Overview
The Bible addresses leaven across 9 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Exodus and 1 Corinthians. Closely related themes include Passover, Egypt, Adultery and Paschal Lamb, Typical Nature Of.
Key Bible verses about leaven
Old Testament
Exodus
Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. man: Heb. soul
And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
New Testament
1 Corinthians
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: is sacrificed: or, is slain
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. the feast: or, holyday
In the Bible dictionary
Studying leaven for yourself
- Begin with Exodus 12:15, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Exodus and 1 Corinthians each treat the theme.
- Widen the study to related themes: Passover, Egypt, Adultery and Paschal Lamb, Typical Nature Of.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about leaven?
The Bible addresses leaven across 9 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Exodus and 1 Corinthians. Closely related themes include Passover, Egypt, Adultery and Paschal Lamb, Typical Nature Of.
How many Bible verses are about leaven?
The Bible references leaven in 9 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention leaven?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Exodus 12:15: “Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.”
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