1 Corinthians 5:6

KJV

Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

KJV (with Strong's)

Your {G5216} glorying {G2745} is not {G3756} good {G2570}. Know ye {G1492} not {G3756} that {G3754} a little {G3398} leaven {G2219} leaveneth {G2220} the whole {G3650} lump {G5445}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know the saying, “It takes only a little hametz to leaven a whole batch of dough?”

Berean Standard Bible

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?

American Standard Version

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
The Apostle Paul confronts the Corinthian church's inappropriate pride and complacency in the face of severe immorality within their community. He issues a stark warning, employing the vivid metaphor of leaven to illustrate how even a small amount of unaddressed sin, like a tiny bit of yeast, can quickly permeate and corrupt the entire spiritual body, undermining its purity and witness. This verse serves as a foundational call to vigilance and corporate responsibility in maintaining the holiness of the church.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Paul's forceful rebuke of the Corinthian church's tolerance of a scandalous case of incest (specifically mentioned in [1 Corinthians 5:1](/1_corinthians/5-1 "1 Corinthians 5:1 - Scandalous Immorality in Corinth")). Paul expresses astonishment that they are "puffed up" (likely referring to their pride or complacency, perhaps in their spiritual gifts or perceived liberty) rather than grieving and enacting church discipline. The immediate context of [1 Corinthians 5](/1_corinthians/5 "1 Corinthians 5 - Dealing with Immorality") reveals Paul's command to "deliver such an one unto Satan" ([1 Corinthians 5:5](/1_corinthians/5-5 "1 Corinthians 5:5 - Delivering to Satan")) and to "purge out therefore the old leaven" ([1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Purge Out the Old Leaven")). Thus, [1 Corinthians 5:6](/1_corinthians/5-6 "1 Corinthians 5:6 - The Leaven of Sin") functions as the rhetorical justification for his strong directives, explaining *why* such drastic action is necessary: because sin, if left unchecked, has a pervasive and corrupting influence on the entire community.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The city of Corinth was a bustling, cosmopolitan port city renowned for its wealth, diverse population, and, notoriously, its widespread immorality and pagan worship, particularly the worship of Aphrodite. The Corinthian believers, many of whom were Gentile converts, were constantly exposed to and influenced by this pervasive culture. Paul's use of the "leaven" metaphor would have resonated deeply with both Jewish and Gentile audiences. For Jews, leaven (yeast) was strongly associated with impurity and was meticulously removed from homes before Passover, symbolizing the purging of sin and corruption (as seen in [Exodus 12:15](/exodus/12-15 "Exodus 12:15 - Removing Leaven for Passover")). For Gentiles, while not having the same Passover connection, the concept of a small agent causing a large transformation in dough was universally understood. Paul leverages this common understanding to convey the insidious nature of sin.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in [1 Corinthians](/1_corinthians "The First Letter to the Corinthians"). Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Church Purity and Discipline**. Paul insists that the church, as God's holy temple, must actively address and remove sin from its midst to maintain its integrity. Secondly, it highlights the **Pervasive Nature of Sin**, illustrating how a seemingly isolated sin can metastasize and infect the entire communal body if not confronted. This echoes warnings found elsewhere, such as the danger of false teaching spreading like gangrene ([2 Timothy 2:17](/2_timothy/2-17 "2 Timothy 2:17 - False Teaching Spreads Like Gangrene")). Thirdly, it emphasizes **Corporate Responsibility**, demonstrating that the spiritual health and witness of the entire congregation are affected by the unaddressed sin of even one member. The church cannot boast in its spiritual status while tolerating such grievous sin; true glorying should be in Christ alone and in the holiness He empowers.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **glorying (Greek, _kaúchēma'_):** From G2745, this word refers to a boast (properly, the object; by implication, the act) in a good or a bad sense. In this context, Paul uses it in a negative sense, indicating the Corinthians' inappropriate boasting or pride. Instead of grieving over the sin in their midst, they were exhibiting a misplaced sense of self-satisfaction or spiritual arrogance, which blinded them to the gravity of the situation.
* **leaven (Greek, _zýmē'_):** From G2219, this term refers to ferment (as if boiling up), or yeast. In biblical metaphor, particularly in the New Testament, "leaven" consistently represents a corrupting influence, whether it be sin, wickedness, or false teaching. Its nature is to spread and alter the entire mass it is introduced to.
* **lump (Greek, _phýrama'_):** From G5445, this word denotes a mass of dough. In this verse, it metaphorically represents the entire community of believers, the church. The image vividly portrays how the corrupting influence of "leaven" (sin) can permeate and affect the "lump" (the entire congregation).

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Your glorying is not good."**: Paul directly confronts the Corinthians' attitude. Their "glorying" or boasting, whatever its specific object (perhaps their spiritual gifts, their liberty, or their perceived enlightenment), is utterly inappropriate and morally "not good" (G2570, _kalós_ - not beautiful, valuable, or virtuous) given the scandalous sin they were tolerating. This statement highlights a profound spiritual disconnect: they were proud when they should have been mourning.
* **"Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?"**: This is a rhetorical question, implying that the answer should be obvious to them. Paul uses a common, well-understood proverb to drive home his point. The "little leaven" represents the single, unaddressed case of immorality (or any unaddressed sin), and the "whole lump" represents the entire church community. The verb "leaveneth" (G2220, _zymóō_) emphasizes the active, permeating, and transformative power of this corrupting influence. Paul warns that neglecting even a "little" sin will inevitably corrupt the "whole" body.

#### Literary Devices
Paul masterfully employs several literary devices in this concise verse. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where "leaven" is used to represent sin or a corrupting influence. This metaphor vividly illustrates the insidious and pervasive nature of sin, showing how a small amount can silently and effectively spread throughout an entire community, just as yeast permeates a batch of dough. The phrase "Your glorying is not good" is a form of **Understatement** or **Litotes**, as Paul is not merely saying their boasting is "not good" but that it is utterly reprehensible and spiritually dangerous in light of the grave sin among them. Finally, the verse concludes with a powerful **Rhetorical Question**: "Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?" This question is not posed to elicit information but to make a forceful assertion, challenging the Corinthians' lack of understanding and compelling them to acknowledge a self-evident truth about the spreading nature of sin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a profound theological statement on the nature of sin and the holiness required of God's people. It underscores the biblical principle that sin is not merely an individual matter but has corporate implications, affecting the purity and witness of the entire community of faith. Just as ancient Israel was called to be a holy nation, set apart from the surrounding pagan cultures, so too is the church called to be distinct and undefiled. The presence of unaddressed sin, particularly that which is openly tolerated or even boasted about, defiles the corporate body and hinders its ability to reflect Christ's holiness to the world. This imperative for purity is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's demand for a holy people who reflect His character.

* [Galatians 5:9](/galatians/5-9 "Galatians 5:9 - A Little Leaven Corrupts")
* [Matthew 16:6](/matthew/16-6 "Matthew 16:6 - Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees")
* [Exodus 12:15](/exodus/12-15 "Exodus 12:15 - Removing Leaven for Passover")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Paul's words in [1 Corinthians 5:6](/1_corinthians/5-6 "1 Corinthians 5:6 - The Leaven of Sin") serve as a timeless and urgent call for both individual believers and the church as a whole to exercise spiritual vigilance and integrity. It challenges us to examine our own hearts for any "leaven" of sin—pride, complacency, unconfessed wrongdoing, or unaddressed moral compromise—that might be subtly working to corrupt our spiritual vitality. For the church, it is a powerful reminder of the corporate responsibility to maintain holiness. Tolerating sin, whether out of a misguided sense of grace, fear of confrontation, or sheer indifference, is not benign; it is actively detrimental to the health, witness, and spiritual power of the entire body. True love for one another and for Christ demands that we confront sin with both truth and grace, seeking repentance, restoration, and the purification of the community so that it might truly reflect the glory of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life, or our church community, might a "little leaven" of sin be subtly at work, threatening to corrupt the "whole lump"?**
* **How does my personal complacency or pride hinder my ability to see and address sin, both in myself and in the community?**
* **What is my responsibility, and our church's responsibility, in actively "purging out the old leaven" to maintain the purity and witness of Christ's body?**
* **How can we balance grace and truth when confronting sin within the church, ensuring both restoration and holiness?**

### FAQ
**Why does Paul use the metaphor of leaven to describe sin, and what is its significance?**

Answer: Paul uses the metaphor of "leaven" (yeast) to describe sin because it perfectly illustrates sin's insidious and pervasive nature. Just as a small amount of yeast can cause an entire batch of dough to rise and change its composition, so too can a seemingly "small" or isolated sin, if left unaddressed, spread its corrupting influence throughout an entire community. This metaphor was particularly potent for his audience, especially those with a Jewish background, who understood leaven's association with impurity and its removal during the Passover celebration (as commanded in [Exodus 12:15](/exodus/12-15 "Exodus 12:15 - Removing Leaven for Passover")). For Paul, the significance is clear: sin is not inert; it is an active, spreading agent of corruption that must be dealt with decisively to preserve the holiness and integrity of the church, which is meant to be a pure "lump" for Christ. This warning is echoed in other passages where leaven represents negative influences, such as the "leaven of the Pharisees" (hypocrisy and false teaching) in [Matthew 16:6](/matthew/16-6 "Matthew 16:6 - Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The warning in [1 Corinthians 5:6](/1_corinthians/5-6 "1 Corinthians 5:6 - The Leaven of Sin") finds its ultimate resolution and fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Paul immediately follows this warning by declaring, "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" ([1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover Lamb")). This profound theological connection reveals that the imperative to "purge out the old leaven" is not merely a moralistic command but a direct consequence of Christ's atoning sacrifice. As the true Passover Lamb, Jesus offered Himself to cleanse us from the "leaven" of sin and wickedness, making us unleavened, holy, and acceptable to God. His blood purifies our consciences from dead works to serve the living God ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Christ's Blood Cleanses")). Therefore, our call to purity and to confront sin in the church is a response to the perfect purity and sacrifice of Christ. He died not only to forgive our individual sins but to sanctify and cleanse His church, presenting her to Himself "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and blameless" ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ Cleanses the Church")). The "new lump" (the church) is made unleavened and holy by virtue of its union with Christ, the sinless One, empowering believers to live out the practical implications of His redemptive work by actively removing anything that would corrupt His body.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

James 4:16

But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

Galatians 5:9

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Matthew 13:33

Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

1 Corinthians 5:2

And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

1 Corinthians 3:21

¶ Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

1 Corinthians 4:18

Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.