In biblical times, the role of a bread-maker was integral to daily life and sustenance, reflecting both the physical and spiritual nourishment that bread symbolized in Scripture. Bread-making was a common domestic task, primarily undertaken by women, and it held significant cultural and religious importance.

Historical Context

Bread was a staple food in ancient Israel and the broader Near Eastern region. The process of making bread involved several steps, including grinding grain into flour, mixing it with water, and baking it, often in communal ovens. The bread was typically unleavened, especially during specific religious observances such as the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15-20).

Biblical References

The Bible contains numerous references to bread and its preparation, underscoring its importance. In Genesis 18:6, Abraham instructs Sarah to quickly prepare bread for the visiting angels: "So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, 'Quick, prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.'" This passage highlights the hospitality and urgency associated with bread-making.

In the New Testament, bread continues to hold symbolic significance. Jesus refers to Himself as the "bread of life" in John 6:35 : "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.'" This metaphor emphasizes the spiritual sustenance that Christ provides.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Bread-making was not only a daily necessity but also a ritualistic act. The preparation of unleavened bread during Passover commemorated the Israelites' hasty departure from Egypt, as described in Exodus 12:39 : "They baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was without yeast; because they had been driven out of Egypt and could not delay, they had not prepared any provisions for themselves."

The act of breaking bread together was a sign of fellowship and covenant. In the early Christian community, the breaking of bread was central to communal worship and remembrance of Christ's sacrifice, as seen in Acts 2:42 : "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

Symbolism and Spiritual Lessons

Bread in the Bible often symbolizes God's provision and care. In the wilderness, God provided manna, described as "bread from heaven," to sustain the Israelites (Exodus 16:4). This miraculous provision taught reliance on God's daily sustenance and foreshadowed the spiritual nourishment found in Christ.

The Lord's Prayer, as recorded in Matthew 6:11 , includes the petition, "Give us this day our daily bread," which underscores the dependence on God for both physical and spiritual needs.

Conclusion

The role of the bread-maker in biblical times was essential, reflecting the broader themes of provision, hospitality, and spiritual nourishment found throughout Scripture. Bread-making was a daily task that carried deep religious and cultural significance, symbolizing God's care and the sustenance provided through faith in Christ.

The Oracles.
... the messengers."The replies."Croesus decides in favor of Delphi."His costly
gifts."The silver tank."The golden lion."The bread-maker."Her history ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter vi the oracles.htm

Climbing Towards the Climax.
... Jesus withdraws from the crowds who would like a bread-maker for a king, gets a
bit of quiet alone with His Father on the mountainside, and then walks on the ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/climbing towards the climax.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... measures to frustrate the plot; later on in life he dedicated in the temple of Delphi
a statue of gold representing the faithful bread-maker.** The chief of ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

Bread-maker (8 Occurrences)
Bread-maker. Bread-corn, Bread-maker. Bread-makers . Multi-Version
Concordance Bread-maker (8 Occurrences). Genesis ...
/b/bread-maker.htm - 8k

Wine-servant (8 Occurrences)
... Wine-servant (8 Occurrences). Genesis 40:2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two servants,
with the chief wine-servant and the chief bread-maker; (BBE). ...
/w/wine-servant.htm - 8k

Hanging (82 Occurrences)
... food for birds. (BBE). Genesis 40:22 But the chief bread-maker was put to
death by hanging, as Joseph had said. (BBE). Genesis 41:13 ...
/h/hanging.htm - 35k

Sense (195 Occurrences)
... Genesis 40:5 And these two had a dream on the same night; the chief wine-servant
and the chief bread-maker of the king of Egypt, who were in prison, the two of ...
/s/sense.htm - 36k

Dreams (34 Occurrences)
... Genesis 40:5 And these two had a dream on the same night; the chief wine-servant
and the chief bread-maker of the king of Egypt, who were in prison, the two of ...
/d/dreams.htm - 17k

Pharaoh's (72 Occurrences)
... Genesis 40:1 Now after these things the chief servant who had the care of the wine,
and the chief bread-maker in Pharaoh's house, did something against ...
/p/pharaoh's.htm - 31k

Paste (10 Occurrences)
... Hosea 7:4 They are all untrue; they are like a burning oven; the bread-maker does
not make up the fire from the time when the paste is mixed till it is leavened ...
/p/paste.htm - 10k

Bread-corn (1 Occurrence)
Bread-corn. Bread-basins, Bread-corn. Bread-maker . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WBS). Bread-basins, Bread-corn. Bread-maker . Reference Bible.
/b/bread-corn.htm - 6k

Bread-makers (2 Occurrences)
Bread-makers. Bread-maker, Bread-makers. Bread-making . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE). Bread-maker, Bread-makers. Bread-making . Reference Bible.
/b/bread-makers.htm - 7k

Special (89 Occurrences)
... Genesis 40:5 And these two had a dream on the same night; the chief wine-servant
and the chief bread-maker of the king of Egypt, who were in prison, the two of ...
/s/special.htm - 34k

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