לֶ֫חֶם

1. a. bread, the ordinary food of early Hebrews (Benz^{Archaeology 84 ff} Now^{Archaeology i. 109 ff.}) Exod 21:14 (E), Num 21:5; Josh 9:5; Josh 9:12 (JE), Deut 8:3; Deut 23:5; Exod 16:3 (P) +; ׳כִּכַּרלֿ loaf of bread 1Sam 2:36 + (see כִּכָּר below כרר), and without ככר (always with number) 1Sam 10:4; 1Sam 16:20 (see Dr), 1Sam 17:7; 1Sam 21:4; 1Sam 25:18; 2Sam 16:1; 1Kgs 14:3; 2Kgs 4:42; ׳חַלַת ל cake of bread 2Sam 6:19; Exod 29:23 + (see חַלָּה below I. חלל); made from barley (שְׂעֹרִים); Judg 7:13; 2Kgs 4:42 (see also לָחֶם above); from wheat-flour (סֹלֶת חִטִים) Exod 29:2 (P); compare the mixture Ezek 4:9 made by baking (אפה) Isa 44:15; Isa 44:19; Lev 26:26 (H; compare Jer 37:21); ׳פַּתלֿ a bit of bread 1Sam 2:36; 1Kgs 17:11; Prov 28:21, compare Ezek 13:19, as modest term for a hospitable meal Gen 18:5 (J), Judg 19:5; 1Sam 28:22; distinguished from meat (flesh), Gen 27:17 (J) 1Sam 25:11; 1Kgs 17:6 (twice in verse); Exod 16:8; Exod 16:12 (also vExod 16:3 above), Exod 29:32; Exod 29:34; Lev 8:31 (all P), Lev 23:18 (H), 1Chr 12:40; Ps 78:20; Dan 10:3 = a meal 1Sam 20:27, ׳אָכַל ל = take a meal Gen 31:54 (twice in verse); Gen 37:25; Gen 43:25; Gen 43:32 +; אכל לַחְמִי Ps 41:10 eat my bread, establishing an obligation, compare Obad 1:7 (read ׳אֹכְלֵי ל according to Marti^{Kau AT}; strike out ׳ל ᵐ5 Hi We, compare VB) ׳עשׂה ל = make a feast Eccl 10:19 ׳מַטֵּה ל staff of bread (as support of life), only late Ezek 4:16; Ezek 5:16; Ezek 14:13; Lev 26:26 (H), Ps 105:16 cf .׳מִשְׁעַן ל Isa 3:1 (gloss); leavened bread is חָמֵץ ׳ל Lev 7:13 unleavened bread is מַצּוֺת ׳ל Exod 29:2 (both P); (הַ)פָּנִים ׳ל bread of the face (of ׳י; i.e. in his presence, Di^{Lev 24:9} Dr^{1Sam 21:7}); in the sanctuary 1Sam 21:7; 1Kgs 7:48 = 2Chr 4:19; Exod 25:30; Exod 35:13; Exod 39:36, without ׳פ Exod 40:23 (all P); = הַתָּמִיד ׳ל Num 4:7 (P), קֹדֶשׁ ׳ל 1Sam 21:5 in Chronicles הַמַּעֲרָ֑כֶת ׳ל 1Chr 9:32 compare 1Chr 23:29; Neh 10:34, ׳ל ׳מ 2Chr 13:11 opposed to חֹל ׳ל 1Sam 21:5; תְּנוּפִה ׳ל Lev 23:17 wave-loaf; (הַ)בִּכֻּרִים ׳ל vLev 23:20; 2Kgs 4:42 bread of first-fruits.
  b. = bread-corn, the material from which bread is made, i.e. wheat, barley, etc.: Gen 41:54; Gen 41:55 (E), Gen 47:13; Gen 47:15; Gen 47:17 (twice in verse); Gen 47:19 (J), Gen 49:20 (poem in J), Isa 28:28; Isa 30:23; Isa 55:10; Jer 5:17; Ezek 48:18; Job 28:5; Prov 28:3; Ps 104:14 הָאָרֶץ ׳ל Num 15:19 (P), ׳ארץ ל 2Kgs 18:32 = Isa 36:17.

2. food in general:
  a. of man, Judg 13:16 (kid, vJudg 13:15) 1Sam 14:24 (twice in verse); 1Sam 14:28 (honey), 1Sam 28:20; 1Sam 30:12; Prov 22:9; Prov 27:27 (twice in verse) (goat's milk) +; ׳לְכָלבָּֿשָׂר נֹתֵן ל Ps 136:25. b. of animals, Prov 6:8; Prov 30:25; Prov 65:25; Job 24:5 + Ps 147:9
  c. of God (in sacrifices): אֱלֹהֵיהֶם ׳ל (compare RS^{Semitic i. 207, 2nd ed., 224}) Lev 21:6 compare vLev 21:8 vLev 21:17 vLev 21:21 vLev 21:22, Lev 22:25 (all H), compare Num 28:2 (P), Ezek 16:19; Ezek 44:7, and מְגֹאָל ׳ל Mal 1:7, also (׳לי) אִשֶּׁה ׳ל Lev 3:11; Lev 3:16; Num 28:24 (all P).

3. other phrases and figurative uses are:
  a. רֶשַׁע ׳ל Prov 4:17 (accusative of congnate meaning with verb with לָחַם), probably = food gained by wickedness ׅ || (יִיִן חֲמָסִים, compare שָׁ֑קֶר ׳ל Prov 20:17, כְּזָבִים ׳ל Prov 23:3 עַצְלוּת ׳ל Prov 31:27 = bread of idleness, i.e. unearned; חֻקִּי ׳לProv 30:8 (opposed to riches and poverty, see חֹק); לַחַץ ׳ל 1Kgs 22:27 = 2Chr 18:26, vid לַחַץ below; הָעֲצָבִים ׳ל Ps 127:2 see II. עֶצָב; אוֺנִים ׳ל Hos 9:4, vid אָוֶן. p.20 a; אֲנָשִׁים ׳ל Ezek 24:17; Ezek 24:22 of food offered to mourners, compare Jer 16:7 (where insert ׳ל ᵐ5 Gf Gie); שַׁלַּח לחמך עלפֿני המים Eccl 11:1 usual interpration of benevolent giving (compare Now); De and others of sea-commerce in bread-stuffs, compare Prov 31:14.
  b. figurative לַחְמֵנוּ הֵם Num 14:9 (JE) our food are they, i.e. we will devour, destroy, them (compare Deut 7:16); ׳דִּמְעָתִּי ל Ps 42:4 compare Ps 80:6 (see אכל above); ׳ל of evil deeds of wicked Job 20:14 עֵץ בְּלַחְמוֺ Jer 11:19 apparentlyfig.of destroying the prophet and his house, but read probably בְּלֵחוֺ in its freshness (i.e. untimely), so Hi Gf Che Gie (see לֵחַ below לחח above).