### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **path**, represented by `{{H6595}}`, means **a bit, morsel, or piece**. It is derived from a root meaning to break up. This term appears 15 times in 15 unique verses, often referring to a small portion of food, typically bread. While simple, it carries significant meaning related to sustenance, hospitality, and moral value.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H6595}}` frequently appears in contexts of providing food and comfort. Abraham offers his divine visitors a "morsel of bread" as a gesture of hospitality and refreshment [[Genesis 18:5]]. Similarly, Boaz invites Ruth to dip her "morsel" at mealtime, an act of kindness and inclusion [[Ruth 2:14]]. The term is also used in the context of sacred offerings, where a meat offering is to be parted "in pieces" [[Leviticus 2:6]]. In a unique metaphorical use, God's power over nature is described as casting forth ice "like morsels" [[Psalms 147:17]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the scope of **path**:
* `{{H3899}}` **lechem** (food, especially bread): This word is frequently paired with **path**, clarifying that the "morsel" or "piece" is most often bread. It signifies basic sustenance, as seen when the woman of Shunem offers a "morsel of bread" to Saul [[1 Samuel 28:22]].
* `{{H3603}}` **kikkâr** (a round loaf; morsel; piece): This term can also mean a morsel or piece of bread, appearing alongside **path** in the prophecy against Eli's house [[1 Samuel 2:36]]. However, **kikkâr** has a broader meaning, also referring to a large round coin or "talent" [[2 Kings 5:5]] or a geographical "plain" [[Genesis 13:10]].
* `{{H95}}` **ʼăgôwrâh** (piece of silver): Used in the curse upon Eli's house, a descendant is prophesied to beg for a "piece of silver" and a morsel of bread, contrasting a meager amount of money with a meager amount of food [[1 Samuel 2:36]].
### Theological Significance
The theological and moral weight of `{{H6595}}` is expressed in several key themes:
* **Hospitality and Compassion:** Offering a "morsel" is a fundamental act of kindness. This is exemplified by Abraham's welcome to his guests [[Genesis 18:5]] and Job's insistence that he never ate his "morsel" alone without sharing it with the fatherless [[Job 31:17]].
* **The Value of Integrity:** The word is used to measure moral worth. A "dry morsel" with peace is better than a house full of feasting with strife [[Proverbs 17:1]]. Conversely, it highlights moral failure when a person transgresses "for a piece of bread" [[Proverbs 28:21]] or when false prophets pollute God's name "for pieces of bread" [[Ezekiel 13:19]].
* **Sustenance and Judgment:** The "morsel" represents basic provision. In Nathan's parable, the poor man's lamb ate from his own "meat" (or morsel), highlighting its intimate place in the household [[2 Samuel 12:3]]. Its lack signifies judgment, as when Eli's descendants are reduced to begging for a "piece of bread" to survive [[1 Samuel 2:36]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6595}}` is more than just a reference to a scrap of food. As **path**, it functions as a powerful symbol in Scripture. It represents the building block of hospitality, a measure of moral character, and a signifier of both divine provision and judgment. From a simple "morsel of bread" to ice cast from heaven, the word illustrates how the most basic elements of life are imbued with profound spiritual significance.
TRV