Encyclopedia entry
Bread
Among the Jews was generally made of wheat (Ex. 29:2; Judg. 6:19), though also sometimes of other grains (Gen. 14:18; Judg. 7:13). Parched grain was sometimes used for food without any other preparation (Ruth 2:14).
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Bread was prepared by kneading in wooden bowls or “kneading troughs” (Gen. 18:6; Ex. 12:34; Jer. 7:18). The dough was mixed with leaven and made into thin cakes, round or oval, and then baked. The bread eaten at the Passover was always unleavened (Ex. 12:15-20; Deut. 16:3). In the towns there were public ovens, which were much made use of for baking bread; there were also bakers by trade (Hos. 7:4; Jer. 37:21). Their ovens were not unlike those of modern times. But sometimes the bread was baked by being placed on the ground that had been heated by a fire, and by covering it with the embers (1 Kings 19:6). This was probably the mode in which Sarah prepared bread on the occasion referred to in Gen. 18:6.
In Lev. 2 there is an account of the different kinds of bread and cakes used by the Jews. (See BAKE.)
The shew-bread (q.v.) consisted of twelve loaves of unleavened bread prepared and presented hot on the golden table every Sabbath. They were square or oblong, and represented the twelve tribes of Israel. The old loaves were removed every Sabbath, and were to be eaten only by the priests in the court of the sanctuary (Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:8; 1 Sam. 21:1-6; Matt. 12:4).
The word bread is used figuratively in such expressions as “bread of sorrows” (Ps. 127:2), “bread of tears” (80:5), i.e., sorrow and tears are like one’s daily bread, they form so great a part in life. The bread of “wickedness” (Prov. 4:17) and “of deceit” (20:17) denote in like manner that wickedness and deceit are a part of the daily life.
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
The preparation of bread as an article of food dates from a very early period. (Genesis 18:6) The corn or grain employed was of various sorts. The best bread was made of wheat, but “barley” and spelt were also used. (John 6:9,13; Isaiah 28:25) The process of making bread was as follows: the flour was first mixed with water or milk; it was then kneaded with the hands (in Egypt with the feet also) in a small wooden bowl or “kneading-trough” until it became dough. (Exodus 12:34,39; 2 Samuel 13:3; Jeremiah 7:18) When the kneading was completed, leaven was generally added [Leaven]; but when the time for preparation was short, it was omitted, and unleavened cakes, hastily baked, were eaten as is still the prevalent custom among the Bedouins. ((Genesis 18:6; 19:3; Exodus 12:39; Judges 6:19; 1 Samuel 28:24) The leavened mass was allowed to stand for some time, (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21) the dough was then divided into round cakes, (Exodus 29:23; Judges 7:13; 8:5; 1 Samuel 10:3; Proverbs 6:26) not unlike flat stones in shape and appearance, (Matthew 7:9) comp. Matt 4:8 About a span in diameter and a finger’s breadth in thickness. In the towns where professional bakers resided, there were no doubt fixed ovens, in shape and size resembling those in use among ourselves; but more usually each household poured a portable oven, consisting of a stone or metal jar, about three feet high which was heated inwardly with wood, (1 Kings 17:12; Isaiah 44:15; Jeremiah 7:18) or dried grass and flower-stalks. (Matthew 6:30)
In the Bible
365
Verses where Bread is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 9:31
A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread.
- 1 Chronicles 12:40
And their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant supplies of flour, fig cakes and raisin cakes, wine and oil, oxen and sheep. Indeed, there was joy in Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 16:3
Then he distributed to every man and woman of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.
- 1 Chronicles 23:29
as well as for the rows of the showbread, the fine flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking, the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.
- 1 Corinthians 5:8
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.
- 1 Corinthians 10:16
Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
+359 more verses naming Bread.
Scripture on Bread
213
See all 213 +−
- Exodus 29Genesis 47Leviticus 21Leviticus 23Deuteronomy 16Judges 61 Samuel 211 Kings 17Ezekiel 4Matthew 16Leviticus 81 Samuel 28Mark 6Mark 81 Corinthians 11Genesis 43Exodus 13Exodus 23Leviticus 24Judges 7Judges 81 Samuel 102 Samuel 121 Kings 21Nehemiah 5Isaiah 44Jeremiah 7Matthew 4Matthew 15Mark 7Mark 14Luke 11Luke 22Acts 20Genesis 14Genesis 41Exodus 25Exodus 34Leviticus 2Leviticus 26Numbers 6Numbers 28Deuteronomy 8Deuteronomy 9Joshua 9Judges 19Ruth 21 Samuel 21 Samuel 251 Samuel 302 Samuel 32 Samuel 92 Samuel 161 Kings 181 Kings 192 Kings 42 Kings 252 Chronicles 30Psalms 78Psalms 102Psalms 105Psalms 127Proverbs 4Proverbs 6Proverbs 9Proverbs 12Proverbs 20Proverbs 28Ecclesiastes 9Isaiah 3Isaiah 28Isaiah 30Isaiah 55Jeremiah 37Jeremiah 52Lamentations 5Ezekiel 12Ezekiel 18Ezekiel 24Ezekiel 44Amos 4Matthew 6Matthew 7Matthew 12Matthew 26Luke 4Luke 9Luke 14Luke 24John 21Acts 21 Corinthians 102 Thessalonians 3Genesis 3Genesis 19Genesis 21Genesis 25Genesis 27Genesis 28Genesis 31Genesis 37Genesis 39Genesis 40Genesis 45Genesis 49Exodus 2Exodus 18Exodus 35Exodus 39Exodus 40Leviticus 6Leviticus 7Leviticus 22Numbers 4Numbers 9Numbers 14Numbers 15Numbers 21Deuteronomy 23Deuteronomy 29Joshua 5Judges 13Ruth 11 Samuel 91 Samuel 161 Samuel 171 Samuel 222 Samuel 62 Samuel 131 Kings 71 Kings 141 Kings 222 Kings 62 Kings 182 Kings 231 Chronicles 91 Chronicles 121 Chronicles 161 Chronicles 232 Chronicles 42 Chronicles 82 Chronicles 182 Chronicles 35Ezra 6Ezra 10Nehemiah 9Nehemiah 13Job 15Job 22Job 23Job 27Job 28Job 33Job 42Psalms 14Psalms 37Psalms 41Psalms 53Psalms 80Psalms 104Psalms 109Psalms 132Proverbs 22Proverbs 23Proverbs 25Proverbs 30Proverbs 31Ecclesiastes 11Isaiah 4Isaiah 21Isaiah 33Isaiah 36Isaiah 51Isaiah 58Jeremiah 5Jeremiah 38Jeremiah 41Jeremiah 42Lamentations 1Lamentations 4Ezekiel 5Ezekiel 13Ezekiel 14Ezekiel 16Ezekiel 45Daniel 10Hosea 2Hosea 7Hosea 9Amos 7Amos 8Obadiah 1Haggai 2Malachi 1Matthew 13Matthew 14Mark 2Mark 3Luke 6Luke 7Luke 13Luke 15John 13Acts 12Acts 271 Corinthians 52 Corinthians 9Hebrews 9
Entries that reference Bread
3
Bread references
18
Voices on Bread
24
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.