What is the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

Definition and Terminology

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a weeklong biblical festival closely tied to Passover and is observed by the removal of leaven (yeast) from one’s home. The name arises from the requirement to consume bread made without yeast for the duration of the feast (Exodus 12:15–20). “Unleavened” in Scripture symbolizes purity and separation from corruption.

Biblical Foundations

The primary instruction for the Feast of Unleavened Bread appears in Exodus 12 and again in Leviticus 23. In Exodus 12:17, the command is given: “So you are to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt.” Here, the people of Israel are directed to remember the Exodus by eating bread without yeast.

Leviticus 23:6–8 further reiterates: “On the fifteenth day of the same month begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread.” These verses outline the duration and the holy assemblies associated with the celebration, reinforcing its status as a sacred time of remembrance.

Historical Context

The Feast of Unleavened Bread originated during Israel’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt. When Pharaoh finally released the Israelites, they departed so swiftly that their dough did not have time to rise (Exodus 12:34). This historical context becomes the backdrop for God’s command that they commemorate their deliverance by avoiding leaven for an entire week each year.

Many scholars note that the ancient Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, Book II, Chapter 14) references the Exodus events, and while debates persist about the precise archaeological details, various ancient inscriptions and documentary records (such as those discovered in areas of the Sinai Peninsula) lend credence to an Israelite migration from Egypt. These findings help provide context for the traditions that sprang from the Exodus, including the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Duration and Observance

According to Exodus 12 and Leviticus 23, the Feast of Unleavened Bread follows immediately after Passover and spans seven days, beginning on the fifteenth day of the first month (Nisan in the Hebrew calendar). During that time:

• No leaven is to be found in believers’ homes (Exodus 12:19).

• A holy assembly is held on the first day and again on the seventh day (Leviticus 23:7–8).

• People are to refrain from regular work on these sacred assemblies, dedicating the time to worship and remembrance.

Symbolic Meaning

Leaven, which quickly permeates dough, represents the spread of sin. In this feast, removing yeast signifies purging corruption or impurity. By replacing leavened bread with unleavened bread, worshipers symbolically demonstrate their commitment to separate themselves from sin and live set apart (1 Corinthians 5:7–8). This imagery also serves as a moral and spiritual lesson in the ongoing process of turning away from wrongdoing.

Connection with Passover

Though distinct, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is intrinsically linked to Passover. Passover commemorates the sacrifice of the lamb and the protecting of the Israelites’ firstborn (Exodus 12:21–30), while the Feast of Unleavened Bread runs through the following week, underscoring the continued remembrance of God’s deliverance.

In the Hebrew calendar, Passover begins at twilight on Nisan 14, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread starts the next day (Nisan 15), showcasing a cohesive period of reflection and celebration.

Significance in the New Testament

In the New Testament context, the Feast of Unleavened Bread overlaps with the events surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 26:17–19; Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7). The Gospels record that Jesus was crucified during the Passover season, and the imagery of unleavened bread takes on a new depth when Jesus refers to Himself as the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35).

Paul the Apostle draws on this festival’s symbolism to encourage believers to remove spiritual leaven (sin) from their lives. In 1 Corinthians 5:7–8, he writes: “Get rid of the old yeast, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are.” Thus, the festival’s precept of putting away leaven transitions into a Christ-centered call for moral purity.

Practical and Spiritual Lessons

1. Remembrance: The Feast reminds believers of deliverance—both historically from Egypt and spiritually in daily life.

2. Holiness: Removing leaven underscores living a life of purity and obedience.

3. Worship: The holy convocations provide structured times for worship and gratitude toward God.

4. Community Bonding: Observing the feast together strengthens community identity and unity.

Archaeological and Historical Evidence

Archaeological excavation in regions linked with Israel’s journey from Egypt has turned up pottery styles, camping sites, and inscriptions consistent with a nomadic presence in the second millennium BC. Although different proposals exist about the exact route of the Exodus, these findings, taken alongside ancient texts like the Merneptah Stele (c. 1209 BC) that refers to “Israel” in Canaan, bolster the historicity of the broader narrative.

Additionally, the careful transmission of these feast instructions through scribal traditions demonstrates consistency in biblical manuscripts. The textual reliability of passages in Exodus and Leviticus—confirmed by manuscript evidence such as the Dead Sea Scrolls—offers historical and textual support for the continuity of belief and practice surrounding the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Conclusion

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a divinely ordained festival, inaugurated during the Exodus to commemorate Israel’s dramatic deliverance from Egypt. The feast’s core practices—removing leaven and eating unleavened bread for seven days—serve as tangible expressions of purity and gratitude. Anchored by centuries of faithful observance, referenced by early historians, and confirmed through extensive manuscript and archaeological testimony, this feast continues to hold a significant place in understanding the biblical narrative and the call to live a life of holiness and remembrance.