Original Word: פָטִיר
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: patiyr
Pronunciation: pah-teer
Phonetic Spelling: (paw-teer')
KJV: free
Word Origin: [from H6362 (פָּטַר - open)]

1. open, i.e. unoccupied

free

From patar; open, i.e. Unoccupied -- free.

see HEBREW patar

Word Origin
see patar.

פָטִיר (patir)

Conceptual Background

Although the term פָטִיר itself is not attested in the canonical Old Testament text, its probable sense as a “crumb,” “morsel,” or “piece of cake” situates it within the larger biblical motif of bread as a sign of life, fellowship and divine provision. From the unleavened cakes of the Exodus to the shewbread in the tabernacle, small portions of bread carried weighty theological freight, testifying that God sustains His people through both ordinary means and miraculous intervention.

Bread, Crumbs and Divine Provision

1. Daily sustenance: “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Whether a full loaf or a single crumb, any measure of bread is ultimately a gift received from the Father’s hand.
2. Miraculous supply: Elijah’s widow offered her “handful of flour in a jar and a little oil” (1 Kings 17:12), yet God multiplied the meager offering. The smallest piece, like פָטִיר, becomes emblematic of abundance when God acts.
3. Covenant fellowship: In ancient Near-Eastern culture, even a crumb on a shared table signified peace. David affirmed Mephibosheth, “You will always eat bread at my table” (2 Samuel 9:7). A negligible fragment of bread carried covenant implications.

Humility and Dependence

Jesus highlighted the humility of receiving crumbs in His exchange with the Syrophoenician woman: “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” (Mark 7:28). Her faith esteemed the slightest portion from the Messiah as sufficient, illustrating how heaven’s surplus can reside in what appears trivial.

Worship and Sacrifice

The grain offering regulations (Leviticus 2) reveal that every fragment—salted, unleavened, partially burned—belonged to the LORD. If פָטִיר denotes a broken piece, it echoes the priestly act of taking a handful as a memorial portion, dedicating even the smallest measure to God’s glory.

Christological Fulfillment

1. Bread of Life: Jesus proclaimed, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). Each crumb points beyond itself to the incarnate Word who was “broken” (Luke 22:19) so that many might live.
2. Eucharistic symbolism: Early Christians broke a single loaf so that “we who are many are one body” (1 Corinthians 10:17). A fragment embodies both the brokenness of Christ and the unity of His people.

Historical and Cultural Insights

In ancient Israelite households, leftover pieces of bread were not discarded but used to sop up food or given to the poor. Excavations in Iron Age strata reveal grinding stones and ovens sized for small, flat loaves, suggesting that crumbs like פָטִיר were commonplace. Rabbinic literature later used cognate terms for pieces separated from larger cakes during festive meals.

Ministry Applications

• Stewardship: Pastors can remind congregations that no gift is too small for God’s use; every “crumb” of talent, time, or treasure can be multiplied.
• Hospitality: Offering even a simple morsel mirrors Abraham’s welcome of the three visitors (Genesis 18:5).
• Mercy ministry: Leftover resources should be directed toward the needy, reflecting the gleaning principles of Leviticus 19:9-10.

Summary

Though never occurring in the biblical text, פָטִיר enriches our understanding of how Scripture invests even the smallest piece of bread with theological depth. Whether in daily meals, covenant feasts, or the Lord’s Supper, God employs humble portions to declare His sufficiency, foster fellowship, and foreshadow the broken body of Christ—reminding believers that in the economy of grace, crumbs become conduits of blessing.

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