SPECIAL TOPIC: LEAVEN

The term “leaven” (Hebrew, 18,13a,8, BDB 329, KB 329; Greek,
zumē) is used in two senses in both the OT and the NT:

1. a sense of corruption and, therefore, a symbol of evil

a. Exod. 12:15,19; 13:3,7; 23:18; 34:25; Lev. 2:11; 6:17; Deut.
16:3

b. Matt. 16:6,11-12; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1; Gal. 5:9; 1 Cor. 5:6-8

2. a sense of permeation and, therefore, imagery of influence, not a symbol of
evil

a. Lev. 7:13; 23:17; Amos 4:5

b. Matt. 13:33; Luke 13:20-21

Only context can determine the meaning of this word (which is true of all
words!).

On the subject of unleavened bread, the Israelites could not wait until morning
for the bread to rise. This detail of the exodus night gave rise to the Exodus’
Passover feast being combined with an agricultural feast (cf. Exod. 12:15-20;
23:14-17; 34:18).

Leaven was regularly used in sacrificial items (cf. Lev. 7:13; 23:17), but later became a symbol of sin and rebellion. The fermentation was viewed in this
symbolic sense as Israel’s opportunity on an individual basis to examine their
lives for any hint of rebellion or disobedience to YHWH. As the Day of Atonement
(Leviticus 16) functioned on a national level, the Feast of Unleavened Bread
functioned on an individual or family level.

This annual required feast, combined with the Passover feast, kept the
gracious deliverance of YHWH ever before the minds and hearts of His people. As
grace and promise provided deliverance from Egypt, so Israel depended on these
unchanging divine characteristics to save her as the years went by (cf. Exod.
13:8,14; Deut.
4:9; 6:2,7,20-21).