The Symbolism of Bread in the Scriptures Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part series about The Bread of Life. Read the first part here. Bread played an important role in the Old Testament sacrifices, feasts and festivals of ancient Israel. Jesus Christ also used bread as a symbol of his atoning sacrifice, and he described himself as the Bread of Life (John 6:48). Ironically, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which means “house of bread.” Having explored the ingredients of bread in my previous article, “The Bread of Life,” we now will focus on the symbolic uses of bread in the scriptures. On the eve of their escape from Egypt, the Lord commanded through Moses that each household of the children of Israel kill a lamb without blemish and put its blood on the doorposts. They were then to hold a “Passover feast” in order that the destroying angel would pass them by. They were to cook the lamb, symbolic of Jesus Christ, and eat the flesh along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. In future observances of that first Passover, they were to eat unleavened bread for seven days and completely remove any leaven from their homes during that period. So prominent was the focus of unleavened bread that the Passover Feast is also called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. In Exodus 12:39 we read that the children of Israel baked unleavened bread that they brought forth out of Egypt, “for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry .” Egypt, symbolic of spiritual Babylon, was a place they were not to tarry and carry the “old leaven” with them, as Paul explained to the Corinthians:
Paul was counseling the Saints to remove their old sinful motives and sins – just as ancient Israel was commanded to leave behind any leaven from Egypt – and replace them with humble and obedient hearts. Unleavened bread was also the required accompaniment to the Burnt and Peace offerings. In fact, the poor could offer grain offerings instead of an animal for these two sacrificial offerings. These offerings were voluntary, unlike the Sin and Trespass offerings, which were mandatory sacrifices for sin. Bread was not associated with these atonement offerings, since it is blood that is the expiatory ingredient. The Burnt offering was symbolic of dedicating one’s life to God and the Peace offering was a meal shared between the priest, the offerer and those around him, suggesting open communion and reconciliation with God and our fellowmen. The unleavened bread, like the unleavened bread of the Passover, represented the removal of the “fermenting” desires of sin and presenting ourselves as humble followers of Christ. The next feast, held fifty days after the Passover, was called the Feast of Weeks or the Feast of the Pentecost. Ancient Israel was to offer the first sheaf of grain, along with a sacrificial, unblemished lamb to the Lord. They were also to present to the Lord two loaves of bread, baked with leaven. These loaves were called the firstfruits (Leviticus 23:17). The use of leaven in this feast can be symbolic of the new life one experiences when “born again” as one becomes “leavened” with the Spirit of God. Just as yeast permeates the dough and gives rise to the whole, the Spirit of God permeates our being and gives rise to a newness of life in Christ. Paul referred to firstfruits as being in conjunction with the Spirit, in describing the process of redemption, “. but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body” (Romans 8:23). It is no coincidence that on the Day of Pentecost, that the Apostles of Christ received the Holy Ghost (Acts 2). In speaking of those who have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, we read, “.These are they which follow the Lamb withersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb” (Rev. 14:4). The third feast that was required by the Lord was called the Feast of the Tabernacles or the Feast of the Ingathering of Wheat. It was held at the end of the fall harvest and was the most joyous of the festivals of ancient Israel. While, specific uses of bread are not mentioned, sheaves of wheat were presented before the Lord, along with animal sacrifices. Near the temple, families would make booths from the boughs of trees to dwell in that week. This festival could be representative of Christ’s analogy, “There, I must gather together my people, according to the parable of the wheat and the tares, that the wheat may be secured in the garners to possess eternal life, and be crowned with celestial glory, when I shall come in the kingdom of my Father .” (D & C 101:65). After feeding the 5,000, Jesus gave a discourse on bread explaining that he was the true bread from heaven. He said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51). He further said, “As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me” (vs. 57). To “live by” Christ is to live by his commandments. Jesus continued, “This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever” (vs. 58). The people murmured, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (vs. 52) Jesus explained, “It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (vs. 63). After hearing that the bread that Jesus offered consisted of his words and teachings, many of his followers went back and walked no more with him (vs. 66). Jesus asked the twelve apostles if they would also leave him. Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (vs.68). The living bread that Jesus offers is his words – his commandments and teachings that will lead us to eternal life if only we live by them. Just as the children of Israel did not live forever eating manna, Moses told them what would give them eternal life. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Moses explained their journey:
The manna was designed to teach the children of Israel that true bread, or sustenance, came from God. When Jesus was tempted to turn the stones into bread after his 40-day fast in the wilderness, his response to Satan was similar, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). It is interesting that the Lord did not cause loaves of bread to fall from heaven, but that manna was as small as coriander seed (Exodus 16:31) and had to be gathered early in the morning. Each man gathered according to his eating (vs. 18) and they were not to hoard it (vs. 20) or gather on the Sabbath (vs. 26-27). Bread takes effort to make and Adam was told that by the sweat of his face he would eat bread (Gen.3:19). Jesus compared his words to living bread. In this vein, obtaining the words of Christ takes effort and is small “like unto coriander seed.” This illustrates how we progress as we gather his words, “line upon line, precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 18:30). Like ancient Israel, we gather his words according to our “eating” – or in other words, our ability to incorporate his teachings into our lives. Alma understood this principle when he explained that those who have had the mysteries of God given to them are “laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the head and diligence which they give unto him” (their obedience to what they had been taught) (Alma 12:9). Symbolism can be also be drawn from the miracle of feeding the 5,000. Jesus had compassion upon the multitude and did not want to send them away hungry. After taking the seven loaves and few fishes, he gave thanks and broke the bread and gave to his disciples first and then the disciples distributed the food among the people, which could symbolize how His word is given – first through His apostles and prophets and they, in turn give it to the people. Sacramental Bread On the eve of His death, Jesus was with the twelve apostles in celebration of the Passover. He took bread, blessed it and broke it and gave to his apostles saying, “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). The Joseph Smith translation of Mark 14:20-21 reads, “And as they did eat, Jesus took bread and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them, and said, Take it, and eat. Behold, this is for you to do in remembrance of my body; for as oft as ye do this ye will remember this hour that I was with you.” The JST translation of Matthew 26::26 reads, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave to his disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is in remembrance of my body which I give a ransom for you”. After Jesus’ death, the disciples “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). In speaking to the Corinthians, Paul explained the symbolism of the sacrament:
Paul then chastised the church for not being “one,” for have divisions and heresies among them. He reminded them that Jesus took bread, “and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me . For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord . and eateth and drinketh damnation to him self, not discerning the Lord’s body” (l Corinthians 11:24-29). Paul was counseling the Corinthians that they were representative of the Lord’s body, and by living His commandments they became “bread.” If their lives were not in harmony with the Lord’s will, they should not partake of the sacrament. It is interesting to note that in the ancient temple, in the Holy Place, twelve loaves of bread were continually present, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. When Jesus appeared to the Nephites, he commanded that bread and wine be brought unto him. He first gave to the twelve disciples and they ate and were filled. Then he commanded that they give unto the multitude. Regarding the bread, he said, “And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you (3 Nephi 18:7). The next day, Jesus appeared to the Nephites again and broke bread and gave wine to them to drink, but this time He miraculously provided the bread and wine. Then he said, “He that eateth this bread eateth of my body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled” (3 Nephi 20:8). Moroni included in his record the Sacrament prayers as we know them today. Regarding the bread, the prayer states “.that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, . that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given the, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them” (Moroni 4:3). Bread is known as the staff of life. In the scriptures, bread is used as a symbol of the words of the Lord, for he was known as The Word that was made flesh (John 1:1, 14), and that if “eaten” or internalized in our lives, would lead us to eternal life. We are also to become “bread” as we live our lives in harmony with God and our fellowmen and by doing so, we will always have his Spirit to be with us, Jesus Christ being the great exemplar. Bread is also symbolic of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for sin. In the flesh he suffered beyond degree, “Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit” (Doc. & Cov. 19:18). As we partake of the sacrament, we need to remember that these emblems are symbolic of Jesus Christ – his words, the example of the life he lived, and of his atoning sacrifice for all of us. Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread he shall live forever” (John 6:51). As we truly partake of the bread Jesus offers, we, too, can have eternal life. No Comments | Post or read comments  FEATURES |
February 24, 2026
February 24, 2026
