In the context of the Bible, the term "feeds" often refers to the act of providing nourishment, both physically and spiritually. This concept is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating God's provision and care for His people, as well as the responsibility of believers to nurture one another.

Physical Provision

The Bible frequently highlights God's provision of physical sustenance. In the Old Testament, God provided manna from heaven to feed the Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4-15). This miraculous feeding demonstrated God's faithfulness and care for His people in times of need. The psalmist reflects on this provision, stating, "He rained down manna for them to eat; He gave them grain from heaven" (Psalm 78:24).

In the New Testament, Jesus' feeding of the multitudes is a significant event that underscores His compassion and divine authority. In the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus took five loaves and two fish, blessed them, and distributed them to the crowd, with leftovers remaining (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14). This miracle not only met the physical needs of the people but also pointed to Jesus as the Bread of Life, who satisfies spiritual hunger.

Spiritual Nourishment

Beyond physical sustenance, the Bible emphasizes the importance of spiritual feeding. Jesus declared, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4), highlighting the necessity of God's Word for spiritual life and growth. Believers are encouraged to feed on Scripture, allowing it to nourish their souls and guide their lives.

The role of spiritual leaders in feeding the flock is also a prominent theme. In John 21:15-17, Jesus instructs Peter to "feed My lambs" and "tend My sheep," emphasizing the responsibility of shepherding and nurturing the spiritual well-being of the church. Similarly, the Apostle Paul exhorts the Ephesian elders to "shepherd the church of God" (Acts 20:28), underscoring the duty of leaders to provide sound teaching and care.

Metaphorical Uses

The concept of feeding is also used metaphorically to describe the sustenance and growth of faith. In 1 Peter 2:2, believers are encouraged to "crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" . This imagery of milk signifies the foundational teachings of the faith, essential for spiritual maturity.

Furthermore, the Bible warns against feeding on false teachings and worldly desires. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul cautions that "the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires" . This serves as a reminder to seek nourishment from true and wholesome sources.

Conclusion

The theme of feeding in the Bible encompasses both God's provision for physical needs and the essential nourishment of the soul through His Word and the ministry of the church. It calls believers to rely on God's sustenance, grow in spiritual maturity, and fulfill their role in nurturing others in the faith.5142. trepho -- to make to grow, to nourish, feed
... verb Definition to make to grow, to nourish, feed NASB Word Usage brought (1), fattened
(1), fed (1), feed (1), feeds (2), nourished (2), nursed (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5142.htm - 7k

2965. kuon -- a dog
... in the East. 2965 -- literally, a dog, scavenging canine; (figuratively)
a spiritual predator who feeds off others. [A loose dog ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2965.htm - 6k

7462a. raah -- to pasture, tend, graze
... root Definition to pasture, tend, graze NASB Word Usage consume (1), devour (1),
eat (3), fed (1), feed (16), feeding (4), feeds (4), graze (7), grazed (2 ...
/hebrew/7462a.htm - 6k

4985. mathoq -- to become or be sweet or pleasant
... root Definition to become or be sweet or pleasant NASB Word Usage became sweet
(1), feeds sweetly (1), gently cover (1), had sweet (1), sweet (2). ...
/hebrew/4985.htm - 6k

Jesus Feeds the Hungry
... THE NEW TESTAMENT JESUS FEEDS THE HUNGRY. When Herod the ruler of Galilee
heard what Jesus was doing, he was greatly puzzled, for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/jesus feeds the hungry.htm

It Makes Him Sensible of the Reality of Happiness: it Feeds Him ...
... THE SECOND CENTURY 98 It makes him sensible of the reality of Happiness:
it feeds him with contentment. It makes him sensible of ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/98 it makes him sensible.htm

The Bible the Great Civilizer
... For thoughts are the food of a man's mind; and as the mind feeds, so will it grow.
If it feeds on coarse and foul food, coarse and foul it will grow. ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon viii the bible the.htm

Providence
... For 'Consider the fowls of the air, they neither sow, nor reap, and gather into
barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them; and are ye not much better than ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xiii providence.htm

Chapter i.
... My beloved is wholly mine, by the complacency wherewith he pleases and feeds me;
and I, I am wholly his, by the benevolence wherewith I please and feed him ...
//christianbookshelf.org/francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter i.htm

Swooning and Reviving Christ's Feet.
... He who feeds the sparrows feeds our souls; in spiritual things, we no more gather
into barns than do the blessed birds; our heavenly Father feeds us from that ...
/.../spurgeon/till he come/swooning and reviving christs feet.htm

Death.
... In the sea, indeed, almost every kind of creature feeds on some other creature:
and what an amount of pain, of terror, of violent death that means, or seems to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xviii death.htm

Example.
... My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." That is to say"My Father worketh on the
Sabbath, He sends His rain, He makes the grass to grow, He feeds the young ...
/.../baring-gould/the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lviii example.htm

The Gospel of Mark
... Withdrawing with the twelve to a desert place, He feeds the five thousand, and after
that shows his power over nature by walking on the sea, 6: 30-56. ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the gospel of mark.htm

And that which Follows Concerning Birds of the Air and Lilies of ...
... governing those. For it must not be deemed that it is not He that feeds
and clothes them also which work with their hands. But lest ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 35 and that which.htm

Feeds (14 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Feeds (14 Occurrences). ... Your heavenly Father feeds them.
Aren't you of much more value than they? (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/f/feeds.htm - 10k

Reap (35 Occurrences)
... Your heavenly Father feeds them. ... Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: they don't sow,
they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. ...
/r/reap.htm - 18k

Moth (10 Occurrences)
... hawk moth. 3. (n.) Any lepidopterous insect that feeds upon garments, grain,
etc.; as, the clothes moth; grain moth; bee moth. 4. (n ...
/m/moth.htm - 13k

Sow (61 Occurrences)
... Your heavenly Father feeds them. ... Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: they don't sow,
they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. ...
/s/sow.htm - 26k

Scarlet-worm
... Tola`ath shani, "scarlet," is the scarlet-worm, Cermes vermilio, a scale-insect
which feeds upon the oak, and which is used for producing a red dye. ...
/s/scarlet-worm.htm - 11k

Scarletworm
... Tola`ath shani, "scarlet," is the scarlet-worm, Cermes vermilio, a scale-insect
which feeds upon the oak, and which is used for producing a red dye. ...
/s/scarletworm.htm - 11k

Feed (117 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To fill the wants of; to supply with that which is used or wasted; as, springs
feed ponds; the hopper feeds the mill; to feed a furnace with coal. ...
/f/feed.htm - 39k

Worm (22 Occurrences)
... Tola`ath shani, "scarlet," is the scarlet-worm, Cermes vermilio, a scale-insect
which feeds upon the oak, and which is used for producing a red dye. ...
/w/worm.htm - 21k

Contrary (77 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 5:29 For never yet has a man hated his own body. On the contrary he feeds
and cherishes it, just as Christ feeds and cherishes the Church; (WEY). ...
/c/contrary.htm - 31k

Valuable (17 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap,
they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How ...
/v/valuable.htm - 11k

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