Bread

The basic component of the staple diet in biblical times. Consecrated bread was continually laid out in the Holy Place of the tabernacle and temple. Jesus Christ called himself the bread of life.

Bread the basic component of the diet

Matthew 6:11 parallel Luke 11:3 See also Genesis 14:18, Genesis 18:3–6 Abraham entertains the three angels; Genesis 25:34, Genesis 27:17, Genesis 45:23; Deuteronomy 8:7–9, Deuteronomy 23:4; Judges 8:5–6 Gideon asks for bread for his troops; Judges 19:19; Ruth 2:14; 1 Samuel 2:36, 1 Samuel 17:17, 1 Samuel 21:2–3, 1 Samuel 25:7–11 Nabal refuses bread to David's men; 1 Kings 13:7–22, 1 Kings 17:10–16 The widow at Zarephath feeds Elijah and is rewarded; 1 Kings 19:5–6; Job 23:12; Psalm 104:14–15; Proverbs 30:8; Isaiah 33:16, Isaiah 51:14, Isaiah 55:2; Jeremiah 37:21 Jeremiah's rations in prison; Jeremiah 42:14; Lamentations 5:6; Ezekiel 4:9; Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:3–4 parallel Luke 4:3–4 the temptation of Jesus Christ; Mark 6:8; 2 Corinthians 9:10

Give us this day our daily bread.

A diet consisting solely of bread was indicative of deprivation

1 Kings 22:27 parallel 2 Chronicles 18:26 See also Proverbs 6:26; Lamentations 1:11, Lamentations 2:12, Lamentations 4:4

and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”

Kinds of bread

Unleavened bread

Exodus 12:39 See also Exodus 12:8, Exodus 12:14–20, Exodus 13:3–7

Since their dough had no leaven, the people baked what they had brought out of Egypt into unleavened loaves. For when they had been driven out of Egypt, they could not delay and had not prepared any provisions for themselves.

Manna

Exodus 16:31–35 See also Exodus 16:4–8, Exodus 16:11–12, Exodus 16:14–19; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalm 78:23–25, Psalm 105:40

Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Keep an omer of manna for the generations to come, so that they may see the bread I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” So Moses told Aaron, “Take a jar and fill it with an omer of manna. Then place it before the LORD to be preserved for the generations to come.” And Aaron placed it in front of the Testimony, to be preserved just as the LORD had commanded Moses. The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land where they could settle; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

Gifts of bread

Genesis 45:23 See also 1 Samuel 10:3–4, 1 Samuel 16:20, 1 Samuel 25:18; 2 Samuel 6:19 parallel 1 Chronicles 16:3; 2 Samuel 16:1–2; 1 Kings 14:3; 2 Kings 4:42

And he sent to his father the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father’s journey.

Offerings of bread

Leviticus 7:11–14 See also Exodus 29:2, Exodus 29:32–34; Leviticus 2:11, Leviticus 8:31–32, Leviticus 23:20; Numbers 6:17–20; Judges 6:19–21

Now this is the law of the peace offering that one may present to the LORD: If he offers it in thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers coated with oil, and well-kneaded cakes of fine flour mixed with oil. Along with his peace offering of thanksgiving he is to present an offering with cakes of leavened bread. From the cakes he must present one portion of each offering as a contribution to the LORD. It belongs to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offering.

The bread of the Presence

Leviticus 24:5–8 Exodus 25:23–30, Exodus 35:10–13, Exodus 39:33–36, Exodus 40:22–23; Numbers 4:4–8; 1 Samuel 21:1–6 David and his men eat the consecrated bread; 1 Chronicles 9:31–32, 1 Chronicles 23:29; 2 Chronicles 2:4, 2 Chronicles 13:11; Nehemiah 10:32–33; Matthew 12:1–8 parallels Mark 2:23–28, Luke 6:1–5 Jesus Christ and his disciples in the cornfields on the Sabbath; Hebrews 9:1–2

You are also to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf, and set them in two rows — six per row — on the table of pure gold before the LORD. And you are to place pure frankincense near each row, so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread, a food offering to the LORD. Every Sabbath day the bread is to be set out before the LORD on behalf of the Israelites as a permanent covenant.

Jesus Christ as the bread of life

John 6:25–35 See also John 6:41–59

Miracles of multiplication of bread

Matthew 14:13–21 parallels Mark 6:32–44, Luke 9:10–17, John 6:1–13 See also Matthew 15:32–38 parallel Mark 8:1–10

The breaking of bread as a symbol of the death of Jesus Christ

Matthew 26:26–29 parallels Mark 14:22–25, Luke 22:17–20, 1 Corinthians 11:24–25 See also Luke 24:28–35; Acts 2:42, Acts 2:46, Acts 20:6–7, Acts 20:11, Acts 27:35; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.”