Category: Biblical history

The diet of people in biblical times was largely shaped by the agricultural landscape and regional customs, relying heavily on seasonal produce. Discover the key staples and cultural practices that defined what was the diet in Bible times, from the food of the average citizen to the meals of the wealthy.

According to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, John the Baptist’s food was explicitly noted as “locusts and wild honey”. This detail is significant not just for its unusual nature, but also for what it reveals about John's prophetic role, his ascetic lifestyle in the wilderness, and his message to a generation of Israelites.

Evidence from archaeological digs reveals that the ancient Israelites cultivated several varieties of wheat, with emmer and durum being the most prominent. These ancient grains were central to daily life and religious practices, providing the staple for bread and other foodstuffs throughout the biblical period.

According to biblical and archaeological evidence, ancient grains like emmer and barley were staples in the diet of people in biblical times. The bread made from these grains did, in fact, have gluten, but its composition and quantity were significantly different from the wheat we consume today. This means that while biblical bread was not gluten-free, it was also far from the gluten-heavy products many are accustomed to.

Originally described in the Book of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 4:9), this unique bread was a symbolic act of survival during a siege, using a distinct mix of grains. Today, the significance of Ezekiel bread has evolved into a powerhouse of modern nutrition.

Archaeological evidence suggests figs were one of the first fruits ever cultivated by humans, dating back over 11,000 years. This ancient fruit has led many scholars to question the popular notion, asking: are figs the forbidden fruit mentioned in the book of Genesis?

According to Genesis 1:29, the original human diet was strictly plant-based, consisting of fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables. This initial provision reveals what kind of food did the first humans eat in the Bible before the Fall and the Great Flood.

Lentils are one of the oldest cultivated crops known to humankind, with archaeological evidence dating back 8,000 years to the banks of the Euphrates. Given their long history, it is no surprise to find that yes, lentils are a biblical food, featured prominently in several Old Testament accounts.

According to the early Church historian Hegesippus, James the Just 'drank no wine nor strong drink, nor did he eat flesh'. This primary source evidence directly addresses the question of whether James the Just ate meat and paints a clear picture of his dietary practices, a detail often overlooked in modern discourse.

According to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, John the Baptist's diet included locusts, a creature classified as clean and permissible to eat under Old Testament law. This explicit biblical record confirms that John the Baptist did, in fact, eat a form of meat during his ministry in the wilderness.