King James Bible Dictionary

It does not appear that the word "meat" is used in any one instance in the Authorized Version of either the Old or New Testament in the sense which it now almost exclusively bears of animal food. The latter is denoted uniformly by "flesh." The word "meat," when our English version was made, meant food in general; or if any particular kind was designated, it referred to meal, flour or grain. The only real and inconvenient ambiguity caused by the change which has taken place in the meaning of the word is in the case of the "meat offering." [See MEAT OFFERING]

MEAT, noun

1. Food in general; any thing eaten for nourishment, either by man or beast.

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb--to you it shall be for meat Genesis 1:29.

Every moving thing that liveth, shall be meat for you Genesis 9:3.

Thy carcass shall be meat to all fowls of the air Deuteronomy 28:26.

2. The flesh of animals used as food. This is now the more usual sense of the word. The meat of carnivorous animals is tough, coarse and ill flavored. The meat of herbivorous animals is generally palatable.

3. In Scripture, spiritual food; that which sustains and nourishes spiritual life or holiness.

My flesh is meat indeed. John 6:27.

4. Spiritual comfort; that which delights the soul.

My meat is to do the will of him that sent me. John 4:8.

5. Products of the earth proper for food. Habakkuk 3:17.

6. The more abstruse doctrines of the gospel, or mysteries of religion. Hebrews 5:12.

7. Ceremonial ordinances. Hebrews 13:9.

To sit at meat to sit or recline at the table.

See Offerings, Meat
Offerings, Meat

The law or ceremonial of the meat offering is described in (Leviticus 2:1) ... and Leviticus 6:14-23 It was to be composed of fine flour, seasoned with salt and mixed with oil and frankincense, but without leaven; and it was generally accompanied by a drink offering of wine. A portion of it, including all the frankincense, was to be burnt on the altar as "a memorial;" the rest belonged to the priest; but the meat offerings offered by the priests themselves were to be wholly burnt. Its meaning appears to be exactly expressed in the words of David. (1 Chronicles 29:10-14) It will be seen that this meaning involves neither of the main ideas of sacrifices

the atonement for sin and self-dedication to God. It takes them for granted, and is based on them. Rather it expresses gratitude and love to God as the giver of all. Accordingly the meat offering, properly so called, seems always to have been a subsidiary offering, needing to be introduced by the sin offering which represented the one idea, and to have formed an appendage to the burnt offering, which represented the other. The unbloody offerings offered alone did not properly belong to the regular meat offerings; they were usually substitutes for other offerings. Comp. (Leviticus 5:11; Numbers 5:15) [MEAT]

ME'ATED, adjective Fed; fattened. [Not used.]

MEATHE, noun Liquor or drink. [Not used.]

(Heb. minhah), originally a gift of any kind. This Hebrew word came latterly to denote an "unbloody" sacrifice, as opposed to a "bloody" sacrifice. A "drink-offering" generally accompanied it. The law regarding it is given in Leviticus 2, and 6:14-23. It was a recognition of the sovereignty of God and of his bounty in giving all earthly blessings (1 Chronicles 29:10-14; Deuteronomy 26:5-11). It was an offering which took for granted and was based on the offering for sin. It followed the sacrifice of blood. It was presented every day with the burnt-offering (Exodus 29:40, 41), and consisted of flour or of cakes prepared in a special way with oil and frankincense.

ME'AT-OFFERING, noun An offering consisting of meat or food.

ME'ATY, adjective Fleshy, but not fat. [Local.]