מַאֲפֶה (ma.a.pheh)
ma.a.pheh
baked (food)
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun ma’afeh refers simply to something that has been baked, specifically food prepared by dry heat in an oven or on a surface. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Leviticus 2:4, where it describes grain offerings mixed with oil and frankincense.
This single occurrence highlights the variety of ways bread could be presented in ancient Israelite worship. While other verses mention loaves baked in a pan or on a griddle, ma’afeh serves as the general term for this category of cooked grain. It underscores the tangible, everyday nature of these sacrifices, grounding spiritual devotion in the common practice of baking.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ma’afeh appears only once in Scripture, found in Leviticus 2:4. It describes grain offerings that were baked in an oven, such as unleavened cakes or wafers mixed with oil and frankincense. This single term reminds us that worship is not limited to grand gestures but includes the simple, everyday acts of life.
When ancient Israelites brought these baked goods to the temple, they offered something familiar and tangible. The heat of the oven transformed raw flour into a stable form of sustenance. In the same way, our daily routines can become acts of devotion when we offer them to God. He values the sincerity behind the act more than the complexity of the ritual.
This passage invites us to consider how ordinary moments—like preparing a meal or finishing a task—can be brought into the light of faith. We do not need special circumstances to worship; we can offer our daily efforts with gratitude, knowing that God sees the heart behind every simple act.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a baked item of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַאֲפֵ֣ה1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 2:4
“‘When you offer an offering of a meal offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.
This verse uses ma’afeh to specify that baked grain offerings must be unleavened and mixed with oil, highlighting the specific preparation required for this type of worship.