Why We Bless The Almighty Before We Eat

Why do we say a blessing before eating? In Jewish practice, the purpose of a berakhah is not to bless the food itself, but to acknowledge The Almighty as its Source. This article explores the biblical and Jewish foundations of blessing before and after meals, the meaning of berakhah, and the connection to Birkat Hamazon. It also examines 1 Timothy 4:4–5 in light of Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, showing that prayer does not redefine what The Almighty has already identified as food. The article includes the memorable Smith Wigglesworth account involving pork and concludes with the Hebrew, Sephardic transliteration, and English rendering of the central blessings of Birkat Hamazon.

TORAH STUDYJEWISH PRACTICEPRAYER AND BLESSINGSBIBLICAL FOOD LAWS