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When we hear the statement, “given bread and water”, the scene we often picture is of someone in prison or being punished, and all they are given is basic survival food and liquid.
Bread and water and in some instances wine, are mentioned many times throughout the scriptures and often in relation to the bread and wine of Pesach/Passover. The verse in Isaiah 30:20, has been translated using other terms in various versions.
It can mean small amounts or portions.
The complete Jewish Bible says:
Though Adonai may give you bread and water and not very much of that your teacher will no longer hide himself.
That is encouraging in terms of the KJV that the adversity and affliction are in not very much amounts. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:
If we look at the KJV and the translation we read bread of adversity lechem…. And waters of affliction – mayim lachats.
Isaiah 30:20 ṣār 6862
HEB: אֲדֹנָ֛י לֶ֥חֶם צָ֖ר וּמַ֣יִם לָ֑חַץ
NAS: you bread of privation and water
KJV: you the bread of adversity, and the water
INT: the Lord bread of privation and water of oppression
tsar: Adversary, enemy, distress, trouble
Original Word: צַר
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: tsar
Pronunciation: tsar
Phonetic Spelling: (tsar)
KJV: adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble
Word Origin: [from H6887 (צָּרַר – To bind)]
1. narrow
2. (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble)
3. also a pebble (as in H6864)
4. (transitive) an opponent (as crowding)
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
adversary, affliction, anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe,
lachats: To press, oppress, afflict, crush
Original Word: לַחַץ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: lachats
Pronunciation: lah-khatsFrom lachats; distress — affliction, oppression.
Phonetic Spelling: (lakh’-ats)
KJV: affliction, oppression
NASB: oppression, sparingly
Word Origin: [from H3905 (לָחַץ – oppressed)]
1. distress
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
affliction, oppression
From lachats; distress — affliction, oppression.
Isaiah 30:20
HEB: צָ֖ר וּמַ֣יִם לָ֑חַץ וְלֹֽא־ יִכָּנֵ֥ף
NAS: and water of oppression, [He], your Teacher
KJV: and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers
INT: of privation and water of oppression will no hide
What is their meaning and how does it apply to our lives?
What are we to understand from this?
Simply reading the Bible is not going to help mature us, we have to apply it to our lives and be a doer of the Word. James 1:22-25
The bread of adversity is something we will inevitably face at some point and it has many symbolic meanings. Consider how bread is made. The wheat kernals are stripped from the stalks and pounded and ground into powder/flour, it is then rolled pressed formed and shaped. Next it is placed in an oven and baked at a high temperature. It doesn’t sound like a very pleasant process if applied to a person. However this is a descriptive picture of the process our Heavenly Father has for us in molding us and making us more like Messiah.
There is a custom observed by Jewish families around the recently celebrated moed of Rosh HaShanah when the bread for Rosh haShanah is being prepared. Families invite people who have hurt them during that previous year to help in the baking process, and as the dough is being rolled out they forgive one another; i.e. the bread of adversity. Jewish writings teach that the adverse conditions (adversity) brought on by sinful actions are pounded, rolled and baked to bring the individual to teshuvah/repentance at this season and to the Fathers forgiveness at this timely moedim.
But what is the meaning of waters of affliction?
I tell you these things, so that in me you may have peace … In this world you will have tribulation but take heart I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Messiah said in this life while in this world we will have tribulation, trials and tests, so we should not be surprised when they pop up in our lives. Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 1Peter 4:12.
The word in Hebrew for waters is mayim מַ֣יִם and we know it too from living waters – chayim mayim. In our Isaiah reference, the root word could be MI – waters or YIM – hot springs. In Hebrew water has many symbolic meanings as does bread. One meaning is that water can be so powerful it can penetrate rock and carve out channels and holes even in the bedrock.
This gives the idea of waters of affliction which are persistent and constant and also a picture of our Heavenly Father allowing such an affliction that will drill through the rock like cover of our hearts, so that His love can enter and permeate them. So the meaning would be, the waters of affliction are those that are to penetrate right into the center of our being – our heart; not randomly but with the purpose that our hearts will be open to Him and His unconditional love.
The next part of the verse: Your teachers shall be hidden no more. Here the Hebrew word for teachers is Moreka and is written in as a participle noun, second person singular, and not plural, so it’s referring to a master teacher, a teacher who teaches other teachers.
4175 mowreh: Teacher, early rain
Original Word: מוֹרֶה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mowreh
Pronunciation: mo-reh’
Phonetic Spelling: (mo-reh’)
KJV: (early) rain
Word Origin: [from H3384 (יָרָה יָרָא – teach)]
1. an archer
2. also teacher or teaching
3. also the early rain (see H3138)
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
early rain
From yarah; an archer; also teacher or teaching; also the early rain (see yowreh) — (early) rain.
see HEBREW yarah
The word lamed is the common word for teach, but the word yarah is used instead of lamed. Yarah has the idea of throwing out, or the picture of an archer who is shooting an arrow from his bow.
A teacher is ‘throwing out’ knowledge or ‘shooting out’ knowledge which is aimed at a target – students or disciples, and this master teacher will not be hidden.
The Hebrew word for hidden is kanaph which is also the word for wings or a loose flowing tunic/garment/skirt.
yik·kā·nêp̄ — 1 Occurrence
Isaiah 30:20
HEB: לָ֑חַץ וְלֹֽא־ יִכָּנֵ֥ף עוֹד֙ מוֹרֶ֔יךָ
NAS: longer hide Himself, but your eyes
KJV: yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes
INT: of oppression will no hide longer teachers
kanaph: hide
Original Word: כָּנַף
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kanaph
Pronunciation: kah-NAHF
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-naf’)
KJV: be removed
NASB: hide
Word Origin: [a primitive root]
1. (properly) to project laterally, i.e. probably (reflexive) to withdraw
3671
kanaph: wings, wing, edge
Original Word: כָּנָף
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: kanaph
Pronunciation: kah-NAHF
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-nawf’)
KJV: + bird, border, corner, end, feather(-ed), X flying, + (one an-)other, overspreading, X quarters, skirt, X sort, uttermost part, wing((-ed))
NASB: wings, wing, edge, winged, corners, ends, kind
Word Origin: [from H3670 (כָּנַף – hide)]
1. an edge or extremity
2. specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bed-clothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinnacle
The picture created by these words is one of and archer shooting an arrow at a winged creature but because it is very illusive, this arrow released by the Master teacher doesn’t hit the target.
Meaning: Our heavenly Father as the Master teacher is constantly speaking to us, sending out arrows towards us but we are so busy and distracted we keep eluding His voice and the arrows miss their target – us.
The reason why is explained in the last part of the verse.
And your eyes will see your teachers.
The Hebrew word for see is ra’ah
7200 raah: see, saw, seen
Original Word: רָאָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ra’ah
Pronunciation: rah-AH
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-aw’)
KJV: advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions
NASB: see, saw, seen, look, looked, appeared, sees
Word Origin: [a primitive root]
1. to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
The Hebrew word for see is ra’ah which is a reference to spiritual sight, seeing spiritually and spiritual insight.
Our spiritual eyes will be opened and we will see the redeemer, the master teacher that our Heavenly Father is offering. Isaiah is giving us a beautiful picture that our Heavenly Father is always speaking to us by His indwelling Ruach haKodesh; and by not taking this verse out of context but reading on to the following verse 21…Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.
He is giving us direction leading us and guiding, setting us on the right path the way/Derek. Hard to admit but we are the problem because sometimes we are so busy with our own way. His words don’t reach our hearts and then we have to experience the bread of affliction to bring us into repentance and forgiveness from the Father. When the waters of adversity come, they will penetrate the hardness of heart and allow His love to flow in through the Messiah, Who makes us new.
When Messiah gets hold of our heart, us, as the grain, having been stripped, pounded, ground to powder, rolled and baked in that hot furnace of affliction; we come out as something new, reshaped, remolded, resurrected. New bread, a new creation and ready to be food for others, to be something of value, to give nourishment to many. Yeshua said He is the bread of life and He went through many tests and trials, and if we are to emulate His life, we will too.
Let’s be willing to allow the Fathers Spirit to penetrate our hearts so that repentance will flow, and our sinful ways will be washed clean by His Blood and forgiveness; so that we can become all He died to give us and to walk in the fullness of His provision for our lives, hearing that voice behind us guiding us into His truth.
Shalom aleihhem chaverim and mishpachah!
Peace to friends and family.
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
Not sure ..you can be…
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..
don’t delay one more minute,
SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
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