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Grafted Biblical Concept · Concept

Leaven

חָמֵץ · Chametzζύμη · zýmē · G2219

Leaven is a fermenting agent used in bread-making.

11 Scripture references3 lexical sources4 supporting resources

Primary Study

Grafted Bible Dictionary

Definition

Leaven is a fermenting agent used in bread-making.
Biblically, it can function literally or symbolically.

Passover and Unleavened Bread

During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Israel is commanded to remove leaven.
See:
• Torah.">Moses.">Exodus 12:15–20
• Exodus 13:3–7

Symbolic Usage

Leaven sometimes represents corruption or pervasive influence.
Yeshua warns about:
• the leaven of the Pharisees
• the leaven of Herod
See:
• Mark 8:15
Paul uses leaven similarly in:
• 1 Corinthians 5
• Galatians 5:9

Positive Usage

Leaven is not inherently a symbol of evil.
Yeshua also compares the Kingdom of Heaven to leaven:
• Matthew 13:33
The meaning therefore depends on context.
Editorial source: Grafted Bible Dictionary · Entry 77

Hebrew and Greek Word Study

Greek Word Study

ζύμη

zýmē · G2219

Original Word
ζύμη
Transliteration
zýmē
Strong’s
G2219
Part of Speech
G:N-F

Hebrew Source

חָמֵץ · Chametz

Unified Lexical Definition

ζύμη, -ης, ἡ [in LXX for חָמֵץ, Exo.12:16 13:3 23:18 34:25, Deu.16:3; שְׂאֹר, Exo.12:16, 19 13:7, Lev.2:11, Deu.16:4 * ;] leaven: Mat.13:33, Luk.13:21; τ. ἄρτου, Mat.16:12. Metaphorical, of a moral influence or tendency, always, exc. in the Parable of the Leaven (Mat.13:33, Luk.13:21), for evil: 1Co.5:6-8, Gal.5:9; ζ. τ. Φαρισαίων, Mat.16:6, 11, Mrk.8:16, Luk.12:1 (Cremer, 723).† (AS) leaven, Mat. 16.12; 13.33 met. leaven of the mind and conduct, a system of doctrine or morals, used in a bad sense, Mat. 16.6, 11. 1 Co. 5.6, et al.: whence

Related Words

G2219primary lemma

Lexical Sources

TBESGSTEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith)

ζύμη, -ης, ἡ [in LXX for חָמֵץ, Exo.12:16 13:3 23:18 34:25, Deu.16:3; שְׂאֹר, Exo.12:16, 19 13:7, Lev.2:11, Deu.16:4 * ;] leaven: Mat.13:33, Luk.13:21; τ. ἄρτου, Mat.16:12. Metaphorical, of a moral influence or tendency, always, exc. in the Parable of the Leaven (Mat.13:33, Luk.13:21), for evil: 1Co.5:6-8, Gal.5:9; ζ. τ. Φαρισαίων, Mat.16:6, 11, Mrk.8:16, Luk.12:1 (Cremer, 723).† (AS)

Lemma
ζύμη
Meaning
leaven
View original lexicon entry
{
    "type": "abbott-smith",
    "slug": "g2219",
    "title": "ζύμη",
    "source": "STEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith)",
    "strong": "G2219",
    "language": "greek",
    "lemma": "ζύμη",
    "transliteration": "zumē",
    "pronunciation": "",
    "part_of_speech": "G:N-F",
    "meaning": "",
    "description": "",
    "definition": "ζύμη, -ης, ἡ [in LXX for חָמֵץ, Exo.12:16 13:3 23:18 34:25, Deu.16:3; שְׂאֹר, Exo.12:16, 19 13:7, Lev.2:11, Deu.16:4 * ;] leaven: Mat.13:33, Luk.13:21; τ. ἄρτου, Mat.16:12. Metaphorical, of a moral influence or tendency, always, exc. in the Parable of the Leaven (Mat.13:33, Luk.13:21), for evil: 1Co.5:6-8, Gal.5:9; ζ. τ. Φαρισαίων, Mat.16:6, 11, Mrk.8:16, Luk.12:1 (Cremer, 723).† (AS)",
    "glosses": [
        "leaven"
    ],
    "lexical_summary": [],
    "exhaustive_concordance": [],
    "brown_driver_briggs": [],
    "topical_lexicon": [],
    "occurrences": [],
    "references": [
        {
            "osis": "Exo.12.16; 13.3; 23.18; 34.25",
            "display": "Exo.12:16 13:3 23:18 34:25"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Deu.16.3",
            "display": "Deu.16:3"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Exo.12.16, 19; 13.7",
            "display": "Exo.12:16, 19 13:7"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Lev.2.11",
            "display": "Lev.2:11"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Deu.16.4",
            "display": "Deu.16:4"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Mat.13.33",
            "display": "Mat.13:33"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Luk.13.21",
            "display": "Luk.13:21"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Mat.16.12.",
            "display": "Mat.16:12."
        },
        {
            "osis": "Mat.13.33",
            "display": "Mat.13:33"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Luk.13.21",
            "display": "Luk.13:21"
        },
        {
            "osis": "1Co.5.6-8",
            "display": "1Co.5:6-8"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Gal.5.9",
            "display": "Gal.5:9"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Mat.16.6, 11",
            "display": "Mat.16:6, 11"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Mrk.8.16",
            "display": "Mrk.8:16"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Luk.12.1",
            "display": "Luk.12:1"
        }
    ],
    "occurrence_count": 13,
    "url": "bible/greek/g2219",
    "source_url": "https://github.com/openscriptures/strongs",
    "source_license": "CC BY-SA"
}
A GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICOA Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament

leaven, Mat. 16.12; 13.33 met. leaven of the mind and conduct, a system of doctrine or morals, used in a bad sense, Mat. 16.6, 11. 1 Co. 5.6, et al.: whence

View original lexicon entry
{
    "type": "greenfield",
    "slug": "greenfield-f5aa97a98704",
    "title": "Ζύμη",
    "source": "A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament",
    "strong": "G2219",
    "language": "greek",
    "lemma": "Ζύμη",
    "transliteration": "zýmē",
    "pronunciation": "",
    "part_of_speech": "",
    "meaning": "",
    "description": "",
    "definition": "leaven, Mat. 16.12; 13.33 met. leaven of the mind and conduct, a system of doctrine or morals, used in a bad sense, Mat. 16.6, 11. 1 Co. 5.6, et al.: whence",
    "glosses": [
        "leaven"
    ],
    "lexical_summary": [],
    "exhaustive_concordance": [],
    "brown_driver_briggs": [],
    "topical_lexicon": [],
    "occurrences": [],
    "references": [],
    "occurrence_count": 13,
    "url": "bible/greenfield/greenfield-f5aa97a98704",
    "source_url": "https://github.com/openscriptures/strongs",
    "source_license": "CC BY-SA"
}
STRONG'SStrong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

ferment (as if boiling up)

View original lexicon entry
{
    "type": "strongs-lexicon",
    "slug": "",
    "title": "ζύμη",
    "source": "[object Object]",
    "strong": "G2219",
    "language": "greek",
    "lemma": "ζύμη",
    "transliteration": "zýmē",
    "pronunciation": "",
    "part_of_speech": "",
    "meaning": "",
    "description": "",
    "definition": "ferment (as if boiling up)",
    "glosses": [
        "leaven"
    ],
    "lexical_summary": [],
    "exhaustive_concordance": [],
    "brown_driver_briggs": [],
    "topical_lexicon": [],
    "occurrences": [],
    "references": [],
    "occurrence_count": 13,
    "url": "",
    "source_url": "https://github.com/openscriptures/strongs",
    "source_license": "CC BY-SA"
}

New Testament Usage

13 occurrences

First listed reference: Exo.12.16; 13.3; 23.18; 34.25

View All Greek Occurrences

Sources: STEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith) · A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament · Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

Biblical Usage

Concordance and Scripture Usage

11Exact Lemma12Conceptual Relationship
Gospels · 7
Matthew 13:33Exact LemmaMatthew 16:6Exact LemmaMatthew 16:11Exact LemmaMatthew 16:12Exact LemmaMark 8:15Exact LemmaLuke 12:1Exact LemmaLuke 13:21Exact Lemma
Epistles · 4
1 Corinthians 5:6Exact Lemma1 Corinthians 5:7Exact Lemma1 Corinthians 5:8Exact LemmaGalatians 5:9Exact Lemma

Reference Works

Bible Dictionary, Encyclopedia, and Names

Unified Dictionary Summary

Leaven is a fermenting agent used in bread-making.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897)
(1.) Heb. seor (Ex. 12:15, 19; 13:7; Lev. 2:11), the remnant of dough from the preceding baking which had fermented and become acid. (2.) Heb. hamets, properly "ferment." In Num. 6:3, "vinegar of wine" is more correctly "fermented wine." In Ex. 13:7, the proper rendering would be, "Unfermented things [Heb. 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 (Lev. 2:11; 7:12; 8:2; Num. 6:15). Its secretly penetrating and diffusive power is referred to in 1 Cor. 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 (Matt. 13:33). It is a figure also of corruptness and of perverseness of heart and life (Matt. 16:6, 11; Mark 8:15; 1 Cor. 5:7, 8).

Sources: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897)

A Biblical and Theological Dictionary
The Hebrews were forbidden by the law to eat leavened bread, or a food with leaven in it, during the seven days of the passover, Exod. xii, 15–19; Lev. ii, 11. They were very careful in purifying their houses from all leaven before this feast began. God forbad either leaven or honey to be offered to him in his temple; that is, in cakes or in any baked meats. But on other occasions they might offer leavened bread or honey. St. Paul, 1 Cor. v, 7, 8, expresses his desire that the faithful should celebrate the Christian passover with unleavened bread; which, figuratively, signifies sincerity and truth. In this he teaches us two things; first, that the law which obliged the Jews to a literal observance of the passover is no longer in force; and, secondly, that by unleavened bread, truth and purity of heart were denoted. The same Apostle alludes to the ceremony used at the passover, when he says, A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump;” that is, a small portion of leaven, in a quantity of bread or paste, corrupts the whole, and renders it unclean. Our Saviour, in the Gospel, Matthew xvi, 11, warns his Apostles to beware of the leaven of the Herodians and Pharisees; meaning their doctrines.

Sources: A Biblical and Theological Dictionary

Related Content7 items

Unleavened Bread

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a seven-day biblical festival immediately associated with Passover.

Passover

Passover commemorates God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom of Heaven is Matthew's characteristic expression for the reign of God.

Sin

Sin refers to human rebellion, failure, transgression, wrongdoing, or falling short of God's will.

Pharisees

The Pharisees were a Jewish movement active during the late Second Temple period.

Flour

Grain reduced to the form of meal is spoken of in the time of Abraham (Gen. 18:6). As baking was a daily necessity, grain was also ground daily at the mills (Jer. 25:10). The flour mingled with water was kneaded in kneading-troughs, and sometimes leaven (Ex. 12:34) was added and sometimes omitted (Gen. 19:3). The dough was then formed into thin cakes nine or ten inches in diameter and baked in the oven. Fine flour was offered by the poor as a sin-offering (Lev. 5:11-13), and also in connection with other sacrifices (Num. 15:3-12; 28:7-29).

Leaven

(1.) Heb. seor (Ex. 12:15, 19; 13:7; Lev. 2:11), the remnant of dough from the preceding baking which had fermented and become acid. (2.) Heb. hamets, properly "ferment." In Num. 6:3, "vinegar of wine" is more correctly "fermented wine." In Ex. 13:7, the proper rendering would be, "Unfermented things [Heb. 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 (Lev. 2:11; 7:12; 8:2; Num. 6:15). Its secretly penetrating and diffusive power is referred to in 1 Cor. 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 (Matt. 13:33). It is a figure also of corruptness and of perverseness of heart and life (Matt. 16:6, 11; Mark 8:15; 1 Cor. 5:7, 8).

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