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Although it is seen in the Bible, I am sure we can find references in other Greek and Hebrew literature if one really put the effort in some database. I am from India, and I have heard the phrase "to break bread" in Hindi idioms like "to break breads for free", the idiom is used to malign someone that he is eating for free and not working or earning. So, to me, it is clear that it is an ancient Semitic or wider idiom for "eating food" or having a meal. English etymology will not give you the ancient results older than the Bible references because it is not from a modern language like English.

We can now trace the phrase at least to 739 and 681 B.C, which is the date of prophet Isaiah. As for the word for "break" in the Isaiah verse, the old English versions use "deal the bread" in the sense of "share" or distribute. I had to find the most literal one (SLT) to demonstrate the exact use of "break bread". I used Septuagint (LXX), the Greek Old Testament translation which goes to third century BC. The Greek word for "break" is διαθρύπτω (see the root word θρύπτω) which means to crush, break in pieces. The Hebrew word is [p̄ā·rōs] (Strong's 6536)5 here, which means to break in two, divide. Otherwise, the Greek NT, in consistency with Jeremiah 16:7, uses κλάω for "breaking" bread.

Although it is seen in the Bible, I am sure we can find references in other Greek and Hebrew literature if one really put the effort in some database. I am from India, and I have heard the phrase "to break bread" in Hindi idioms like "to break breads for free", the idiom is used to malign someone that he is eating for free and not working or earning. So, to me, it is clear that it is an ancient Semitic or wider idiom for "eating food" or having a meal. English etymology will not give you the ancient results older than the Bible references because it is not from a modern language like English. As cited by other answer, the Wycliffe 14th century English translation might be the oldest, which too must be coming from Greek and Latin Bible. Latin phrase is frangendum panem Acts 20:7, and fractione panis Luke 24:35. It is clear the English phrase has its origin from the Scripture alone, as there couldn't have been any other older English translation of any ancient languages.

We can now trace the phrase at least to 739 and 681 B.C, which is the date of prophet Isaiah. As for the word for "break" in the Isaiah verse, the old English versions use "deal the bread" in the sense of "share" or distribute. I had to find the most literal one (SLT) to demonstrate the exact use of "break bread". I used Septuagint (LXX), the Greek Old Testament translation which goes to third century BC. The Greek word for "break" is διαθρύπτω (see the root word θρύπτω) which means to crush, break in pieces. The Hebrew word is [p̄ā·rōs] (Strong's 6536)6 here, which means to break in two, divide. Otherwise, the Greek NT, in consistency with Jeremiah 16:7, uses κλάω for "breaking" bread.

We can now trace the phrase at least to 739 and 681 B.C, which is the date of prophet Isaiah. As for the word for "break" in the Isaiah verse, the old English versions use "deal the bread" in the sense of "share" or distribute. I had to find the most literal one (SLT) to demonstrate the exact use of "break bread". I used Septuagint (LXX), the Greek Old Testament translation which goes to third century BC. The Greek word for "break" is διαθρύπτω (see the root word θρύπτω) which means to crush, break in pieces. The Hebrew word is [p̄ā·rōs] (Strong's 6536)5 here, which means to break in two, divide. Otherwise, the Greek NT, in consistency with Jeremiah 16:7, uses κλάω for "breaking" bread.

Although it is seen in the Bible, I am sure we can find references in other Greek and Hebrew literature if one really put the effort in some database. I am from India, and I have heard the phrase "to break bread" in Hindi idioms like "to break breads for free", the idiom is used to malign someone that he is eating for free and not working or earning. So, to me, it is clear that it is an ancient Semitic or wider idiom for "eating food" or having a meal. English etymology will not give you the ancient results older than the Bible references because it is not from a modern language like English.

[Acts 2:44-47 ESV] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

[Matt 14:19-21 ESV] Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Although it is seen in the Bible, I am sure we can find references in other Greek and Hebrew literature if one really put the effort in some database. I am from India, and I have heard the phrase "to break bread" in Hindi idioms like "to break breads for free", the idiom is used to malign someone that he is eating for free and not working or earning. So, to me, it is clear that it is an ancient Semitic or wider idiom for "eating food" or having a meal. English etymology will not give you the ancient results older than the Bible references because it is not from a modern language like English.

[Acts 2:44-47 ESV] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

[Matt 14:19-21 ESV] Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jeremiah 16:7 ESV No one shall break bread for the mourner, to comfort him for the dead, nor shall anyone give him the cup of consolation to drink for his father or his mother.

ASV: neither shall men break bread
KJV: Neither shall men tear themselves
LXX: ου μη in no way κλασθή should be broken άρτος bread

JFB commentary: 7. tear themselves—rather, "break bread," namely, that eaten at the funeral-feast (Deut 26:14; Job 42:11; Ezek 24:17; Hos 9:4). "Bread" is to be supplied, as in La 4:4; compare "take" (food) (Ge 42:33). give . . . cup of consolation . . . for . . . father—It was the Oriental custom for friends to send viands and wine (the "cup of consolation") to console relatives in mourning-feasts, for example, to children upon the death of a "father" or "mother."

LXX supplied the word "bread" where it wasn't in the Hebrew, meaning "breaking" itself connoted, as a metonymy to eating.

Isaiah 58:7 LXX διάθρυπτε πεινῶντι τὸν ἄρτον σου

SLT Is it not to break thy bread to the hungry, and thou shalt bring the wandering poor to thy house? when thou shalt see the naked and cover him; and thou shalt not hide from thy flesh.