Bread (loaf)
Bread (loaf)
“bread” (perhaps derived from aro, “to fit together,” or from a root ar—, “the earth”), signifies (a) “a small loaf or cake,” composed of flour and water, and baked, in shape either oblong or round, and about as thick as the thumb; these were not cut, but broken and were consecrated to the Lord every Sabbath and called the “shewbread” (loaves of presentation), Mat 12:4; when the “shewbread” was reinstituted by Nehemiah (Neh 10:32) a poll-tax of 1/3 shekel was laid on the Jews, Mat 17:24; (b) “the loaf at the Lord’s Supper,” e.g., Mat 26:26 (“Jesus took a loaf,” RV, marg.); the breaking of “bread” became the name for this institution, Act 2:42; Act 20:7; 1Co 10:16; 1Co 11:23; (c) “bread of any kind,” Mat 16:11; (d) metaphorically, “of Christ as the Bread of God, and of Life,” Joh 6:33, Joh 6:35; (e) “food in general,” the necessities for the sustenance of life, Mat 6:11; 2Co 9:10, etc.
denotes “unleavened bread,” i.e., without any process of fermentation; hence, metaphorically, “of a holy, spiritual condition,” 1Co 5:7, and of “sincerity and truth” (1Co 5:8). With the article it signifies the feast of unleavened bread, Mat 26:17; Mar 14:1, Mar 14:12; Luk 22:1, Luk 22:7; Act 12:3; Act 20:6.