אׇכְלָה
𐤀𐤊𐤋𐤄
ʼoklâh
H402 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Substance for eating; that which is eaten, food. More broadly, refers to anything used for nourishment by humans or animals. In extended or collective senses, may refer to provisions, supplies, or edible produce.
Semantic Range
food, edible substance, nourishment, provision, what is eaten, animal feed, supplies
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root אכל (ʼ-k-l), which carries the core meaning 'to eat, consume'. The feminine noun אׇכְלָה is formed from this root, signifying 'food' as that which is eaten. Contrast this with אֹכֶל (ʼokel), a masculine noun with very similar meaning, but אׇכְלָה often appears in specific or feminine-laden contexts.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, אׇכְלָה is less common than אֹכֶל, but both denote 'food'. אׇכְלָה can denote general provisions for people (Genesis 6:21), or food for animals (Genesis 1:30). Occasionally, the term is used in collective or abstract senses to indicate all substances suitable for consumption within a given situation. The term does not carry ritual or sacrificial nuance on its own, and is usually context-neutral regarding sacred versus profane food. In later Hebrew, this noun is largely replaced by other terms, but the root remains productive. English translations typically render אׇכְלָה simply as 'food', but do not always reflect its potentially expansive nuance (e.g., edible supply, nourishment). Contrasts with related terms like לָחֶם (leḥem, 'bread', but frequently used for 'food' in a more staple-specific sense) and טָרֶף (ṭāref, 'prey', food for animals), clarifying that אׇכְלָה refers to edible items without specifying type or quality. Across Israelite history, from the patriarchal to monarchic periods, usage remains stable with little semantic shift, but always as a basic term for sustenance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of אֻכָל; food; consume, devour, eat, food, meat.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אכל (ʾ-k-l) — to eat, consume, devour
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H396 | אֲכִילָה | the edible provision |
| H3978 | מַאֲכָל | for food |
| H3979 | מַאֲכֶלֶת | the slaughter-knife |
| H398 | אָכַל | to eat |
| H3980 | מַאֲכֹלֶת | like an eating-implement of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H402-01 |
לְ/אָכְלָֽה | leakhelah | HR/Ncfsa |
for food | for food | 18 |
Occurrences in Scripture
18 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H402-01 |
Genesis 1:29 | לְ/אָכְלָֽה | leakhelah | HR/Ncfsa |
for food | for food |
H402-01 |
Genesis 1:30 | לְ/אָכְלָ֑ה | leakhelah | HR/Ncfsa |
for food | for food |
H402-01 |
Genesis 6:21 | לְ/אָכְלָֽה | leakhelah | HR/Ncfsa |
for food | for food |
H402-01 |
Genesis 9:3 | לְ/אָכְלָ֑ה | leakhelah | HR/Ncfsa |
food | for food |
H402-01 |
Exodus 16:15 | לְ/אָכְלָֽה | leakhelah | HR/Ncfsa |
to eat | for food |
H402-01 |
Leviticus 11:39 | לְ/אָכְלָ֑ה | leakhelah | HR/Ncfsa |
for food | for food |
H402-01 |
Leviticus 25:6 | לְ/אָכְלָ֔ה | leakhelah | HR/Ncfsa |
for food | for food |
H402-01 |
Jeremiah 12:9 | לְ/אָכְלָֽה | leakhelah | HR/Ncfsa |
to devour | for food |
H402-01 |
Ezekiel 15:4 | לְ/אָכְלָ֑ה | leakhelah | HR/Ncfsa |
for fuel | for food |
H402-01 |
Ezekiel 15:6 | לְ/אָכְלָ֑ה | leakhelah | HR/Ncfsa |
for-fuel | for food |