Reference: Meals
American
See EATING.
Easton
are at the present day "eaten from a round table little higher than a stool, guests sitting cross-legged on mats or small carpets in a circle, and dipping their fingers into one large dish heaped with a mixture of boiled rice and other grain and meat. But in the time of our Lord, and perhaps even from the days of Amos (Am 6:4,7), the foreign custom had been largely introduced of having broad couches, forming three sides of a small square, the guests reclining at ease on their elbows during meals, with their faces to the space within, up and down which servants passed offering various dishes, or in the absence of servants, helping themselves from dishes laid on a table set between the couches." Geikie's Life of Christ. (Comp. Lu 7:36-50.) (See Abraham's bosom; Banquet; Feast.)
Illustration: Roman Triclinium
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And one of the Pharisees was asking Him to eat with him; and, having entered into the Pharisee's house, He reclined at table. And, behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and, learning that He was reclining at table in the house of the Pharisee, having provided an alabaster cruse of perfume; read more. and standing behind at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and wiped them off with the hair of her head; and she kept kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume. But, seeing it, the Pharisee who invited Him, spake in himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what sort of woman this is that is touching Him, because she is a sinner." And Jesus, answering, said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he says, "Teacher, say it." "There were two debtors to a certain money-lender. The one owed five hundred denaries; and the other, fifty. And, they having nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them, therefore, will love him the more?" Simon, answering, said, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the more." And He said to him, "Rightly did you judge." And, turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you behold this woman! I entered into your house, you gave Me no water for My feet; but this woman wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, from the time I entered, ceased not to kiss My feet. My head with oil you did not anoint; but she anointed My feet with perfume. Wherefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; because she loved much; but he, to whom little is forgiven, loves little." And He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." And those reclining with Him began to say in themselves, "Who is This That even forgiveth sins!" And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Fausets
The ariston, often translated "dinner," is rather breakfast or luncheon (Mt 22:4); Lu 14:12 "a dinner (breakfast or luncheon) or a supper" (deipnon, a late dinner). The principal Egyptian meal was at noon (Ge 43:16); but the Jews' chief meal at even (Ge 19:1-3, Lot; Ru 3:7, Boaz). Israel ate bread or manna in the morning, flesh in the evening (Ex 16:12); the Passover supper in the evening confirms this. The ancient Hebrew sat at meals (Ge 27:19; Jg 19:6), but not necessarily on a chair, which was reserved as a special dignity (2Ki 4:10). Reclining on couches was latterly the posture at meals (Am 6:4); Am 3:12 says, "dwell in the corner of a bed," i.e. the inner corner where the two sides of the divan meet, the place of dignity (Pusey), "and in Damascus (in) a couch"; not as Gesenius "on a damask couch," for Damascus was then famed for the raw material "white wool" (Eze 27:18), not yet for damask.
Derived from the Syrians, Babylonians, and Persians (Es 1:6; 7:8). For "tables," Mr 7:4, translated "couches"; and for "sitting at meat" in New Testament translated everywhere "reclining." As three were generally on one couch, one lay or "leaned" on another's bosom, as John did on Jesus' chest. Such a close position was chosen by friends, and gave the opportunity of confidential whispering, as when John asked who should betray Jesus (Joh 13:23-25). Ordinarily, three couches (the highest, the middle, and the lowest) formed three sides of a square, the fourth being open for the servants to bring the dishes. On each couch there was the highest, the middle and the lowest guest. "The uppermost room" desired by the Pharisees was the highest seat on the highest couch (Mt 23:6). Females were not as now in the East secluded from the males at meals, as the cases of Ruth among the reapers (Ru 2:14), Elkanah with his wives (1Sa 1:4), Job's sons and daughters (Job 1:4) show.
The women served the men (Lu 10:40; Joh 12:2). The blessing of the food by thanks to the Giver preceded the meal; the only Old Testament instance is 1Sa 9:13. Our Lord always did so (Mt 15:36; Joh 6:11); so Paul (Ac 27:35), confirming precept (1Ti 4:3-4) by practice. De 8:10 implies the duty of grace at the close of a meal. A bread sop held between the thumb and two fingers was dipped into the melted grease in a bowl, or into a dish of meat, and a piece taken out. To hand a friend a delicate morsel was esteemed a kindly act. So Jesus to Judas, treating him as a friend, which aggravates his treachery (Joh 13:18,26; Ps 41:9). Geier, in Poli Synopsis, translated Pr 19:24 "a slothful man hides his hand in the "dish" (tsaliachat) and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again"; KJV means the cavity in the bosom like a dish. Great feasts were held at the end of each third year (De 14:28) when the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow were invited (compare Lu 14:12-13; Ne 8:10-12).
After a previous invitation, on the day of the feast a second was issued to intimate all was ready (Es 5:8; 6:14; Mt 22:3-4). The guests were received with a kiss; water for the feet, ointment for the person, and robes were supplied (Lu 7:38-45). The washing of hands before meals was indispensable for cleanliness, as the ringers were their knives and forks, and all the guests dipped into the same dish (Mt 26:23). The Pharisees overlaid this with a minute and burdensome ritual (Mr 7:1-13). Wreaths were worn on the head: Isa 28:1, where the beauty of Samaria is the "fading flower on the head of the fat valleys." Its position on the brow of a hill made the comparison appropriate. Hebraism for "woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim" (Horsley).
Its people were generally drunken revelers literally, and metaphorically like such were rushing on their own ruin (Isa 28:7-8; 5:11-22; Am 4:1; 6:1-6). The nation would perish as the drunkard's soon fading wreath. A "governor of the feast" (architriklinos, the Greek sumposiarchees, the Latin magister convivii) superintended, tasting the food and liquors, and settling the order and rules of the entertainment (Joh 2:8). The places were assigned according to the respective rank (Ge 43:33; 1Sa 9:22; Lu 14:8; Mr 12:39). Drinking revels were called mishteh (the komos of the Greeks, Latin comissatio), 1Sa 25:36. Condemned by the prophets (Isa 5:11; Am 6:6) and apostles (Ro 13:13; Ga 5:21; Eph 5:18; 1Pe 4:3).
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He took the seven loaves and the fishes; giving thanks, He broke, and was giving to the disciples; and the disciples to the multitudes.
And he sent forth his servants to call those who had been invited to the marriage feast, and they were not willing to come. "Again he sent forth other servants, saying, 'Say to those who have been invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatlings have been slain, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.'
"Again he sent forth other servants, saying, 'Say to those who have been invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatlings have been slain, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.'
and they love the first place in the feasts, and the front seats in the synagogues,
And He, answering, said, "He who dipped with Me his hand in the dish, the same will betray Me.
And there gather together to Him the Pharisees, and some of the scribes, who came from Jerusalem, and saw that some of His disciples ate bread with defiled, that is, unwashed hands. read more. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands thoroughly, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders; and, coming from the marketplace, unless they immerse themselves, they do not eat; and there are many other things which they received to hold; as, immersion of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels.
and, coming from the marketplace, unless they immerse themselves, they do not eat; and there are many other things which they received to hold; as, immersion of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels. And the Pharisees and the scribes ask Him, "Why do not Thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" read more. And He said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it has been written, This people honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. Having left the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men." And He said to them, "Well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may hold your tradition! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'He that speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die.' But ye say, 'If a man say to his father or mother, That wherewith you might be profited by me is Corban,' that is, 'an offering to God,' ye no longer suffer him to do anything for his father or his mother; making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye handed down; and many such things ye do."
and the first seats in the synagogues, and the first places at the feasts;
and standing behind at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and wiped them off with the hair of her head; and she kept kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume. But, seeing it, the Pharisee who invited Him, spake in himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what sort of woman this is that is touching Him, because she is a sinner." read more. And Jesus, answering, said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he says, "Teacher, say it." "There were two debtors to a certain money-lender. The one owed five hundred denaries; and the other, fifty. And, they having nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them, therefore, will love him the more?" Simon, answering, said, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the more." And He said to him, "Rightly did you judge." And, turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you behold this woman! I entered into your house, you gave Me no water for My feet; but this woman wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, from the time I entered, ceased not to kiss My feet.
But Martha was being distracted about much serving; and, coming up suddenly, she said, "Lord, carest Thou not that my sister left me to serve alone? Speak to her, therefore, that she assist me!"
"When you are bidden by any one to a marriage feast, sit not on the first seat, lest possibly a more honorable man than you may have been invited by him;
And He said to him also who had invited him, "When you make a dinner or a supper, call not your friends, nor your brethren, nor your kindred, nor your rich neighbors; lest they also invite you in return, and a recompense be made you;
And He said to him also who had invited him, "When you make a dinner or a supper, call not your friends, nor your brethren, nor your kindred, nor your rich neighbors; lest they also invite you in return, and a recompense be made you; but, when you make a feast, call the poor, maimed, lame, blind;
And He saith to them, "Draw out now, and bear to the ruler of the feast." And they bore it.
Jesus, therefore, took the loaves; and, having given thanks, He distributed to those reclining; and likewise of the fishes as much as they wished.
They, therefore, made Him a supper there; and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with Him.
I speak not concerning all of you: I know whom I chose; but, that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He that eats My bread lifted up his heel against Me.'
There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter, therefore, beckons to this one, and says to him, "Tell us who it is about whom He is speaking." read more. He, leaning back as he was on the breast of Jesus, says to Him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus, therefore, answereth, "He it is for whom I shall dip the morsel, and give it to him." Having, therefore, dipped the morsel, He taketh and giveth it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.
And, having said these things, and taken bread, he gave thanks to God in presence of them all; and, breaking it, he began to eat.
As in the day, let us walk becomingly; not in revellings and drunkenness, not in lewdness and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy;
envyings, drunkenness, revelings, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, as I also said before, that those practicing such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.
And be not drunken with wine, in which is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;
forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods, which God created for reception with thanksgiving by those who believe and have full knowledge of the truth. Because every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, when it is received with thanksgiving;
Hastings
In the art. Food attention was confined to the various articles of diet supplied by the vegetable and animal kingdoms. It now remains to study the methods by which these were prepared for the table, the times at which, and the manner in which, they were served.
1. Preparation of food.
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And she, urged on by her mother, says, "Give me here upon a plate the head of John the Immerser."
and his head was brought upon a plate, and given to the damsel; and she brought it to her mother.
He took the seven loaves and the fishes; giving thanks, He broke, and was giving to the disciples; and the disciples to the multitudes.
And he sent forth his servants to call those who had been invited to the marriage feast, and they were not willing to come. "Again he sent forth other servants, saying, 'Say to those who have been invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatlings have been slain, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.'
"Again he sent forth other servants, saying, 'Say to those who have been invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatlings have been slain, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.'
"And he saw there a man not having on a wedding-garment;
and they love the first place in the feasts, and the front seats in the synagogues,
And He, answering, said, "He who dipped with Me his hand in the dish, the same will betray Me.
And He, answering, said, "He who dipped with Me his hand in the dish, the same will betray Me.
And Judas, who betrayed Him, answering, said, "Is it I, Rabbi?" He says to him, "You said it."
and, coming to her, He raised her up, having taken her by the hand; and the fever left her, and she was ministering to them.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands thoroughly, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders;
And He said to them, "It is one of the twelve??e that is dipping with Me in the dish.
and standing behind at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and wiped them off with the hair of her head; and she kept kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume.
And, turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you behold this woman! I entered into your house, you gave Me no water for My feet; but this woman wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, from the time I entered, ceased not to kiss My feet.
But Martha was being distracted about much serving; and, coming up suddenly, she said, "Lord, carest Thou not that my sister left me to serve alone? Speak to her, therefore, that she assist me!"
And the Pharisee, seeing it, marvelled that He was not first immersed before breakfast. But the Lord said to him, "Now ye, the Pharisees, cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
And he sent forth his servant, at the hour of the supper, to say to those invited, 'Come; because all things are now ready.'
And he sent forth his servant, at the hour of the supper, to say to those invited, 'Come; because all things are now ready.'
"Now his elder son was in a field; and as, in coming, he drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
But who is there of you, having a servant plowing, or tending sheep, that will say to him, having come in from the field, 'Coming straightway, recline at table;'
His mother says to the servants, "Whatsoever He saith to you, do." Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the Jews' manner of purifying, containing, each, two or three firkins.
And He saith to them, "Draw out now, and bear to the ruler of the feast." And they bore it. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast calls the bridegroom,
There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Jesus, therefore, answereth, "He it is for whom I shall dip the morsel, and give it to him." Having, therefore, dipped the morsel, He taketh and giveth it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.
Jesus saith to them, "Come, take breakfast." And not one of the disciples was daring to inquire of Him," Who art Thou?" knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus cometh, and taketh the bread, and giveth to them, and the fish likewise.
So, when they breakfasted, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He says to Him, "Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I fondly love Thee." He saith to him, "Feed My lambs."
And, having said these things, and taken bread, he gave thanks to God in presence of them all; and, breaking it, he began to eat.
Smith
Meals.
Our information on the subject of meals is but scanty. The early Hebrews do not seem to have given special names to their several meals, for the terms rendered "dine" and "dinner" in the Authorized Version (
) are in reality general expressions, which might more correctly be rendered "eat" and "portion of food." In the New Testament "dinner" and "supper,"
Lu 14:12; Joh 21:12
are more properly "breakfast" and "dinner." There is some uncertainty as to the hours at which meals were taken; the Egyptians undoubtedly took their principal mean at noon,
laborers took a light meal at that time.
comp. ver. Ruth 2:17 The Jews rather followed the custom that prevails among the Bedouins, and made their principal meal after sunset, and a lighter meal at about 9 or 10 A.M. The old Hebrews were in the habit of sitting.
Ge 27:19; Jg 19:6; 1Sa 20:5,24; 1Ki 13:20
The table was in this case but slightly elevated above the ground, as is still the case in Egypt. As luxury increased, the practice of sitting was exchanged for that of reclining was the universal custom. As several guests reclined on the same couch, each overlapped his neighbor, as it were, and rested his head on or near the breast of the one who lay behind him; he was then said to "lean on the bosom" of his neighbor.
Joh 13:23; 21:20
The ordinary arrangement of the couches was in three sides of a square, the fourth being left open for the servants to bring up the dishes. Some doubt attends the question whether the females took their meals along with the males. Before commencing the meal the guests washed their hands. This custom was founded on natural decorum: not only was the hand the substitute for our knife and for, but the hands of all the guests were dipped into one and the same dish. Another preliminary step was the grace or blessing, of which we have but one instance in the Old Testament --
--and more than one pronounced by our Lord himself in the new Testament --Matt 15:36; Luke 9:16; John 6:11 The mode of taking the food differed in no material point from the modern usages of the East. Generally there was a single dish, into which each gue
Occasionally separate portions were served out to each.
A piece of bread was held between the thumb and two fingers of the right hand, and was dipped either into a bowl of melted grease (in which case it was termed "a sop,")
Joh 13:26
or into the dish of meat, whence a piece was conveyed to the mouth between the layers of bread. At the conclusion of the meal, grace was again said in conformity with
De 8:10
and the hands were again washed. On state occasions more ceremony was used, and the meal was enlivened in various ways. A sumptuous repast was prepared; the guests were previously invited,
and on the day of the feast a second invitation was issued to those that were bidden.
The visitors were received with a kiss,
Lu 7:45
water was furnished for them to wash their feet with,
Lu 7:44
the head, the beard, the feet, and sometimes the clothes, were perfumed with ointment,
Ps 23:5; Joh 12:3
on special occasions robes were provided,
and the head was decorated with wreaths.
The regulation of the feast was under the superintendence of a special officer,
Joh 2:8
(Authorized Version "governor of the feast"), whose business it was to taste the food and the liquors before they were placed on the table, and to settle about the toasts and amusements; he was generally one of the guests, Ecclus. 32:1,2, and might therefore take part in the conversation. The places of the guests were settled according to their respective rand,
portions of food were placed before each,
the most honored guests receiving either larger,
or more choice,
portions than the rest. The meal was enlivened with music, singing and dancing,
or with riddles,
and amid these entertainments the festival was prolonged for several days.
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And he sent forth his servants to call those who had been invited to the marriage feast, and they were not willing to come. "Again he sent forth other servants, saying, 'Say to those who have been invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatlings have been slain, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.'
"And he saw there a man not having on a wedding-garment;
And He, answering, said, "He who dipped with Me his hand in the dish, the same will betray Me.
and the first seats in the synagogues, and the first places at the feasts;
And, turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you behold this woman! I entered into your house, you gave Me no water for My feet; but this woman wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, from the time I entered, ceased not to kiss My feet.
And He said to him also who had invited him, "When you make a dinner or a supper, call not your friends, nor your brethren, nor your kindred, nor your rich neighbors; lest they also invite you in return, and a recompense be made you;
And He saith to them, "Draw out now, and bear to the ruler of the feast." And they bore it.
Mary, therefore, having taken a pound of ointment of pure spikenard, very costly, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Jesus, therefore, answereth, "He it is for whom I shall dip the morsel, and give it to him." Having, therefore, dipped the morsel, He taketh and giveth it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.
Jesus saith to them, "Come, take breakfast." And not one of the disciples was daring to inquire of Him," Who art Thou?" knowing that it was the Lord.
Peter, turning about, sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also at the Supper leaned back on Jesus' breast, and said, "Lord, who is he that betrays Thee?"