לֶחֶם
lechem · H3899 · Hebrew · 297 occurrences
A word for 2 things
Meanings
-
bread or food
A staple food made from a dough of water and either wheat or barley, then baked, together with water considered the basis of life and often used of food in general
ExamplesGenesis 3:19 By the sweat of your face You shall eat bread, Until you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”
Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.
Genesis 18:5 and I will bring a piece of bread, so that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant.” And they said, “So do as you have said.”
-
bread of the Presence, sacred bread
Literally: bread of the Presence; hence: sacred bread offered to YHWH, always present on a dedicated table in the temple
ExamplesExodus 25:30 “And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me continually.
Exodus 35:13 the table and its poles, and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence;
Exodus 39:36 the table, all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence;
-
bread of display, sacred bread
Literally: layer of bread; hence: sacred bread offered to YHWH, always present on a dedicated table in the temple
Examples2 Chronicles 13:11 “Every morning and evening they burn to the LORD burnt offerings and fragrant incense, and the showbread is set on the clean table, and the golden lampstand with its lamps is ready to light every evening; for we perform our duty to the LORD our God, but you have abandoned Him.
How it’s used In 10 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive
102 occurrences in 45 groups
- הוּhis 12
- יmy 10
- ךָyour 10
- אֱלֹהִיםGod, gods 6
- פָּנִיםface, presence, before 6
- נוּour 4
- Other words · 35 groups that occur once or twice (41) 41
Words describing itAdjectives, demonstratives, participles
18 occurrences in 12 groups
- Other words · 12 groups that occur once or twice (19) 19
Named alongside itApposition
15 occurrences in 14 groups
- אִשָּׁהoffering made by fire 3
- Other words · 13 groups that occur once or twice (15) 15
What it doesIt is the subject
17 occurrences in 11 groups
- הָיָהto be, to become 7
- Other words · 10 groups that occur once or twice (10) 10
What is done to itIt is the object
153 occurrences in 30 groups
- אָכַלto eat, to devour 66
- נָתַןto give, to put, to set 24
- שָׂבַעto be satiated 8
- לָקַחto take, to receive 6
- בּוֹאto come, to go in, to bring 6
- קָרַבto come near, to offer 5
- Other words · 20 groups that occur once or twice (25) 25
Second object ofSecond object
14 occurrences in 6 groups
- אָכַלto eat, to devour 4
- כּוּלto provide for, to contain 3
- בָּרָהto eat 2
- קָטַרto burn incense, to burn (offerings) 2
- שָׂבַעto be satiated 2
- טָרַףto tear to pieces 1
What it is said to bePredicate
17 occurrences in 11 groups
- אַיִןthere is no, not 5
- Other words · 10 groups that occur once or twice (12) 12
What is said to be itIt is the predicate
8 occurrences in 6 groups
- הוּאhe, she, it 3
- בֵּןson 1
- דַּיsufficiency 1
- הֵםthey, them 1
- זֶבַחsacrifice 1
- עָפָרdust, dirt 1
After prepositionsPrepositional phrases
39 occurrences in 6 groups
- בin/on/with 25
- לto/for 17
- מִןfrom 9
- עַלon, upon, over, against 7
- אֵלto, toward 5
- כlike/as 3
In phrases “… of it”It is the genitive
36 occurrences in 16 groups
- כִּכָּרtalent, plain, loaf 7
- פַּתbit 7
- מַטֶּהtribe, staff, rod 5
- חַלָּהcake 3
- Other words · 12 groups that occur once or twice (14) 14
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Near synonyms 4 words
- עֻגָּה ʻuggâh · H5692 · cake of bread
- עֻגָּה (ʻuggâh, H5692) 'cake' is a more specific type of baked item, while לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) 'bread' or 'loaf' is the general term, but both can substitute in contexts describing baked food.
- תֻּפִין tuphîyn · H8601 · baked pieces
- לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) is a general term for bread or food, while תֻּפִין (tuphîyn, H8601) occurs only once and means 'baked piece'. תֻּפִין (tuphîyn, H8601) is a specific type of baked item that could be a kind of bread, so the relationship runs from specific to general.
- חַלָּה challâh · H2471 · cake
- Both words denote baked grain products that overlap in sense and context; חַלָּה (challâh, H2471), “cake,” is a more specific type within the broader category covered by לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899), “bread, food.”
- כַּוָּן kavvân · H3561 · sacred cakes
- Genuine same-language near-synonyms. Both are food items in the Bread domain; "cake" (כַּוָּן (kavvân, H3561)) is a specific baked good, "bread/loaf" (לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899)) is a broader term for baked food staples. They overlap in the sense of "baked food product" and could substitute in many contexts where a general baked item is meant.
In the other Testament 2 words
- ἄρτος ártos · G740 · loaf of bread, food
- Greek ἄρτος is the primary translation equivalent for Hebrew לֶחֶם in LXX contexts, both denoting bread as a staple food item, with the Greek term specifically emphasizing leavened/raised bread while the Hebrew term encompasses a broader semantic range including food generally.
- τροφή trophḗ · G5160 · food
- Greek τροφή (trophḗ, G5160) serves as a broader semantic field term for nourishment and sustenance, encompassing but not limited to the bread/grain focus that Hebrew לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) typically denotes, with τροφή extending to general food/provisions where context requires a more abstract or comprehensive reference than the concrete 'bread' sense.
Semantic domains 2 entries
- Bread001003001003001
- לֶחֶם most often denotes bread specifically, as in its central role in offerings and daily provision throughout the Old Testament, matching its most frequent gloss 'bread.'
- Food001003001003
- The same word also broadens to food or victuals in general, as reflected in its wider gloss including 'food, fruit, meat, victuals,' covering nourishment beyond bread alone.
Word family 6 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H3899. lechem לֶ֫חֶם296 noun masculine1Sa 9:7 and (rarely) feminineGen 49:20 (see below,…
לֶ֫חֶם296 noun masculine1Sa 9:7 and (rarely) feminineGen 49:20 (see below, and Dr1Sa 10:4) bread, food (Phoenician לחם bread; Late Hebrew לֶחֶם; Aramaic לַחְמָא, , as Hebrew; Arabic flesh, meat, (compare Frä30)); — absolute ׳ל Gen 3:19 +; לָ֑חֶם Gen 31:54 +; לֶ֑חֶם Psa 14:4 Psa 14:2t.; construct לֶחֶם Hos 9:4 +; suffix לַחְמִי Job 3:24 +, לַחְמְךָ Obadiah 7 +, לַחְמָם Hos 9:4b, + Hos 9:4a (for לָהֶם ᵑ0), We GASm Now, + etc.; —
1. a. bread, the ordinary food of early Hebrews (BenzArchaeology 84 ff NowArchaeology i. 109 ff.) Exo 21:14 (E), Num 21:5; Jos 9:5, Jos 9:12 (JE), Deu 8:3; Deu 23:5; Exo 16:3 (P) +; ׳כִּכַּרלֿ loaf of bread 1Sa 2:36 + (see כִּכָּר below כרר), and without ככר (always with number) 1Sa 10:4; 1Sa 16:20 (see Dr), 1Sa 17:7; 1Sa 21:4; 1Sa 25:18; 2Sa 16:1; 1Ki 14:3; 2Ki 4:42; ל ׳חַלַת cake of bread 2Sa 6:19; Exo 29:23 + (see חַלָּה below
I. חלל); made from barley (שְׂעֹרִים); Jdg 7:13; 2Ki 4:42 (see also לָחֶם above); from wheat-flour (חִטִים סֹלֶת) Exo 29:2 (P); compare the mixture Eze 4:9; made by baking (אפה) Isa 44:15, Isa 44:19; Lev 26:26 (H; compare Jer 37:21); ׳מַּתלֿ a bit of bread 1Sa 2:36; 1Ki 17:11; Pro 28:21, compare Eze 13:19, as modest term for a hospitable meal Gen 18:5 (J), Jdg 19:5; 1Sa 28:22; distinguished from meat (flesh), Gen 27:17 (J) 1Sa 25:11; 1Ki 17:6 (twice in verse); Exo 16:8, Exo 16:12 (also Exo 16:3 above), Exo 29:32, Exo 29:34; Lev 8:31 (all P), Lev 23:18 (H), 1Ch 12:40; Psa 78:20; Dan 10:3; = a meal 1Sa 20:27, ל ׳אָכַל = take a meal Gen 31:54 (twice in verse); Gen 37:25; Gen 43:25, Gen 43:32 +; לַחְמִי אכל Psa 41:10 eat my bread, establishing an obligation, compare Obadiah 7 (read ל ׳אֹכְלֵי according to MartiKau AT; strike out ᵐ5 ׳ל Hi We, compare VB) ל ׳עשׂה = make a feast Ecc 10:19; ל ׳מַטֵּה staff of bread (as support of life), only late Eze 4:16; Eze 5:16; Eze 14:13; Lev 26:26 (H), Psa 105:16; cf .ל ׳מִשְׁעַן Isa 3:1 (gloss); leavened bread is ׳ל חָמֵץ Lev 7:13; unleavened bread is ׳ל מַצּוֺת Exo 29:2 (both P); ׳ל (הַ)מָּנִים bread of the face (of ׳י; i.e. in his presence, DiLev 24:9 Dr1Sa 21:7); in the sanctuary 1Sa 21:7; 1Ki 7:48 2Ch 4:19; Exo 25:30; Exo 35:13; Exo 39:36, without ׳פ Exo 40:23 (all P); = ׳ל הַתָּמִיד Num 4:7 (P), ׳ל קֹדֶשׁ 1Sa 21:5; in Chronicles ׳ל הַמַּעֲרָ֑כֶת 1Ch 9:32; compare 1Ch 23:29; Neh 10:34, ׳מ ׳ל2Ch 13:11 opposed to ׳ל חֹל 1Sa 21:5; ׳ל תְּנוּפִה Lev 23:17 wave-loaf; ׳ל (הַ)בִּכֻּרִים Lev 23:20; 2Ki 4:42 bread of first-fruits.
b. = bread-corn, the material from which bread is made, i.e. wheat, barley, etc.: Gen 41:54-55, (E), Gen 47:13, Gen 47:15, Gen 47:17 (twice in verse); Gen 47:19 (J), Gen 49:20 (poem in J), Isa 28:28; Isa 30:23; Isa 55:10; Jer 5:17; Eze 48:18; Job 28:5; Pro 28:3; Psa 104:14; ׳ל הָאָרֶץ Num 15:19 (P), ל ׳ארץ 2Ki 18:32 = Isa 36:17.
2 food in General:
a. of man, Jdg 13:16 (kid, Jdg 13:15) 1Sa 14:24 (twice in verse); 1Sa 14:28 (honey), 1Sa 28:20; 1Sa 30:12; Pro 22:9; Pro 27:27 (twice in verse) (goat's milk) +; ל נֹתֵן ׳לְכָלבָּֿשָׂר Psa 136:25.
b. of animals, Pro 6:8; Pro 30:25; Prov 65:25; Job 24:5 + Psa 147:9
c. of God (in sacrifices): ׳ל אֱלֹהֵיהֶם (compare RSSemitic i. 207, 2nd ed., 224) Lev 21:6 compare Lev 21:8; Lev 21:17; Lev 21:21; Lev 21:22, Lev 22:25 (all H), compare Num 28:2 (P), Eze 16:19; Eze 44:7, and ׳ל מְגֹאָל Mal 1:7, also (׳לי) ׳ל אִשֶּׁה Lev 3:11, Lev 3:16; Num 28:24 (all P).
3 other phrases and figurative uses are:
a. ׳ל רֶשַׁע Pro 4:17 (accusative of congnate meaning with verb with לָחַם), probably = food gained by wickedness ׅ || חֲמָסִים (יִיִן, compare ׳ל שָׁ֑קֶר Pro 20:17, ׳ל כְּזָבִים Pro 23:3; ׳ל עַצְלוּת Pro 31:27 = bread of idleness, i.e. unearned; ׳ל חֻקִּיPro 30:8 (opposed to riches and poverty, see חֹק); ׳ל לַחַץ 1Ki 22:27 2Ch 18:26, vid לַחַץ below; ׳ל הָעֲצָבִים Psa 127:2 see II. עֶצָב; ׳ל אוֺנִים Hos 9:4, vid אָוֶן. p.20 a; ׳ל אֲנָשִׁים Eze 24:17, Eze 24:22 of food offered to mourners, compare Jer 16:7 (where insert ᵐ5 ׳ל Gf Gie); המים עלפֿני לחמך שַׁלַּח Ecc 11:1 usual interpration of benevolent giving (compare Now); De and others of sea-commerce in bread-stuffs, compare Pro 31:14.
b. figurative הֵם לַחְמֵנוּ Num 14:9 (JE) our food are they, i.e. we will devour, destroy, them (compare Deu 7:16); ל ׳דִּמְעָתִּי Psa 42:4; compare Psa 80:6 (see אכל above); ׳ל of evil deeds of wicked Job 20:14; בְּלַחְמוֺ עֵץ Jer 11:19 apparentlyfig.of destroying the prophet and his house, but read probably בְּלֵחוֺ in its freshness (i.e. untimely), so Hi Gf Che Gie (see לֵחַ below לחח above).
Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain
Topical studies with this word 1 entry
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.