"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), Matthew 12:4; when the "shewbread" was reinstituted by Nehemiah (Nehemiah 10:32 ) a poll-tax of 1/3 shekel was laid on the Jews, Matthew 17:24; (b) "the loaf at the Lord's Supper," e.g., Matthew 26:26 ("Jesus took a loaf," RV, marg.); the breaking of "bread" became the name for this institution, Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:23; (c) "bread of any kind," Matthew 16:11; (d) metaphorically, "of Christ as the Bread of God, and of Life," John 6:33,35; (e) "food in general," the necessities for the sustenance of life, Matthew 6:11; 2 Corinthians 9:10 , etc.
denotes "unleavened bread," i.e., without any process of fermentation; hence, metaphorically, "of a holy, spiritual condition," 1 Corinthians 5:7 , and of "sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:8 ). With the article it signifies the feast of unleavened bread, Matthew 26:17; Mark 14:1,12; Luke 22:1,7; Acts 12:3; 20:6 .