Bake-meats, a term found in the King James Version of the Bible, refers to baked goods or food items prepared by baking. This term is primarily associated with the culinary practices of ancient times, particularly in the context of offerings and daily sustenance. In the Berean Standard Bible, the term is translated in a way that reflects the specific type of baked goods or the context in which they are mentioned.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 40:17 : "In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head." This verse is part of the narrative involving Joseph and the dreams of Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker. The "baked goods" mentioned here are part of the baker's dream, symbolizing the work of his hands and his role in Pharaoh's household. The dream ultimately foretells the baker's fate, as interpreted by Joseph.

2. Leviticus 2:4 : "Now if you bring a grain offering baked in an oven, it must consist of fine flour, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil." This passage outlines the requirements for grain offerings, which include various forms of bake-meats. These offerings were an integral part of the sacrificial system, symbolizing dedication and thanksgiving to God. The use of fine flour and oil in these baked goods underscores the importance of purity and quality in offerings.

3. 1 Samuel 8:13 : "He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers." This verse is part of Samuel's warning to the Israelites about the consequences of appointing a king. The mention of bakers highlights the domestic and servile roles that would be imposed upon the people under monarchical rule. Baking, as a skilled task, was essential for both daily life and ceremonial purposes.

Cultural and Religious Significance:

In ancient Israel, baking was a common domestic activity, often carried out by women. The process involved using ovens or open fires to prepare a variety of bread and cakes, which were staple foods in the diet. Bake-meats were not only consumed as part of daily meals but also played a significant role in religious rituals and offerings.

The preparation of bake-meats for offerings, as described in Leviticus, required adherence to specific guidelines, reflecting the broader theme of holiness and obedience to God's commands. The use of unleavened bread in offerings, for instance, is symbolic of purity and the absence of sin, as leaven often represents corruption or impurity in biblical symbolism.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

Bake-meats, particularly in the context of offerings, carry rich symbolic meaning. They represent the fruits of human labor and the act of giving back to God from the blessings He has provided. The meticulous preparation and presentation of these baked goods underscore the importance of intentionality and reverence in worship.

In the broader biblical narrative, bread and baked goods often serve as metaphors for spiritual sustenance and divine provision. Jesus, in the New Testament, refers to Himself as the "bread of life" (John 6:35), drawing on the deep cultural and religious significance of bread as a source of life and nourishment.

Overall, bake-meats in the Bible reflect the intersection of daily life, religious practice, and spiritual symbolism, illustrating the comprehensive nature of worship and devotion in the biblical tradition.Baked provisions (Genesis 40:17), literally "works of the baker," such as biscuits and cakes.

Joseph and his Brethren
... I also was in my dream, and, behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head:
and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/i joseph and his brethren.htm

Bakemeats (1 Occurrence)
...BAKEMEATS. bak'-mets: Only in Genesis 40:17 the King James Version and the English
Revised Version. ... Multi-Version Concordance Bakemeats (1 Occurrence). ...
/b/bakemeats.htm - 7k

Bake-meats (1 Occurrence)
Bake-meats. Bakemeats, Bake-meats. Baken . Easton's Bible Dictionary Baked ... head.
(WBS). Bakemeats, Bake-meats. Baken . Reference Bible.
/b/bake-meats.htm - 6k

Baken (7 Occurrences)

/b/baken.htm - 8k

Baked (26 Occurrences)

/b/baked.htm - 14k

Meats (9 Occurrences)
... Genesis 40:17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for
Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. ...
/m/meats.htm - 11k

Bread (433 Occurrences)
... A variety of bakemeats (Genesis 40:17, literally "food, the work of the baker")
are met with in the Old Testament, but only in a few cases is it possible or ...
/b/bread.htm - 58k

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