Objects & worship
Showbread
Twelve loaves regularly placed before God in the sanctuary.
Also called · bread of the Presence · consecrated bread · show bread
What it means
Exodus 25 directs that a wooden table be covered with gold and the bread placed on it. Leviticus 24 prescribes twelve loaves of fine flour, arranged in two rows of six with frankincense.
The bread is set before God every Sabbath. Leviticus connects this rule with Israel’s everlasting covenant and assigns the bread to Aaron and his descendants to eat in a holy place.
How it appears in the Bible
In 1 Samuel 21, Ahimelech says that he has no ordinary bread and can give the holy bread if David’s men have kept themselves from women. After David answers, he gives him the loaves removed when fresh bread was put out. In Matthew 12, Jesus refers to this event when challenged about his disciples picking grain on the Sabbath.
Translation note
The selected edition uses bread of the presence in Exodus 25:30 and show bread in Matthew 12:4. Both refer to the bread set before God.