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Psalm 111 · a question people ask

"He has given food to those who fear him" (111:5). What food does the psalm mean?

In the text

The psalm doesn't say. Its word for food is teref (tap food), which Brown-Driver-Briggs gives as "prey, food; leaf". Most often it is prey, as in "The young lions roar after their prey" (Psalm 104:21), but it is also a household's food: "She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household" (Proverbs 31:15). It isn't lechem, the word of "who gives food to every creature" (Psalm 136:25). Other psalms tell of food the LORD gave Israel in the wilderness: "He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky" (Psalm 78:24). Psalm 111 sets its food between the LORD's wonders remembered (111:4) and the covenant he remembers (111:5), but it doesn't name a time or a meal, and these notes don't name one for it.

The verses

“He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. The LORD is gracious and merciful. He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant.”
Psalm 111:4-5 · World English Bible
“The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.”
Psalm 104:21 · World English Bible
“She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.”
Proverbs 31:15 · World English Bible
“who gives food to every creature, for his loving kindness endures forever.”
Psalm 136:25 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 111

Psalm 111: The LORD's works are great

In Hebrew, Psalm 111 runs through all 22 letters of the alphabet in order, from "I will give thanks" (111:1) to "His praise" (111:10). And its "redemption" (111:9) is pedut, a word the Hebrew Bible has only four times: in Egypt the WEB gives it as the "division" the LORD put between his people and Pharaoh's (Exodus 8:23).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions