### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **makkôleth**, represented by `{{H4361}}`, means **nourishment** or **food**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 verse**, making its usage highly specific. The term is derived from the root word for eating and refers directly to sustenance provided for consumption.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single biblical instance of `{{H4361}}` is found in the account of King Solomon's agreement with Hiram of Tyre. Solomon provided Hiram's household with "twenty thousand measures of wheat for **food**" annually, along with pure oil, in exchange for timber [[1 Kings 5:11]]. This highlights the word's use in the context of large-scale provisions and international trade agreements.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context help define the nature of this **nourishment**:
* `{{H2406}}` **chiṭṭâh** (wheat): This staple grain is a primary component of the food provided [[1 Kings 5:11]]. It is frequently depicted as a sign of God's blessing on the land [[Deuteronomy 8:8]].
* `{{H3734}}` **kôr** (measure): This term specifies a large, dry measure, indicating the massive quantity of provisions in Solomon's agreement. It is used for both wheat and meal in documenting Solomon's daily needs [[1 Kings 4:22]].
* `{{H8081}}` **shemen** (oil): Defined as grease or liquid fat, often from the olive, this was a vital part of the provision. **Oil** is also used figuratively for richness and as a key element for anointing [[Psalms 23:5]].
### Theological Significance
Though `{{H4361}}` appears in a transactional context, its components carry deeper theological significance.
* **Royal Obligation:** The use of **makkôleth** in [[1 Kings 5:11]] establishes sustenance as a cornerstone of a major political and economic alliance between two kings.
* **Divine Provision:** The specific items designated as **food**, namely wheat and oil, are consistently portrayed elsewhere as core blessings from God. God is the one who "filleth thee with the finest of the wheat" [[Psalms 147:14]] and provides a "land of oil olive" [[Deuteronomy 8:8]].
* **Symbol of Joy and Anointing:** The oil included in the provision is rich with symbolic meaning, representing the "oil of joy" [[Isaiah 61:3]], gladness [[Psalms 45:7]], and the sacred act of anointing [[1 Samuel 16:1]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4361}}` is a precise term for **nourishment** whose meaning is defined by its sole appearance in Scripture. While its direct use is practical, describing the provisions in a royal treaty, the specific elements it encompasses—wheat and oil—connect the simple act of providing food to broader biblical themes of national alliance, divine blessing, and spiritual joy.
TRV