2220. zumoó

Lexical Summary

zumoó: To leaven, to ferment

Original Word: ζυμόω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: zumoó
Pronunciation: dzoo-mo'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (dzoo-mo'-o)
KJV: leaven
NASB: leavened, leavens
Word Origin: [from G2219 (ζύμη - leaven)]

1. to cause to leaven or ferment
2. (figuratively, good or bad) to cause to change utterly, completely

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

leaven, ferment

From zume; to cause to ferment -- leaven.

see GREEK zume

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 2220 zymóō – mix with leaven. See 2219 (zymē).

[Leaven does its work even before it causes bread to rise (which ideally happens at 110^◦ F.)]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from zumé
Definition
to leaven
NASB Translation
leavened (2), leavens (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2220: ζυμόω

ζυμόω, ζύμω; 1 aorist passive ἐζυμωθην; (ζύμη); to leaven (to mix leaven with dough so as to make it ferment): 1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9 (on which passage see ζύμη); ἕως ἐζυμώθη ὅλον, namely, τό ἄλευρον, words which refer to the saving power of the gospel, which from a small beginning will gradually pervade and transform the whole human race: Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21. (the Sept., Hipp., Athen., Plutarch.)

Topical Lexicon

Cultural and Scriptural Background

In the ancient Mediterranean kitchen a small lump of fermented dough, kept from a previous baking, was kneaded into fresh flour so that the whole batch would rise. Because the process was common, invisible, and powerful, leaven soon became a vivid metaphor in Israelite thought. Under Moses the people removed all leaven for seven days at Passover, commemorating a hurried exodus and symbolizing a break with Egypt’s defilement (Exodus 12:15; Deuteronomy 16:4). This long-standing picture of pervasive influence lies behind every New Testament use of Strong’s Greek 2220.

Occurrences in the New Testament

Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21 – kingdom parables

1 Corinthians 5:6 – church discipline in Corinth

Galatians 5:9 – warning against legalistic teaching

Positive imagery: the quiet advance of the kingdom

Matthew 13:33 records Jesus saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour until it was all leavened”. Here leaven conveys the steady, transformative work of God among His people. The quantity—about twenty kilograms of meal—shows how something imperceptible can ultimately permeate a vast domain. Luke repeats the parable, highlighting Christ’s expectation that His rule will grow from hidden beginnings to visible consummation. For disciples this encourages patience; God’s government, though often unseen, is irresistibly at work in the world and in individual hearts.

Negative imagery: the spread of sin and error

Paul adopts the same household picture to expose moral and doctrinal compromise.
• 1 Corinthians 5:6: “Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?” Sexual immorality tolerated in Corinth threatened to infect the entire assembly. The language demands decisive removal of unrepentant wickedness to preserve communal holiness, echoing the removal of leaven before Passover.
• Galatians 5:9: “A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.” Here the leaven represents Judaizing legalism that added circumcision to the gospel. Even a small admixture of works-based righteousness imperils the church’s freedom in Christ.

In both letters Paul stresses the ease with which corruption spreads and the necessity of swift, uncompromising action.

Consistent theological principles

1. Influence is inevitable. Whatever is introduced—truth or error—will affect the whole.
2. Growth is often hidden but always decisive, whether for good (kingdom expansion) or evil (sin, false doctrine).
3. Purity matters corporately as well as individually. The Passover pattern of cleansing is fulfilled in the church’s continual pursuit of holiness (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

Historical reception

Early Fathers such as Ignatius and Origen followed Paul in applying leaven negatively to heresy, warning that unchecked deviation would corrupt entire communities. At the same time they used Jesus’ parable to encourage missionary zeal: the gospel seed, once planted, would permeate the Roman world. Reformers likewise balanced the themes—celebrating the gospel’s transformative power while guarding against doctrinal dilution.

Ministry implications

• Discipleship: cultivate small, hidden acts of obedience that God magnifies over time.
• Teaching: safeguard pulpits and classrooms; error rarely remains isolated.
• Church discipline: act promptly and redemptively when public sin threatens testimony.
• Mission: trust that the simple proclamation of Christ will, by the Spirit, permeate cultures and hearts beyond immediate sight.

Summary

Whether illuminating the unstoppable advance of God’s reign or warning against the insidious creep of corruption, Strong’s Greek 2220 provides a rich domestic metaphor that summons believers to vigilance, faith, and hope.

Forms and Transliterations

εζυμωθη εζυμώθη ἐζυμώθη εζυμωμένη εζυμωμένοι εζωγραφημένους εζωγράφησά ζυμοι ζυμοί ζυμοῖ ζυμωθήναι ζυμωτόν ζωγρείαν ζωγρίαν ezumothe ezumōthē ezymothe ezymōthē ezymṓthe ezymṓthē zumoi zymoi zymoî

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 13:33 V-AIP-3S
GRK: ἕως οὗ ἐζυμώθη ὅλον
NAS: until it was all leavened.
KJV: the whole was leavened.
INT: until which was leavened all

Luke 13:21 V-AIP-3S
GRK: ἕως οὗ ἐζυμώθη ὅλον
NAS: until it was all leavened.
KJV: till the whole was leavened.
INT: until which was leavened all

1 Corinthians 5:6 V-PIA-3S
GRK: τὸ φύραμα ζυμοῖ
NAS: leaven leavens the whole
KJV: leaven leaveneth the whole
INT: the lump leavens

Galatians 5:9 V-PIA-3S
GRK: τὸ φύραμα ζυμοῖ
NAS: A little leaven leavens the whole lump
KJV: leaven leaveneth the whole
INT: the lump leavens

Strong's Greek 2220
4 Occurrences

ἐζυμώθη — 2 Occ.
ζυμοῖ — 2 Occ.