17 Foods The Bible Mentions That We Still Eat Today

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By Jonathan Trent

The Bible mentions various foods in its stories, many of which have strong religious connotations. However, they still have many culinary uses in modern society! So, let’s look at 17 foods the Bible mentions that we still have on our tables for supper.

Bread

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Bread is famous as one of the most frequently mentioned foods in the Bible, symbolizing sustenance, and is used in many different religious rituals. The Bible refers to several different types of bread, such as unleavened and barley, but the most famous instance is that which represents Jesus’ body during the Last Supper!

Grapes

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Grapes and grapevines symbolize abundance and prosperity in the Bible. Like these days, they were also used to produce wine, which has strong religious significance, representing Jesus’ blood during the Last Supper. Grapes were also a common agricultural product in Biblical times and are still incredibly popular today.

Wine

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Continuing with wine, this delicious alcoholic beverage is heavily associated with celebrations and religious rituals in the Bible. It’s mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments and was most notably part of the Last Supper. However, according to The Independent, Jesus’ wine wasn’t Merlot or Shiraz; in reality, it probably resembled mulled wine!

Fish

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Much like bread, fish is a staple food in many important stories throughout the Bible, such as Jesus’s fish-feeding miracle! It’s a key source of sustenance for many characters in the Bible, such as the disciples who were fishermen, and was also prominent in the Sea of Galilee, a central location in the Bible.

Honey

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Honey represents sweetness and abundance in the Bible, and the phrase “the land of milk and honey” often describes a prosperous land. During Biblical times, it was typically used as a natural sweetener in cooking and as medicine, and we still love it today!

Pomegranates

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The juicy pomegranates that we still crunch on today represented nutritious abundance and fertility back in Biblical times. Strangely, they were also used as decorations on priests’ garments and in temple designs, which we must say isn’t so common in modern times.

Lentils

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The Spruce Eats claims that lentils have been sustaining humans for thousands of years; this includes when Jesus was around! They’re a staple in the Bible and were a common food in Biblical dishes, most notably part of the famous story of Esau, who sold his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew.

Barley

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Barley is mentioned in the Bible as a primary grain used for bread and other foods, which isn’t too shocking considering that it was one of the earliest cultivated grains in the world! These days, most people prefer products made from wheat, but barley loaves can still be found in most countries.

Milk

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In the Bible, milk represents nourishment and life force, and, like honey, it was supposed to signify prosperity. Milk from various animals, such as goats and sheep, was a common element of the Biblical diet, but nowadays, we’re far more familiar with cow milk.

Goat Meat

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Goats were a popular source of meat during the Biblical period, primarily because they were commonly used in religious rituals and sacrifices. Goat milk and cheese were additional products mentioned in the Bible, all of which are still commonly consumed in the Middle East to this day.

Lamb

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The lamb is commonly mentioned in the Bible and is associated with certain religious rituals, such as Passover (i.e., the Lamb of God). This cute creature symbolizes innocence and sacrifice, especially considering how important it was in people’s diets back then! 

Figs

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Britannica points out that fig trees were among the earliest fruit trees to be cultivated, so it’s unsurprising that they were commonly mentioned in the Bible. They were symbols of peace and prosperity, but just like today, they were also often dried and stored for later consumption. 

Cucumbers

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Cucumbers are mentioned in the Bible as part of ancient Egyptian diets, and they were likely eaten fresh or pickled for preservation. Unlike many food items on this list, not much has changed regarding cucumber consumption since then!

Dates

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Dates were frequently mentioned as a common source of sweetness in Biblical times, often dried and used for long-term storage. The date palm is also mentioned as a symbol of prosperity and growth, with its religious significance even extending to the religion of Islam.

Onions

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The Bible notes that the Israelites ate onions in Egypt, forming a fundamental ingredient in many Biblical-era recipes. They were valued for their versatile flavor and medicinal properties, so we’re happy to see these attitudes remain in modern times!

Olive Oil

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Some people think that olive oil is quite modern, but as OpenBible shows, there are dozens of mentions of it in the Bible! Olive oil had many uses in the Bible, such as cooking, anointing, and lighting lamps, and held a strong symbolic significance, representing blessings and consecration. 

Garlic

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Lastly, garlic is another ingredient mentioned in the Israelite diet in Egypt. Like onions, it was typically used for its strong flavor and potential health benefits, which continues to be the case in most cultures today. Long live garlic and onion!

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