Feed

Feed [Heb. 'akhal, ra'ah; Grk. boskō, trephō, psōmizō]. An act of giving food to a human being or an animal.

In the OT, the action of feeding is inextricably associated with the act of eating and drinking but also distinguished from it because the emphasis is placed on the provision of food or drink. The terms denoting feeding are generally used in a literal sense in which case they describe an action that has the main purpose of sustaining human or animal life (1 Sam 28:20; Jud 15:18-19). However, there are also a vast number of passages where feeding is used metaphorically (Deut 8:3; Ezek 15:7).

It is God who is repeatedly described in the OT as the main source and provider of food for both people and animals. He created food during the creation week (Gen 1:29-31; 2:8-9, 15-16; 1 Tim 4:3) and has continued to provide it throughout history (Exod 16; 17:1-7; Num 11:4-6, 31-34).

Besides literal usage, the terms related to feeding are also used in a metaphorical sense. In some passages that relate to war, the Lord is portrayed as the one who is disciplining His people (Jer 8:16; 50:7) and Gentiles (Deut 7:16; Zech 12:6). These disciplining measures are very often described by picturing the Lord as feeding things and abstractions such as fire (Ezek 15:7; Amos 1:4), sword (Deut 32:42; Isa 1:20), and famine and pestilence (Ezek 7:10-15). The imagery of feeding is also used metaphorically to describe people's need for nourishing their spiritual life by paying attention to the Lord's words (Deut 8:3; Jer 15:16).

There are also a number of references to feeding in the NT. Perhaps best-known examples are Jesus' miracles of feeding the five thousand (Matt 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17) and the four thousand (Matt 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-9)—events that recall the Lord's feeding of Israel during the exodus as well as at the time of the earlier prophets Elijah (1 Kgs 17:1-7) and Elisha (2 Kgs 4:42-44). Significantly, Jesus emphasized that earthly food is not sufficient for humans, since they also need "the bread of God . . . who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (John 6:33).

The idea that Jesus is the bread of life is best expressed in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. In this ordinance, people are entering into fellowship with Christ by taking the bread and the vine which represents Jesus, namely His sacrifice. In contrast to ANE beliefs and practices, this rite affirms the teaching that it is not humans who provide food for God or offer it to Him, but rather God who provides for them. In line with this concept that Jesus is the bread of life and in accordance with the commission that Jesus gave to Peter to "feed my sheep" (John 21:15-19), apostle Paul is described as the disciple of Christ who was spiritually feeding his churches (1 Cor 3:2). See also Food.