Topical Encyclopedia In biblical terminology, "leavened" refers to the process of fermentation in dough, which causes it to rise. This concept is both literal and symbolic throughout the Scriptures, carrying significant theological implications.Old Testament Context In the Old Testament, leaven is primarily 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 command is found 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 they did not have time to let their bread rise. It also represented purity and separation from sin, as leaven was often seen as a symbol of corruption and impurity. New Testament Context In the New Testament, leaven continues to hold symbolic meaning. Jesus uses leaven metaphorically to describe the pervasive nature of sin and false teaching. In Matthew 16:6, Jesus warns His disciples, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Here, leaven represents the corrupting influence of the Pharisees' and Sadducees' teachings. The Apostle Paul also employs the metaphor of leaven in his epistles. 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." Paul uses leaven to illustrate how sin can spread within a community, urging believers to live in holiness and sincerity. Symbolism and Theological Implications Leaven, as a symbol, underscores the concept of influence—whether good or bad. While it often represents sin and corruption, it can also symbolize the transformative power of the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 13:33, Jesus likens the Kingdom of Heaven to leaven: "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 illustrates the pervasive and transformative impact of God's reign in the world. Practical Observance In Jewish tradition, the removal of leaven during Passover is a meticulous process, reflecting the seriousness with which the command is observed. This practice serves as a reminder of the call to holiness and the need to remove sin from one's life. In Christian practice, the symbolism of leaven is often reflected in the observance of the Lord's Supper, where unleavened bread is used to commemorate the body of Christ, who was without sin. Overall, the concept of leavened and unleavened in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for purity, influence, and the transformative power of both sin and the Kingdom of God. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (imp. & p. p.) of Leaven.Greek 2220. zumoo -- to leaven ... F.)]. Word Origin from zume Definition to leaven NASB Word Usage leavened (2), leavens (2). leaven, ferment. From zume; to cause to ferment -- leaven. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2220.htm - 6k Strong's Hebrew 2557. chamets -- that which is leavened... 2556c, 2557. chamets. 2558 . that which is leavened. Transliteration: chamets Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-mates') Short Definition: leavened. ... /hebrew/2557.htm - 6k 4263b. machmetseth -- anything leavened 2556a. chamets -- to be sour or leavened 2556. chamets -- to be sour or leavened Library Whether this Sacrament Ought to be Made of Unleavened Bread? A Table of the Chief Things. Letter i. The Christian's Mark. Leaven The Fifth Day in Passion-Week - Make Ready the Passover!' The First Great Group of Parables. Matt. xiii. 24-30. The Eighth Beatitude The Parables of the Kingdom. Easter Sunday Thesaurus Leavened (16 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Leaven. Multi-Version Concordance Leavened (16 Occurrences). Matthew 13:33 He spoke another parable to them. ... /l/leavened.htm - 12k Yeast (48 Occurrences) Leaven (24 Occurrences) Dough (15 Occurrences) Unleavened (51 Occurrences) Containing (12 Occurrences) Cakes (65 Occurrences) Bread (433 Occurrences) Kneading (7 Occurrences) Meal (288 Occurrences) Resources What is the Feast of Weeks? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the Parable of the Leaven? | GotQuestions.org What was the Byzantine Period? | GotQuestions.org Leavened: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Leavened (16 Occurrences)Matthew 13:33 Luke 13:21 Exodus 12:15 Exodus 12:19 Exodus 12:20 Exodus 12:34 Exodus 12:39 Exodus 13:3 Exodus 13:7 Exodus 23:18 Exodus 34:25 Leviticus 7:13 Deuteronomy 16:3 Deuteronomy 16:4 Hosea 7:4 Amos 4:5 Subtopics Related Terms |
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