In biblical times, the role of a cook was significant, though not always explicitly mentioned in the Scriptures. Cooks were responsible for preparing meals, which were central to daily life, religious observances, and special occasions. The preparation and sharing of food often held symbolic and communal importance in the biblical narrative.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament provides several instances where cooking and the role of cooks are implied or mentioned. In Genesis 18:6-8, Abraham prepares a meal for the three visitors by instructing Sarah to make bread and selecting a tender calf for a servant to prepare. This passage highlights the hospitality customs of the time, where cooking was an integral part of welcoming guests.

In 1 Samuel 8:13, when Samuel warns the Israelites about the consequences of having a king, he mentions that the king will take their daughters to be "perfumers, cooks, and bakers." This indicates that cooking was a recognized occupation, and skilled cooks were valued in royal households.

The account of Esau and Jacob in Genesis 25:29-34 also underscores the importance of cooking. Esau sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew, illustrating how food and cooking could play pivotal roles in familial and covenantal relationships.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not frequently mention cooks, the preparation and sharing of meals remain significant. Jesus' feeding of the 5,000, as recorded in all four Gospels (e.g., Matthew 14:13-21), demonstrates the miraculous provision of food and the communal aspect of eating together. Although not explicitly stated, the organization and distribution of food would have required some level of preparation akin to cooking.

In John 21:9-13, after His resurrection, Jesus prepares a breakfast of fish and bread for His disciples by the Sea of Galilee. This act of cooking and serving food underscores Jesus' role as a provider and His desire for fellowship with His followers.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Cooking in biblical times was often associated with religious rituals and offerings. Leviticus 2:4-7 describes the preparation of grain offerings, which involved baking or cooking with oil. These offerings were a vital part of worship and symbolized devotion to God.

The Passover meal, as instituted in Exodus 12, required specific cooking instructions, such as roasting the lamb and preparing unleavened bread. This meal commemorated God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and was central to Jewish identity and religious practice.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, cooking is intertwined with themes of hospitality, provision, and religious observance. While not always explicitly mentioned, the role of cooks and the act of preparing food are essential to understanding the cultural and spiritual context of biblical narratives.2879. tabbachah -- female cook
... female cook. Transliteration: tabbachah Phonetic Spelling: (tab-baw-khaw') Short
Definition: cooks. ... of tabbach Definition female cook NASB Word Usage cooks (1). ...
/hebrew/2879.htm - 6k

How those who Use Food Intemperately and those who Use it ...
... lechery follows upon gluttony the prophet testifies, denouncing hidden things while
he speaks of open ones, when he says, The chief of the cooks broke down the ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xix how those who.htm

With whom we are to Associate.
... For, avoiding working with their own hands and serving themselves, men have recourse
to servants, purchasing a great crowd of fine cooks, and of people to lay ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter iv with whom we are.htm

When Diamond Got Round the Corner of the Hay...
... they cry about, and how they cry"-whether they cry quietly like ladies and gentlemen,
or go shrieking like vulgar emperors, or ill-natured cooks; for all ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 2 when diamond got.htm

The Golden Age, 1572-1603.
... the chase. He had valets, lackeys, grooms, stable-boys, huntsmen, barbers,
watchmen, cooks, tailors, shoemakers, and saddlers. He ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter xii the golden age.htm

Of Julian; his Lineage and Education; his Elevation to The
... The body of Constantius he honored with an imperial funeral, but expelled
the eunuchs, barbers, and cooks from the palace. The eunuchs ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of scholasticus/chapter i of julian his lineage.htm

Biographies of Musicians.
... WABASH AVE. AND MADISON ST., CHICAGO. SHORT HISTORY OF FRANCE, FOR YOUNG PEOPLE,
By Miss ES KIRKLAND, author of "Six Little Cooks," "Dora's Housekeeping," etc. ...
/.../biographies of musicians.htm

Thankfulness to God.
... he dominates and makes into a slave, it smelts the ore for him, it raises the steam
that drives the engines, it heats his house, it lights it, it cooks his food ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lxiii thankfulness to god.htm

If, Again, it is Certain that we are the Most Wicked of Men...
... sifting, that it might be found how many murdered children each of us had tasted;
how many incests each of us had shrouded in darkness; what cooks, what dogs ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter ii if again it.htm

What are we to Think of It, that Most People So Blindly Knock ...
... stationed themselves? and are not physicians named from Erasistratus,
grammarians from Aristarchus, cooks even from Apicius? And ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter iii what are we.htm

Chap. xxxvii. While Occupied in this Plan, He Received Letters ...
... It was also an invention of his to cause all animals used for food to be slaughtered,
not by cooks, but by priests at the altars; so that nothing was ever ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xxxvii while occupied in.htm

Cooks (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Cooks (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 8:13 He will take your
daughters to be perfumers, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. ...
/c/cooks.htm - 6k

Cook (17 Occurrences)
... performed (Genesis 27:3, 4, 9, 10). Professional cooks were afterwards employed
(1 Samuel 8:13; 9:23). Few animals, as a rule, were ...
/c/cook.htm - 13k

Cool (8 Occurrences)

/c/cool.htm - 10k

Cooking-pot (8 Occurrences)
Cooking-pot. Cooking, Cooking-pot. Cooks . Multi-Version Concordance
Cooking-pot (8 Occurrences). ... (BBE). Cooking, Cooking-pot. Cooks . Reference
/c/cooking-pot.htm - 8k

Makers (20 Occurrences)
... it strong: (BBE). 1 Samuel 8:13 Your daughters he will take to be makers
of perfumes and cooks and bread-makers. (BBE). 1 Kings 10 ...
/m/makers.htm - 13k

Prisoner (87 Occurrences)
... This is still more probable if, instead of "captain of the guard," we should translate
"chief of the cooks" ie superintendent of the royal kitchen. ...
/p/prisoner.htm - 42k

Perfumers (3 Occurrences)
... Perfumers (3 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 8:13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers,
and to be cooks, and to be bakers. (WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/p/perfumers.htm - 7k

Bread-makers (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Bread-makers (2 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 8:13 Your daughters
he will take to be makers of perfumes and cooks and bread-makers. (BBE). ...
/b/bread-makers.htm - 7k

Bakers (6 Occurrences)
... (DBY YLT). 1 Samuel 8:13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, and to be
cooks, and to be bakers. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/b/bakers.htm - 8k

Caesar's (10 Occurrences)
... These persons in the emperor's palace would be employed in every conceivable capacity
as household servants, cooks, bathmen, gardeners, grooms, kennel-keepers ...
/c/caesar's.htm - 18k

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