The Hebrew word okel (H400) means food, nourishment, or that which is eaten. Derived from the root akal (H398, to eat), okel appears throughout the Old Testament to describe provisions for human sustenance, animal fodder, and grain supplies. It is a concrete, practical term for the physical nourishment that sustains life.
In the biblical worldview, food is never merely material — it is a gift from God expressing His provision and care for His creatures. The distribution of food, the command to leave gleanings for the poor, and the miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness all testify that okel is bound up with God's covenantal faithfulness. Jesus draws on this tradition in teaching His disciples to pray for their 'daily bread' (Matthew 6:11), echoing the manna narrative where God provided exactly what was needed, day by day.