MEAL (אֹ֫כֶל, H431, food). The portion of food eaten at any time (Ruth 2:14) עֵ֣ת אֹ֗כֶל, food time; from the context, noon, the first full meal of the day. The early breakfast was not considered substantial enough to count as a meal, although the breakfast described in John 21:9-15 (see RSV, NEB) included bread and broiled fish. The second meal, or as it might be called, the third, taken about sunset, was the most important. Work was over for the day; the family was together, sometimes with guests, but the servants ate afterward (Luke 17:7, 8). It is called “supper” in KJV, ASV of Luke 14:16; RSV “banquet,” NEB “dinner party.” An Egyp. meal at noon is mentioned in Joseph’s time (Gen 43:16-25).

Other Heb. and Gr. words tr. “meal” refer to grain ground into flour, meal, and fine meal. Heb. קֶ֣מַח סֹ֔לֶת, fine flour (Gen 18:6); קֶ֣מַח alone, fine flour (Num 5:15; 1 Kings 4:22; 17:12, 14, 16; 2 Kings 4:41; 1 Chron 12:40; Isa 47:2; Hos 8:7, 8). Gr. ἄλευρον, G236, ground flour, meal, originally wheat, but later also barley, in Gr. as in Heb. (Matt 13:33; Luke 13:21, where NEB has “flour”). See Barley; [http://biblegateway/wiki/1. Wheat. WHEAT].