The meaning of Nourish in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
nur'-ish (giddel, chiyyah, kilkel, ribbah; trepho, anatrepho, ektrepho, entrepho): While the word "nourish" was ordinarily an appropriate rendering in the time of the King James Version, the word has since become much less frequent, and some senses have largely passed out of ordinary use, so that the meaning would now in most cases be better expressed by some other word. Giddel means "to bring up," "rear (children)" (Isaiah 1:2, margin "made great"; Isaiah 23:4; Daniel 1:5); "cause (a tree) to grow" (Isaiah 44:14). Chiyyah means "to preserve alive" (with some implication of care) (II Samuel 12:3; Isaiah 7:21, the American Standard Revised Version "keep alive"). Kilkal means "to support," "maintain" "provide for" (especially with food) (Genesis 45:11; Genesis 47:12; Genesis 50:21). Ribbah means "to bring up," "rear (whelps)," in a figurative use Ezekiel 19:2). Trepho means "to feed" (transitively) (Acts 12:20, the Revised Version (British and American) "feed"; Revelation 12:14); "to fatten" (James 5:5, the context indicating an unfavorable meaning). Anatrepho is "to bring up," "rear," like giddel (Acts 7:20-21); ektrepho is "to take care of" (Ephesians 5:29); entrepho means "to bring up in," "train in" (I Timothy 4:6).
George Ricker Berry
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