Barley-bread holds a significant place in the biblical narrative, serving as a staple food in ancient Israel and symbolizing sustenance and provision. Barley, a hardy grain, was one of the first cultivated grains in the Near East and was often used by the poorer classes due to its affordability compared to wheat. Its presence in the Bible underscores themes of humility, provision, and divine intervention.

Old Testament References

Barley-bread is first mentioned in the context of the offerings described in the Mosaic Law. In Leviticus 2:14, the Israelites are instructed to bring an offering of firstfruits, which includes "crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire" . Barley, being the first grain to ripen, was often associated with the Feast of Firstfruits, marking the beginning of the harvest season.

In the narrative of Gideon, barley-bread appears in a symbolic dream. Judges 7:13 recounts how a Midianite soldier dreamt of a loaf of barley-bread tumbling into the Midianite camp, causing a tent to collapse. This dream was interpreted by Gideon as a sign of God's deliverance of Israel through his leadership, despite the humble and seemingly insignificant nature of barley-bread.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, barley-bread is notably present in the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. John 6:9 mentions a boy with "five barley loaves and two small fish" , which Jesus uses to feed a multitude. This miracle highlights Jesus' compassion and divine provision, using the simple and humble barley-bread to satisfy the physical hunger of the crowd, while also pointing to the spiritual nourishment He offers as the Bread of Life.

Symbolism and Themes

Barley-bread in the Bible often symbolizes humility and God's provision. Its association with the poor and its use in miraculous events underscore the biblical theme that God uses the humble and lowly to accomplish His purposes. The use of barley-bread in the feeding of the five thousand also prefigures the Eucharist, where simple elements are transformed into a means of grace and spiritual sustenance.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Israel, barley was a common grain, more resilient to harsh conditions than wheat, making it a reliable crop. It was often used to make bread, porridge, and even beer. The economic and social implications of barley-bread reflect the agrarian lifestyle of the Israelites and their dependence on God's provision through the land.

Barley-bread's presence in both the Old and New Testaments serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the sufficiency of His provision, regardless of the simplicity of the means. Through barley-bread, the biblical narrative illustrates that God's power and grace are made perfect in weakness, using the ordinary to achieve the extraordinary.

Whether Wheaten Bread is Required for the Matter of this Sacrament ...
... But barley bread seems to be more in keeping with the Passion than wheaten bread,
as being more bitter, and because Christ used it to feed the multitudes upon ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether wheaten bread is required.htm

The Fourth Miracle in John's Gospel
... here with five barley loaves'"one per thousand"'and two small fishes'"insufficient
in quantity and very, very common in quality, for barley bread was the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the fourth miracle in johns.htm

Bread in the Desert
... grew up that as Moses fed a nation during forty years, with angels' food, He, to
exceed this, must have bestowed upon five thousand men one meal of barley bread ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 6 30-46 bread in the.htm

The Bread of the Presence
... will the law of my work; making God's strength the power of my work; these are the
ways by which we, too, can bring our little pile of barley bread, and lay it ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the bread of the presence.htm

Jesus Defends Disciples who Pluck Grain on the Sabbath.
... Barley bread was and is a common food, and it is common to chew the grains of both
it and wheat.] ^c 2 But { ^b 24 And} ^c certain of the Pharisees ^a when ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxviii jesus defends disciples who.htm

The Christian Sabbath --Peter's Confession of Faith.
... But when Jesus knew that they had seven loves of barley bread and a few little fishes
He told the people to sit down on the ground, and after giving thanks ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxvi the christian sabbathpeters.htm

The Miraculous Feeding of the Five Thousand
... and of His followers was the poorest. Indeed, barley-bread was, almost
proverbially, the meanest. Hence, as the Mishnah puts it, while ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxix the miraculous feeding.htm

A Battle Without a Sword
... Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and
said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley-bread tumbled into ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a battle without a sword.htm

The Meal at Emmaus
... a little country village; the company these two talkative, and yet despondent disciples;
the fare and the means of manifestation a bit of barley-bread; and out ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the meal at emmaus.htm

Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
... And if the Son of God gave his Father such great thanks for a dinner of barley-bread
and broiled fish (John 6:9, 11), what thanks should such a sinful man as ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations before dinner and supper.htm

Barley-bread (1 Occurrence)
Barley-bread. Barley, Barley-bread. Barley-cake . Multi-Version
Concordance Barley-bread (1 Occurrence). Judges 7:13 ...
/b/barley-bread.htm - 6k

Barley (35 Occurrences)
... food of horses (1 Kings 4:28). Barleybread was used by the poorer people
(Judges 7:13; 2 Kings 4:42). Barley of the first crop was ...
/b/barley.htm - 23k

Cake (25 Occurrences)
... Exodus 16:31), "cakes of figs" (1 Samuel 25:18), "cake" as denoting a whole piece
of bread (1 Kings 17:12), and "a [round] cake of barleybread" (Judges 7:13). ...
/c/cake.htm - 17k

Upwards (18 Occurrences)
... And Gideon cometh in, and lo, a man is recounting to his companion a dream, and
saith, 'Lo, a dream I have dreamed, and lo, a cake of barley-bread is turning ...
/u/upwards.htm - 12k

Overturned (41 Occurrences)
... Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and
said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barleybread tumbled into ...
/o/overturned.htm - 18k

Overturning (14 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:13 When Gideon came there, a man was giving his friend an account of his
dream, saying, See, I had a dream about a cake of barleybread which, falling ...
/o/overturning.htm - 10k

Loaf (14 Occurrences)
... had come, behold, there was a man telling a dream to his fellow; and he said, "Behold,
I dreamed a dream; and behold, a cake of barleybread tumbled into the ...
/l/loaf.htm - 11k

Tumbling (1 Occurrence)
... Gideon was come, behold, there was a man telling a dream unto his follow, and saying:
'Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barleybread tumbled into ...
/t/tumbling.htm - 7k

Relating (9 Occurrences)
... had come, behold, there was a man telling a dream to his fellow; and he said, "Behold,
I dreamed a dream; and behold, a cake of barleybread tumbled into the ...
/r/relating.htm - 9k

Recounting (5 Occurrences)
... And Gideon cometh in, and lo, a man is recounting to his companion a dream, and
saith, 'Lo, a dream I have dreamed, and lo, a cake of barley-bread is turning ...
/r/recounting.htm - 8k

What can we learn from Jesus' feeding of the 5,000? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Feast of Weeks? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God use a locust swarm to punish Israel (Joel 1:4)? | GotQuestions.org

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