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 ContextIn 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 ContextIn 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 ImplicationsLeaven, 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 ObservanceIn 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.
...Strong's Hebrew
2557. chamets -- that which isleavened... 2556c, 2557. chamets. 2558 . that which is
leavened. Transliteration: chamets
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-mates') Short Definition:
leavened.
...4263b. machmetseth -- anythingleavened
... 4263a, 4263b. machmetseth. 4264 . anythingleavened. Transliteration:
machmetseth Short Definition:leavened. Word Origin from chamets...
2556a. chamets -- to be sour orleavened
... 2556, 2556a. chamets. 2556b . to be sour orleavened. Transliteration:
chamets Short Definition:leavened. Word Origin a prim. root...
2556. chamets -- to be sour orleavened
... to be sour orleavened. Transliteration: chamets Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-mates')
Short Definition:leavened. cruel man, dyed, be grieved,leavened...
Library
Whether this Sacrament Ought to be Made of Unleavened Bread?
... Therefore this sacrament ought to be made ofleavened bread. Objection
4: Further,leavened or unleavened are mere accidents of...
A Table of the Chief Things.
... Whether unleavened orleavened bread is to be used; also it is hotly disputed about
the manner of taking it, and to whom it is to be given, [358]471, [359]472....
Letter i. The Christian's Mark.
... spiritual reign of Christ in the heart is also compared to a little leaven, which
a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole wasleavened....
Leaven
... LEAVEN. 'The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and bid
to three measures of meal, till the whole wasleavened.'"Matthew 13:33....
The Fifth Day in Passion-Week - Make Ready the Passover!'
... the day for festive purposes was a Rabbinic addition; and, by way of a hedge around
it, an hour before midday was fixed after which nothingleavened might be...
The First Great Group of Parables.
... Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which
a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till it was allleavened....
Matt. xiii. 24-30.
... "The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three
measures of meal, until the whole wasleavened." [1818]....
The Eighth Beatitude
... 'If ye were of the world, the world would love his own.' The Church hasleavened
the world, but the world has alsoleavened the Church; and it seems agreed by...
The Parables of the Kingdom.
... And as leaven goes on working until the whole mass of the meal in which it is hid
isleavened, even so He would lead us to understand that one heart truly...
Easter Sunday
... A specially urgent feature of the command was that on the first evening of the feast
they must put out of their houses all leaven andleavened bread, and...
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.
...Yeast (48 Occurrences)
... "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three
measures of meal, until it was allleavened." (WEB WEY NIV)....
Leaven (24 Occurrences)
... be consumed during the seven days; and there shall not be seen with thee fermented
things [hamets], and there shall not be seen with theeleavened mass [seor...
Dough (15 Occurrences)
... "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three
measures of meal, until it was allleavened." (See NIV)....
Unleavened (51 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Notleavened; containing no leaven; as, unleavened
bread. Int.... Exodus 12:20 You shall eat nothingleavened....
Containing (12 Occurrences)
... from this place. Noleavened bread shall be eaten. (See NIV). Exodus 23:18
"You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice withleavened...
Cakes (65 Occurrences)
... Exodus 12:39 They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out
of Egypt; for it wasn'tleavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and...
Bread (433 Occurrences)
... (See Exodus 12:34, "And the people took their dough before it wasleavened.") The
Hebrews called such cakes matstsoth, and they were the only kind allowed for...
Kneading (7 Occurrences)
... Exodus 12:34 The people took their dough before it wasleavened, their kneading
troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders....
Meal (288 Occurrences)
... "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures
of meal, until it was allleavened." (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT)....
Resources
What is the Feast of Weeks? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the Parable of the Leaven? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the Byzantine Period? | GotQuestions.orgLeavened: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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