"nourishment, food, Mt. 3:4; Lk. 12:23; Jn. 4:8; Acts 9:19; Jas. 2:15; provision, Mt. 24:45; sustenance, maintenance, Mt. 10:10; met. nourishment of the mind, of spiritual nourishment, Heb. 5:12, 14"
Definition and meaning
nourishment, food, Mt. 3:4; Lk. 12:23; Jn. 4:8; Acts 9:19; Jas. 2:15; provision, Mt. 24:45; sustenance, maintenance, Mt. 10:10; met. nourishment of the mind, of spiritual nourishment, Heb. 5:12, 14
In the original Greek the word is written: τροφή
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of trophe (G5160) across the King James Bible.
And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
Refiner gives you the full lexicon entry, AI-powered verse insight, historical commentary, cross-references, and voice study — all in one place.
Free to start · Disciple $4.99/mo · Shepherd $9.99/mo
Common questions
Strong's G5160 (trophe) is a Greek word that means: nourishment, food, Mt. 3:4; Lk. 12:23; Jn. 4:8; Acts 9:19; Jas. 2:15; provision, Mt. 24:45; sustenance, maintenance, Mt. 10:10; met. nourishment of the mind, of spiritual nourishment, Heb. 5:12, 14 It appears 16 times in the King James Bible.
The word trophe (G5160) appears 16 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5160 is trophe, a Greek word defined as: nourishment, food, Mt. 3:4; Lk. 12:23; Jn. 4:8; Acts 9:19; Jas. 2:15; provision, Mt. 24:45; sustenance, maintenance, Mt. 10:10; met. nourishment of th. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
trophe is a Greek word found in the New Testament.