Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, the role of a baker was significant, as bread was a staple food in the ancient Near Eastern diet. Bakers were responsible for preparing and baking bread, a task that required skill and knowledge of the ingredients and processes involved. The Bible provides several references to bakers, highlighting their importance in society and their presence in various narratives.Genesis 40:1-3 : "Some time later, the king’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined." In this passage, the chief baker of Pharaoh's court is mentioned alongside the cupbearer. Both were high-ranking officials, indicating the importance of their roles in the royal household. The baker's imprisonment and subsequent dream interpreted by Joseph highlight the baker's prominence and the trust placed in him by Pharaoh. 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. It suggests that bakers were among the skilled workers who would be conscripted into royal service. The inclusion of bakers alongside perfumers and cooks underscores their valued contribution to the king's household. Hosea 7:4 : "They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by the baker who ceases to stir the fire from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened." Here, the prophet Hosea uses the imagery of a baker to describe the moral corruption of the people. The baker's role in heating the oven and preparing the dough serves as a metaphor for the people's unchecked passions and sinful behavior. This passage illustrates the baker's intimate knowledge of the baking process and the careful attention required to produce bread. Jeremiah 37:21 : "So King Zedekiah gave the order for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard." In this account, the "street of the bakers" is mentioned, indicating a specific area where bakers operated, likely a marketplace or district known for bread production. This highlights the organized nature of baking in the city and the reliance on bakers for daily sustenance, even during times of siege. Matthew 13:33 : "He told them still another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.'" While not directly mentioning bakers, this parable of Jesus alludes to the baking process, specifically the use of yeast in bread-making. It reflects the transformative power of the kingdom of heaven, akin to the way yeast permeates and causes dough to rise. This analogy would have been familiar to those who understood the work of bakers. Throughout Scripture, bakers are depicted as essential contributors to daily life and the functioning of society. Their craft is interwoven with spiritual lessons and societal roles, underscoring the significance of their work in biblical times. Nave's Topical Index 1 Samuel 8:13And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. Nave's Topical Index Jeremiah 37:21 Hosea 7:4,6 Library The Typical Significance of the Scriptures Declare their Divine ... A Preface to the Reader. The General Conference of 1836 From the Close of the General Conference of 1812 to the Death of ... General Conference of 1824 The General Conference of 1840 1 Cor. xiii. 8 The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees ... An American Reformer. An American Reformer Resources What is the significance of Meribah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of Zaphenath-Paneah in Genesis 41:45? | GotQuestions.org How long was Joseph in prison? | GotQuestions.org Baker: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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