### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **maʼăkâl**, represented by `{{H3978}}`, is a general term for anything eatable, including food, fruit, and meat. It is derived from the verb `{{H398}}` **ʼâkal**, meaning "to eat." It appears **30 times** across **29 unique verses**, signifying its role in describing sustenance in various forms. The word encompasses everything from fruit on a tree to provisions for a king's table.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H3978}}` appears in foundational contexts. It is first mentioned in the Garden of Eden, where God made every tree that is "good for **food**" to grow [[Genesis 2:9]], and the woman saw that the forbidden tree was also "good for **food**" [[Genesis 3:6]]. The term also describes provisions for large-scale projects, such as the **meat**, drink, and oil provided to the men of Zidon and Tyre for bringing cedar trees for the temple [[Ezra 3:7]]. In a darker context, `{{H3978}}` is used repeatedly in prophecies of judgment, where the carcases of the disobedient will become **meat** for the fowls and beasts of the earth ([[Deuteronomy 28:26]], [[Jeremiah 16:4]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the scope of sustenance:
* `{{H398}}` **ʼâkal** (to eat): This is the primitive root from which **maʼăkâl** is derived, signifying the action of consuming. Scripture directly links the two when Noah is commanded to gather all **food** (`maʼăkâl`) "that is eaten" (`ʼâkal`) [[Genesis 6:21]].
* `{{H402}}` **ʼoklâh** (food, meat): This feminine noun is used in parallel with **maʼăkâl** to refer to food. In the instructions to Noah, the gathered **maʼăkâl** is to serve as **ʼoklâh** for him and the animals [[Genesis 6:21]].
* `{{H3899}}` **lechem** (food, bread): A very common term for food, often used alongside **maʼăkâl**. In a time of great sickness, a person's life "abhorreth **bread**" and his soul dainty **meat** (`maʼăkâl`) [[Job 33:20]].
* `{{H6529}}` **pᵉrîy** (fruit): This specifies a type of **maʼăkâl**. The **fruit** of the trees in the garden was intended for **food** [[Genesis 3:6]], and the law made distinctions for the **fruit** of newly planted trees for **food** [[Leviticus 19:23]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3978}}` is demonstrated through several key themes:
* **Divine Provision:** The concept begins with God's creation of trees that are "good for **food**" [[Genesis 2:9]]. This role as provider is later seen in the prophetic vision of trees growing from the waters of the sanctuary, whose **fruit** "shall be for **meat**" [[Ezekiel 47:12]].
* **Consequences of Disobedience:** A recurring curse for sin is that the bodies of the dead will not be buried but will instead become **meat** for animals, a sign of ultimate dishonor ([[Jeremiah 7:33]], [[Jeremiah 19:7]]). Similarly, a nation's resources can be given to their enemies, with their corn becoming **meat** for their foes [[Isaiah 62:8]].
* **Stewardship and Distinction:** The law required Israelites to distinguish between trees that were for **meat** and those that were not, particularly during a siege [[Deuteronomy 20:20]]. This reflects a principle of responsible use of God-given resources.
### Summary
In summary, **maʼăkâl** `{{H3978}}` functions as a broad and essential term for sustenance. Its usage spans from the idyllic provision in Eden to the grim consequences of divine judgment. The word is fundamental to understanding biblical concepts of provision, obedience, and stewardship, illustrating how the simple act of eating and the food itself are woven into the relationship between God and humanity.
TRV