LEAVEN

1. Leaven is often (though not always) a symbol or type of sin in the Bible because fermentation 
is decay. 

2. In ancient Jewish writings leaven often refers to the sin nature in men. 

3. Leaven was made from (1) fine white bran kneaded with must, (2) the flour of certain plants 
such as fitch or vetch, (3) barley mixed with water, (4) flour and water kneaded without salt, or 
(5) the lees of wine. 

4. Leaven was a small piece of dough kept from a previous baking and allowed to ferment. 

5. Leaven may be (1) dissolved in water before adding flour, or (2) kneaded into the dough. 

6. The leaven was mixed into the new dough and left by the fire to ferment. 

7. In time the leavened dough becomes acidic and sour, whereas unleavened dough is sweet 
(matstsah). 

8. Leaven makes the dough rise. 

9. The use of leaven was prohibited during the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread (because 
these feasts were types of Christ). 

10. Leaven was excluded from meal-offerings placed on the altar—with two exceptions. 

11. Leaven was permitted for the thank-offering (Lev. 7:13) and wave-offering (Lev. 23:17) 
during the Feast of Pentecost (a type of sin in the Church). 

12. In the Bible leaven symbolizes the sin nature, hypocrisy (Luke 12:1), false doctrine such as 
legalism, liberalism, or humanism (Matt. 16:6, 11–12), and the millennial kingdom.