### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek adjective βρώσιμος (brṓsimos) is derived from the noun `{{G1035}}` (brōsis), which means "the act of eating," "food," or "that which is eaten." Consequently, βρώσιμος carries the core meaning of "eatable," "fit for food," or "edible." It describes the quality of an item as being suitable for consumption. While sometimes translated as "meat" (e.g., in the KJV), this should be understood in the broader sense of "food" rather than exclusively animal flesh, as its primary semantic range encompasses anything that can be eaten.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word βρώσιμος appears only once in the New Testament, in the Gospel of Luke:
* **[[Luke 24:41]]**: Following His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples, who are terrified and disbelieving, thinking they are seeing a spirit. To demonstrate the physical reality of His resurrected body, Jesus asks, "Have ye here any meat?" (KJV). The Greek text is "ἔχετέ τι βρώσιμον ἐνθάδε;" which more accurately translates to "Do you have anything edible here?" or "Do you have any food here?" The disciples then give Him a piece of broiled fish, which He takes and eats in their presence. The use of βρώσιμον here is crucial: Jesus seeks something *eatable* to prove He is not an incorporeal spirit but possesses a tangible, physical body capable of ingesting food. This act serves as undeniable evidence of His true resurrection.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several Greek words are semantically related to βρώσιμος, primarily revolving around the concept of food and eating:
* **`{{G1035}}` βρῶσις (brōsis)**: The root noun, meaning "eating," "food," or "rust/corrosion" (metaphorically). Examples include [[John 6:27]] ("food that perishes") and [[Romans 14:17]] ("the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking").
* **`{{G1033}}` βρῶμα (brōma)**: A common noun for "food" or "meat," referring to anything eaten. Seen in passages like [[1 Corinthians 8:8]] ("food will not commend us to God") and [[Hebrews 9:10]] (referring to "foods and drinks and various washings").
* **`{{G2068}}` ἔδεσμα (edesma)**: Another word for "food" or "meat," often used interchangeably with βρῶμα.
* **`{{G5160}}` τροφή (trophē)**: A general term for "nourishment" or "food," often emphasizing the sustaining aspect. For example, [[Matthew 3:4]] mentions John the Baptist's "food," and [[Acts 27:33]] speaks of Paul encouraging the sailors to "take food."
The concept of the physicality of the resurrection is also intimately linked, as the single use of βρώσιμος serves to underscore that Jesus' resurrected body was not a phantom but a real, tangible body that could interact with the physical world, including eating.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of βρώσιμος in [[Luke 24:41]] holds profound theological significance, primarily serving as irrefutable evidence for the physical nature of Christ's resurrection.
* **Affirmation of Christ's Physical Resurrection**: By asking for and consuming "eatable" food, Jesus definitively demonstrates that He is not a disembodied spirit or an apparition. This act underscores the reality of His glorified, yet tangible, body, providing concrete proof against the disciples' initial disbelief and fears. It establishes that His resurrection was not merely spiritual but corporeal.
* **Continuity of Identity**: The ability of Jesus' resurrected body to eat signifies a continuity between His pre-crucifixion and post-resurrection existence. While transformed and glorified, it is still recognizably His body, capable of physical functions, thus confirming His identity.
* **Foundation for Christian Hope**: The physical reality of Christ's resurrection, attested by His consumption of "eatable" food, serves as the bedrock for the Christian hope of a future bodily resurrection for believers. If Christ's resurrection was truly physical, then the promise of our own bodily resurrection is likewise grounded in concrete reality.
* **Practical Demonstration**: Jesus' action was a direct, practical, and undeniable demonstration to His doubting disciples, moving them from fear and skepticism to understanding and faith in His victory over death.
### Summary
The Greek word βρώσιμος (brṓsimos) means "eatable" or "fit for food." Its sole appearance in the New Testament at [[Luke 24:41]] is highly significant, occurring when the resurrected Jesus asks His disciples, "Do you have anything edible here?" before eating in their presence. This singular act serves as a crucial, tangible demonstration of the physical reality of Christ's resurrection, distinguishing His resurrected body from a mere spirit and providing concrete evidence of His triumph over death. The word thus undergirds a foundational truth of Christian theology: the corporeal nature of Christ's resurrection, which in turn provides the basis for the believer's hope in a future bodily resurrection.
TRV