Bible Dictionaries
Barley

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A grain much cultivated in Egypt (Exodus 9:31 ) and in Palestine (Leviticus 27:16; Deuteronomy 8:8 ). It was usually the food of horses (1 Kings 4:28 ). Barley bread was used by the poorer people (Judges 7:13; 2 Kings 4:42 ). Barley of the first crop was ready for the harvest by the time of the Passover, in the middle of April (Ruth 1:22; 2 Samuel 21:9 ). Mention is made of barley-meal (Numbers 5:15 ). Our Lord fed five thousand with "five barley loaves and two small fishes" (John 6:9 ).