What does מַאֲכָל (maʾăkāl) mean in the Bible?
מַאֲכָל (maʾăkāl): Concrete sustenance category encompassing all consumable forms: grain, meat, fruit, provisions for physical survival.
Hebrew · H3978
מַאֲכָל
An eatable (includ. provender, flesh and fruit)
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מַאֲכָלH3978
Pronunciationmaʾăkāl
What does מַאֲכָל (maʾăkāl) mean in the Bible?
מַאֲכָל (maʾăkāl): Concrete sustenance category encompassing all consumable forms: grain, meat, fruit, provisions for physical survival.
Full entry for מַאֲכָל (H3978) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3978?
The BSB source-word alignment has 30 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include food (5), for food (5), of food (3), as food (2), the food (2).
Where does מַאֲכָל (maʾăkāl) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 2:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (4), Jeremiah (4), Ezekiel (3), Psalms (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itfood5×Deuteronomy 28:26, Job 33:20, Jeremiah 7:33, Jeremiah 16:4
for food5×Genesis 2:9, Genesis 3:6, Leviticus 19:23, Isaiah 62:8
of food3×Genesis 6:21, 2 Chronicles 11:11, Ezekiel 4:10
as food2×Psalms 79:2, Jeremiah 19:7
the food2×1 Kings 10:5, 2 Chronicles 9:4
. . .1×Psalms 74:14
abundant supplies1×1 Chronicles 12:40
and food1×Ezra 3:7
and fruit1×Nehemiah 9:25
and his food1×Habakkuk 1:16
fruit1×Ezekiel 47:12
goods1×Genesis 40:17
its food1×Proverbs 6:8
other food1×Haggai 2:12
produce fruit1×Deuteronomy 20:20
something to eat1×Judges 14:14
to be devoured1×Psalms 44:11
your food1×Daniel 1:10
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 2:9לְמַאֲכָ֑לtofor foodPreposition-l | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 3:6לְמַאֲכָ֜לtofor foodPreposition-l | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 6:21מַֽאֲכָל֙toof foodNoun - masculine singularGenesis 40:17מַאֲכַ֥לtogoodsNoun - masculine singular constructLeviticus 19:23מַאֲכָ֔לtofor foodNoun - masculine singularDeuteronomy 20:20מַאֲכָל֙toproduce fruitNoun - masculine singularDeuteronomy 28:26לְמַאֲכָ֔לtofoodPreposition-l | Noun - masculine singularJudges 14:14מַאֲכָ֔לtosomething to eatNoun - masculine singular1 Kings 10:5וּמַאֲכַ֣לtothe foodConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct1 Chronicles 12:40מַאֲכָ֡לtoabundant suppliesNoun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 2:9
Aligned rows30
Books represented18
Genesis4Leviticus1Deuteronomy2Judges11 Kings11 Chronicles12 Chronicles2Ezra1Nehemiah1Job1Psalms3Proverbs1Isaiah1Jeremiah4Ezekiel3Daniel1Habakkuk1Haggai1
Source forms
לְמַֽאֲכָ֔ל4xlə·ma·’ă·ḵālJeremiah 7:33, Jeremiah 19:7, Jeremiah 34:20, Ezekiel 47:12
מַאֲכָ֖ל3xma·’ă·ḵāl2 Chronicles 11:11, Nehemiah 9:25, Haggai 2:12
וּמַאֲכַ֣ל2xū·ma·’ă·ḵal1 Kings 10:5, 2 Chronicles 9:4
לְמַאֲכָ֔ל2xlə·ma·’ă·ḵālDeuteronomy 28:26, Jeremiah 16:4
מַאֲכַ֥ל2xma·’ă·ḵalGenesis 40:17, Job 33:20
מַאֲכָ֔ל2xma·’ă·ḵālLeviticus 19:23, Judges 14:14
וּמַאֲכָ֨ל1xū·ma·’ă·ḵālEzra 3:7
וּמַאֲכָל֖וֹ1xū·ma·’ă·ḵā·lōwHabakkuk 1:16
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular13xGenesis 6:21, Leviticus 19:23, Deuteronomy 20:20, Judges 14:14
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular8xGenesis 2:9, Genesis 3:6, Deuteronomy 28:26, Jeremiah 7:33
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct2x1 Kings 10:5, 2 Chronicles 9:4
Noun - masculine singular construct2xGenesis 40:17, Job 33:20
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular1xEzra 3:7
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular1xEzekiel 4:10
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular1xHabakkuk 1:16
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural1xDaniel 1:10
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Concrete sustenance category encompassing all consumable forms: grain, meat, fruit, provisions for physical survival.
Source Gloss
an eatable (includ. provender, flesh and fruit)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Concrete sustenance category encompassing all consumable forms: grain, meat, fruit, provisions for physical survival.
an eatable (includ. provender, flesh and fruit) BDB: food Usage: food, fruit, (bake-)meat(-s), victual.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
מַאֲכָל is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.