What Does the Bible Say About Food?

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 177 helpful votes

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Genesis 1:29 ESV / 97 helpful votes

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

Proverbs 15:17 ESV / 68 helpful votes

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

Genesis 9:3 ESV / 61 helpful votes

Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.

Romans 14:2 ESV / 47 helpful votes

One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.

1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV / 43 helpful votes

For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Romans 14:21 ESV / 41 helpful votes

It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

Psalm 34:8 ESV / 41 helpful votes

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Genesis 1:30 ESV / 39 helpful votes

And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

Ecclesiastes 8:15 ESV / 37 helpful votes

And I commend joy, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

Matthew 6:11 ESV / 31 helpful votes

Give us this day our daily bread,

1 Corinthians 8:8 ESV / 30 helpful votes

Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

Leviticus 11:1-47 ESV / 30 helpful votes

And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. ...

Psalm 111:5 ESV / 29 helpful votes

He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV / 27 helpful votes

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Romans 14:1-23 ESV / 24 helpful votes

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. ...

1 Corinthians 10:17 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Romans 14:14 ESV / 21 helpful votes

I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

1 Corinthians 11:27-30 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

1 Timothy 4:3-5 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Psalm 145:15 ESV / 17 helpful votes

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.

Psalm 104:14 ESV / 17 helpful votes

You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth

Proverbs 30:8 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,

1 Corinthians 11:29 ESV / 15 helpful votes

For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Proverbs 31:15 ESV / 15 helpful votes

She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.

Colossians 2:16-22 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— ...

Mark 14:23 ESV / 14 helpful votes

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.

Daniel 1:8-15 ESV / 14 helpful votes

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. ...

Acts 27:35 ESV / 13 helpful votes

And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.

Acts 15:28-32 ESV / 13 helpful votes

For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.

James 3:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Luke 12:23 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

Job 10:10 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?

Isaiah 55:2 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Ruth 2:14 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.

Hebrews 13:2 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

1 Corinthians 10:15-17 ESV / 9 helpful votes

I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

John 21:11-13 ESV / 9 helpful votes

So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.

John 6:55-59 ESV / 9 helpful votes

For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

John 6:50-71 ESV / 9 helpful votes

This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. ...

Psalm 23:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

1 Samuel 30:12 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights.

James 3:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Luke 24:42 ESV / 8 helpful votes

They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

Luke 22:20 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Ezekiel 4:9 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“And you, take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and emmer, and put them into a single vessel and make your bread from them. During the number of days that you lie on your side, 390 days, you shall eat it.

Isaiah 58:10 ESV / 8 helpful votes

If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

Isaiah 7:15 ESV / 8 helpful votes

He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

Proverbs 27:27 ESV / 8 helpful votes

There will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls.

2 Kings 18:32 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, that you may live, and not die. And do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, The Lord will deliver us.

1 Samuel 17:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.”

1 Samuel 17:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers.

Genesis 3:19 ESV / 8 helpful votes

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Hebrews 6:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.

1 Corinthians 10:16 ESV / 7 helpful votes

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?

Psalm 103:5 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Genesis 27:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves.

Genesis 18:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

2 Corinthians 9:12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

John 6:1-15 ESV / 6 helpful votes

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” ...

Luke 22:19 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Mark 14:22 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”

Mark 8:6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.

Hosea 3:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.”

Psalm 147:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.

1 Kings 19:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

2 Samuel 6:19 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house.

Leviticus 17:13-15 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off. And every person who eats what dies of itself or what is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or a sojourner, shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening; then he shall be clean.

Leviticus 11:1-30 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. ...

Exodus 3:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Genesis 1:26 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ...

John 2:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”

Luke 22:15-16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 22:1-71 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. ...

Luke 9:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.”

Matthew 15:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Matthew 7:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?

Song of Solomon 8:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes

I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother— she who used to teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranate.

Psalm 104:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.

Esther 1:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

In the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him,

2 Kings 18:31 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern,

1 Kings 1:1-53 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm. Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm.” So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not. Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. ...

2 Samuel 17:29 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

2 Samuel 16:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.”

Numbers 6:24-26 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried.

Genesis 49:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.

Genesis 18:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

While I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”

Genesis 3:17-19 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

James 3:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

John 6:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

Luke 6:43 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,

Matthew 26:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Ezekiel 16:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty.

1 Samuel 8:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.

Leviticus 11:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.

Exodus 22:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Acts 10:1-48 ESV / 3 helpful votes

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. ...

John 6:67-71 ESV / 3 helpful votes

So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.

Matthew 25:1-46 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ...

Isaiah 3:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water;

Psalm 62:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Deuteronomy 1:1-46 ESV / 3 helpful votes

These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea. In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him in commandment to them, after he had defeated Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth and in Edrei. Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to explain this law, saying, ...

Hebrews 13:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Genesis 48:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,

Proverbs 11:11 ESV / 1 helpful vote

By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

Bible Verses about Food