1 Corinthians 5:6
New International Version
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?

New Living Translation
Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?

English Standard Version
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Berean Standard Bible
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?

Berean Literal Bible
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

King James Bible
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

New King James Version
Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

New American Standard Bible
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?

NASB 1995
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?

NASB 1977
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?

Legacy Standard Bible
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Amplified Bible
Your boasting [over the supposed spirituality of your church] is not good [indeed, it is vulgar and inappropriate]. Do you not know that [just] a little leaven ferments the whole batch [of dough, just as a little sin corrupts a person or an entire church]?

Christian Standard Bible
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast permeates the whole batch of dough?

American Standard Version
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Contemporary English Version
Stop being proud! Don't you know how a little yeast can spread through the whole batch of dough?

English Revised Version
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
It's not good for you to brag. Don't you know that a little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough?

Good News Translation
It is not right for you to be proud! You know the saying, "A little bit of yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise."

International Standard Version
Your boasting is not good. You know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough, don't you?

Majority Standard Bible
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?

NET Bible
Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast affects the whole batch of dough?

New Heart English Bible
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?

Webster's Bible Translation
Your boasting is not good. Know ye not, that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Weymouth New Testament
It is no good thing--this which you make the ground of your boasting. Do you not know that a little yeast corrupts the whole of the dough?

World English Bible
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Your glorying [is] not good; have you not known that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Berean Literal Bible
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Young's Literal Translation
Not good is your glorying; have ye not known that a little leaven the whole lump doth leaven?

Smith's Literal Translation
Your boasting not good. Know ye not that a little leaven may leaven the whole mixture?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven corrupteth the whole lump ?

Catholic Public Domain Version
It is not good for you to glory. Do you not know that a little leaven corrupts the entire mass?

New American Bible
Your boasting is not appropriate. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough?

New Revised Standard Version
Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven will leaven the whole lump?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven ferments the whole lump?
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Your boasting is not good; know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole mass?

Godbey New Testament
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Haweis New Testament
Your glorying is not good: know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole mass?

Mace New Testament
Your levity is very indecent: don't you know that a little leaven infects the whole mass?

Weymouth New Testament
It is no good thing--this which you make the ground of your boasting. Do you not know that a little yeast corrupts the whole of the dough?

Worrell New Testament
Your boasting is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Worsley New Testament
Do ye not know that a little leaven leaveneth the whole mass?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Immorality Rebuked
5hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord. 6Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough? 7Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.…

Cross References
Galatians 5:9
A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough.

Matthew 16:6
“Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Matthew 16:11-12
How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” / Then they understood that He was not telling them to beware of the leaven used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Mark 8:15
“Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

Luke 12:1
In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

2 Timothy 2:17
and the talk of such men will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

Hebrews 12:15
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.

James 3:5
In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.

Romans 6:16
Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?

Romans 14:7
For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.

Ephesians 4:22
to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

Colossians 3:5-6
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. / Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.

1 Peter 2:1
Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.

1 Peter 4:3
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.


Treasury of Scripture

Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

glorying.

1 Corinthians 5:2
And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

1 Corinthians 3:21
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

1 Corinthians 4:18,19
Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you…

a little.

1 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Matthew 13:33
Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Matthew 16:6-12
Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees…

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1 Corinthians 5
1. The sexual immorality person,
6. is cause rather of shame unto them than of rejoicing.
7. The old leaven is to be purged out.
10. Heinous offenders are to be shamed and avoided.














Your boasting
In 1 Corinthians 5:6, the Apostle Paul addresses the Corinthian church's attitude towards sin within their community. The Greek word for "boasting" is "καύχημα" (kauchēma), which implies a sense of pride or glorying. Historically, the Corinthian church was situated in a city known for its moral laxity and diverse cultural influences. This prideful attitude suggests a complacency or even a sense of superiority despite the presence of sin. From a conservative Christian perspective, this serves as a warning against spiritual arrogance and the danger of becoming desensitized to sin.

is not good
The phrase "is not good" is a direct rebuke. The Greek word for "good" here is "καλός" (kalos), which means noble or honorable. Paul is emphasizing that their pride is misplaced and contrary to the moral and ethical standards expected of a Christian community. In the broader scriptural context, this aligns with the biblical call to holiness and the pursuit of righteousness. The church is reminded that their actions and attitudes should reflect the character of Christ, not the permissiveness of the surrounding culture.

Do you not know
This rhetorical question is a common Pauline technique used to provoke self-examination and reflection. The phrase suggests that the Corinthians should already be aware of the truth Paul is about to convey. It implies a level of spiritual knowledge and responsibility that they are failing to act upon. In a conservative Christian view, this serves as a reminder that believers are called to be vigilant and discerning, fully aware of the implications of their actions and attitudes.

that a little yeast
The metaphor of "yeast" (Greek: "ζύμη" - zymē) is significant. In biblical times, yeast was often used as a symbol for sin or corruption because of its pervasive and transformative nature. Just as a small amount of yeast can affect an entire batch of dough, so can a seemingly small sin influence an entire community. This imagery is rooted in Jewish Passover traditions, where unleavened bread symbolizes purity and separation from sin. The conservative Christian perspective emphasizes the need for vigilance against even the smallest sin, recognizing its potential to spread and corrupt.

leavens the whole batch of dough?
The process of leavening, where yeast ferments and causes dough to rise, is used here to illustrate how sin can permeate and affect the entire church body. The historical context of this metaphor would resonate with the Corinthians, who were familiar with baking and the effects of yeast. Paul is warning that tolerating sin within the church can lead to widespread moral and spiritual decay. From a conservative standpoint, this underscores the importance of church discipline and the need to address sin decisively to maintain the purity and integrity of the Christian community.

(6) Your glorying is not good.--There is possibly a reference here to some boasting regarding their spiritual state contained in the letter which had reached St. Paul from Corinth, and to which part of this Epistle is a reply. (See 1Corinthians 7:1.) So long as there is that one bad person amongst you it gives a bad character to the whole community, as leaven, though it may not have pervaded the entire lump, still makes it not the unleavened bread which was necessary for the Paschal Feast. This Epistle being written shortly before Pentecost (1Corinthians 16:8), it was very likely some time about or soon after Easter, hence the leaven and the Paschal Feast naturally suggest themselves as illustrations. The Apostle passes on rapidly from the mention of the leaven to the whole scene of the feast. As with the most minute and scrupulous care the Jew would remove every atom of leaven when the Paschal lamb was to be eaten, so our Paschal Lamb having been slain, we must take care that no moral leaven remains in the sacred household of the Church while she keeps her perpetual feast of prayer and thanksgiving.

Verse 6. - Your glorying; rather, the subject of your boasting, the point on which you glorify yourselves. The Greek word does not mean the act of boasting, but the thing of which we boast. Not good. The Greek word is not agathon, but kalon, an almost untranslatable word, which implies all moral beauty, and resembles the English word "fair" or "noble." When he says that it is "not good," he uses the figure called litotes; i.e. he employs an expression intentionally too weak, that it may be corrected into a stronger one by the involuntary indignation of the reader; as when Virgil calls the cannibal tyrant Busiris "unpraised." Hence the clause is equivalent to "the thing of which you are boasting is detestable." Know ye not. This clause is used by St. Paul in specially solemn appeals, and almost exclusively in these Epistles (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:16, 19; 1 Corinthians 9:13, 24). A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Galatians 5:9). The taint alluded to is not only the presence of the unpunished offender, but the general laxity and impurity displayed by their whole bearing in the matter (comp. the line of Menander quoted in ch. 15:33, and the "root of bitterness" in Hebrews 12:15). (For the word "lump," see Romans 11:16.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

boasting
καύχημα (kauchēma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2745: A boasting; a ground of boasting (glorying, exultation). From kauchaomai; a boast in a good or a bad sense.

[is] not
Οὐ (Ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

good.
καλὸν (kalon)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2570: Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous.

Do you not know
οἴδατε (oidate)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

a little
μικρὰ (mikra)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3398: Little, small. Including the comparative mikroteros apparently a primary word; small (figuratively) dignity).

yeast
ζύμη (zymē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2219: Leaven, ferment, both lit. and met. Probably from zeo; ferment.

leavens
ζυμοῖ (zymoi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2220: To leaven, ferment. From zume; to cause to ferment.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

whole
ὅλον (holon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3650: All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.

batch [of dough]?
φύραμα (phyrama)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5445: A mass or lump, as of bread dough. From a prolonged form of phuro, mean to knead; a mass of dough.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 5:5
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