Original Word: בָּרוּת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: baruwth
Pronunciation: bah-ROOTH
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-rooth,)
KJV: meat
NASB: food
Word Origin: [from H1262 (בָּרָה - eat)]

1. food

meat

From barah; food -- meat.

see HEBREW barah

Word Origin
from barah
Definition
food
NASB Translation
food (1).

[בָּרוּת] noun feminine food; בְּבָרוּתִי Psalm 69:22 in (or as) my food.

II. ברה (compare Assyrian barû, bind, whence birîtu, fetter Zim^{BP 59, 82, &} treaty, covenant Dl^{K 7}).

Agricultural Imagery

בָּרוּת designates winnowed grain—cleaned kernels ready for grinding or eating. In Israel’s agrarian culture such grain symbolized life-sustaining provision (Genesis 41:49; Ruth 2:17). Therefore, to adulterate or replace it was to strike at a person’s very survival.

Occurrence and Immediate Context

The single biblical appearance is Psalm 69:21: “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar to drink”. Here בָּרוּת, translated “food,” represents the staple nourishment David expected but did not receive. His adversaries corrupt the basic blessing of grain by adding gall—an act of calculated cruelty.

Messianic Significance

Psalm 69 is repeatedly cited in the New Testament as prophetic of the Messiah’s suffering (John 2:17; Acts 1:20). The corruption of בָּרוּת finds its ultimate fulfillment at Golgotha:
• Matthew 27:34—“they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall”.
• John 19:28-29—“A jar of sour wine was sitting there. So they soaked a sponge in the sour wine… and lifted it to His mouth”.

The basic human kindness of providing bread and drink is denied to Jesus; instead, He receives bitter gall and sour wine, echoing the injustice portrayed in Psalm 69. The substitution of poison for grain underscores humanity’s rejection of its true Bread of Life (John 6:35).

Theological Themes

1. Hostility toward the righteous: Tampering with essential food highlights the depth of hatred directed at God’s anointed and, by extension, at all who belong to Him (2 Timothy 3:12).
2. Divine solidarity with the afflicted: David’s lament anticipates Christ’s experience, assuring believers that the Lord understands every form of betrayal (Hebrews 4:15-16).
3. Redemptive reversal: The One denied wholesome grain becomes the Source of eternal nourishment. He invites all to a table where nothing bitter remains (Revelation 19:9).

Historical Notes

Winnowed grain was often eaten parched or ground into coarse flour for daily bread. During siege or famine, enemies might contaminate stored grain to break morale. Psalm 69 reflects such wartime tactics, transferring them into a personal, spiritual assault.

Ministry Application

• Compassion: Followers of Christ are called to supply genuine sustenance—physical and spiritual—to others (James 2:15-16; Matthew 25:35).
• Endurance: When believers encounter opposition that distorts or withholds life’s necessities, Psalm 69 provides language for faithful lament and hope.
• Gospel proclamation: The contrast between polluted בָּרוּת and the pure Bread of Life offers a vivid evangelistic illustration of humanity’s need and Christ’s provision.

Related Scriptures

Psalm 22:15; Isaiah 53:3-4; Zechariah 12:10; Luke 23:36; Hebrews 2:9.

בְּבָרוּתִ֣י בברותי bə·ḇā·rū·ṯî bəḇārūṯî bevaruTiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts