לְחֶם
𐤋𐤇𐤌
lᵉchem
H3900 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Solid food composed primarily of ground grain, commonly bread, but in broader usage may denote food in general, including provisions or fare, especially in the context of sustenance for humans (and sometimes for animals). In Aramaic, like its Hebrew counterpart, it typically refers to 'bread' made from cereals, but may extend idiomatically to composite meals or feasting situations.
Semantic Range
bread, food, meal, provisions, feast, edible fare, grain-based product
Root / Etymology
From the Semitic root לחם, which in Hebrew means 'to fight' (as a verb; possibly referencing the act of kneading or contending for food), but as a noun refers to bread or food. In Aramaic, לְחֶם shares this specialization for 'bread' or 'food', closely paralleling the Hebrew לֶחֶם in form and meaning. The word appears in both languages as a basic staple, underscoring its cultural and economic significance.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Biblical Aramaic, לְחֶם functions parallel to the Hebrew לֶחֶם, typically pointing to bread as the archetypal foodstuff but often serving as a generic term for food or provisions more generally. Its semantic breadth allows it to refer both to daily sustenance and to festive or ritual meals, as found in the narratives of Daniel and Ezra. In some contexts, particularly in royal or temple settings, לְחֶם can denote food supplies more broadly. While KJV and other older English translations often render the word as 'bread,' the cultural reality is broader, encompassing porridge, flatbreads, and other grain-based foods, and occasionally includes the idea of a 'feast' or 'banquet.' The use of לְחֶם for food given to both humans and beasts, while rare, reflects its core meaning of edible provision rather than restricting it to leavened bread, as the modern term might suggest. Later Jewish and Christian terminologies render this generically as 'bread,' but ancient Israelite and Judean diets included a range of preparations from the grain-based meaning of the term. When the word appears as a plural or collective, it indicates abundance, ample provisions, or feasting contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to לֶחֶם; {(for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)}; feast.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
לחם (l-ḥ-m) — to press, to knead (possible); to fight (separate root)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1035 | בֵּית לֶחֶם | bread |
| H3433 | יָשֻׁבִי לֶחֶם | bread |
| H3894 | לָחוּם | his edible portion |
| H3898 | לָחַם | in his waging-war |
| H3899 | לֶחֶם | in the bread |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3900-01 |
לְחֶ֣ם | lechem | ANcmsa |
a feast | bread | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3900-01 |
Daniel 5:1 | לְחֶ֣ם | lechem | ANcmsa |
a feast | bread |