Milk in the Bible: What Does Scripture Say?

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Milk in the Bible is mentioned in both literal and symbolic ways in both the Old and New Testaments. This article will focus on two main symbolic uses of Milk in the Bible, one in each testament. 

By exploring these analogies in God’s word, we will go back to the beautiful basics of our faith and the pure joy that they bring to both the new believer and the mature Christian alike. 

 

Milk in the Bible

Milk in the Bible has both literal and figurative meanings. For example, milk was a part of the everyday diet in ancient Israel, but it was also used to describe the promised land – the land of milk and honey. 

“Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.”

Genesis 18:8 (ESV)

“If the Lord delights in us, he will bring it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey.”

Numbers 14:8 (ESV)

In Peter and Paul’s letters to the churches, there is another figurative meaning of milk in the New Testament. 

There are lots of things we can learn about our faith through the figurative meanings of milk in the Bible.

The Land of Milk and Honey

First, let’s look at the meaning of milk in describing the promised land as the land of milk and honey. 

“And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.”

Exodus 3:8 (ESV)

 The promised land refers to the land that God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (the patriarchs of the Israelites). This land is often identified as the place of the Canaanite, which roughly corresponds to modern-day Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and parts of Jordan and Syria.

The concept of the Promised Land is first introduced in Genesis when God makes a covenant with Abraham. God promises to give Abraham’s descendants the land of the Canaanites as a permanent possession. 

“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV)

The promised land is then a central theme throughout the story of the Exodus, where Moses leads the people Israel belongs to out of slavery in Egypt with the goal of bringing them to this land. However, due to the Israelites’ disobedience, they wander in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the land.

“And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listen in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell,”

Numbers 14:26-30a (ESV)

The actual entry into the Promised Land occurs under the leadership of Joshua after Moses’ death. The Book of Joshua details the conquest and settlement of Canaan by the Israelites.

“Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there.”

Joshua 21:43 (ESV)

So why is it called the land of milk and honey?

According to Gotquestions, “This poetic description of Israel’s land emphasizes the fertility of the soil and bounty that awaited God’s chosen people. The reference to “milk” suggests that many livestock could find pasture there; the mention of “honey” suggests the vast farmland available—the bees had plenty of plants to draw nectar from.”

With vast farmland and ample conditions for livestock, the promised land would have everything that the children of Israel needed to not just survive, but thrive off the land as God intended. 

What a loving and gracious God. Not only did he rescue his people from the affliction of Egypt, where they were enslaved, but he delivered them to a good land that had everything they could ever need and more, even though they didn’t deserve it. 

Sound familiar? Our God today is the same God as the one in the Old Testament. He rescues us from our affliction in sin and gives us the Holy Spirit he has everything we need and more to walk righteously in our daily lives. 

Spiritual Milk

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation”

1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)

Another use of milk in the Bible is in an analogy used in the New Testament. Breaking down 1 Peter 2:2 is a great way to understand what this analogy is supposed to mean.

First, looking at the beginning, where it says, “like newborn infants,” we see that the apostle Peter is comparing believers to newborn babies. Just as infants are entirely dependent on their mother’s milk for their nourishment and growth, Christians are encouraged to have a similar dependence on spiritual nourishment.

Then Peter instructs us to “long for the pure spiritual milk.” The “pure spiritual milk” refers to the basic teachings and principles of the Christian faith—primarily, the word of God. This milk is described as “pure,” meaning it is untainted, wholesome, and perfectly suited for the spiritual growth of believers.

Lastly, the purpose of desiring this pure milk of the Word of God is so that believers may grow in their faith, understanding, and spiritual maturity. “Growing up into salvation” suggests that salvation is not just a one-time event but a process of maturing in the Christian life, becoming more Christ-like over time. This process is called sanctification.

Again, with time, we are to mature, which means we should not be only drinking milk like newborn babes, acting as a spiritual infant for our entire Christian lives. Still, eventually, we should grow past that into a deeper understanding of God’s word. The Apostle Paul lets us know in his letter to the church of Corinth how we can know if we are or are not ready for more than the elementary truths of God.

“I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”

1 Corinthians 3:2-3 (ESV)

The Corinthian church at the time of Paul’s letter was facing division over who they follow – Paul, Apollos, or Peter – when they should be able to look past the individual apostle of Christ Jesus and follow God himself, as it was God himself acting through the use of man. We can assume, based on 1 Corinthians 3:3, that this division was causing the people of the church to act as people of the flesh rather than people of the Spirit, bearing fruit of jealousy and strife, which Paul says is grounds to stick to the foundations of the faith. 

That being said, we can then conclude that the foundations of the faith, the spiritual milk of God, are to be drank and understood until the fruit of the Spirit flows out of us, silencing the fruits of the flesh. We also see this concept in the book of Hebrews.

“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God.

You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

Hebrews 5:11-14 (ESV)

This passage makes the point that sometimes, we may have to revisit the basics (the first principles of the oracles of God), even when we’ve matured in the faith. It is easy to grow complacent over time and forget the foundation of everything we know and believe. Just as a house needs foundation repair over time, so does our faith. 

So what are these first principles?

The Foundation of Our Faith

The base in which our faith lies upon is the good news of the message of the Gospel; not a crazy complicated understanding of the Gospel with all the ins and outs, but the simple Gospel of faith, repentance, and restoration. 

New believers and the most spiritual people alike must first understand faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe these three verses are a perfect encapsulation of what this faith is:

Romans 10:13 (ESV)

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is simple. Based on the verses in Romans and Hebrews, it is being confident in him and calling upon his name even though we have not physically seen him. The passage in Ephesians is vital as well, as the Gospel, and therefore, our faith and salvation are founded upon God’s grace and mercy that we do not deserve. Our faith is a gift from God.

When we call on the name of the Lord, and have faith, there is something required of us: repentance. 

The act of repentance begins with understanding that we are depraved sinners, destined for eternal damnation. 

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV)

We must then confess our sin to God.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9 (ESV)

It does not stop there either. We then must actively turn away from our sin and seek out the righteousness of God instead. 

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Galatians 5:16 (ESV)

Finally, after believing and repenting, we are restored to a beautiful relationship with Christ and destined for eternal life in the house of the Lord.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Do you remember when you were first saved? That moment, whether you fully knew it or not, was built upon understanding these basic principles, and wasn’t it beautiful? Your mind wasn’t clouded with all of these “what if” and “what does this really mean” questions, but instead, your heart was full of the joy and peace that the simple Gospel, the sincere milk of the word, is meant to bring. 

Over time, our minds can become clouded with those questions, and that is a great thing as it leads to growth and maturity, but sometimes we need to take it back to the basics and remember that overwhelming joy and peace – as it’s a joy and peace that is supposed to stick with us for the rest of our lives. 

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Are You a Foodie?  Do you want to learn more about food in the Bible and its symbolism?

A guide to the symbolism of many foods in the Bible, including milk, honey, bread, and more.  Looking at scripture to describe food in biblical times and what it represents in our spiritual life. 

Interesting Facts About Other Dairy Products in the Bible

Cheese is mentioned as food only twice in the Bible

In the NIV and ESV versions of the Bible, the word “cheese,” or curdled milk, appears four times and only once as food.

“Did you not pour me out like milk
    and curdle me like cheese,”

Job 10:10 (ESV)

In this verse, Job is lamenting to God about his life and all that has befallen him. He asks God, “Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?”. Likely, he was referring to curdled milk since before Job, there were no other references to cheese as a food, and Job was written before 1 Samuel, the first biblical reference to cheese as food.

The first mentions of cheese in the Bible as food

 “Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them.”

1 Samuel 17:18 (ESV)

“honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become exhausted and hungry and thirsty in the wilderness.”

-2 Samuel 17:29 (ESV)

In the above scripture, David’s son Absalom had stood up against his father. As David and his supporters were advancing, three men from Ammon and Gilead (unbelievers) brought food, including cheese and other items to assist and sustain them.

Butter, on the other hand, is mentioned at least nine times, all in the Old Testament and always in reference to food (as opposed to symbolic).

From Milk to Meat, Sermon on Spiritual Milk and the Christian Walk

While researching this post, I came across this sermon from Stillwater Bible Church about milk and the Christian walk. It’s less than thirty minutes long and makes some interesting points.

 

 For more study on milk in the Bible and Bible symbolism, you may enjoy these recommended resources:

The A to Z Guide to Bible Signs and Symbols: Understanding Their Meaning and Significance by Neil Wilson, Nancy Ryken Taylor

BIBLICAL SYMBOLISM: Meaningful Symbolical Values and Patterns of the Holy Bible by Lillian Dare

Milk To Meat Bible Study: Building On Promise by Janice Gilmore

What was your biggest takeaway from this post on the meaning of milk in the Bible? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop a comment below and share.

Because of Him,

Sue

ESV – “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”