The Omer: one isaron from three se'ah. The two loaves: two isaron from three se'ah. The Lechem HaPanim: twenty-four isaron from twenty-four se'ah.
Blue — The Omer
Pink — Shtei HaLechem
Grey — Lechem HaPanim
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Three bread-Korbanos — quantities and extraction ratios
The Omer
הָעֹמֶר
Input: 3 se'ah raw barley
Output: 1 isaron
Ratio: 1:18 — maximum sifting. Barley is coarser; 13 sieves needed. Only 5.5% of raw grain becomes the Korban.
The Shtei HaLechem
שְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם
Input: 3 se'ah wheat
Output: 2 isaron
Ratio: 2:18 (1:9) — very fine but less extreme. Wheat needs 12 sieves. 11% extraction yield.
The Lechem HaPanim
לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים
Input: 24 se'ah wheat
Output: 24 isaron
Ratio: 1:1 — one isaron per se'ah. 11 sieves. Each loaf is 2 isaron from 2 se'ah.
Korban
Raw grain
Fine flour
Sieves (M29)
הָעֹמֶר
3 se'ah barley
1 isaron
13
שְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם
3 se'ah wheat
2 isaron
12
לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים
24 se'ah wheat
24 isaron
11
The key comparison — Omer and Shtei HaLechem both start from 3 se'ah
The Omer and Shtei HaLechem use the exact same quantity of raw grain: 3 se'ah. From those 3 se'ah, the Omer yields 1 isaron (maximum extraction, 13 sieves — barley is coarser) while the Shtei HaLechem yields 2 isaron (12 sieves — wheat is finer). The Lechem HaPanim operates on a completely different scale: 24 loaves × 2 isaron each = 24 isaron total, from 24 se'ah. The Omer and Shtei HaLechem are paired; the Lechem HaPanim is in its own category.
Position in the Omer to Shavuos arc — 43 mishnayos
Preceding · Mishnah 27
Zevachim 14:3
No outside liability — the chametz chain complete
Current · Mishnah 28
Menachos 6:6 — Quantities
Movement III·B opens
After establishing the Shtei HaLechem's legal identity (M24–M27), Movement III·B turns to its physical form. This mishnah and the next (sieves) belong together as a matched pair — both compare the three bread-Korbanos across the same three categories. The equal input (3 se'ah) but different output (1 vs. 2 isaron) is one of the most elegant quantitative comparisons in the series.
Following · Mishnah 29
Menachos 6:7
Sieves — 13, 12, 11 — and R' Shimon's quality standard