Benedictions before food were required by the Rabbis who considered it to be sacrilege to partake of God’s creation without first offering thanks.

6:1 How do we bless over fruits? Over the fruit of trees one says, “[Blessed are You, O Lord, our God] Who creates the fruit of the tree,” except over wine, for over wine one says, “…Who creates the fruit of the vine.” Over the fruit of the earth one says, “…Who creates the fruit of the earth,” except over bread, for over bread one says, “…Who brings forth bread from the earth.” Over vegetables one says, “…Who creates the fruit of the ground.” Rabbi Judah says: “…Who creates various kinds of herbs.”

6:2 If one blessed, “…Who creates the fruit of the ground,” over fruits of trees, he has fulfilled his obligation; [but if he blessed], “…Who creates the fruit of the tree,” over fruits of the ground, he has not fulfilled his obligation. Over all of them, if one said, “…for all exists by His word,” he fulfilled his obligation.

6:3 Over anything that does not grow from the ground, one says, “…for all [exists by His word].” Over vinegar, unripe fallen fruits, or locusts,⁵⁰ one says, “…for all [exists by His word].” Over milk, cheese, and eggs one says, “…for all [exists by His word].” Rabbi Judah said: “Over anything that is a sort of curse (like the above-mentioned vinegar, unripe fruits, locusts), no blessing should be said.”

6:4 If one has many kinds of food before him: Rabbi Judah says, “If there is among them one of the seven kinds,⁵¹ he recites the benediction over that one.” But the Sages say, “He may recite the benediction over whichever one he wants.”

47. Trans. S. Berrin.

48. These formulae are considered to be heretical or dualistic and are therefore forbidden.

49. Trans. S. Berrin.

50. Certain kinds of locusts were permitted by the Torah (Lev. 11:22) as kosher. With the loss of the tradition of how to identify them, they later became forbidden.

51. Wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates, enumerated in Deut. 8:8.