Why Does Cook Out Have Bible Verses on Its Cups?
Because the family that owns it is Christian and put its favorite scripture on the packaging. It is not a campaign or a gimmick, and the company has never advertised it.
One of the people who opened Cook Out restaurants explained it plainly. There is a lot of Christian influence in the family, he said, so putting scripture on the cups and bags just seemed natural.
Which verses are on the cups?
Cook Out does not publish a list, so the verses below are the ones customers and reporters have noted on its cups. The wording shown is from the King James Version.
| Verse | What it says |
|---|---|
| Psalm 118:24 | This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. |
| Proverbs 1:7 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. |
| Psalm 19:14 | Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord. |
Psalm 118:24 is the one most often reported, particularly on the milkshake cups. It is printed as a reference, the book, chapter and verse, rather than the full text, which is why many customers never notice it.
Who decided to put them there?
The owners. Cook Out was founded in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1989 by Morris Reaves, and his son Jeremy Reaves now runs it. Both have been described in North Carolina press as deeply spiritual Christians.
The chain has no franchisees and no outside shareholders, so the family decides what goes on the packaging in every restaurant. That is the practical reason the verses have survived as the chain grew past 300 locations. The full ownership story is in who owns Cook Out.
Is Cook Out a Christian company?
It is a company owned by a Christian family that lets its faith show in small ways. The scripture on the cups and Christian music in many locations are the visible signs.
What it does not do is close on Sundays. That is the main difference from Chick-fil-A, which built its religious identity around shutting every restaurant on Sunday. Cook Out stays open seven days a week and late into the night.
Other chains that do the same
| Company | What it does |
|---|---|
| In-N-Out Burger | Prints references such as John 3:16 and Proverbs 24:16 on cups and burger wrappers. |
| Forever 21 | Prints John 3:16 on the bottom of its shopping bags. |
| Chick-fil-A | No verses on packaging, but every restaurant closes on Sunday, a policy set by its founder. |
Cook Out sits closest to In-N-Out. Both are family owned burger chains that never franchised, and both put small scripture references on their packaging without making a point of it. The Chick-fil-A side of the story, including where its well known service phrase came from, is in why Chick-fil-A employees say my pleasure.
Does it change anything for customers?
No. The menu, prices and service are the same for everyone, and nothing is required of the customer. Cook Out is known mostly for its trays, a main item with two sides and a drink, and more than 40 milkshake flavors. Current prices are on the Cook Out menu.
Related Questions
Why does Cook Out have Bible verses on its cups?
Because the Reaves family, who founded and still own the chain, are Christian and chose to print scripture they like on the cups and bags. The company has never advertised it or released a statement about it, and it owns every restaurant, so the practice is the same across the chain.
What Bible verse is on the Cook Out cup?
Psalm 118:24 is the verse most often reported, especially on milkshake cups. It reads, this is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Customers have also reported Proverbs 1:7 and Psalm 19:14.
Is Cook Out a Christian company?
It is owned by a Christian family, and that shows in the scripture on its packaging and the Christian music played in many locations. It is not a religious organization, and nothing is asked of customers.
Is Cook Out closed on Sunday?
No. Unlike Chick-fil-A, Cook Out is open seven days a week, including Sundays, and many locations stay open until the early hours of the morning.
Does Cook Out play Christian music?
Many locations do. Reporting on the chain has noted Christian music playing in its restaurants and drive thrus, alongside the scripture printed on cups and bags.
Which other companies print Bible verses on their packaging?
In-N-Out Burger is the best known, with references such as John 3:16 printed on its cups and wrappers. Forever 21 prints John 3:16 on its shopping bags. Chick-fil-A does not print verses but closes all of its restaurants on Sundays.
More on Cook Out
About this guide. USA Food Menu is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with Cook Out. Cook Out does not publish a list of the verses it uses, so the examples here come from published reporting and customer reports, and packaging can change. Current prices and calories are on the Cook Out menu.
More Restaurant Guides
Who Owns In-N-Out Burger?
Lynsi Snyder, the granddaughter of founders Harry and Esther Snyder. She is the company’s president and has been its sole owner since 2017. In-N-Out has never…
Who Owns Five Guys?
The Murrell family. Jerry and Janie Murrell started Five Guys with their sons in 1986, and the family still owns and runs it. It is a private company that grows…
Who Owns Chili’s?
Brinker International, a Dallas based public company that also owns Maggiano’s Little Italy. Chili’s started as a single burger joint in Dallas in 1975 and has…