lehem

Lehem is the Hebrew word for bread, written חֶם in modern transliteration as leḥem and commonly rendered in English as lehem. In Modern Hebrew it is the everyday term for bread. In Biblical Hebrew the word can also carry a broader sense of food or meal, reflecting its role as a staple and sustenance.

Etymology and cognates: Lehem comes from the ancient Semitic root ל-ח-ם (L-Ḥ-M), a family of words linked to bread and food in several Semitic languages. The term appears throughout biblical and rabbinic literature, and its variations appear in liturgical phrases that describe ritual bread.

Religious and cultural usage: Lehem appears in several well-known phrases. Lechem haPanim, the Bread of the Presence, referred to the ceremonial loaves placed on the Table of Showbread in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. Lechem Mishneh, meaning “two loaves,” referred to the two loaves offered on Shabbat and certain festivals in the Temple. In modern practice, many Jewish households place two loaves on the Shabbat table (often challahs) as a symbolic remembrance of these offerings.

Modern usage and context: Today lehem is the standard term for bread in everyday Hebrew, used in cooking, education, literature, and media. While primarily a common noun, the word also appears in religious, historical, and literary contexts, illustrating its enduring role in Hebrew language and Jewish tradition.