עֻגָה (ug.gah)
ug.gah
bun
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun ugah refers to a round, flat loaf or cake of bread. In the ancient Near East, this was a staple food, often made from barley or wheat and baked in a way that created a dense, disc-shaped result. The term appears six times in the Hebrew Bible, grounding its meaning in everyday sustenance rather than ceremonial luxury.
A striking example occurs in 1 Kings 19:6, where an angel provides Elijah with ugah cakes alongside water to restore his strength after a long journey. This usage highlights the word’s practical nature; it describes simple, portable nourishment suited for travelers or laborers. The sources also note a secondary sense involving a cake baked on hot stones, emphasizing the method of preparation common in arid regions where ovens were not always available.
While less common than other words for bread like lechem, ugah evokes a specific image of rustic, functional food. Its presence in Hosea 7:4 alongside wine and oil suggests it was part of regular feasting or offerings. The word reminds readers that biblical diet often relied on these humble, flat loaves, which were easy to store and quick to bake.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ugah describes a simple, round loaf or cake of bread, often baked on hot stones or coals. In the ancient world, this was everyday sustenance—rustic, portable, and practical. It reminds us that God cares about our basic physical needs, not just spiritual concepts.
Consider Elijah in 1 Kings 19:6. After a exhausting journey, he found a cake baked on coals and a jar of water. This simple meal restored his strength for the long walk ahead. God provided exactly what was needed for that moment.
We can trust that our Creator attends to our daily bread too. Whether we face physical hunger or spiritual weariness, He meets us with what is sufficient for our journey. His provision is often found in the simple, steady gifts of each day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bread cakes3×
- a bread cake2×
- a bread cake of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֻגֽוֹת\׃1×
- עֻגֹ֥ת1×
- עֻגָ֨ה1×
- עֻגָ֖ה1×
- עֻגַ֥ת1×
- עֻג֑וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 19:6
He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again.
This verse shows God providing a cake baked on coals to physically restore Elijah after his flight.
-
Genesis 18:6
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”
Abraham instructs Sarah to make ugah cakes for the visitors, highlighting hospitality and preparation.
-
Exodus 12:39
They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought out of Egypt; for it wasn’t leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and couldn’t wait, and they had not prepared any food for themselves.
The Israelites baked unleavened ugah cakes from their dough when they left Egypt in haste.