Understanding βρώσιμος (brōsimos) Strong’s G1034: The Divine Provision of Edible Food that Reveals the Risen Messiah

Pronunciation Guide: bro’-sim-os (with a long “o” sound in the first syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1034: Βρώσιμος (brōsimos) refers to something that is edible, fit for eating, or suitable for consumption. This rare New Testament term appears only once in Luke’s Gospel, where it serves as a powerful verification of the Messiah’s physical resurrection. The term emphasizes the tangible, material nature of food that can be physically eaten, distinguishing it from spiritual or symbolic nourishment.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Adjective
• Derived from the verb βιβρώσκω (bibrōskō) meaning “to eat”
• Related to the noun βρῶσις (brōsis, G1035) meaning “food” or “the act of eating”
• Used in narrative contexts to describe physical objects
• Appears in classical Greek literature to designate edible substances

Βρώσιμος Morphology:

• βρώσιμος (masculine nominative singular) – edible thing
• βρώσιμον (neuter nominative/accusative singular) – edible thing
• βρωσίμου (masculine/neuter genitive singular) – of an edible thing
• βρωσίμῳ (masculine/neuter dative singular) – to/with an edible thing
• βρωσίμους (masculine accusative plural) – edible things

Origin & History

The term βρώσιμος emerges from a rich linguistic tradition in Greek vocabulary related to eating and food. Its root verb βιβρώσκω (bibrōskō) appears in classical Greek literature as early as Homer’s works, where eating and feasting scenes frequently symbolized hospitality, community, and life itself. The adjective form βρώσιμος developed to specifically designate substances suitable for human consumption.

In the Septuagint (LXX), while βρώσιμος itself does not appear, related terms such as βρῶμα (brōma, food) and βρῶσις (brōsis, eating) appear frequently, particularly in discussions of dietary laws in Leviticus and the miraculous provision of manna in Exodus. Philo of Alexandria, the first-century Jewish philosopher, used related terms when discussing the symbolic significance of Jewish dietary laws, suggesting that physical food represented spiritual nourishment. The appearance of βρώσιμος in Luke’s Gospel reflects this linguistic heritage while applying it to the profound theological context of the Messiah’s resurrection.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Something suitable or fit for eating
• Food that is edible by humans
• Consumable substance that provides physical nourishment
• Material that can be digested for sustenance

Βρώσιμος Translation Options:

• Edible – The most direct translation, emphasizing the suitability for consumption
• Something to eat – Captures the practical nature of the term as used in Luke 24:41
• Food – A broader translation that conveys the general meaning but loses some of the specific quality of being fit for consumption
• Nourishment – Emphasizes the purpose of edible things, though slightly expands the meaning beyond the strict definition of “suitable for eating”

Biblical Usage

The term βρώσιμος appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 24:41, where the resurrected Messiah asks His disciples, “Have you here anything edible [βρώσιμον]?” This singular usage occurs at a pivotal moment in the Gospel narrative when Yeshua is demonstrating the physical reality of His resurrection. The disciples, overwhelmed with joy yet still disbelieving, needed tangible proof that their Master was truly alive in bodily form.

The choice of βρώσιμος in this context is profoundly significant. By requesting something edible and subsequently eating it before them (Luke 24:43), Yeshua provided irrefutable evidence that He was not a ghost or spirit but had been resurrected with a physical body capable of normal human functions. This simple request for food becomes a crucial theological demonstration of the incarnational reality extending even to the resurrection.

• “While they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, He said to them, ‘Have you anything here edible [βρώσιμον]?'” Luke 24:41

Cultural Insights

In first-century Jewish culture, sharing a meal carried profound significance beyond mere nourishment. Table fellowship represented acceptance, community, and covenant relationship. By asking for food and eating with His disciples after His resurrection, Yeshua was not only proving His physical existence but also reestablishing the covenant bond that had seemingly been broken by His death.

The specific food presented to Yeshua – broiled fish – bears additional cultural significance. Fish was a staple food around the Sea of Galilee, where many of the disciples had worked as fishermen. This connection to their previous occupation would have resonated deeply, especially considering Yeshua’s promise to make them “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Furthermore, fish later became an important symbol (ΙΧΘΥΣ/ichthys) in early Christian communities, serving as a secret identifier during periods of persecution. The resurrected Messiah’s request for βρώσιμος and His consumption of fish thus formed a powerful cultural bridge between His pre-crucifixion ministry and the future mission of the early Church.

Theological Significance

The use of βρώσιμος in the resurrection narrative carries profound theological implications. First, it affirms the physical nature of Yeshua’s resurrection, establishing that the hope of resurrection promised to believers is not merely spiritual but involves the redemption of the physical body. This countered early Gnostic tendencies to spiritualize the resurrection and affirmed the Jewish understanding that God’s ultimate redemption includes the material world.

Secondly, the request for something edible connects to Yeshua’s broader teaching about Himself as the Bread of Life (John 6:35). While He had previously taught that He provided spiritual nourishment, His post-resurrection meal demonstrated the integration of physical and spiritual realities in God’s redemptive plan. By eating physical food after conquering death, Yeshua illustrated that eternal life does not negate but rather perfects our physical existence.

Finally, this moment foreshadows the eschatological banquet described in Revelation 19:9, where believers will feast with the Messiah in the fullness of His kingdom. The simple request for βρώσιμος thus becomes a preview of the ultimate communion between God and His people, where all hunger—both physical and spiritual—will be perfectly satisfied.

Personal Application

When we encounter βρώσιμος in Luke 24:41, we are reminded that our faith is not founded on abstract philosophical concepts but on the tangible reality of a resurrected Savior. Just as the disciples needed physical evidence to move from doubt to belief, we too sometimes struggle to bridge the gap between intellectual assent and heart-level trust. The Messiah graciously meets us in this tension, providing “edible” evidence of His presence and power in our lives through His Word, community, and the working of His Spirit.

Moreover, βρώσιμος invites us to consider how the ordinary aspects of our lives—including the meals we share—can become sacred spaces where we encounter the risen Lord. When we gather around tables with fellow believers, we participate in a tradition that stretches back to those first post-resurrection meals. In breaking bread together, we not only nourish our bodies but also proclaim the reality of a God who entered our physical world, conquered death, and promises to one day wipe away every tear and satisfy every hunger.

Related Words

• βρῶσις (brōsis, pronunciation: bro’-sis) – The act of eating or food itself; emphasizes the process of consumption rather than the quality of being edible. This term appears more frequently in the New Testament, including Yeshua’s teaching to labor for food that endures to eternal life. See G1035
• βρῶμα (brōma, pronunciation: bro’-mah) – Food, specifically solid food as distinguished from drink; often used in discussions of dietary laws and spiritual maturity. While βρώσιμος describes what can be eaten, βρῶμα refers to what is actually eaten. See G1033
• τροφή (trophē, pronunciation: trof-ay’) – Nourishment or sustenance; emphasizes the nurturing and sustaining function of food rather than its edibility. Used when discussing God’s provision of daily needs. See G5160
• ἄρτος (artos, pronunciation: ar’-tos) – Bread or loaf; a specific type of food that carries rich symbolic meaning in Scripture, including connections to manna and the Messiah as Bread of Life. See G740
• ἐσθίω (esthiō, pronunciation: es-thee’-o) – To eat or consume food; the verbal action related to consuming βρώσιμος. This common verb appears throughout the New Testament in both literal and metaphorical contexts. See G2068

Did you Know?

• Did you know that the question about βρώσιμος (something edible) is one of only seven questions the resurrected Yeshua asks in the Gospels? Each question serves a specific purpose in establishing His identity and mission after conquering death. This particular question about food directly addresses the disciples’ disbelief, providing tangible proof of His bodily resurrection—a central tenet of Christian faith that distinguished it from other philosophical systems of the time that disparaged physical existence.
• Did you know that ancient medical writers like Hippocrates and Galen used the term βρώσιμος and related words when discussing which foods were beneficial for health? They categorized foods according to their effects on the body’s “humors,” believing that proper diet was essential for maintaining physical and mental well-being. When Yeshua asked for something βρώσιμος after His resurrection, He was not only proving His physical nature but also implicitly affirming the goodness of the created, material world—a theological point that would become crucial as the early Church battled Gnostic heresies that considered matter evil.
• Did you know that in modern Greek, the term βρώσιμος is still used on food packaging and in regulatory language to indicate that a product is safe for human consumption? The continuity of this term across nearly 2,000 years demonstrates the enduring need to distinguish what is edible from what is not—a distinction that takes on profound theological significance when the resurrected Son of God requests βρώσιμον to demonstrate His continuing humanity after conquering death.

Remember This

Βρώσιμος reminds us that our faith is grounded in a Messiah whose resurrection was so real He could request, receive, and eat physical food—proving that God’s redemption encompasses not just our souls but our bodies and the entire created order.