Meaning
"bread" (perhaps derived from aro, "to fit together," or from a root ar--, "the earth"), signifies (a) "a small loaf or cake," composed of flour and water, and baked, in shape either oblong or round, and about as thick as the thumb; these were not cut, but broken and were consecrated to the Lord every Sabbath and called the "shewbread" (loaves of presentation), Mat 12:4; when the "shewbread" was reinstituted by Nehemiah (Neh 10:32) a poll-tax of 1/3 shekel was laid on the Jews, Mat 17:24; (b) "the loaf at the Lord's Supper," e.g., Mat 26:26 ("Jesus took a loaf," RV, marg.); the breaking of "bread" became the name for this institution, Act 2:42, Act 20:7, 1Co 10:16, 1Co 11:23; (c) "bread of any kind," Mat 16:11; (d) metaphorically, "of Christ as the Bread of God, and of Life," Joh 6:33, Joh 6:35; (e) "food in general," the necessities for the sustenance of life, Mat 6:11, 2Co 9:10, etc.
<2,,106, azumos>
denotes "unleavened bread," i.e., without any process of fermentation; hence, metaphorically, "of a holy, spiritual condition," 1Co 5:7, and of "sincerity and truth" (1Co 5:8). With the article it signifies the feast of unleavened bread, Mat 26:17, Mar 14:1, Mar 14:12, Luk 22:1, Luk 22:7, Act 12:3, Act 20:6.
