It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
It is {G2076} like {G3664} leaven {G2219}, which {G3739} a woman {G1135} took {G2983} and hid {G1470} in {G1519} three {G5140} measures {G4568} of meal {G224}, till {G2193}{G3739} the whole {G3650} was leavened {G2220}.
It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with a bushel of flour, then waited until the whole batch of dough rose.”
It is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”
It is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.
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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 5:6
Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? -
1 Thessalonians 5:23
¶ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. -
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it]. -
John 15:2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. -
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ: -
James 1:21
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
The parable of the leaven, found in Luke 13:21, is a concise yet profound teaching by Jesus about the nature and growth of the Kingdom of God. It immediately follows the Parable of the Mustard Seed, forming a pair that illustrates different facets of the Kingdom's expansion.
Context
Jesus often taught using parables, drawing on common experiences to illustrate spiritual truths. In this instance, He uses a domestic scene familiar to His audience: a woman baking bread. This parable is part of a larger discourse in Luke 13 where Jesus addresses the urgency of repentance and the characteristics of God's Kingdom, emphasizing its humble beginnings and eventual, pervasive influence.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Greek word for "leaven" is zymē. While leaven sometimes carries a negative connotation in the Bible, symbolizing corruption or sin (as seen in 1 Corinthians 5:6 or the Old Testament's unleavened bread for Passover), in this parable, its function clearly points to a positive, transformative, and expansive influence. The "three measures of meal" (Greek: sata tria) was a substantial amount, roughly equivalent to 50 pounds of flour, enough to feed a large crowd, emphasizing the vast scope of the Kingdom's reach.
Practical Application
The Parable of the Leaven offers several applications for believers today: