Milk

The Old Testament's most extensive use of milk is in conjunction with honey to symbolize abundance and blessing (Exodus 3:17; Exodus 13:5; Exodus 33:3; Leviticus 20:24 , Numbers 13:27; Deuteronomy 6:3; Joshua 5:6 ). Milk is also used to symbolize whiteness (Lamentations 4:7 ) and in Song of Songs as a symbol of marital bliss (Lamentations 5:1 ).

Milk as a symbol prevails in the NT where the term is used only five times (1 Corinthians 3:2; 1 Corinthians 9:7; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2 ), In each instance it speaks concerning what is basic to the Christian life, but not all that is needed. The ancient bedouins could live on milk for days but eventually had to have meat; so must the Christian.

One of the more perplexing sayings of Scripture is the repeated rule (Exodus 23:19; Exodus 34:26; Deuteronomy 14:21 ) not to boil a kid in its mother's milk. The rabbis interpreted this command to mean that milk and meat should neither be cooked or eaten together. Certain scholars have seen in the command a prohibition relating to Caananite sacrificial customs though recent archaeological investigations lend little support to this view. It remains one of the mysteries of scripture.

G. Al Wright, Jr.