the fourth day, they got up early and the Levite prepared to leave, but his father-in-law urged him to eat before they left.

OET-LV JDG 19:5

5 And_he/it _was in _the_day the_fourth and_they _rose _early in_morning and_he/it _rose _up to_go and_ the _father _of the _young _woman _he/it _said to son-in-law _of_his sustain heart _of_your a _piece _of bread and_after you(pl)_will _go.

JHN 21:12: OET JHN 21:12 (RV-only JHN 21:12 · LV-only JHN 21:12)

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OET-RV JHN 21:12

12 Then Yeshua said, “Now, come and have breakfast.” But none of the apprentices dared to ask who he was, because they figured it must be the master.

OET-LV JHN 21:12

12 The Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) is _saying to _them:
Come, eat _breakfast.
But no _one of _the apprentices/followers was _daring to _question him, who are You?
Having _known that it _is the master.

Whereas in Egypt the main meal was served at noon, among the Hebrews the evening meal was the most important social occasion of the day. Then the exhausted field workers could return home to relax after their day’s work and enjoy the feeling of communal warmth as the family gathered together for their principal meal. This occasion coincided with the arrival of darkness, a time when there was insufficient light for fieldwork to continue.

The laborer’s meal consisted of bread or cakes made of hand-ground grain, goats’ cheese or curds, vegetables (especially beans, lentils, leeks, and peas, which were popular for the sake of variety although not always plentiful), and figs, olives, raisins, and dates. Meat was usually available, but for the majority was a luxury item. Food was cooked in olive oil, and honey was used for sweetening.

The meal was eaten together by the entire family. There was no separate dining room in the average house, and during the patriarchal period, meals were consumed while the family was seated on the floor, a mat often serving as a table (Gn 37:25 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Canaanite seating habits were adopted subsequently, and chairs and small tables were used (1 Kgs 13:20 OET (RV-only · LV-only); Ps 23:5 OET (RV-only · LV-only); Ez 23:41 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Eating in the Egyptian fashion in a reclining position became popular and continued throughout the Roman period. Musical entertainment, dancing, and riddles were sometimes provided on festive occasions for family and guests, since the meal period was the normal time for entertainment in Near Eastern society.

GEN 37:25: OET GEN 37:25 (RV-only GEN 37:25 · LV-only GEN 37:25)

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OET-RV GEN 37:25

25 Then they sat down to eat, and a bit later when they looked up, look, there was a caravan of Yishmaelim (Ishmaelites) coming towards them. They had left Gilead carrying spices and balm and myrrh on their camels that they were going to take down to Mitsrayim (Egypt).

OET-LV GEN 37:25

25 And_they _lived to_eat bread and_they _lifted _up eyes _of_their and_they _saw and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE a _caravan _of Yishmāˊ^ʼēlī was_coming from_Gilˊād and_camels _of_their were_carrying spice and_balm and_myrrh they_were_travelling to_take_them_down towards_Miʦrayim/(Egypt).

KI1 13:20: OET KI1 13:20 (RV-only KI1 13:20 · LV-only KI1 13:20)

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OET-RV KI1 13:20

20 Then while they were still seated at the table, Yahweh spoke through the old prophet,

OET-LV KI1 13:20

20 And_he/it _was they were_sitting to the_table and_ the _message _of YHWH _he/it _was to the_prophet who bring _back_had _brought _him _back.

PSA 23:5: OET PSA 23:5 (RV-only PSA 23:5 · LV-only PSA 23:5)

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OET-RV PSA 23:5

5 You prepare a meal for me while my enemies watch.
⇔ You give me olive oil to soothe my head.
⇔ I have so many blessings.

OET-LV PSA 23:5

5 You _arrange to/for_my_face/front a _table before foes _of_my you _have _refreshed with_oil my_head cup _of_my is_saturation.

EZE 23:41: OET EZE 23:41 (RV-only EZE 23:41 · LV-only EZE 23:41)

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OET-RV EZE 23:41

41 You sat on a lovely couch bed with a table arranged in front of you where you placed my incense and my olive oil.

OET-LV EZE 23:41

41 And_you _sat on a _couch glorious and_a _table was_arranged before_it and_incense _of_my and_oil _of_my you _put on_it.

By NT times, a separate upper room often served as a dining room. Guests reclined by leaning on the left elbow so that they were close enough together on their couches to facilitate easy conversation. There was a strict hierarchy to the seating arrangements (cf. Gn 43:33 OET (RV-only · LV-only); 1 Sm 9:22 OET (RV-only · LV-only); Mt 23:6 OET (RV-only · LV-only); Mk 12:39 OET (RV-only · LV-only); Lk 14:8 OET (RV-only · LV-only)) at all formal meals, the “highest” place being that to the right of the servants as they entered the room and the lowest to their left.

GEN 43:33: OET GEN 43:33 (RV-only GEN 43:33 · LV-only GEN 43:33)

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OET-RV GEN 43:33

33 At their table, the brothers were astonished to discover that they had been seated in order from the oldest to the youngest.

OET-LV GEN 43:33

33 And_they _lived before_him the_firstborn according_to _of_his _birthright and_the _young_brother according_to _of_his _youth and_ the_men _they _looked _in _astonishment each to his/its_neighbour.

SA1 9:22: OET SA1 9:22 (RV-only SA1 9:22 · LV-only SA1 9:22)

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OET-RV SA1 9:22

22 Then Shmuel took Sha’ul and his servant to the room where the meal had been prepared, and he gave them a place at the head of table—even above the invited guests. (There were about thirty men.)

OET-LV SA1 9:22

22 And_ Shəmū^ʼēl/(Samuel) _he/it _took DOM Shāʼūl and_DOM servant _of_his and_he/it _brought_them room_to_the and_he/it _gave to/for_them a _place at_the _head _of those _who _were_invited and_they were_about_thirty man.

MAT 23:6: OET MAT 23:6 (RV-only MAT 23:6 · LV-only MAT 23:6)

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OET-RV MAT 23:6

6 They love the best places at dinners and the best seats in the Jewish meeting halls.

OET-LV MAT 23:6

6 And they _are _loving the best _place at the suppers, and the best _seats in the synagogues,

MRK 12:39: OET MRK 12:39 (RV-only MRK 12:39 · LV-only MRK 12:39)

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OET-RV MRK 12:39

39 and have the best seats at meetings and the best places at dinners.

OET-LV MRK 12:39

39 and best _seats in the synagogues, and best _places at the suppers,

LUK 14:8: OET LUK 14:8 (RV-only LUK 14:8 · LV-only LUK 14:8)

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OET-RV LUK 14:8

8 “Whenever you’re invited to a wedding celebration, don’t go and sit in the best place, in case someone more important than you might be called over by the host,

OET-LV LUK 14:8

8 Whenever you _may _be _called by anyone to wedding _festivities, you _may_ not _be _reclining in the best _place, lest one more _honoured than you may _be having _been _called by him,

Guests washed their hands before and after meals, and normally partook of a form of meat and/or vegetable stew from a common bowl placed in the center of the table. Instead of cutlery, pieces of bread held in the fingers were made into the shape of a small scoop and dipped into the bowl. There would usually be only one main dish requiring preparation, so that the woman who had cooked the meal could partake of it with her guests, thus fulfilling the ideals of community at mealtimes.

On several occasions in the NT Jesus is mentioned as eating meals with disciples and friends. He and his followers were guests at the wedding feast held in Cana of Galilee (Jn 2:1-10 OET (RV-only · LV-only)), and also at a dinner given by Matthew (Mt 9:10 OET (RV-only · LV-only)), as well as at another given by Simon the Pharisee (Lk 7:36-50 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Jesus also was entertained at dinner somewhat unexpectedly by Zacchaeus (19:6-7 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). On several occasions Jesus was a guest at a family gathering held at the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in Bethany (Lk 10:38-42 OET (RV-only · LV-only); Jn 12:2 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Following the customs of smaller towns and villages, passersby may well have called into the house to greet Jesus and perhaps converse with other guests.

JHN 2:1–10: OET JHN 2:1–10 (RV-only JHN 2:1–10 · LV-only JHN 2:1–10)

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OET-RV JHN 2:1

2 On the Tuesday, there was a wedding in Kana in Galil, and Yeshua’s (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) mother was there

OET-RV JHN 2:2

2 and Yeshua and his apprentices were also invited.

OET-RV JHN 2:3

3 When the wine ran out at the wedding, his mother said to him, “They haven’t got any more wine.”

OET-RV JHN 2:4

4 Yeshua answered, “What does that have to do with us, mother? It’s not the time for my ministry yet.”

OET-RV JHN 2:5

5 But his mother told the servants, “Just do whatever he tells you.”

OET-RV JHN 2:6

6 Now there were six empty stone water jars there that are used for Jewish purification ceremonies. (Each one could hold over 70 litres.)

OET-RV JHN 2:7

7 So Yeshua told them to fill the jars with water, and they filled them up.

OET-RV JHN 2:8

8 Then he said, “Okay, now take a sample out and give it to the MC.” So they took some

OET-RV JHN 2:9

9 and when the MC tasted the water that had now turned to wine, not knowing where it had come from he called the groom

OET-RV JHN 2:10

10 and exclaimed, “Most people supply the best wine at the beginning of the reception, and the cheaper stuff when people are a bit tipsy. But you’ve kept the best wine until last!”

OET-LV JHN 2:1

2 And on _the the third day a_wedding became in Kana of_ the _Galilaia/(Gālīl), and the mother of_ the _Yaʸsous was there.

OET-LV JHN 2:2

2 And the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) was_ also _invited and the apprentices/followers of _him to the wedding.

OET-LV JHN 2:3

3 And having _been _deficient of _wine, the mother the of_Yaʸsous is _saying to him:
They _are_ not _having wine.

OET-LV JHN 2:4

4 And the Yaʸsous is _saying to _her:
What to _me and to _you, woman?
The hour of _me is_ not _yet _coming.

OET-LV JHN 2:5

5 The mother of _him is _saying to _the servants:
Do whatever anything wishfully he _may _be _saying to _you _all.

OET-LV JHN 2:6

6 And six stone waterpots were lying there according _to the purification of _the Youdaiōns, having _room _for two or three measures each.

OET-LV JHN 2:7

7 Is _saying to _them the Yaʸsous:
Fill the waterpots with _water.
And they _filled them to upward.

OET-LV JHN 2:8

8 And he _is _saying to _them:
Draw now and be _carrying to _the the_headwaiter.
And they carried it.

OET-LV JHN 2:9

9 And when the the_headwaiter tasted the water having _been _become wine, and had_ not _known from _where is, but the servants had _known the ones having _drawn the water, the headwaiter is _calling the bridegroom

OET-LV JHN 2:10

10 and he _is _saying to _him:
Every person is _presenting first the good wine, and the lessor whenever they _may _be _being _drunk, you have _kept the good wine until now.

MAT 9:10: OET MAT 9:10 (RV-only MAT 9:10 · LV-only MAT 9:10)

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OET-RV MAT 9:10

10 Later, when Yeshua was eating at Matay’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came in and sat at the table together with Yeshua and his apprentices.

OET-LV MAT 9:10

10 And it _became of _him reclining in the house, and see, many tax _collectors and sinners having _come were _reclining the with_Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) and the apprentices/followers of _him.

LUK 19:6–7: OET LUK 19:6–7 (RV-only LUK 19:6–7 · LV-only LUK 19:6–7)

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OET-RV LUK 19:6

6 So he hurried down the tree and happily welcomed him.

OET-RV LUK 19:7

7 But everyone who had observed it was grumbling, “Hoy, he’s going to stay with a sinful man.”

OET-LV LUK 19:6

6 And having _hurried, he _came _down and welcomed him rejoicing.

OET-LV LUK 19:7

7 And all having _seen it, were _grumbling saying, that He _came _in to _lodge with a_sinful man.

LUK 10:38–42: OET LUK 10:38–42 (RV-only LUK 10:38–42 · LV-only LUK 10:38–42)

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OET-RV LUK 10:38

38 When it was time to leave, Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) went into a village and there was a woman there named Marta who welcomed him in.

OET-RV LUK 10:39

39 She had a sister named Miryam (Grk. Maria /Mariam) who was also sitting there on the floor by Yeshua’s feet listening to his teaching.

OET-RV LUK 10:40

40 But Marta kept getting pulled away to keep the household running, and after a while approached Yeshua and asked, “Master, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left all the housework to me? Tell her to come and help me.”

OET-RV LUK 10:41

41 “Marta, Marta,” Yeshua answered, “you are worried and concerned about many things,

OET-RV LUK 10:42

42 but only one thing really matters. Miryam chose the best thing, and it won’t be taken away from her.”

OET-LV LUK 10:38

38 And at the time them to _be _going, he came _in into a_ certain _village, and a_ a_certain _woman by_the_name Martha welcomed him,

OET-LV LUK 10:39

39 and to _this woman she _was a_sister being _called Maria/(Miryām), who also having _been _seated _beside at the feet the of_Yaʸsous, was _hearing the message of _him.

OET-LV LUK 10:40

40 But the Martha was _being _pulled _away about much service, and having _approached said:
master, not is _it _mattering to _you that the sister of _me left only me to _be _serving?
Therefore tell to _her that she _may _help with _me.

OET-LV LUK 10:41

41 But the master answering said to _her:
Martha, Martha, you _are _worrying and you _are _being _troubled about many things,

OET-LV LUK 10:42

42 but there _is need of _one, Maria chose for the good portion, which ˓will˒_ not _be _being _taken _away from her.

JHN 12:2: OET JHN 12:2 (RV-only JHN 12:2 · LV-only JHN 12:2)

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OET-RV JHN 12:2

2 So they prepared dinner for him there and Marta was serving and Eleazar was among those sitting with Yeshua.

OET-LV JHN 12:2

2 Therefore they _made a_supper for _him there, and the Martha was _serving, and the Lazaros was one of the ones reclining with him.

There are two important meals described in Scripture, one involving the old covenant and the other the new, in which meals had a redemptive meaning for the people of God. The first was the institution of the Passover at the time of Israel’s departure from Egypt under Moses (Ex 12 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). The second was the institution of the Lord’s Supper. Both are discussed in detail in separate articles.