Exodus 12:19

KJV

Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

KJV (with Strong's)

Seven {H7651} days {H3117} shall there be no leaven {H7603} found {H4672} in your houses {H1004}: for whosoever eateth {H398} that which is leavened {H2556}, even that soul {H5315} shall be cut off {H3772} from the congregation {H5712} of Israel {H3478}, whether he be a stranger {H1616}, or born {H249} in the land {H776}.

Complete Jewish Bible

During those seven days, no leaven is to be found in your houses. Whoever eats food with hametz in it is to be cut off from the community of Isra'el - it doesn't matter whether he is a foreigner or a citizen of the land.

Berean Standard Bible

For seven days there must be no leaven found in your houses. If anyone eats something leavened, that person, whether a foreigner or native of the land, must be cut off from the congregation of Israel.

American Standard Version

Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a sojourner, or one that is born in the land.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 12:19 establishes a stringent command for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, stipulating that no leaven is to be found in Israelite homes for seven days. This divine ordinance, applicable to both native-born Israelites and resident foreigners, carried the severe penalty of being "cut off" from the covenant community for anyone who consumed leavened bread. This prohibition underscored the foundational principles of purity, obedience, and communal holiness, serving as a perpetual memorial of Israel's hurried deliverance from Egyptian bondage and their new identity as God's set-apart people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of the detailed divine instructions concerning the first Passover and the subsequent Feast of Unleavened Bread, delivered to Moses and Aaron in [Exodus 12:1](/exodus/12-1 "God's Instructions for Passover"). It immediately follows the initial command for the Passover meal itself and the seven-day period of eating unleavened bread, first introduced in [Exodus 12:15](/exodus/12-15 "Initial Command for Unleavened Bread"). Specifically, [Exodus 12:18](/exodus/12-18 "Duration of Unleavened Bread") reiterates the precise duration of this observance, setting the stage for the severe consequence outlined in [Exodus 12:19](/exodus/12-19 "Prohibition and Penalty for Leaven"). The subsequent verse, [Exodus 12:20](/exodus/12-20 "Universal Application of the Command"), further emphasizes the universal application of the unleavened bread command to all dwelling places, reinforcing the absolute necessity and strictness of this foundational ordinance for the nascent nation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The command was issued in the immediate wake of the tenth plague—the death of the firstborn—and on the very eve of Israel's hasty exodus from Egypt. The historical reality of their hurried departure meant there was no time for bread dough to rise, leading them to bake and consume unleavened bread, as recounted in [Exodus 12:34](/exodus/12-34 "Israelites take unleavened dough"). This practical necessity was then divinely codified into a perpetual ordinance, transforming a moment of urgency into a timeless spiritual lesson. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, leaven (often a piece of fermented dough or sourdough starter) was a common household item, continuously kept and used to ferment new dough. Its complete removal for seven days was therefore a significant and disruptive act of domestic cleansing, symbolizing a radical break from the old way of life and the initiation of a new, purified existence. The concept of being "cut off" (Hebrew: *karat*) from the community was a severe social and spiritual penalty in ancient Israel, often implying excommunication, loss of covenant blessings, and sometimes even divine judgment leading to death, profoundly highlighting the communal and covenantal implications of obedience and disobedience.
* **Key Themes:** Exodus 12:19 significantly contributes to several major theological and narrative themes within the book of Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost among these is the theme of **holiness and purity**, as God calls His newly redeemed people to be set apart for Him, free from the "leaven" of sin and corruption. This command establishes a tangible, annual ritual that impresses upon Israel the importance of a clean break from their past in Egypt and a commitment to God's standards, a theme echoed throughout the Mosaic Law, such as in [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Be holy, for I am holy"). Secondly, it underscores the theme of **covenant obedience and its consequences**. The severe penalty of being "cut off" emphasizes that participation in God's covenant blessings is contingent upon faithful adherence to His commands, a principle foundational to the Deuteronomic covenant theology found in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Blessings and Curses"). Finally, the inclusion of both "stranger" and "born in the land" highlights God's vision for a **unified and inclusive community** under a single divine standard, anticipating the broader scope of God's redemptive plan to incorporate non-Israelites who align themselves with His covenant, as seen in later prophetic visions of God's people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Exodus 12:19 articulates a crucial stipulation for the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, meticulously detailing both the duration of the prohibition against leaven and the severe, universal consequences for any violation within the Israelite community.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Leaven (Hebrew, _châmêts'_):** This term (H2556) refers to fermented dough or anything containing it. Its root suggests pungency or sourness, indicative of fermentation. In the context of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, *chametz* symbolizes corruption, impurity, and the "old" life left behind in Egypt. Its complete removal signifies a thorough cleansing and a commitment to purity and holiness before God, marking a new beginning.
* **Houses (Hebrew, _bayith'_):** The word (H1004) literally means "house" but extends to encompass family, household, and dwelling place. The command for "no leaven found in your houses" emphasizes that the purification was to be comprehensive, extending to every private space and every member of the domestic unit, signifying a holistic cleansing of the entire living environment and the lives lived within it.
* **Cut off (Hebrew, _kârath'_):** This verb (H3772) fundamentally means "to cut off, sever, or destroy." When applied to a "soul" being "cut off from the congregation," it denotes a profound and irreversible separation from the covenant community. This penalty implied excommunication, loss of identity, forfeiture of covenant blessings, and often carried the implication of divine judgment, which could include premature death, underscoring a complete breach in relationship with God and His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses:"** This opening clause sets the precise duration of the prohibition: "seven days." The number seven often signifies completeness, perfection, or divine order in biblical numerology. The command is comprehensive, requiring "no leaven" (Hebrew: *chametz*) to be present. The scope is personal and domestic: "in your houses," indicating a meticulous, household-level cleansing. This was not merely a passive avoidance of eating leaven, but an active purging of it from one's living space, symbolizing a thorough internal and external purification.
* **"for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel,"** This clause states the severe consequence for violating the command: consuming leavened bread. The phrase "even that soul shall be cut off" employs the strong verb *karat*, signifying a profound and irreversible separation from the covenant community. This was not merely a social ostracization but a spiritual judgment, impacting one's standing before God and within Israel. The "congregation of Israel" refers to the entire assembly of God's covenant people, emphasizing that this was a communal standard of holiness that protected the integrity of the entire nation.
* **"whether he be a stranger, or born in the land."** This final phrase highlights the universal application of the command within the Israelite community. A "stranger" (Hebrew: *gêr*) refers to a resident alien or sojourner who had chosen to live among the Israelites and participate in their covenant life, often implying a convert or one who had committed to the God of Israel. "Born in the land" (Hebrew: *ʼezrâch*) refers to a native Israelite. This inclusivity underscores that the standard of holiness and obedience applied equally to all who identified with and lived within the covenant community, regardless of their ethnic origin, demonstrating God's impartiality in His demands for purity.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 12:19 effectively employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. **Symbolism** is central, where leaven (or *chametz*) serves as a potent symbol of corruption, sin, or malice, and its complete removal signifies purification and a new beginning. The **legalistic precision** of the command, with its explicit duration ("seven days"), absolute prohibition ("no leaven"), and severe, clearly defined penalty ("cut off"), emphasizes the non-negotiable nature and divine authority of the law. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **parallelism** through the contrasting yet equally treated categories of "stranger" and "born in the land," highlighting the universal and inclusive scope of the law within the covenant community, ensuring that all who dwell among God's people are held to the same standard of holiness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 12:19 powerfully communicates several core theological truths that resonate throughout biblical revelation. Primarily, it underscores God's unwavering demand for **holiness and purity** from His covenant people. The physical act of meticulously removing leaven served as a tangible, annual reminder of the spiritual necessity for cleansing and separation from anything that corrupts or defiles. This aligns with God's repeated call for Israel to be a holy nation, set apart for Him, as declared in passages like [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Be holy, for I am holy") and later echoed in [1 Peter 1:16](/1_peter/1-16 "Be holy, for I am holy"). Secondly, the severe penalty of being "cut off" highlights the absolute necessity of **obedience and covenant loyalty**. Disregard for God's explicit commands was not a minor offense but a profound breach of the covenant relationship, leading to exclusion from the community and its blessings. This theme of obedience as a condition for covenant blessing is central to the Mosaic Law, particularly evident in the blessings and curses outlined in [Deuteronomy 28:1-14](/deuteronomy/28-1-14 "Blessings for Obedience"). Finally, the inclusion of both "stranger" and "born in the land" reveals God's vision for a **unified and inclusive community** under a single, divine standard of holiness. All who wished to be part of God's people, regardless of their ethnic origin, were subject to the same divine requirements, foreshadowing the broader reach of God's redemptive plan to include Gentiles.

* [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Be Holy, for I Am Holy")
* [Deuteronomy 28:1-14](/deuteronomy/28-1-14 "Blessings for Obedience")
* [1 Peter 1:16](/1_peter/1-16 "Be Holy, for I Am Holy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For believers today, Exodus 12:19, while part of the ceremonial Mosaic Law, carries profound and enduring spiritual principles. The command to remove "leaven" from our houses translates into a compelling call for **spiritual self-examination and diligent purification** from sin in our lives. Just as the Israelites were to meticulously search their homes for every crumb of leaven, we are called to identify and purge attitudes, habits, and influences that corrupt our hearts, minds, and actions. This is not merely about avoiding outward sin, but about cultivating inner sincerity, truth, and genuine holiness. It reminds us that our walk with God requires active participation in sanctification, a continuous process of aligning our entire being with His holy character. The severity of the "cut off" penalty underscores that spiritual purity is not optional but foundational to our identity and fellowship within the community of faith, emphasizing the serious nature of sin and its potential to sever our communion with God and His people. It compels us to live lives that reflect the transforming power of God's grace, continually striving for purity and truth in every aspect of our existence.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "leaven" (such as sin, malice, hypocrisy, or ungodly influences) might be present in the "houses" of your life (your thoughts, relationships, actions, or hidden motives) that needs to be diligently purged?**
* **How does the idea of a universal standard of holiness for "stranger or born in the land" challenge or affirm your understanding of inclusivity, accountability, and unity within the church today?**
* **In what practical ways can you actively pursue "sincerity and truth" in your daily life, reflecting a deeper commitment to spiritual purity and a conscious effort to remove anything that would hinder your walk with God?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command such a strict and seemingly unusual practice as removing all leaven?**

Answer: The command to remove leaven served multiple profound purposes. Historically, it commemorated the haste of the Exodus, where the Israelites had no time for their bread to rise before their urgent departure from Egypt, as described in [Exodus 12:39](/exodus/12-39 "Baking unleavened cakes"). Theologically, leaven (Hebrew: *chametz*) often symbolized corruption, sin, or malice in biblical thought, as seen in various prophetic and wisdom texts. Its complete removal for seven days was a powerful object lesson in spiritual purification, signifying a thorough cleansing and a commitment to holiness before God. It served as a tangible, annual reminder of Israel's miraculous deliverance and their call to be a set-apart people, distinct from the defilement of Egypt and the surrounding nations.

**What does it mean to be "cut off from the congregation of Israel"?**

Answer: The phrase "cut off" (Hebrew: *karat*) is a severe biblical penalty with significant implications. It implies excommunication from the covenant community, meaning the individual would lose the privileges, protections, and blessings associated with being part of Israel. This was not merely a social ostracization but a spiritual judgment, signifying a profound breach in one's relationship with God and His people. In some contexts, it could even refer to divine judgment leading to premature death, as indicated in passages like [Leviticus 7:20-21](/leviticus/7-20-21 "Penalty for eating unclean sacrifices"). It underscores the seriousness of disobedience to covenant commands and the vital importance of maintaining the purity and integrity of the community of God's chosen people.

**Does this command apply to Christians today? Should we remove leaven from our homes during Passover?**

Answer: Christians are not under the Mosaic Law's ceremonial requirements, including the literal observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. However, the spiritual principles behind the command remain profoundly relevant and are reinterpreted in the New Testament. As the Apostle Paul explains in [1 Corinthians 5:6-8](/1_corinthians/5-6-8 "Paul's teaching on leaven and sin"), leaven symbolizes sin and malice. He urges believers to "purge out the old leaven" so that we may live as "unleavened bread of sincerity and truth," because Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. Therefore, while we do not physically remove leaven from our homes, we are called to continually cleanse our lives from sin and live in spiritual purity, reflecting the holiness that is ours in Christ Jesus.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 12:19, with its stringent command to purge leaven and the severe consequence of being "cut off," finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound reinterpretation in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament explicitly connects the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread to Christ, revealing Him as the antitype of these Old Testament shadows. Paul declares in [1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "Christ our Passover Lamb") that "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." Just as the Passover lamb's blood secured deliverance from death and bondage in Egypt, Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross delivers believers from the penalty and power of sin, providing true spiritual freedom. The command to remove leaven, symbolizing sin, malice, and corruption, is then spiritually applied to the Christian life. Because Christ has perfectly cleansed us by His blood, believers are called to live a life of ongoing purity and sincerity. Paul urges, "Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened" ([1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "Purge out the old leaven")). This means the external, ritualistic purging of leaven from houses is transformed into an internal, spiritual purging of sin from the heart and life of the believer. The severe consequence of being "cut off" under the Old Covenant highlights the seriousness of sin, which ultimately led to spiritual death and separation from God. In Christ, however, those who believe are no longer "cut off" but are brought near to God, reconciled through His sacrifice, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life of sincerity and truth, thereby fulfilling the deeper spiritual intent of the command as a people made holy by the Lamb of God. This new covenant reality is beautifully articulated in [Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Sanctified through the offering of Jesus Christ"), where believers are declared "sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

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

Exodus 12:15

Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

Deuteronomy 16:3

Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, [even] the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

Exodus 23:15

Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

Numbers 9:13

But the man that [is] clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.

Exodus 12:48

And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

Exodus 34:18

¶ The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.

1 Corinthians 5:7

¶ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: