Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, bread was a staple food and held significant symbolic and practical importance. The practice of keeping bread in baskets is mentioned in several passages, highlighting both its everyday use and its role in miraculous events.Old Testament Context The use of baskets for carrying and storing bread is implied in various Old Testament narratives. Baskets were common household items, crafted from materials like reeds or palm leaves, and were used for carrying food, including bread, during travel or harvest. While specific references to bread being kept in baskets are not explicitly detailed in the Old Testament, the practice can be inferred from the general use of baskets for food storage and transport. New Testament Accounts The New Testament provides more explicit references to bread being kept in baskets, particularly in the context of Jesus' miracles. The feeding of the multitudes is a prominent example where baskets play a crucial role. 1. Feeding of the Five Thousand: In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus performs the miracle of feeding five thousand men, besides women and children, with five loaves and two fish. After everyone had eaten and was satisfied, the disciples collected the leftovers. "And they all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over" (Matthew 14:20). The twelve baskets of leftover bread symbolize God's abundant provision and the importance of stewardship. 2. Feeding of the Four Thousand: A similar miracle occurs when Jesus feeds four thousand men, along with women and children, with seven loaves and a few small fish. After the meal, the disciples gather the remnants. "Afterward, the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over" (Matthew 15:37). The seven baskets of leftovers again emphasize the theme of divine abundance and care. Symbolic Significance The use of baskets to collect leftover bread in these miracles carries deep symbolic meaning. The act of gathering the remnants in baskets signifies the importance of not wasting God's provision. It also reflects the idea of God's kingdom being one of abundance, where even the leftovers are more than sufficient to meet needs. Furthermore, the number of baskets—twelve and seven—holds symbolic significance. Twelve often represents the twelve tribes of Israel, suggesting completeness and God's covenant with His people. Seven is a number of perfection and completion, indicating the fullness of God's provision. Practical Implications In a practical sense, the use of baskets for bread underscores the everyday life of the people during biblical times. Baskets were essential for carrying food, whether for personal consumption or communal sharing. The imagery of bread in baskets serves as a reminder of the sustenance God provides and the responsibility of His followers to manage resources wisely. In summary, the concept of bread kept in baskets in the Bible highlights both the miraculous provision of God and the practical aspects of daily life in biblical times. Through these narratives, believers are reminded of God's abundant care and the call to be faithful stewards of His blessings. Torrey's Topical Textbook Genesis 40:16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: Torrey's Topical Textbook Exodus 29:32 Library Twelve Baskets Full of Fragments Gathered from the Miracle of ... Joseph, a Servant, a Prisoner, and a Saint. Abigail's Sensible Advice Of the Question as to How the Four Evangelists Harmonize with Each ... The Feeding of the Four Thousand - to Dalmanutha - the Sign from ... Joseph's Eagerness to Help Others Two by Two. Book vii. On the Useful or the Ordinary Acts of Andrew and Matthias The Cause of Spiritual Stupidity. Resources What did Jesus mean when He said, “This is my body, broken for you”? | GotQuestions.orgWhat did Jesus mean when He said we must eat His flesh and drink His blood? | GotQuestions.org Why is the real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper such a controversial issue? | GotQuestions.org Bread: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Bread in Times of Scarcity, Sold by Weight Bread was Baked: On Coals of Fire 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 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: Called the Staff of Life Bread: Crumb of, Used to Wipe the Fingers, Thrown Under the Table Bread: First Fruit of, offered to God Bread: How Prepared: Baked in Ovens Bread: How Prepared: Cracknels Bread: How Prepared: Made Into Loaves Bread: How Prepared: Mixed With Oil Bread: How Prepared: On Coals of Dung Bread: How Prepared: On Hearths Bread: Kinds of Bread of Affliction Bread: Kinds of Leavened (Made With Yeast) Bread: Kinds of Unleavened (Made Without Yeast) Bread: Made of Manna (In the Wilderness) 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: Sacred, Called Hallowed Bread Bread: Scarceness of, Sent As a Punishment Bread: Served Round After Funerals Bread: Symbolical of the Body of Christ Bread: The Principal Food Used by the Ancients Bread: Troughs Used for Kneading Bread: when Old, Dry and Mouldy Related Terms |