Lexical Summary azumos: Unleavened Original Word: ἄζυμος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance unleavened bread. From a (as a negative particle) and zume; unleavened, i.e. (figuratively) uncorrupted; (in the neutral plural) specially (by implication) the Passover week -- unleavened (bread). see GREEK a see GREEK zume NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and zumé Definition unleavened NASB Translation unleavened (9). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 106: ἄζυμοςἄζυμος, (ζύμη), Hebrew מַצָּה, unfermented, free from leaven; properly: ἄρτοι Exodus 29:2; Josephus, Antiquities 3, 6, 6; hence the neuter plural τά ἄζυμα, מַצּות, unleavened loaves; ἡ ἑορτή τῶν ἀζύμων, הַמַּצּות חַג, the (paschal) festival at which for seven days the Israelites were accustomed to eat unleavened bread in commemoration of their exit from Egypt (Exodus 23:15; Leviticus 23:6), Luke 22:1; ἡ πρώτη (namely, ἡμέρα) τῶν ἀζύμων. Matthew 26:17; Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7; αἱ ἡμέραι τῶν ἀζύμων. Acts 12:3; Acts 20:6; the paschal festival itself is called τά ἄζυμα, Mark 14:1 (cf. 1 Esdr. 1:10, 19; Winers Grammar, 176 (166); Buttmann, 23 (21)). Figuratively: Christians, if such as they ought to be, are called ἄζυμοι i. e. devoid of the leaven of iniquity, free from faults, 1 Corinthians 5:7; and are admonished ἑορτάζειν ἐν ἀζύμοις εἰλικρινείας, to keep festival with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, 1 Corinthians 5:8. (The word occurs twice in secular authors, viz. Athen. 3, 74 (ἄρτον) ἄζυμον, Plato, Tim., p. 74 d. ἄζυμος σάρξ flesh not yet quite formed (add Galen de alim. fac. 1, 2).) Topical Lexicon Concept and Scope Strong’s Greek 106 designates unleavened bread, a bread prepared without yeast. In Scripture it appears literally in connection with the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread and figuratively as a picture of moral purity, separation from sin, and wholehearted devotion to God. Old Testament Background Unleavened bread was commanded at the first Passover when the LORD delivered Israel from Egypt (Exodus 12:8–20). The haste of departure and the prohibition of leaven taught Israel that redemption is God’s work, not man’s embellishment. For seven days each year the people removed every trace of leaven from their homes (Exodus 13:7), a national reminder that covenant life requires continual cleansing. Leaven subsequently became a common emblem of corruption (Leviticus 2:11; Amos 4:5). Usage in the Gospels 1. Matthew 26:17; Mark 14:1, 12; Luke 22:1, 7 each locate the Last Supper within “the first day of Unleavened Bread.” The evangelists underscore that Jesus chose the very season that celebrated Israel’s redemption to institute the New Covenant in His blood. Historical Narrative in Acts Acts 12:3 dates Herod’s persecution of the Jerusalem church “during the days of Unleavened Bread.” The juxtaposition of martyrdom and the feast highlights the cost of discipleship and the advance of the gospel in the face of opposition. Acts 20:6 notes that Paul and his team “sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread.” Luke’s time stamp shows that the missionary journeys were still oriented to the sacred calendar, demonstrating continuity with Israel’s account while proclaiming its fulfillment in Messiah. Pauline Exhortation In 1 Corinthians 5:7–8 Paul applies the feast typologically: “Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new batch, since you are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” Believers are declared “unleavened” through Christ’s sacrifice and are commanded to live out that positional purity. The annual removal of leaven becomes a perpetual spiritual discipline—renouncing sin and hypocrisy for lives characterized by integrity. Symbolic Contrasts Leaven in Scripture regularly symbolizes silent, permeating influence—good in the kingdom parable (Matthew 13:33) but more often evil: the leaven of the Pharisees (hypocrisy), of the Sadducees (skepticism), of Herod (worldliness). Unleavened bread therefore portrays separation from such corrupting elements and devotion to God’s truth. Christological Significance Unleavened bread was baked without ferment—an apt emblem of the sinless humanity of Jesus Christ. As the Passover loaf was broken and eaten, so Christ’s body was given for believers (Luke 22:19). The festival’s seven-day duration points to the completeness of the cleansing He provides. Ecclesial and Liturgical Implications Many churches use unleavened bread in the Lord’s Supper to retain the biblical symbolism of Christ’s purity. Regardless of the elements employed, the central lesson remains: communion is to be approached with self-examination, repentance, and gratitude for the once-for-all sacrifice that makes God’s people “a new batch.” Practical Ministry Application • Personal holiness: Continuous removal of “old leaven” is essential for spiritual health. Eschatological Outlook Just as the ancient feast anticipated deliverance, the church’s ongoing “keeping of the feast” anticipates the marriage supper of the Lamb when every vestige of sin will be gone and God’s people will share unbroken fellowship with their Redeemer. Summary Occurrences of Strong’s Greek 106 trace a theological arc from Israel’s exodus, through Christ’s passion, into the life of the early church and onward to the believer’s daily walk. Unleavened bread stands as a perpetual call to live in the reality of redemption—cleansed, consecrated, and celebrating with sincerity and truth. Forms and Transliterations αζυμα άζυμα ἄζυμα αζυμοι άζυμοι ἄζυμοι αζυμοις αζύμοις ἀζύμοις άζυμον αζύμους αζυμων αζύμων ἀζύμων azuma azumoi azumois azumon azumōn azyma ázyma azymoi ázymoi azymois azýmois azymon azymōn azýmon azýmōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 26:17 Adj-GNPGRK: πρώτῃ τῶν ἀζύμων προσῆλθον οἱ NAS: on the first [day] of Unleavened Bread the disciples KJV: the first [day] of the [feast of] unleavened bread the disciples INT: first [day] of the unleavened [bread] came the Mark 14:1 Adj-NNP Mark 14:12 Adj-GNP Luke 22:1 Adj-GNP Luke 22:7 Adj-GNP Acts 12:3 Adj-GNP Acts 20:6 Adj-GNP 1 Corinthians 5:7 Adj-NMP 1 Corinthians 5:8 Adj-DNP Strong's Greek 106 |
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