Hebrew word · Strong's H398

אָכַל

ʼâkal · aw-kal' · verb · “to eat, consume”

In a sentence

ʾAkal means to eat or consume — used of meals, of fire devouring, and of God consuming offerings. A simple verb at the center of biblical hospitality.

ʾAkal is to eat. Adam and Eve ʾakal the forbidden fruit; Abraham gives the visitors a meal; Israel ʾakal the Passover. The verb threads through Israel's covenant life.

It also names what fire does — and what God does in wrath as «a consuming fire.» Deuteronomy 4:24 uses it of God himself. The same verb covers tender hospitality and holy judgment.

Strong's reference

Definition: to eat (literally or figuratively)

KJV usage: [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Genesis 3:6 “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.” Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.