Loaf
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types [1]
Leviticus 23:17 (c) (Wave). These particular loaves of bread represent godly, human efforts for the glory of the Lord. They were mixed with leaven, because all human efforts have sinful and evil characteristics. Nothing that we do or give is pure. The loaves of bread that represent Christ have no leaven in them whatever, but these loaves that represent us and our own human offerings did have leaven. CHRIST only is the pure bread of life.
But these wave loaves may also represent Jesus Christ our Lord as the One who was made sin for us. He went through the furnace of GOD's wrath, and this destroyed all the sin which He had taken upon Him for us. We come before GOD presenting as our sacrifice the Lord Jesus in His perfect beauty after He came through the furnace and became to us the bread of life.
1 Samuel 10:3 (c) The three types in this verse are as follows:
- a kid for each man represents the individual sacrifice of CHRIST for each one;
- the loaf for each man represents the personal appropriation of CHRIST for each heart;
- the bottle of wine for all the men represents the joy of the Lord which cannot be measured but which is available for everyone and for all who will come.
1 Samuel 10:4 (c) In that Saul was given two loaves of the bread, it may indicate that he was to have a double portion now, both as a king and as a prophet. He was to guide GOD's people in temporal things, and also in spiritual. He was to be a double example to all of Israel of a godly and a holy king. It may teach us also that those who have bread should share it with others. One of the men gave nearly all the bread he had. This should characterize each Christian.
Matthew 15:34 (c) This is a type of GOD's enriching grace which is sufficient for one's own heart and for supplying the needs of others. The Lord would have His own examine themselves to see if they have any good blessings from Heaven to give to those whom they meet along the highway of life. Each Christian should have plenty of bread for all whom he meets - biscuits for the children, loaves for the grown folks, soft bread for those who cannot chew, hard rolls for those who wish something upon which to exercise their thoughts. The Christian should go forth to the day's work with his bread basket filled for the hungry.
Luke 11:5 (b) This parable is concerning the soul winner. The first friend is the Lord JESUS. The second friend who comes at midnight is the troubled soul who comes to your door selling brooms. He is in the darkness of unbelief and is seeking something for his soul. The Christian may feel that he has nothing to give to this inquiring person. He realizes that he needs bread for this hungry man. CHRIST is telling us that we may come to Him to get what we need for the occasion. We may think we just want three loaves, but the Lord may see that we need much more. He will therefore give to the seeking Christian all the living bread that is needed for the seeking sinner. No Christian needs to permit any inquiring soul to depart unsatisfied.
1 Corinthians 10:17 (a) (Margin).
(1). This is a symbol of the whole church of GOD which is like a loaf of bread. It contains only wheat grains. It has no sticks or stones nor foreign substances but only wheat. Only true, born- again believers are in the church of GOD. Hypocrites and professing Christians may be in the visible church, but none are in CHRIST's mystical body, the invisible church.
(2). This loaf is a complete loaf separated from everything else in the house. This is a picture of the church which should be separated from every worldly thing, every worldly association, and is a separate distinct institution in this world. By looking at it one may see that it is a complete, self contained unit, it is one body in CHRIST.
(3). As no one knows how many grains are in the loaf, so no one knows how many Christians compose the church.
(4). As the grains in the loaf are combined with one another so the Christians in the church are bound together in sweet and holy communion with one another.
(5). As the purpose of the loaf is to bring a blessing to those who have it, so the church is to bring joy and honor to CHRIST and be a blessing in every way to the people of earth who surround it.
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament [2]
LOAF ( ἄρτος).—The Eastern loaf is not at all like the bread in use among ourselves. The Passover loaf—a large round thin cake—probably preserves the shape of the loaf in use among the Jews of our Lord’s time. The same shape of loaf is found to-day among the Bedawîn and fellahîn as well as in many villages and towns. The loaves are of considerable size,—18 in. or more in diameter,—and are of an extreme tenuity and of a peculiar but not unpleasant toughness. They are baked usually on a convex girdle, very often on the implement which is used for roasting coffee—hence the name ‘girdle bread.’ They may also be baked on heated stones or on the outside of a jar within which a fire has been kindled. Such without doubt would be the kind of bread baked by the children of Israel in their desert wanderings. And at the present time one may see this loaf in almost every part of Palestine. Even where other kinds of bread are used, this is still highly relished. If there is a guest in a native house, the loaves are often folded up in quarter size and laid beside his plate, and more than one European traveller has mistaken them, when so placed, for table napkins!
In all probability the loaves in Mark 6:38; Mark 8:6, etc., were of this kind, inasmuch as such bread is almost always carried on a journey, and by workmen, because of its keeping properties. The loaf is never cut; it is broken or torn asunder. Small scoops are made of the portions, with which the meat, rice, or leben (curdled milk) is scooped up—spoon and contents being eaten together. A man will eat three or four of these loaves at a meal ( Luke 11:5).
Another loaf in common use at the present day is smaller in circumference and considerably thicker, and very much resembles in appearance the ‘scones,’ baked on a girdle, so common in some parts of Scotland. Bread of this kind is found only in towns where there are public ovens. See also art. Bread.
J. Soutar.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): ( n.) Any thick lump, mass, or cake; especially, a large regularly shaped or molded mass, as of bread, sugar, or cake.
(2): ( v. t.) To spend in idleness; - with away; as, to loaf time away.
(3): ( v. i.) To spend time in idleness; to lounge or loiter about.
King James Dictionary [4]
LOAF, n. plu. loaves.
1. A mass of bread when baked. It is larger than a cake. The size and price of a loaf, in large cities, are regulated by law. 2. A mass or lump, as of sugar. 3. Any thick mass.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [5]
LOAF. See Bread.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [6]
Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Loaf'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/l/loaf.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
