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Hebrew Word of the Day

אֹכֶל, אוׄכֵל

Meaning: food, eating

Translit: o•chel, o•chel

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It is quite surprising to see how little has changed when it comes to our basic foods. Although all food products in this series are biblical, you can learn these names and use them in Hebrew on your next trip or tour to any restaurant in Israel.

We start with the most basic definition, the general name for edibles or simply ‘food’: o•chel.

The word ‘o•chel’ comes from the infinitive le•e•chol,’ to eat. Be aware that the verb ‘eat’ for masculine is written in English exactly the same as the word ‘food.’ It sounds very similar, but the way you stress the word (put the emphasis on one syllable) makes the difference. Listen to the recording included in this Word from the Lord and learn the first word ‘o•chel,’ food. You’ll notice that the stress is on the ‘o.’ This means that you linger a little on this syllable. When you want to say ‘eat,’ you put the stress on the last syllable, ‘chel,’ as you can hear in the second recorded word. For the feminine form, the word ‘eat’ is ‘o•che•let.’

Biblical examples of ‘o•chel,’ food:

And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up grain under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities

Genesis 41:35

You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink; only I will pass through on foot

Deuteronomy 2:28

Biblical examples of ‘o•chel,’ eat:

I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me’

John 13:18

It shall be as when a hungry man dreams, and, behold, he eats; but he awakes, and his soul is empty; or as when a thirsty man dreams, and, behold, he drinks

Isaiah 29:8

And you may add one more word today: ‘sho•te,’ drink, drinking (verb) for masculine and ‘sho•ta’ for feminine.

It is quite surprising to see how little has changed when it comes to our basic foods. Although all food products in this series are biblical, you can learn these names and use them in Hebrew on your next trip or tour to any restaurant in Israel.

We start with the most basic definition, the general name for edibles or simply ‘food’: o•chel.

The word ‘o•chel’ comes from the infinitive le•e•chol,’ to eat. Be aware that the verb ‘eat’ for masculine is written in English exactly the same as the word ‘food.’ It sounds very similar, but the way you stress the word (put the emphasis on one syllable) makes the difference. Listen to the recording included in this Word from the Lord and learn the first word ‘o•chel,’ food. You’ll notice that the stress is on the ‘o.’ This means that you linger a little on this syllable. When you want to say ‘eat,’ you put the stress on the last syllable, ‘chel,’ as you can hear in the second recorded word. For the feminine form, the word ‘eat’ is ‘o•che•let.’

Biblical examples of ‘o•chel,’ food:

And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up grain under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities

Genesis 41:35

You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink; only I will pass through on foot

Deuteronomy 2:28

Biblical examples of ‘o•chel,’ eat:

I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me’

John 13:18

It shall be as when a hungry man dreams, and, behold, he eats; but he awakes, and his soul is empty; or as when a thirsty man dreams, and, behold, he drinks

Isaiah 29:8

And you may add one more word today: ‘sho•te,’ drink, drinking (verb) for masculine and ‘sho•ta’ for feminine.