Leaven, commonly known today as yeast, is a substance used in baking to cause dough to rise. In biblical times, leaven was typically a piece of dough that had been allowed to ferment, which was then mixed into a new batch of dough to initiate the rising process. The concept of leaven is used throughout the Bible both literally and metaphorically, often symbolizing influence, whether good or bad.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, leaven is most notably associated with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which commemorates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. During this feast, the Israelites were commanded to remove all leaven from their homes and eat unleavened bread for seven days. This practice is detailed in Exodus 12:15, "For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day, you are to remove the leaven from your houses, for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day must be cut off from Israel." The removal of leaven symbolized the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, as well as the purity and separation from sin that God desired for His people.

Leviticus 2:11 further instructs, "No grain offering that you present to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you are not to burn any leaven or honey as an offering made by fire to the LORD." Here, leaven is excluded from offerings, symbolizing the need for purity and sincerity in worship.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, leaven is often used metaphorically to represent the pervasive nature of influence, whether positive or negative. Jesus warns His disciples about the corrupting influence of false teachings and hypocrisy, using leaven as a metaphor. In Matthew 16:6, Jesus cautions, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." This warning is further explained in Matthew 16:12, where it is clarified that Jesus was speaking about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Apostle Paul also uses the metaphor of leaven to address issues within the early church. In 1 Corinthians 5:6-7, he writes, "Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough? Get 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." Here, Paul emphasizes the need for the church to remove sin from its midst, drawing a parallel to the removal of leaven during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

In Galatians 5:9, Paul again uses the metaphor, stating, "A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough." This illustrates how even a small amount of false teaching or sin can spread and affect the entire community.

Symbolism and Interpretation

Leaven, in its biblical context, often symbolizes the pervasive and transformative power of influence. While it can represent sin and corruption, as seen in the warnings of Jesus and Paul, it can also symbolize the positive influence of the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 13:33, Jesus uses leaven in a parable to describe the Kingdom of Heaven: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour until all of it was leavened." Here, leaven represents the transformative and expansive nature of God's kingdom.

Overall, leaven serves as a powerful symbol in Scripture, illustrating the importance of vigilance against corrupting influences and the transformative power of God's work in the world.Leaven

Various substances were known to have fermenting qualities; but the ordinary leaven consisted of a lump of old dough in a high state of fermentation, which was mixed into the mass of dough prepared for baking. The use of leaven was strictly forbidden in all offerings made to the Lord by fire. During the passover the Jews were commanded to put every particle of leaven from the house. The most prominent idea associated with leaven in connection with the corruption which it had undergone,a nd which it communicated to bread in the process of fermentation. It is to this property of leaven that our Saviour points when he speaks of the "leaven (i.e. the corrupt doctrine) of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees," (Matthew 16:6) and St. Paul, when he speaks of the "old leaven." (1 Corinthians 5:7) (Another quality in leaven is noticed in the Bible, namely, its secretly penetrating and diffusive power. In this respect it was emblematic of moral influence generally, whether good or bad; and hence our Saviour adopts it as illustrating the growth of the kingdom of heaven in the individual heart and in the world at large: because (1) its source is from without; (2) it is secret in its operation; (3) it spreads by contact of particle with particle; (4) it is widely diffusive, one particle of leaven being able to change any number of particles of flour; and because (5) it does not act like water, moistening a certain amount of flour, but is like a plant, changing the particles it comes in contact with into its own nature, with like propagating power. --ED.)

Leaven

Sourdough which is kept over from one baking to another, in order to raise the new dough. Leaven was forbidden in the Hebrews during the seven days of the Passover, in memory of what their ancestors did when they went out of Egypt, they being then obliged to carry unleavened meal with them, and to make bread in haste, the Egyptians pressing them to be gone, Exodus 12:15,19. They were very careful in cleansing their houses from it before this feast began, 1 1 Corinthians 5:6. God forbade either leaven or honey to be offered to him in his temple, Le 2:11. The pervading and transforming effect of leaven is used in illustration of the like influence on society, exerted by the purifying principles of the gospel, or by false doctrines and corrupt men, Matthew 12:23 16:6-12 1 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.

(1.) Hebrews seor (Exodus 12:15, 19; 13:7; Leviticus 2:11), the remnant of dough from the preceding baking which had fermented and become acid.

(2.) Hebrews hamets, properly "ferment." In Numbers 6:3, "vinegar of wine" is more correctly "fermented wine." In Exodus 13:7, the proper rendering would be, "Unfermented things [Hebrews matstsoth] shall be consumed during the seven days; and there shall not be seen with thee fermented things [hamets], and there shall not be seen with thee leavened mass [seor] in all thy borders." The chemical definition of ferment or yeast is "a substance in a state of putrefaction, the atoms of which are in a continual motion."

The use of leaven was strictly forbidden in all offerings made to the Lord by fire (Leviticus 2:11; 7:12; 8:2; Numbers 6:15). Its secretly penetrating and diffusive power is referred to in 1 Corinthians 5:6. In this respect it is used to illustrate the growth of the kingdom of heaven both in the individual heart and in the world (Matthew 13:33). It is a figure also of corruptness and of perverseness of heart and life (Matthew 16:6, 11; Mark 8:15; 1 Corinthians 5:7, 8).

1. (n.) Yeast or any substance that causes dough to rise, usually by fermentation.

2. (n.) Anything which makes a general assimilating (especially a corrupting) change in the mass.

3. (v. t.) To make light by the action of leaven; to cause to ferment.

4. (v. t.) To imbue; to infect; to vitiate.

LEAVEN

lev'-n (se'or, chamets; zume; Latin fermentum): The nomadic ancestors of the Hebrews, like the Bedouin of today, probably made their bread without leaven; but leaven came to play a great part in their bread-making, their law and ritual, and their religious teaching (see Exodus 12:15, 19; Exodus 13:7 Leviticus 2:11 Deuteronomy 16:4 Matthew 13:33; Matthew 16:6-12 Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1; Luke 13:21).

(1) In Bread-Making.

The form of leaven used in bread-making and the method of using it were simple and definite. The "leaven" consisted always, so far as the evidence goes, of a piece of fermented dough kept over from a former baking. There is no trace of the use of other sorts of leaven, such as the lees of wine or those mentioned by Pliny (NH, xviii.26). The lump of dough thus preserved was either dissolved in water in the kneading-trough before the flour was added, or was "hid" in the flour (the King James Version "meal") and kneaded along with it, as was the case mentioned in the parable (Matthew 13:33). The bread thus made was known as "leavened," as distinguished from "unleavened" bread (Exodus 12:15, etc.).

See BREAD.

(2) In Law and Ritual.

The ritual prohibition of leaven during "the feast of unleavened bread" including the Passover (Exodus 23:15, etc.) is a matter inviting restudy. For the historical explanation given in the Scriptures, see especially Exodus 12:34-39; Exodus 13:3;; Deuteronomy 16:3. The antiquity of the prohibition is witnessed by its occurrence in the earliest legislation (Exodus 23:18; Exodus 34:25). A natural reason for the prohibition, like that of the similar exclusion of honey, is sought on the ground that fermentation implied a process of corruption. Plutarch voices this ancient view of the matter when he speaks of it as "itself the offspring of corruption, and corrupting the mass of dough with which it is mixed." Fermentatum is used in Persius (Sat., i.24) for "corruption." For this reason doubtless it was excluded also from the offerings placed upon the altar of Yahweh, cakes made from flour without leaven, and these only, being allowed. The regulation name for these "unleavened cakes" was matstsoth (Leviticus 10:12). Two exceptions to this rule should be noted (Leviticus 7:13; compare Amos 4:5): "leavened bread" was an accompaniment of the thank offering as leavened loaves were used also in the wave offering of Leviticus 23:17. Rabbinical writers regularly use leaven as a symbol of evil (Lightfoot).

(3) In Teaching.

The figurative uses of leaven in the New Testament, no less than with the rabbins, reflect the ancient view of it as "corrupt and corrupting," in parts at least, e.g. Matthew 16:6 parallel, and especially the proverbial saying twice quoted by Paul, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Corinthians 5:6 Galatians 5:9). But as Jesus used it in Matthew 13:33, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven," it is clearly the hidden, silent, mysterious but all-pervading and transforming action of the leaven in the measures of flour that is the point of the comparison.

LITERATURE.

Nowack, Hebrew Arch., II, 145 f; Talmud, Berakhoth, 17a; Lightfoot, Hor. Hebrew. on Matthew 16:6.

George B. Eager

2219. zume -- leaven
... leaven. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: zume Phonetic Spelling:
(dzoo'-may) Short Definition: leaven, ferment Definition: leaven, ferment, both ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2219.htm - 6k

2220. zumoo -- to leaven
... to leaven. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: zumoo Phonetic Spelling:
(dzoo-mo'-o) Short Definition: I leaven, ferment Definition: I leaven, ferment. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2220.htm - 6k

7603. seor -- leaven
... 7602b, 7603. seor. 7604 . leaven. Transliteration: seor Phonetic Spelling:
(seh-ore') Short Definition: leaven. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/7603.htm - 6k

2557. chamets -- that which is leavened
... Word Origin from chamets Definition that which is leavened NASB Word Usage leaven
(3), leavened (4), leavened bread (3), which is leavened (1). ...
/hebrew/2557.htm - 6k

4682. matstsah -- unleavened bread or cake
... 3). unleaved bread, cake, without leaven. From matsats in the sense of greedily
devouring for sweetness; properly, sweetness; concretely ...
/hebrew/4682.htm - 6k

Leaven
... LEAVEN. 'The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and bid
to three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.'"Matthew 13:33. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/leaven.htm

The Parable of the Leaven.
... THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN. Christ said that the kingdom of heaven could
be likened unto leaven (or yeast), which a woman took and ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the new testament/the parable of the leaven.htm

Concerning the Leaven of the Pharisees.
... Book XII. 5. Concerning the Leaven of the Pharisees. "And His disciples
came to the other side and forgot to take loaves." [5585 ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/5 concerning the leaven of.htm

The Leaven.
... IV. THE LEAVEN. ... In the mustard-seed we saw the kingdom growing great by its inherent
vitality; in the leaven we see it growing great by a contagious influence. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/iv the leaven.htm

The Mustard-Seed, and the Leaven.
... THE MUSTARD-SEED, AND THE LEAVEN. In the first two parables the kingdom
of heaven is represented in conflict with its enemies; in ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/the mustard-seed and the leaven.htm

The Meaning of Leaven. Jesus' Knowledge of the Heart.
... Book XII. 6. The Meaning of Leaven. Jesus' Knowledge of the Heart. Then
expounding clearly and representing to them, who were being ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/6 the meaning of leaven.htm

The Leaven of the Pharisees
... Mark CHAPTER 8:11-21 THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES. ... And He charged them, saying, Take
heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 8 11-21 the leaven of.htm

The Leaven Figurative Like the Water Spoken of by Jesus to the ...
... Book XII. 8. The Leaven Figurative Like the Water Spoken of by Jesus to
the Woman of Samaria. But I wonder if the disciples thought ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/8 the leaven figurative like.htm

The Leaven.
... THE PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM THE LEAVEN. Another parable spake he unto
them: "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the leaven.htm

Sabbath Healing. Mustard Seed and Leaven.
... Sabbath Healing. Mustard Seed and Leaven. ... 21 It is like unto leaven, which a woman
took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxvii sabbath healing mustard seed.htm

Leaven (24 Occurrences)
... The use of leaven was strictly forbidden in all offerings made to the Lord
by fire (Leviticus 2:11; 7:12; 8:2; Numbers 6:15). ...LEAVEN. ...
/l/leaven.htm - 21k

Fermented (23 Occurrences)
... Exodus 12:15 Seven days ye eat unleavened things; only -- in the first day ye cause
leaven to cease out of your houses; for any one eating anything fermented ...
/f/fermented.htm - 13k

Mass (65 Occurrences)
... Do you not see that a little leaven makes a change in all the mass? (BBE). ... (DBY).
Galatians 5:9 A little leaven makes a change in all the mass. (BBE). ...
/m/mass.htm - 27k

Sad'ducees (13 Occurrences)
... RSV). Matthew 16:6 and Jesus said to them, 'Beware, and take heed of the
leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees;' (See RSV). Matthew ...
/s/sad'ducees.htm - 9k

Heed (223 Occurrences)
... Matthew 16:11 how do ye not understand that I did not speak to you of bread -- to
take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?' (YLT). ...
/h/heed.htm - 36k

Meal-offering (120 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 2:11 No meal-offering, which ye shall offer unto Jehovah, shall be made
with leaven; for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, as an offering made ...
/m/meal-offering.htm - 40k

Cakes (65 Occurrences)
... ate. (DBY). Exodus 12:20 Take nothing which has leaven in it; wherever you
are living let your food be unleavened cakes. (BBE). Exodus ...
/c/cakes.htm - 26k

Meat-offering (111 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 2:11 No meat-offering which ye shall bring to the LORD shall be made with
leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the ...
/m/meat-offering.htm - 40k

Leaveneth (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth
the whole lump? ... Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. ...
/l/leaveneth.htm - 6k

Fire-offering (45 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 2:11 No oblation which ye shall present to Jehovah shall be made with
leaven; for no leaven and no honey shall ye burn in any fire-offering to Jehovah ...
/f/fire-offering.htm - 21k

What is the leaven of the Pharisees? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Leaven? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of unleavened bread? | GotQuestions.org

Leaven: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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