The Life of Jesus in Harmony | Index

leaven

A substance added to dough to cause it to rise, from Lat. levamen, that is, "that which rises," from lavere, "to raise."

Leaven was used to produce fermentation in dough and make it rise (Ex 12:15,19-20). In Bible times leaven was usually a piece of fermented dough retained from a previous baking that was placed in the new dough to cause it to rise.

The use of leaven was prohibited in food offerings dedicated to the Lord by fire (Lev 2:11). However, leavened bread was required for the peace offering (Lev 7:13) and for the two wave loaves offered at the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost (Lev 23:17). During the Exodus, the Israelites had eaten unleavened bread because of their hasty departure from Egypt (Ex 12:34,39). The practice of this first Passover was continued in all subsequent observances of the Passover. At the beginning of the Passover season every year, all leaven was expelled from the house (Ex 12:15) and was kept from the house for seven days (Ex 12:19). These days, called the "Days of Unleavened Bread" (Acts 12:3), commemorated the eating of unleavened bread at the time of departure from Egypt.

Leaven is used metaphorically in the Bible of an influence that can permeate whatever it touches. Leaven is used as a symbol of either good or bad influence. In one parable, Jesus used the word leaven in a good sense:

"The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened" (Mt 13:33). The action of the leaven in the meal-- hidden, yet powerful, relentless, and pervasive-- is a symbol of the growth of God's spiritual rule in the world.

On the other hand, Jesus also used the word leaven in an evil sense to illustrate the "fermentation" of moral and political corruption: "Take heed and beware of the leaven [doctrine] of the Pharisees and the Sadducees" (Mt 16:6,12.