Luke 24:42

KJV

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} they gave {G1929} him {G846} a piece {G3313} of a broiled {G3702} fish {G2486}, and {G2532} of {G575} an honeycomb {G3193}{G2781}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

Berean Standard Bible

So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish,

American Standard Version

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 24:42 presents a pivotal moment in the post-resurrection narrative, where Jesus, appearing to His startled disciples, accepts and consumes a piece of broiled fish and a honeycomb. This seemingly simple act serves as irrefutable physical proof of His bodily resurrection, dispelling their fears that they were seeing a spirit and firmly establishing the tangible reality of His triumph over death. It underscores the physicality of His glorified body, providing a concrete foundation for the disciples' faith and future witness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the climax of Luke's resurrection account. Immediately preceding it, Jesus has just appeared to His disciples in Jerusalem, startling them because they thought they were seeing a ghost ([Luke 24:37](/luke/24-37 "Luke 24:37 - Disciples' Fear")). Jesus challenges their fear and doubt by inviting them to touch Him and examine His hands and feet, bearing the marks of the crucifixion ([Luke 24:39](/luke/24-39 "Luke 24:39 - Jesus Invites Them to Touch Him")). Despite this, their joy and wonder were so overwhelming that they still struggled to fully believe. It is in this context of lingering disbelief, born paradoxically from immense joy, that Jesus asks for food, providing yet another, undeniable sensory proof of His physical, non-spectral presence. The act of eating serves as the final, conclusive piece of evidence in this particular encounter, leading directly into Jesus' opening of their minds to understand the Scriptures and His commission for them to be witnesses ([Luke 24:44-48](/luke/24-44-48 "Luke 24:44-48 - Jesus Explains the Scriptures and Commissions Disciples")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient world, and particularly within Jewish thought, the concept of a disembodied spirit was common, but a bodily resurrection was a more radical idea, especially one that involved a transformed yet physical body. The disciples' initial reaction of fear and the assumption of seeing a "spirit" (Greek: _pneuma_) was a natural response to an unexpected, sudden appearance, aligning with common beliefs about apparitions. Furthermore, eating was a fundamental human act, universally understood as a sign of life and physicality. For a resurrected body to consume food was an extraordinary claim, directly countering any notion that Jesus' return was merely spiritual, visionary, or a phantom. The specific foods mentioned—broiled fish and honeycomb—were common, readily available fare in ancient Judea, reinforcing the mundane reality of the act within the miraculous event. Fish was a staple food, especially around the Sea of Galilee, and honey was a natural sweetener and energy source, often consumed directly from the comb.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 24:42 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the **Bodily Reality of the Resurrection**. Luke emphasizes the physical, tangible nature of Jesus' post-resurrection body, distinguishing it from a ghost or a mere spiritual presence. This is crucial for the gospel message, as it grounds the hope of resurrection in a concrete historical event, rather than an abstract concept. This physicality is repeatedly stressed by Jesus through invitations to touch Him and by His act of eating, directly refuting docetic tendencies that would deny Christ's true humanity or the reality of His resurrected body. Another key theme is **Evidence for Faith**. The disciples, though joyful, were initially incredulous. Jesus provides multiple forms of evidence—His appearance, His words, the marks on His body, and finally, His ability to eat—to solidify their belief. This tangible proof was essential for them to move from doubt to conviction, preparing them to be authoritative witnesses of the resurrection, a foundational truth they would proclaim to the world ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - Disciples as Witnesses")). Finally, the verse subtly touches on the **Continuity of Humanity in Glorified Form**. While Jesus' resurrected body possessed new, miraculous capabilities (e.g., appearing in a locked room as seen in [John 20:19](/john/20-19 "John 20:19 - Jesus Appears in a Locked Room")), it retained essential aspects of His humanity, including the ability to eat and interact with the physical world. This assures believers that their future glorified bodies will also be truly human, though transformed.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **gave (Greek, _epidídōmi'_):** This verb means "to give over (by hand or surrender)," "deliver unto," or "offer." In this context, it highlights the disciples' active role in presenting the food to Jesus. It signifies a direct, physical exchange, reinforcing the tangible interaction between the resurrected Christ and His disciples. The act of giving and receiving food further grounds the event in physical reality.
* **broiled (Greek, _optós'_):** Derived from a verb meaning "to steep" or "to cook," this adjective specifically means "cooked" or "roasted." Its inclusion emphasizes that the fish was prepared food, ready for consumption, not raw. This detail underscores the normalcy of the meal within the extraordinary circumstance, further validating the physical reality of Jesus' body and His ability to partake in human activities.
* **honeycomb (Greek, _kēríon'_):** This word refers to a "cell for honey" or, collectively, "the comb." While the KJV translates it as "honeycomb," the underlying Greek (_melissiou kēríon_) literally means "of a bee-comb." The mention of honeycomb alongside fish provides a second, distinct type of food, reinforcing the variety of sustenance Jesus consumed. It's a natural, unprocessed food, adding to the authenticity of the meal and the physical nature of His resurrected body.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish,"**: This clause describes the disciples' action of offering food to Jesus. The specificity of "a piece" (Greek: _méros_) suggests that it was not an entire fish but a portion, perhaps what was readily available. The "broiled fish" (Greek: _optós ichthýs_) is a common, substantial food, emphasizing that Jesus consumed real, solid sustenance. This act of receiving and preparing to eat solid food directly counters the disciples' initial belief that they were seeing a spirit, as spirits were not believed to eat.
* **"and of an honeycomb."**: This second part of the clause adds another item to the meal, "honeycomb" (Greek: _melissiou kēríon_). The inclusion of honeycomb further solidifies the physical reality of Jesus' body. Honeycomb is a natural, sweet, and sticky food, and its consumption would have been a clear and undeniable sensory experience. The combination of fish and honeycomb provides diverse evidence of His ability to digest different types of food, leaving no room for doubt about His bodily presence.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 24:42 employs several literary devices to emphasize its profound theological message. **Verisimilitude** is prominently used, as the narrative provides highly specific, sensory details—a "piece of a broiled fish" and "honeycomb"—to make the miraculous event feel real and believable to the reader, just as it did for the disciples. This tangible evidence serves as a powerful **Symbolism** of the resurrection's physical reality; the act of eating, a most human and corporeal function, becomes the ultimate proof that Jesus is not a ghost but truly risen in body. The passage also utilizes **Contrast** by setting the disciples' initial fear and belief in a spirit against the concrete, physical evidence of Jesus eating, thereby highlighting the dramatic shift from doubt to conviction. This detailed account functions as **Affirmation**, providing irrefutable evidence for the core Christian doctrine of bodily resurrection, a truth that would become central to the apostolic preaching.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 24:42 is a cornerstone passage for understanding the nature of Jesus' resurrection. It firmly establishes the physical reality of His glorified body, which, while transformed and capable of miraculous appearances, retained its tangible, human attributes, including the ability to eat. This act directly refutes any notion that Jesus' resurrection was merely spiritual, visionary, or a phantom, a belief that would undermine the very foundation of Christian hope. The consumption of food served as the ultimate empirical proof for the disciples, moving them from lingering doubt to absolute conviction, thereby empowering them to become credible witnesses of the resurrection to the world. This physical reality of Christ's resurrection is not just a historical fact, but the guarantee of our own future bodily resurrection and the hope of eternal life in transformed bodies.

* [John 20:27](/john/20-27 "John 20:27 - Jesus Invites Thomas to Touch Him")
* [Acts 10:40-41](/acts/10-40-41 "Acts 10:40-41 - Peter's Witness to Jesus Eating")
* [1 Corinthians 15:20](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ as the Firstfruits of Resurrection")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 24:42 offers profound reassurance and practical implications for believers today. In a world that often seeks tangible evidence and struggles with the supernatural, this verse provides a concrete anchor for our faith in the resurrection. It reminds us that Christianity is not based on a myth or a spiritualized concept, but on a historical event involving a real, physical person who conquered death. This truth should ignite our hope, knowing that if Jesus truly rose in body, then our own future resurrection and eternal life with Him are equally certain. The disciples' journey from fear and doubt to joyful conviction, facilitated by Jesus' tangible presence, encourages us to bring our own doubts and questions to Christ, trusting that He will provide the evidence we need for a robust faith. It also calls us to be witnesses of this foundational truth, sharing the good news of a living Savior who is not just a historical figure, but a present reality.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the physical nature of Jesus' resurrection, as demonstrated by His eating, strengthen your faith in the promises of God regarding eternal life and your own future resurrection?**
* **In what ways might we, like the disciples, sometimes struggle with belief even in the face of overwhelming evidence, and how can we overcome such doubt?**
* **What practical implications does the bodily resurrection of Jesus have for how we view our physical bodies and the material world?**

### FAQ

**Why was it so important for Jesus to eat after His resurrection?**

Answer: It was critically important for Jesus to eat after His resurrection to provide undeniable, tangible proof of His bodily return from the dead. The disciples were terrified, thinking they were seeing a spirit ([Luke 24:37](/luke/24-37 "Luke 24:37 - Disciples' Fear")). In ancient Jewish thought, spirits did not eat. By consuming real, solid food—broiled fish and honeycomb—Jesus demonstrated that He was not a phantom or a disembodied ghost, but truly alive in a physical, though glorified, body. This act served as a powerful, sensory confirmation, dispelling their fears and solidifying their belief in the reality of His resurrection, which was essential for their future mission as witnesses.

**Does Jesus' ability to eat mean His resurrected body was exactly the same as before His death?**

Answer: While Jesus' resurrected body was undeniably physical and capable of eating, it also possessed new, transformed qualities. It bore the marks of the crucifixion ([Luke 24:39](/luke/24-39 "Luke 24:39 - Jesus Shows His Hands and Feet")), yet He could appear and disappear suddenly, pass through locked doors ([John 20:19](/john/20-19 "John 20:19 - Jesus Appears in a Locked Room")), and was not immediately recognized by everyone ([Luke 24:16](/luke/24-16 "Luke 24:16 - Disciples' Eyes Kept from Recognizing Jesus")). This suggests a body that was both continuous with His earthly body (retaining identity and physical attributes) and discontinuous (possessing new, glorified capabilities). His eating confirms its physicality, while other accounts reveal its transformed nature, hinting at the glorious bodies believers will receive ([Philippians 3:21](/philippians/3-21 "Philippians 3:21 - Our Glorified Bodies")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 24:42 is a profound Christ-centered fulfillment, not just of Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah's suffering and resurrection, but of the very nature of God's redemptive plan. The physical, tangible resurrection of Jesus, evidenced by His eating, is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, validating His claims to be the Son of God and the victor over sin and death. This act foreshadows the ultimate reality of our future hope: that Christ's resurrection is the "firstfruits" of those who have fallen asleep ([1 Corinthians 15:20](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ as the Firstfruits")). His resurrected body, capable of eating yet also transcending physical limitations, provides the pattern for the glorified bodies believers will receive at His return ([Philippians 3:21](/philippians/3-21 "Philippians 3:21 - Our Glorified Bodies")). Furthermore, Jesus' eating with His disciples prefigures the eternal fellowship believers will share with Him, culminating in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb ([Revelation 19:9](/revelation/19-9 "Revelation 19:9 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb")), where the redeemed will feast with their resurrected Lord, forever confirming the victory He secured through His death and bodily resurrection. Thus, this simple meal in Luke 24:42 is a powerful testament to the real, living Savior who continues to invite us into tangible communion with Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.