The seven foods of the Promised Land aren’t just ancient staples of the Israeli diet—they’re sacred symbols of God’s abundance and provision. In Deuteronomy 8, God describes the land He’s giving the Israelites, highlighting seven specific foods: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates (often translated as “honey”). These foods were part of God’s covenant, both practical and prophetic—a divine pantry to nourish the people physically and spiritually.
Each of these foods had purpose. They fueled the Israelites with strength for their journey, and they reminded them of the God who sustained them. Today, they still serve as a powerful reminder of God's intention for our wellness.
Food Connects Us to God's Story
Food is one of the most tangible ways we experience God's provision. I still remember a mission trip to Romania where our group discovered the joy of drinking Fanta after long, hot days. Years later, on a trip to Israel, I found falafel—and I couldn’t get enough of it. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Not just because it was delicious, but because it became part of the memory of where God had led us.
The smells and tastes of certain foods can bring back powerful memories of God's grace and presence. For me, Fanta now reminds me of how God gave us the right words at the right time in Romania. Falafel brings me back to the streets of Israel, where we learned to pray more deeply and saw God at work in new ways.
Food evokes memory. Memory anchors us to gratitude.
A Table Se in Grace
Imagine sitting in Galilee in 1350 BC, eating dinner with your family. Maybe it’s the first time you’ve tasted something other than manna and quail. Your grandfather tells you stories of walking through the wilderness, surviving on God’s daily provision.
“When I first bit into garlic, I was shocked,” he might say with a laugh. “My parents talked about leeks and onions as if they were the sweetest things on earth.”
This was the reality of the Israelites: finally tasting the fulfillment of God’s promise. After wandering in the wilderness, God gave them a feast from land they didn’t plow and orchards they didn’t plant—a physical reminder of His grace.
The Seven Foods in Deuteronomy 8
“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land... a land with wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey... When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you.”
—Deuteronomy 8:7–10
This passage isn’t just agricultural poetry—it’s a divine health plan. These superfoods of the Bible were packed with nutrients and spiritual symbolism. They represent completeness, wholeness, and the nourishment that flows from God’s hand.
Bring These Foods Into Your Life
This story doesn’t have to stay in the past. You can begin reclaiming these ancient, sacred foods today—on your plate and in your spirit.
That’s why I created The Seven Foods of the Promised Land book. It walks you through the biblical significance, nutritional benefits, and prophetic meaning of each of these special foods. Plus, it includes delicious, easy-to-follow recipes for each one—helping you incorporate them into your daily life for deeper understanding and deeper wellness.
Reconnect your health to the Word of God.
Get your copy today and start your journey into biblical health.
BIBLICAL NUTRITION ACADEMY
Learn God's Recipe for Health Spiritually & Physically TODAY! NUTRITION FROM THE BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE - eating, praying and fasting courses just for you.
7 foods of the Promised Land with 7 reminders
These nutrient-rich foods God has already supplied delight the palate, invigorate the cells, and rejuvenate our stamina.
Plus, they are a reminder of His Grace.
Get your Shopping list ready.
1. Wheat in the Bible
But I would feed you with the finest of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you. Psalm 81:16
Wheat is a staple in life from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation.
As noted in my books Healthy Treasures Cookbook and Treasures of Healthy Living Nutrition Manual, wheat berries are abundantly filled with iron, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, selenium, and more.
The large supply of zinc is a boost for the immune system.
The rich essential oil of vitamin E is protective against cancers such as breast and stomach.
B vitamins help prevent depression and stress.
The most requested cooking class I offer is the Whole Wheat Bread Class, where we experience everything from milling to the buttering. There’s not much better than freshly baked bread straight from the oven.
Our Yeshua compares himself to the bread of life. Wheat berries freshly ground and baked into homemade bread bring satisfaction and delight to our cells.
2. Barley in the Bible
A food that delivers a burst of nutrition in a tiny seed is Barley.
Barley has the ability to prevent inflammation and build a protective barrier in our digestive lining as a defense. It’s our own national guard against invaders.
Barley also contains an antioxidant that helps prevent heart disease and a lignan oil, which prevents the formation of blood clots. In addition, barley aids in digestion, builds healthy hair and skin, and helps the body rid itself of kidney stones.
Barley gets mostly ignored by foodies, yet is the perfect addition to the Mediterranean dish tabbouleh. It’s also the perfect addition to soups and salads. You can even enjoy barley grits (video coming soon!) topped with fresh apple slices and cinnamon.
3. Grapes in the Bible
Do you want to gladden your heart? Scripture tells us grapes are perfect for this.
The juice and skin of one particular grape, the muscadine, has many current studies proving the prevention of the formation of plaque on the arteries and of DNA damage.
This means they help people look young longer!
Let’s confess. Who wants to look younger?
Grapes are common in our diets today, and some fun ways to enjoy them would be frozen whole for a quick snack. Or dipped in yogurt and chopped nuts or chia seeds first, then frozen. They’re a great snack at home or on the go.
4. Figs in the Bible
Nutritionally, figs do an excellent job of nourishing and satisfying your cells. The fiber content in figs balances blood sugars and promotes satiety.
Figs are the perfect diabetes preventer.
This delicious fruit is loaded with calcium that builds strong bones in children and sustains bone density in adults. They are also chock full of potassium, which helps control blood pressure, and iron, which prevents anemia.
They even have a high B6 content. Do you remember what B6 is good for? This essential vitamin prevents memory loss and reduces stress levels.
Details such as these make me wish I could go back 20 or 30 years and add figs to my diet.
I love highlighting figs and all the great things that can be made with them, like fig spaghetti, blueberry fig newton cookies, and apple fig crumble.
You can find these fig recipes on our website.
God chose figs as one of the seven for one other important reason. For that, you will need to catch this video for an eye-opening revelation.
Most importantly, figs were one of the seven foods that were part of the Promised Land diet. And now you know why.
5. Pomegranates in the Bible
Because of its color and shape, people considered the pomegranate the most beautiful fruit in the land of Israel.
They stitched them at the bottom of the high priest’s robe. Artisans also carved them into the capitals of the pillars outside the doors of the Holy of Holies. Solomon had them carved way up at the top. People of Biblical times cherished pomegranates. They considered it royalty food. That’s why you see them throughout Scripture and in every gift shop in Israel today.
Rumor has it that all pomegranates have 613 seeds, the same number as laws in the Old Testament. In researching this, I discovered (thanks to someone else’s diligence and hard work) that this isn’t true. However, when one averages out the number of pomegranate seeds across samplings of the fruit, the number equals 613!
God is always setting before us reminders of His promises, provision, and grace. His law is about grace.
For us today, the pomegranate delivers not just beauty and artwork, but it’s a super food in its own category.
Pomegranates keep skin youthful and protect against the sun. They prevent inflammation in the heart and eye problems and even protect against cancer, especially breast cancer. It also prevents the buildup of plaque on teeth.
So, let’s enjoy pomegranate seeds. You can add them to a salad, oatmeal, tea, orange juice, or just a bowl of the arils (pomegranate seeds).
Pomegranates were one of the seven foods part of the Promised Land diet – and now you know why.
I’d love to hear your favorite ways to enjoy pomegranates.
6. Olives in the Bible
Our tour guide in Israel on our first trip promised a quiz at the end. He asked us to identify the olive tree. As most of you know, these trees have a beautiful silver underside, distinguishing them from the other trees.
In biblical days, the olive fruit had three main uses. For:
1. offerings in the temple
2. fire
3. lighting in their homes
God's people used olive oil for anointing kings as a sign that God chose them to rule. It was also used to anoint the tabernacle and all its furnishings.
Those who have traveled to Israel know there’s no place as special as the Mount of Olives as a place to pray and weep for all that our Lord has done for us, and also to shed tears of happiness for what He is coming to do.
Olives, like the other seven foods talked about in the accounts of the Promised Land, are extremely nutritious. They’re so rich in phytonutrients that they work as a king, attacking all inflammation in our bodies. Olives block the pathways that produce inflammation and also help heal and remove inflammation.
They’re the queen of antioxidants and help to lower cholesterol, prevent nerve cell damage, and increase the blood levels of glutathione, the master antioxidant of the body.
I know you are ready to go straight to the grocery store, but stick with me. We’re almost done!
7. Dates in the Bible
Dates are the seventh and final food on our list today. Scripture also references honey, but research has proven the honey mentioned here is from dates and not bees. This will make more sense later.
In biblical days, dates were used to make honey, and today they are the perfect sweetener. In fact, sugar and other sweeteners can be replaced with dates in most recipes. This substitution brings pleasure to your cells.
Studies link the high fiber content in dates to lower rates of certain cancers, especially pancreatic and abdominal cancers.
Their nutritious load of vitamins and minerals in dates has awarded them the perfect food for:
- Muscle strength
- Correcting stomach disorders
- Nervous system balancing
- Heart protector, as it lowers LDL Cholesterol and has a positive effect on weak hearts
Dates are the perfect food for everyone.
They’re loaded with nutrients. Dates have potassium, vitamins C, seven of the 8 B vitamins, minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, essential oils, and beta carotene.
The B Vitamins from this delicious fruit help prevent depression and release energy. B vitamins are essential to your happiness and health.
Remember the verse from above. It said they would lack nothing!
7 Perfect Foods for Excellent Health
God designed certain foods not just to nourish our bodies—but to heal, sustain, and uplift us spiritually. The seven foods of the Promised Land—wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates—are powerful examples. These aren't just crops mentioned in the Bible; they're foods chosen by God for their spiritual and physical significance.
Today, we know these foods are rich in fiber, antioxidants, healthy fats, and natural sweetness. But long before science confirmed their benefits, God called His people to eat them, bless them, and trust Him through them.
Why These 7 Foods?
In Deuteronomy 8:8, God promises a land of abundance—highlighting these specific foods. Why? Because each one represents both provision and purpose.
Between Passover and Pentecost, a 50-day period when Israelites were to seek God earnestly, these seven crops begin to develop. It’s a time when the harvest is in God’s hands. Too much rain, too little heat—or vice versa—could destroy the crops. The Israelites had to depend entirely on God’s timing.
This pattern reflects our own lives: spiritual growth, health, and provision all require trust in God’s perfect timing.
A Lesson from the Tabernacle
Even the tabernacle gives insight into this connection. The table of showbread (made from wheat) sat on the north side, where cool rains came. The lampstand of oil (from olives) was placed on the south side, where warm winds helped fruit mature. Together, these directions—north and south—symbolize God’s control over both weather and worship.
Grace at the Table
When we eat these foods today, we’re participating in a sacred rhythm that spans generations. These seven foods remind us that our bodies are temples and what we eat can honor God. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Each food offers not only health benefits, but a deeper spiritual connection:
- Wheat & Barley: Give energy and stabilize blood sugar.
- Grapes & Pomegranates: Support heart health and blood flow.
- Figs & Dates: Provide fiber, sweetness, and digestion help.
- Olives: Offer anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.
Live the Legacy
Eating these seven foods isn’t about following a trend—it’s about stepping into a biblical lifestyle. It’s remembering God’s provision, reclaiming good health, and sharing stories of His faithfulness over meals.
Each time you prepare one of these foods, you're joining a legacy of trust and worship. Let your meals become testimonies of grace.
Want to Learn More? This Book Will Feed You Physically and Spiritually
If this message about the Seven Foods of the Promised Land stirred something in you—there’s so much more to explore. My book dives deeper into the biblical, nutritional, and significance of these foods and how they connect to your health and spiritual walk today. Discover ancient wisdom with modern applications that will transform how you eat, live, and worship. Whether you're looking to heal, grow, or simply honor God in your wellness journey, this book will guide you. Don’t just read the Word—live it. Get your copy today and begin experiencing the Promised Land in your daily life.
