2281. chabittim

Lexical Summary

chabittim: Threshing sledges, sticks, or rods

Original Word: חָבֵת
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chabeth
Pronunciation: khab-it-teem'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-bayth')
KJV: pan
NASB: baked in pans
Word Origin: [from an unused root probably meaning to cook]

1. something fried, probably a griddle-cake

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

pan

From an unused root probably meaning to cook (compare machabath); something fried, probably a griddle-cake -- pan.

see HEBREW machabath

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
flat cakes, bread wafers
NASB Translation
baked in pans (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

חֲבִתִּים noun [masculine] plural (Late Hebrew id.) — some kind of flat cakes, or bread-wafers, only ׳מַעֲשֵׂה הַח 1 Chronicles 9:31.

Topical Lexicon

Usage in Scripture

חָבֵת appears only once, in 1 Chronicles 9:31: “Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread offerings”. The term designates the baked items prepared on a griddle-pan for daily and festival use in the house of God. Though the noun is rare, it belongs to a wider vocabulary of sacrificial bread (compare “griddle cake,” מַחֲבַת, in Leviticus 2:5; Leviticus 6:21; Leviticus 7:9).

Historical and Liturgical Context

1 Chronicles recounts the re-ordering of Levitical duties after the exile. Temple service was no longer dominated by spectacular wilderness worship but by steady daily routines. Verse 31 shows that even a single family line received a focused task—overseeing the baked grain offerings. These offerings accompanied burnt sacrifices (Numbers 15:4-10) and symbolized Israel’s dependence upon God for sustenance. The presence of a designated baker protected purity (Leviticus 6:17-18) and ensured that ingredients, timing, and distribution conformed to the divine pattern given through Moses.

Levitical Ministry Function

1. Ingredient preparation: Fine flour, oil, and salt (Leviticus 2:4-5).
2. Baking on the special pan: The utensil and the product were both holy and could not be used for secular meals (Leviticus 7:9).
3. Presentation at the altar: Part burned as a memorial portion; the rest eaten by authorized priests (Leviticus 2:9-10).
4. Continual supply: Fresh cakes were required each day, forming part of the “perpetual statute” for the congregation (Leviticus 24:8-9).

Typological and Christological Insights

Bread is a persistent biblical metaphor for life. The griddle-baked offering anticipates Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). Unlike the Old Covenant bread that had to be replaced, Christ is a once-for-all provision. Yet He still calls the Church to disciplined service resembling Mattithiah’s: faithful, often unseen, maintaining the worship life of God’s people (1 Corinthians 4:2).

Practical Applications for Today

• Diligence in “small” ministries matters. The chronicler names the baker because the Lord noticed him (Hebrews 6:10).
• Order in worship reflects God’s own character (1 Corinthians 14:40).
• Daily dependence: as Israel relied on baked offerings, believers rely moment by moment on the sustaining grace of Christ (Matthew 6:11).

Cross References for Further Study

Exodus 29:2; Leviticus 2:4-10; Leviticus 6:14-23; Leviticus 24:5-9; Numbers 15:4-10; 1 Chronicles 23:29; John 6:31-35; Hebrews 10:14.

Forms and Transliterations

הַחֲבִתִּֽים׃ החבתים׃ ha·ḥă·ḇit·tîm hachavitTim haḥăḇittîm

Englishman's Concordance

1 Chronicles 9:31
HEB: עַ֖ל מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה הַחֲבִתִּֽים׃
NAS: the things which were baked in pans.
KJV: over the things that were made in the pans.
INT: over the things were baked

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 2281
1 Occurrence

ha·ḥă·ḇit·tîm — 1 Occ.