from עוּג; an ash-cake (as round); cake (upon the hearth).
Transliteration:ʻuggâh
Pronunciation:oog-gaw'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term עֻגָּה (ʻuggâh), Strong's number `{{H5692}}`, denotes a "cake" or, more specifically, an "ash-cake" or "cake baked upon the hearth." Its etymological root is עוּג (ʻûg), which carries the primary sense of "to make a circle" or "to draw a circle." This root connection is crucial, as it indicates the characteristic round shape of this type of bread. Unlike more complex or leavened breads, the ʻuggâh was typically a simple, often unleavened, flatbread prepared by being baked directly on hot stones or ashes, leading to its rustic quality. The semantic range thus encompasses basic sustenance, often prepared with haste or in humble circumstances, and inherently tied to its circular form.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word ʻuggâh appears in several significant biblical contexts, each revealing a unique facet of its meaning:
* **Hospitality and Provision:** In [[Genesis 18:6]], Abraham instructs Sarah to quickly prepare "cakes" (ʻuggâh) for their divine visitors. This highlights its role as a common, readily available food item used for hospitality, demonstrating a fundamental act of generosity in the ancient Near East.
* **Passover and Deliverance:** A pivotal occurrence is found in [[Exodus 12:39]], where the Israelites, in their hasty departure from Egypt, bake "unleavened cakes" (ʻuggâh) from the dough they carried. Here, the ʻuggâh is explicitly מַצָּה (matzah, `{{H4682}}`), forever linking it to the Passover narrative, symbolizing the urgency of their liberation and God's swift deliverance.
* **Divine Sustenance and Faith:** The poignant account in [[1 Kings 17:13]] features the widow of Zarephath, who possesses only enough flour and oil for one last "cake" (ʻuggâh) for herself and her son. Elijah's request for her to bake for him first, followed by God's miraculous provision, elevates the ʻuggâh from a mere food item to a powerful symbol of faith, obedience, and divine sustenance in the face of extreme scarcity.
* **Judgment and Defilement:** In a stark prophetic act, Ezekiel is commanded to bake his "cake" (ʻuggâh) using human dung as fuel in [[Ezekiel 4:12]]. This grotesque imagery underscores the extreme defilement and dire conditions that would befall Jerusalem during the siege, symbolizing the depths of impurity and scarcity resulting from divine judgment.
* **Spiritual Immaturity and Incompleteness:** The prophet Hosea uses ʻuggâh metaphorically in [[Hosea 7:8]], likening Ephraim to a "cake not turned." This vivid image portrays a people who are spiritually "half-baked" – incomplete, inconsistent, and ultimately ineffective in their devotion to God. It signifies a lack of thoroughness in their commitment, rendering them useless or even harmful.
### Related Words & Concepts
The term ʻuggâh is semantically related to several key concepts and other Hebrew words:
* **עוּג (ʻûg)**: The verbal root `{{H5746}}` from which ʻuggâh is derived, emphasizing the characteristic "round" shape of the cake.
* **מַצָּה (matzah)**: Unleavened bread `{{H4682}}`. As seen in Exodus 12:39, ʻuggâh can be synonymous with or a specific type of matzah, particularly in ritual contexts where leaven is prohibited.
* **לֶחֶם (lechem)**: The general Hebrew word for "bread" or "food" `{{H3899}}`. ʻuggâh represents a specific, often simple and hearth-baked, form of lechem.
* **Baking and Hearth**: The method of preparation—baking directly on ashes or a hearth—is integral to the ʻuggâh's identity, contrasting with bread baked in ovens.
* **Simplicity and Humility**: The nature of the ʻuggâh often implies a basic, unadorned form of sustenance, frequently associated with the poor or those in dire circumstances.
### Theological Significance
The ʻuggâh, though a simple food item, carries profound theological weight across its biblical occurrences:
* **Divine Provision and Faithfulness**: The narrative of the widow of Zarephath in [[1 Kings 17]] is a powerful testament to God's miraculous provision and His call for radical trust. The ʻuggâh becomes a tangible symbol of sustained life and the triumph of faith over fear and scarcity.
* **Remembrance of Deliverance**: In the Passover context [[Exodus 12]], the ʻuggâh as unleavened bread serves as a perpetual memorial of God's swift and decisive act of deliverance from Egyptian bondage. It symbolizes the urgency of salvation and the breaking free from spiritual and physical slavery.
* **Purity and Separation**: The unleavened nature of the Passover ʻuggâh signifies purity and a separation from the "leaven" of sin and the old life in Egypt. Conversely, Ezekiel's defiled ʻuggâh [[Ezekiel 4:12]] starkly illustrates the consequences of unfaithfulness and the defilement that accompanies divine judgment.
* **Spiritual Integrity and Wholeness**: Hosea's metaphor of the "cake not turned" [[Hosea 7:8]] offers a potent theological critique of spiritual superficiality. It warns against being "half-baked" in one's commitment to God, highlighting the danger of spiritual compromise and the necessity of complete, thorough devotion for true spiritual vitality and effectiveness.
### Summary
The Hebrew word עֻגָּה (ʻuggâh), `{{H5692}}`, refers to a simple, round "ash-cake" or "cake baked upon the hearth," deriving from a root meaning "to make a circle." Its biblical usage transcends mere culinary description, imbuing this humble food item with significant theological meaning. From Abraham's hospitable offering [[Genesis 18:6]] to the unleavened bread of the Exodus [[Exodus 12:39]], symbolizing hasty deliverance, the ʻuggâh is deeply woven into narratives of divine provision and remembrance. It powerfully illustrates God's sustaining power in the story of the widow of Zarephath [[1 Kings 17:13]]. Furthermore, ʻuggâh serves as a stark prophetic symbol of defilement and judgment in Ezekiel [[Ezekiel 4:12]] and a poignant metaphor for spiritual incompleteness or hypocrisy in Hosea [[Hosea 7:8]]. Thus, ʻuggâh embodies themes of sustenance, divine faithfulness, historical remembrance, purity, judgment, and the critical importance of wholehearted spiritual commitment.
TRV