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period of biblical Hebrew. This noun refers to “bread,” as distinguished from meat. The
diet of the early Hebrews ordinarily consisted of bread, meat, and liquids: “And he
humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest
not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by
bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord …” (Deut.
8:3). “Bread” was baked in loaves: “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left
in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread
…” (1 Sam. 2:36). Even when used by itself,
can signify a “loaf of bread”: “…
They will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread …” (1 Sam. 10:4). In this usage,
the word ialways preceded by a number. “Bread” was also baked in cakes (2 Sam. 6:19).
A “bit of bread” is a term for a modest meal. So Abraham said to his three guests,
“Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched … and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and
comfort ye your hearts …” (Gen. 18:4-5). In 1 Sam. 20:27,
represents an entire
meal: “… Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to
meat, neither yesterday, nor today?” Thus, “to make bread” may actually mean “to
prepare a meal”: “A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry …” (Eccl. 10:19).
The “staff of bread” is the “support of life”: “And when I have broken the staff of your
bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your
bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied” (Lev. 26:26). The Bible
refers to the “bread of the face” or “the bread of the Presence,” which was the bread
constantly set before God in the holy place of the tabernacle or temple: “And thou shalt
set upon the table showbread before me always” (Exod. 25:30).
In several passages,
represents the grain from which “bread” is made: “And
the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth
was in all the lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread” (Gen. 41:54). The
meaning “grain” is very clear in 2 Kings 18:32: “Until I come and take you away to a
land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.…”
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can represent food in general. In Gen. 3:19 (the first biblical occurrence), it
signifies the entire diet: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.…” This nuance
may include meat, as it does in Judg. 13:15-16: “And Manoah said unto the angel of the
Lord, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. And
the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy
bread.…” In 1 Sam. 14:24, 28,
includes honey, and in Prov. 27:27 goat’s milk.
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may also represent “food” for animals: “He giveth to the beast his food, and to
the young ravens which cry” (Ps. 147:9; cf. Prov. 6:8). Flesh and grain offered to God are
called “the bread of God”: “… For the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and the bread
of their God, they do offer …” (Lev. 21:6; cf. 22:13).
There are several special or figurative uses of
!
The “bread” of wickedness is
“food” gained by wickedness: “For [evil men] eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the
wine of violence” (Prov. 4:17). Compare the “bread” or “food” gained by deceit (Prov.
20:17) and lies (23:3). Thus, in Prov. 31:27 the good wife “looketh well to the ways of
her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness”—i.e., unearned food. The “bread of
my portion” is the food that one earns (Prov. 30:8).