Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4400 Vegetation and food  »  4554 yeast

A raising agent commonly used in bread. Bread that was required quickly was baked without yeast, as at the first Passover, commemorated annually in the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Although some non-meat offerings contained yeast, it could not be burned on the altar.

Unleavened bread was made without yeast

Exodus 12:39 See also Genesis 19:3; Exodus 12:8-11,34; Judges 6:17-19; 1 Samuel 28:24-25

The consumption of yeast was prohibited during the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Exodus 12:14-15 See also Exodus 12:17-20; Exodus 13:3,6-7; Exodus 23:15,18; Exodus 34:18; Leviticus 23:6; Numbers 28:17; Deuteronomy 16:1-4; Ezekiel 45:21

Sacrifices burned on the altar were not to contain yeast

Leviticus 2:11 See also Exodus 29:1-3,22-24; Exodus 34:25; Leviticus 2:4-5; Leviticus 6:16-17; Leviticus 7:12-13; Leviticus 8:2-3,26; Leviticus 10:12; Numbers 6:14-15,19

Some offerings contained yeast

Leviticus 23:17

Yeast as an image of the kingdom of God

Matthew 13:33 pp Luke 13:20-21

Metaphorical references to yeast as something evil

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 See also Matthew 16:5-12 pp Mark 8:14-21; Luke 12:1-3; Galatians 5:2-12

See also

2375  kingdom of God
4418  bread
4432  dough
5345  influence
7360  Feast of Unleavened Bread
7402  offerings