In biblical literature, the term "lump" is used metaphorically to convey various theological and moral teachings. The concept appears in both the Old and New Testaments, often symbolizing a collective entity or a source from which something is derived.

Old Testament Usage

The Hebrew Scriptures do not frequently use the term "lump," but the concept can be inferred in passages discussing the formation and shaping of materials, such as clay in the hands of a potter. This imagery is used to illustrate God's sovereign power over creation and His authority to shape nations and individuals according to His divine will. For example, in Isaiah 64:8, the prophet declares, "But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hand."

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul employs the term "lump" in his epistles to the Romans and the Corinthians, using it to teach about purity, holiness, and the nature of the Church.

1. Romans 9:21 · Paul writes, "Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?" . Here, the "lump" represents humanity, and the passage emphasizes God's sovereign choice and purpose in election. It underscores the idea that God, as the divine potter, has the authority to shape and use His creation according to His will.

2. 1 Corinthians 5:6-7 · In addressing the Corinthian church, Paul warns, "Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" . Here, the "lump" refers to the community of believers. Paul uses the metaphor of leaven (yeast) to illustrate how sin can permeate and corrupt the entire body of Christ. He exhorts the church to maintain purity and holiness, drawing on the imagery of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, where leaven is removed to symbolize the removal of sin.

3. Galatians 5:9 · Similarly, Paul states, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" . This reiterates the warning against allowing false teachings or sinful behavior to infiltrate and affect the entire community of believers.

Theological Implications

The metaphor of the "lump" in Scripture serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty, the importance of holiness, and the interconnectedness of the body of Christ. It calls believers to recognize their collective identity in Christ and to strive for purity, understanding that individual actions can impact the whole community. The imagery of the potter and the clay further emphasizes the Creator's authority and the responsibility of the created to submit to His divine purpose.1. (n.) A small mass of matter of irregular shape; an irregular or shapeless mass; as, a lump of coal; a lump of iron ore.

2. (n.) A mass or aggregation of things.

3. (n.) A projection beneath the breech end of a gun barrel.

4. (v. i.) To throw into a mass; to unite in a body or sum without distinction of particulars.

5. (v. i.) To take in the gross; to speak of collectively.

6. (v. i.) To get along with as one can, although displeased; as, if he doesn't like it, he can lump it.

2361. thrombos -- a lump
... a lump. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: thrombos Phonetic Spelling:
(throm'-bos) Short Definition: a clot, large drop Definition: a clot, large ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2361.htm - 6k

5445. phurama -- that which is mixed
... that which is mixed. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: phurama Phonetic
Spelling: (foo'-ram-ah) Short Definition: a mass or lump Definition: a mass ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5445.htm - 6k

1690. debelah -- a lump (of pressed figs), a pressed (fig) cake
... a lump (of pressed figs), a pressed (fig) cake. Transliteration: debelah Phonetic
Spelling: (deb-ay-law') Short Definition: cake. ... cake lump of figs. ...
/hebrew/1690.htm - 6k

1487. gush -- a clod, lump
... 1486, 1487. gush. 1488 . a clod, lump. Transliteration: gush Phonetic
Spelling: (goosh) Short Definition: crust. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/1487.htm - 5k

810. eshek -- a testicle
... stone. From an unused root (probably meaning to bunch together); a testicle (as
a lump) -- stone. 809, 810. eshek. 811 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/810.htm - 5k

7263. regeb -- a clod (of earth)
... clods (2). clod. From an unused root meaning to pile together; a lump of clay --
clod. 7262, 7263. regeb. 7264 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7263.htm - 5k

Lo, if Some one were to Place Before You Copper in the Lump...
... Book VI. 15 Lo, if some one were to place before you copper in the lump?
Lo, if some one were to place before you copper in the ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/15 lo if some one.htm

Returning from this Digression, St. ...
... separated. 79. For it is needful to separate one who has grievously fallen,
lest a little leaven corrupt the whole lump. And the ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xv returning from this.htm

Easter Sunday
... Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out the old
leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/easter sunday.htm

Concerning the Leaven of the Pharisees.
... 5586] from running back to carnal things, Jesus said to them when on the other side,
"Take heed and beware." [5587] For there was a certain lump of teaching ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/5 concerning the leaven of.htm

Concerning the Interpretations which Compose the Reason of the ...
... And when it is said that a lump of earth was put before Saturn to be devoured instead
of Jupiter, it is signified, he says, that before the art of ploughing ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 19 concerning the interpretations which.htm

"But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell ...
... Now, according to the apostle's argument, Romans 11:16, "If the first fruits be
holy, so is the lump," for it represents all the lump, and therefore Jesus ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxx but if the.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Salvation
... not attempt to review here the entire chapter, but will confine ourselves to verses
21-23- "Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump, to make ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter four the sovereignty of.htm

How the Valentinians Pervert the Scriptures to Support their Own ...
... And that the Saviour received first-fruits of those whom He was to save, Paul declared
when he said, "And if the first-fruits be holy, the lump is also holy ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter viii how the valentinians pervert.htm

What God Is
... The bottom of the world contains the dregs of the creation, as it were,"a mass and
lump of heavy earth, but the higher and more distant bodies be from that ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture x what god is.htm

Fifth Proposition of Arminius
... The third theory is that God determined of his grace to free some of the human race,
fallen, and lying in the "lump" (Romans 9:21 ) of perdition and corruption ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 3/fifth proposition of arminius.htm

Lump (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A small mass of matter of irregular shape; an irregular or shapeless mass;
as, a lump of coal; a lump of iron ore. ...Lump (7 Occurrences). ...
/l/lump.htm - 8k

Batch (4 Occurrences)
... Batch (4 Occurrences). Romans 11:16 If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. ...
Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump? (See NIV). ...
/b/batch.htm - 7k

Leaven (24 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/l/leaven.htm - 21k

Yeast (48 Occurrences)
... Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump? ... 1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge
out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. ...
/y/yeast.htm - 21k

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

Leavens (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast
leavens the whole lump? ... Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ...
/l/leavens.htm - 6k

Clod (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A lump or mass, especially of earth, turf, or
clay. 2. (n.) The ground; the earth; a spot of earth or turf. ...
/c/clod.htm - 8k

Knob (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A hard protuberance; a hard swelling or rising;
a bunch; a lump; as, a knob in the flesh, or on a bone. ...
/k/knob.htm - 8k

Kernel (4 Occurrences)
... of corn. 3. (n.) A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus;
a concretion or hard lump in the flesh. 4. (n.) The ...
/k/kernel.htm - 8k

Unleavened (51 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). 1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out the old
yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. ...
/u/unleavened.htm - 24k

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

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Lump: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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