In the context of the Bible, the term "delicacy" often refers to luxurious or sumptuous food, as well as a lifestyle characterized by indulgence and excess. The concept of delicacy is frequently associated with wealth and opulence, and it is sometimes portrayed in a negative light, warning against the dangers of excess and self-indulgence.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, delicacies are often mentioned in the context of feasting and abundance. For example, in the book of Genesis, when Joseph's brothers come to Egypt during the famine, they are invited to dine with him, and "they served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians" (Genesis 43:32). Here, the meal is a sign of Joseph's high status and the abundance of Egypt.

The book of Proverbs warns against the dangers of indulging in delicacies, particularly when offered by those with ulterior motives. Proverbs 23:1-3 advises, "When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you, and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive" . This passage highlights the potential moral and spiritual pitfalls associated with the pursuit of luxury and excess.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, delicacies are often associated with the rich and powerful, serving as a symbol of worldly wealth and the potential for moral corruption. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus describes the rich man as one who "was dressed in purple and fine linen, and lived in luxury every day" (Luke 16:19). The rich man's indulgence in delicacies stands in stark contrast to the poverty and suffering of Lazarus, emphasizing the moral and spiritual dangers of a life focused on material wealth.

The book of Revelation also uses the imagery of delicacies to describe the opulence and eventual downfall of Babylon. Revelation 18:3 states, "For all the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality; the kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury" . Here, delicacies symbolize the corrupting influence of wealth and the moral decay of a society that prioritizes luxury over righteousness.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the Bible's treatment of delicacies serves as a caution against the dangers of excess and the pursuit of worldly pleasures. While the enjoyment of God's blessings is not inherently wrong, the Scriptures consistently warn against allowing such pleasures to become idols or distractions from a life devoted to God. The emphasis is on moderation, gratitude, and the responsible stewardship of resources, aligning one's life with the values of humility, generosity, and spiritual integrity.1. (n.) That which is agreeable to the senses or delightful; as, a delicacy of flavor.

2. (a.) Nicety or fineness of form, texture, or constitution; softness; elegance; smoothness; tenderness; and hence, frailty or weakness; as, the delicacy of a fiber or a thread; delicacy of a hand or of the human form; delicacy of the skin; delicacy of frame.

3. (a.) Nice propriety of manners or conduct; susceptibility or tenderness of feeling; refinement; fastidiousness; and hence, in an exaggerated sense, effeminacy; as, great delicacy of behavior; delicacy in doing a kindness; delicacy of character that unfits for earnest action.

4. (a.) Addiction to pleasure; luxury; daintiness; indulgence; luxurious or voluptuous treatment.

5. (a.) Nice and refined perception and discrimination; critical niceness; fastidious accuracy.

6. (n.) The state of being affected by slight causes; sensitiveness; as, the delicacy of a chemist's balance.

7. (a.) That which is alluring, delicate, or refined; a luxury or pleasure; something pleasant to the senses, especially to the sense of taste; a dainty; as, delicacies of the table.

8. (a.) Pleasure; gratification; delight.

DELICACY

del'-i-ka-si (to strenos): Found only in Revelation 18:3, King James Version: "The merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." the Revised Version (British and American) has very properly changed delicacies to "wantonness," and "luxury" in the margin, which is much nearer to the original.

4764. strenos -- insolent luxury
... delicacy, luxury. Akin to stereos; a "straining", "strenuousness" or "strength",
ie (figuratively) luxury (voluptuousness) -- delicacy. see GREEK stereos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4764.htm - 6k7391. rok -- tenderness, delicacy
... 7390, 7391. rok. 7392 . tenderness, delicacy. Transliteration: rok Phonetic
Spelling: (roke) Short Definition: refinement. Word ...
/hebrew/7391.htm - 6k

4303. matam -- tasty or savory food, dainties
... dainty meat, savoury meat. Or (feminine) matiammah {mat-am-maw'}; from ta'am; a
delicacy -- dainty (meat), savoury meat. see HEBREW ta'am. 4302, 4303. ...
/hebrew/4303.htm - 6k

4516. manammim -- delicacies, dainties
... Word Origin from naem Definition delicacies, dainties NASB Word Usage delicacies
(1). dainty. From na'em; a delicacy -- dainty. see HEBREW na'em. 4515, 4516. ...
/hebrew/4516.htm - 6k

4574. maadan -- a dainty (food), delight
... Or (feminine) maadannah {mah-ad-an-naw'}; from adan; a delicacy or (abstractly)
pleasure (adverbially, cheerfully) -- dainty, delicately, delight. ...
/hebrew/4574.htm - 6k

The Kind of Food which is Considered the Greater Delicacy by Them.
... Prolegomena. Chapter XI. The kind of food which is considered the greater
delicacy by them. I pass over, too, that difficult and ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xi the kind of.htm

Whether Effeminacy* is Opposed to Perseverance? [*Mollities ...
... Objection 2: Further, the Philosopher says (Ethic. vii, 7) that "delicacy is a kind
of effeminacy." But to be delicate seems akin to intemperance. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether effeminacy is opposed to.htm

Whether Temperance is About the Pleasures Proper to the Taste?
... 4,7: "temperance and intemperance are about the same things, and so are continence
and incontinence, perseverance, and effeminacy," to which delicacy pertains. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether temperance is about the.htm

Tryphena and Tryphosa
... He not only displays his intimate knowledge of the persons saluted, but his beautiful
delicacy and ingenuity in the varying epithets applied to them shows how ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/tryphena and tryphosa.htm

Translator's Preface
... detail further than to find a position from which to "edify" the reader, and he
treats this episode in his life with his characteristic delicacy and reticence. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/translators preface.htm

A Libation to Jehovah
... to pleasure him. Who would have looked for such delicacy of feeling and
such enthusiastic self-surrender in such men? They stand ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a libation to jehovah.htm

The Woman which was a Sinner
... We understand the infinite delicacy that left her unnamed, the record of whose much
forgiveness' and great love had to be joined to that of her much sin. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxi the woman which.htm

Letter xviii. Marriage.
... very unhappy. Particularly, if you possess a refined sensibility yourself,
you must look for delicacy of feeling in a companion. A ...
/.../a practical directory for young christian females/letter xviii marriage.htm

Purity.
... objects. There is something of over-sensitiveness and over-delicacy which
shows not innocence, but an inflammable imagination. And ...
//christianbookshelf.org/robertson/sermons preached at brighton/x purity.htm

George Buchanan, Scholar
... be a relief to the mind of one who believes in her guilt on other grounds; a relief
when one finds in them a tenderness, a sweetness, a delicacy, a magnificent ...
/.../kingsley/historical lectures and essays/george buchanan scholar.htm

Delicacy (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) That which is agreeable to the senses
or delightful; as, a delicacy of flavor. 2. (a.) Nicety ...
/d/delicacy.htm - 8k

Delicacies (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Delicacy. Multi-Version Concordance
Delicacies (7 Occurrences). Genesis 49:20 Asher's bread ...
/d/delicacies.htm - 8k

Birds (125 Occurrences)
... This change from regarding the stork as a delicacy to its protection by a death
penalty merely indicates the hold the characteristics of the bird had taken on ...
/b/birds.htm - 62k

Delicate (32 Occurrences)
... 13. (a.) Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a delicate
thermometer. 14. (n.) A choice dainty; a delicacy. 15. ...
/d/delicate.htm - 19k

Virgin (62 Occurrences)
... He must have been lacking, not only in the sense of truthfulness, but also in the
elementary instinct of delicacy, to have invaded the privacy of the most ...
/v/virgin.htm - 64k

Vulture (16 Occurrences)
... it on the rocks until the marrow could be secured. This was a favorite
delicacy. This bird was fond of tortoise also, and is said ...
/v/vulture.htm - 14k

Onesimus (2 Occurrences)
... And Paul does this for him both in the Epistle to the Colossians and in that to
Philemon. With what exquisite delicacy is Onesimus introduced! ...
/o/onesimus.htm - 12k

Lightness (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The state, condition, or quality, of being light
or not heavy; buoyancy; levity; fickleness; nimbleness; delicacy; grace. ...
/l/lightness.htm - 8k

Lapwing (2 Occurrences)
... circles. Its back is coppery or greenish bronze. Its eggs are the plover's
eggs of the London market, esteemed a delicacy. It is ...
/l/lapwing.htm - 8k

Goat (92 Occurrences)
... (Comp. Jeremiah 50:8.). (3.) Hebrews gedi, properly a kid. Its flesh was a delicacy
among the Hebrews (Genesis 27:9, 14, 17; Judges 6:19). ...
/g/goat.htm - 48k

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