Bread: (Want of) Extreme Poverty
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Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, bread is often emblematic of sustenance and provision, representing the basic necessities of life. The absence or want of bread is frequently used as a metaphor for extreme poverty and destitution. This theme is woven throughout Scripture, highlighting both the physical and spiritual dimensions of human need.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides numerous instances where the lack of bread signifies severe hardship. In the book of Genesis, during the time of Joseph, a great famine struck the land, leading to a desperate need for food. Genesis 41:54 states, "And the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food." Here, the scarcity of bread underscores the severity of the famine and the resulting poverty.

The Mosaic Law also addresses the plight of the poor, emphasizing the community's responsibility to provide for those in need. Leviticus 19:9-10 instructs, "When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God." This provision ensured that even the poorest in society could find sustenance.

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets frequently warned of the consequences of disobedience to God, which included economic hardship and a lack of bread. In Ezekiel 4:16, the Lord declares, "I will cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat rationed bread and drink rationed water in dismay." This prophetic imagery illustrates the dire conditions that result from turning away from God's commandments.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, Jesus' teachings often highlight the spiritual implications of physical poverty. In the Beatitudes, Jesus proclaims, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). While this speaks to spiritual poverty, it also reflects the broader biblical theme that God is attentive to the needs of the impoverished.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) further illustrates the stark contrast between wealth and poverty. Lazarus, a poor man who longed for the crumbs from the rich man's table, is ultimately comforted in the afterlife, while the rich man faces judgment. This parable underscores the moral and spiritual responsibilities of those with abundance to care for those in want.

Theological Reflections

The want of bread, as a symbol of extreme poverty, serves as a poignant reminder of humanity's dependence on God for provision. It calls believers to reflect on their own attitudes towards wealth and poverty, urging a response of compassion and generosity. The biblical narrative consistently affirms that God is a provider who cares deeply for the marginalized and impoverished.

In conclusion, the theme of bread and its absence in Scripture is a powerful metaphor for both physical and spiritual poverty. It challenges believers to live out their faith through acts of mercy and justice, ensuring that the needs of the least among us are met. As followers of Christ, the call to address the want of bread is both a practical and spiritual mandate, reflecting the heart of God for all His creation.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Proverbs 12:9
He that is despised, and has a servant, is better than he that honors himself, and lacks bread.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 3:7
In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Naomi is an Instance of a Widow Receiving Back from Her Daughter ...
... A good widow, then, knows no want, and if she be weary through age, in extreme poverty,
yet she has ... the flesh, who ate ashes as it were bread, and mingled ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vi naomi is an.htm

Letter civ. (AD 409. )
... pain;" albeit, even such extremity of want as this ... of dependence upon others for
daily bread on those ... Yet by such extreme poverty these statesmen of the Roman ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter civ a d 409.htm

Heaviness through Manifold Temptations
... Pain is perfect misery, and extreme. ... Were it not that he is restrained by an unseen
hand, would he not soon "curse God and die?" O want of bread! want of bread! ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 47 heaviness through manifold.htm

The Fifth Season,
... will not forsake them." Here you see their extreme wants, water ... When Luther began
to be pressed by want, he said ... do not we feast upon Christ, the bread of life ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/v the fifth season.htm

Corn in Egypt
... but a total lack of bread was horrible in the extreme. ... he had now become exceedingly
poor from lack of bread. ... You want to get your own faith to bring to Christ ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/corn in egypt.htm

Letter xiii. Christian Activity.
... the improvidence of the poor; their want of industry ... the poor, in appearing himself
in a condition of extreme poverty. ... I will serve thee upon bread and water ...
/.../letter xiii christian activity.htm

2 Cor. viii. 7
... alms supplieth a very great want, a want greater than ... on any, thou wilt be so only
for bread and raiment ... see that those words are words of extreme carelessness? ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xvii 2 cor viii.htm

Acts v. 17, 18
... to take thought only for a single loaf of bread and suit ... the poor, as poor, but those
who being poor want to be ... Because they are come to the extreme of poverty ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xiii acts v 17.htm

Christ is All
... to stay your hunger, but Christ the bread of heaven ... destitute of Christ is poor to
the extreme of poverty ... but,""Ah, away with thy "buts." What dost thou want? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/christ is all.htm

Matt. Iv. 1
... vainly and at random; nor even when want urges to ... indignant, nor provoked, but with
that extreme gentleness He ... sayings, "Man shall not live by bread alone;" and ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xiii matt iv 1.htm

Resources
What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the Bread of Life” (John 6:35)? | GotQuestions.org

What was the bread of the Presence (Exodus 25:30)? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible mean when it speaks of the breaking of bread? | GotQuestions.org

Bread: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Bread

Bread by Idolaters

Bread in Times of Scarcity, Sold by Weight

Bread of Christ

Bread was Baked in Ovens

Bread was Baked: On Coals of Fire

Bread was Baked: On Hearths

Bread was Formed Into: Cakes

Bread was Formed Into: Loaves

Bread was Formed Into: Wafers

Bread was Kneaded

Bread with Water, the Food of Prisons

Bread: (Eating Without Scarceness) of Plenty

Bread: (Fulness of) of Abundance

Bread: (Of Adversity) Heavy Affliction

Bread: (Of Deceit) Unlawful Gain

Bread: (Of Idleness) Sloth

Bread: (Of Tears) Sorrow

Bread: (Of Wickedness) Oppression

Bread: (Partaking of) Communion of Saints

Bread: (Seeking of Begging) Extreme Poverty

Bread: (Want of) Extreme Poverty

Bread: (When Broken) the Death of Christ

Bread: Barley

Bread: Broken for Use

Bread: Called the Staff of Life

Bread: Christ

Bread: Corn Ground for Making

Bread: Crumb of, Used to Wipe the Fingers, Thrown Under the Table

Bread: Figurative

Bread: First Fruit of, offered to God

Bread: Given by God

Bread: How Prepared in Pans

Bread: How Prepared: Baked in Ovens

Bread: How Prepared: Cakes

Bread: How Prepared: Cracknels

Bread: How Prepared: Honey

Bread: How Prepared: Kneaded

Bread: How Prepared: Made Into Loaves

Bread: How Prepared: Mixed With Oil

Bread: How Prepared: On Coals

Bread: How Prepared: On Coals of Dung

Bread: How Prepared: On Hearths

Bread: How Prepared: Wafers

Bread: Kept in Baskets

Bread: Kinds of Bread of Affliction

Bread: Kinds of Leavened (Made With Yeast)

Bread: Kinds of Unleavened (Made Without Yeast)

Bread: Made by Men

Bread: Made by Women

Bread: Made of Barley

Bread: Made of Beans, Millet

Bread: Made of Manna (In the Wilderness)

Bread: Made of Wheat

Bread: Made of Wheat Flour

Bread: Making of, a Trade

Bread: Manna

Bread: Meal

Bread: Multitudes Miraculously Fed by Christ With

Bread: Nutritious and Strengthening

Bread: Offered With Sacrifices

Bread: Often Given As a Present

Bread: Often Put for the Whole Substance of Man

Bread: Ordinary, Called Common Bread

Bread: Placed on Table of Shew Bread

Bread: Plenty of, Promised to the Obedient

Bread: Publicly Sold

Bread: Sacred, Called Hallowed Bread

Bread: Sacrificed

Bread: Scarceness of, Sent As a Punishment

Bread: Served Round After Funerals

Bread: Sometimes Unleavened

Bread: Symbolical of the Body of Christ

Bread: The Principal Food Used by the Ancients

Bread: Traffic In

Bread: Troughs Used for Kneading

Bread: Usually Leavened

Bread: when Old, Dry and Mouldy

Bread: Yielded by the Earth

Tibbath

Related Terms

Show-bread (15 Occurrences)

Bread-maker (8 Occurrences)

Bread-makers (2 Occurrences)

Bread-basin (2 Occurrences)

Bread-meal (1 Occurrence)

Bread-paste (1 Occurrence)

Bread-basins (1 Occurrence)

Bread-corn (1 Occurrence)

Bread-making (1 Occurrence)

Barley-bread (1 Occurrence)

Bread-yeast (1 Occurrence)

Shew-bread (1 Occurrence)

Bake (13 Occurrences)

Cake (25 Occurrences)

Yeast (48 Occurrences)

Baked (26 Occurrences)

Camest (27 Occurrences)

Showbread (18 Occurrences)

Cakes (65 Occurrences)

Shewbread (16 Occurrences)

Agape

Cooking (14 Occurrences)

Crust (3 Occurrences)

Arrangement (18 Occurrences)

Supply (40 Occurrences)

Supplied (22 Occurrences)

Basket (40 Occurrences)

Broke (153 Occurrences)

Containing (12 Occurrences)

Clusters (12 Occurrences)

Crumb

Abib (5 Occurrences)

Satiety (12 Occurrences)

Anxiety (24 Occurrences)

Cooked (35 Occurrences)

Buy (71 Occurrences)

Parched (37 Occurrences)

Satisfy (32 Occurrences)

Breaking (69 Occurrences)

Bit (46 Occurrences)

Blessing (357 Occurrences)

Broken (559 Occurrences)

Barley (35 Occurrences)

Succoth (18 Occurrences)

Zalmun'na (8 Occurrences)

Ate (138 Occurrences)

Bunches (7 Occurrences)

Basins (33 Occurrences)

Beans (2 Occurrences)

Baking (4 Occurrences)

Bakers (6 Occurrences)

Beggar (5 Occurrences)

Celebrated (24 Occurrences)

Crumbs (8 Occurrences)

Continuing (24 Occurrences)

Companions (58 Occurrences)

Customary (8 Occurrences)

Appalment (10 Occurrences)

Amounts (12 Occurrences)

Summer (28 Occurrences)

Shew-loaves (1 Occurrence)

Sustained (20 Occurrences)

Sop (3 Occurrences)

Scant (4 Occurrences)

Alway (26 Occurrences)

Asses (68 Occurrences)

Consecrated (101 Occurrences)

Supplies (23 Occurrences)

Zalmunna (9 Occurrences)

Spent (76 Occurrences)

Yourselves (530 Occurrences)

Ziba (13 Occurrences)

Satisfied (110 Occurrences)

Zebah (9 Occurrences)

Yea (867 Occurrences)

Aught (52 Occurrences)

Alone (232 Occurrences)

Supper (17 Occurrences)

Vowed (34 Occurrences)

Bread: (Seeking of Begging) Extreme Poverty
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