Knead
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In biblical times, kneading was an essential part of daily life, particularly in the preparation of bread, a staple food in ancient Israelite society. The process of kneading involves working dough with the hands to mix ingredients thoroughly and develop the gluten structure, which is crucial for the bread's texture and rise. This practice is mentioned several times in the Bible, reflecting its importance in the domestic and religious life of the Israelites.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 18:6 · In this passage, Abraham demonstrates hospitality to three visitors by instructing Sarah to quickly prepare bread: "So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, 'Quick, prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.'" . This account highlights the cultural significance of kneading as part of offering hospitality and sustenance.

2. Exodus 12:34 · During the Exodus, the Israelites left Egypt in haste, taking their dough before it was leavened: "So the people took their dough before it was leavened, carrying it on their shoulders in kneading bowls wrapped in clothing." . This event is commemorated in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, symbolizing the Israelites' swift departure and God's deliverance.

3. 1 Samuel 28:24 · The narrative of Saul visiting the medium at Endor includes a reference to kneading: "Now the woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread." . This passage illustrates the preparation of a meal in a time of distress, emphasizing the role of kneading in providing sustenance.

Cultural and Religious Significance:

Kneading was not only a practical activity but also held cultural and religious significance. Bread was a symbol of God's provision and sustenance, as seen in the manna provided during the Israelites' wilderness journey (Exodus 16). The act of kneading and baking bread was often associated with hospitality, community, and the covenant relationship between God and His people.

In the New Testament, Jesus refers to Himself as the "bread of life" (John 6:35), drawing on the rich symbolism of bread in Jewish tradition. The process of kneading, therefore, can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual nourishment and the transformative work of God in the lives of believers.

Symbolism and Metaphor:

Kneading can also be understood metaphorically in the context of spiritual growth and maturity. Just as kneading transforms simple ingredients into nourishing bread, so too does the work of the Holy Spirit transform believers, shaping them into the likeness of Christ. This process involves patience, effort, and the willingness to be molded by God's hands.

In summary, kneading in the Bible is more than a culinary technique; it is a rich symbol of provision, hospitality, and spiritual transformation, deeply embedded in the fabric of biblical narrative and theology.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
To prepare dough in the process of baking (Genesis 18:6; 1 Samuel 28:24; Hosea 7:4).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. t.) To work and press into a mass, usually with the hands; as, to knead dough; esp., to work, as by repeated pressure with the knuckles, into a well mixed mass, as the materials of bread, cake, etc.

2. (v. t.) Fig.: To treat or form as by kneading; to beat.

Greek
1591. ekmasso -- to knead out, by anal. to wipe dry
... 1590, 1591. ekmasso. 1592 . to knead out, by anal. ... Word Origin from
ek and masso (to knead) Definition to knead out, by anal. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1591.htm - 6k

631. apomasso -- to wipe off
... wipe off. Middle voice from apo and masso (to squeeze, knead, smear); to scrape
away -- wipe off. see GREEK apo. (apomassometha) -- 1 Occurrence. 630, 631. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/631.htm - 6k

5445. phurama -- that which is mixed
... From a prolonged form of phuro (to mix a liquid with a solid; perhaps akin to phuo
through the idea of swelling in bulk), mean to knead; a mass of dough -- lump ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5445.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
3888. lush -- to knead
... 3887, 3888. lush. 3889 . to knead. Transliteration: lush Phonetic Spelling:
(loosh) Short Definition: knead. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/3888.htm - 5k
Library

The Exercises Suited to a Good Life.
... For Abraham said to her, "Haste, and knead three measures of meal, and make cakes."
[1660] "And Rachel, the daughter of Laban, came," it is said, "with her ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter x the exercises suited to.htm

Lydda
... When you consider this distance, you may well wonder what that means, which is almost
become a proverb, "The women of Lydda knead their dough, go up to the ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 16 lydda.htm

How Ahab when He had Taken Jezebel to Wife Became More Wicked than ...
... oath that she had at home nothing more than one handful of meal, and a little oil,
and that she was going to gather some sticks, that she might knead it, and ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how ahab when.htm

The Story of the Tower of Babel
... So Abraham hastened to Sarah's tent and said, "Make ready quickly four measures
of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes." Abraham also ran to the herd, and took ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the story of the tower.htm

The Doctrine of the Truth Continued.
... followed Cruice's rendering, refinxisse, while Dr. Wordsworth construes the word
"fashioned." The latter is more literal, as phurao means to knead, though the ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xxix the doctrine of the.htm

The Exodus
... He will not stop to knead his dough, and make his bread to carry with him; but he
will carry the unleavened bread on his shoulders, he will be in such a hurry ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the exodus.htm

Greek Plagiarism from the Hebrews.
... Hesiod says of Pandora:". "And bade Heph??stus, famed, with all his speed,.
Knead earth with water, and man's voice and mind. Infuse.". ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xiv greek plagiarism from the.htm

Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies ...
... for the Gentiles, on the feasts of the moon, set up a table in front of the idol
of the moon, wherefore it is written (Jer.7:18): "The women knead the dough ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sufficient reason can be.htm

1 Cor. Iii. 3-Jan
... Their fathers light a fire, their children gather sticks together, their women knead
dough." It is to be feared lest the same kind of thing be said also ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily viii 1 cor iii.htm

Culture and Christianity: their Relation and Necessity.
... There is no just reason why a young lady should not knead her dough and
conjugate a Greek verb at the same time with equal skill. ...
/.../i culture and christianity their relation.htm

Thesaurus
Knead (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To work and press into a mass, usually with the hands; as, to knead dough;
esp., to work, as by repeated pressure with the knuckles, into a well mixed ...
/k/knead.htm - 7k

Dough (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) Paste of bread; a soft mass of moistened flour
or meal, kneaded or unkneaded, but not yet baked; as, to knead dough. ...
/d/dough.htm - 12k

Cakes (65 Occurrences)
... Genesis 18:6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly make ready
three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE ...
/c/cakes.htm - 26k

Kneaded (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Knead. Multi-Version Concordance Kneaded
(3 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 28:24 The woman had a fattened calf in the house. ...
/k/kneaded.htm - 7k

Knavery (2 Occurrences)

/k/knavery.htm - 7k

Kindle (25 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 7:18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the
women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of the sky, and to pour out ...
/k/kindle.htm - 15k

Wheaten (4 Occurrences)
... Wheaten (4 Occurrences). Genesis 18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah,
and said, Knead quickly three seahs of wheaten flour, and make cakes. (DBY). ...
/w/wheaten.htm - 7k

Flour (69 Occurrences)
... Genesis 18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, Knead quickly
three seahs of wheaten flour, and make cakes. (DBY YLT NAS NIV). ...
/f/flour.htm - 32k

Flour-meal (1 Occurrence)
... Genesis 18:6 And Abraham hasteth towards the tent, unto Sarah, and saith, 'Hasten
three measures of flour-meal, knead, and make cakes;' (YLT). ...
/f/flour-meal.htm - 6k

Frame (33 Occurrences)
... FRAME. fram: (1) yetser (from root yatsar, "to knead," mold with the fingers):
"For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust" (Psalm 103:14). ...
/f/frame.htm - 19k

Resources
Knead: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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