from Α (as a negative particle) and ζύμη; unleavened, i.e. (figuratively) uncorrupted; (in the neutral plural) specially (by implication) the Passover week:--unleavened (bread).
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word ἄζυμος (azymos) is a compound adjective derived from the privative alpha (α-), signifying "not" or "without," and ζύμη (zymē), meaning "leaven" or "yeast." Its core meaning is therefore "unleavened." This literal sense refers specifically to bread made without the addition of leavening agents.
Beyond its literal application to bread, ἄζυμος carries significant semantic range:
* **Figurative Meaning:** It extends metaphorically to denote "uncorrupted," "pure," or "sincere." This figurative sense arises from the negative symbolic associations of leaven with corruption, hypocrisy, or evil in biblical thought.
* **Metonymic Usage:** In its neutral plural form (τὰ ἄζυμα), the word functions metonymically to refer not just to "unleavened bread" but, by extension, to "the Feast of Unleavened Bread" itself, or even synonymously with "Passover week," given the close association of unleavened bread with this major Jewish festival.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἄζυμος appears ten times in the New Testament, primarily in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts, referring to the Jewish festival, and significantly in 1 Corinthians, where its figurative meaning is expounded.
* **Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke):** Here, ἄζυμος is consistently used in its metonymic sense to denote the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately followed and was intimately connected with the Passover.
* [[Matthew 26:17]]: "Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?'" This verse clearly identifies the festival.
* [[Mark 14:1]] and [[Luke 22:1]]: Both passages link "the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread" as a significant time marker, indicating the approach of the festival.
* [[Mark 14:12]] and [[Luke 22:7]]: These verses specify "the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb," highlighting the ritualistic timing of the Passover sacrifice within the broader festival of unleavened bread.
* **Acts:** The usage in Acts continues to refer to the festival as a chronological marker for events in the early church.
* [[Acts 12:3]]: Describes Peter's imprisonment as occurring "during the days of Unleavened Bread."
* [[Acts 20:6]]: Paul's journey is noted as commencing "after the days of Unleavened Bread."
* **Pauline Epistles (1 Corinthians):** It is in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians that the profound figurative and theological implications of ἄζυμος are most clearly articulated.
* [[1 Corinthians 5:7]]: "Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." Paul commands the Corinthian believers to purge moral impurity ("old leaven") from their community. He grounds this ethical imperative in their new identity in Christ: they *are* inherently "unleavened" by virtue of Christ's sacrifice.
* [[1 Corinthians 5:8]]: "Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." This verse directly contrasts the corrupting influence of "malice and evil" (the "old leaven") with the pure qualities of "sincerity and truth" (the "unleavened bread"). The "festival" here transcends the historical Jewish feast to represent the ongoing Christian life lived in light of Christ's atoning work.
### Related Words & Concepts
The understanding of ἄζυμος is enhanced by examining its relationship to other key biblical terms and concepts:
* **ζύμη (zymē) `{{G2219}}`:** The antonym and etymological root, "leaven." In the New Testament, ζύμη often symbolizes corrupting influence, whether doctrinal error ([[Matthew 16:6]], [[Galatians 5:9]]) or moral depravity ([[1 Corinthians 5:6-8]]). The absence of ζύμη in ἄζυμος thus signifies purity and freedom from such corruption.
* **πάσχα (pascha) `{{G3957}}`:** "Passover." This term is inextricably linked with ἄζυμος, as the Feast of Unleavened Bread immediately followed the Passover sacrifice and was often considered part of the broader Passover observance. The theological connection is explicit in [[1 Corinthians 5:7]], where Christ is identified as "our Passover lamb."
* **Old Testament Background:** The concept of unleavened bread (מַצָּה, matzah `{{H4682}}`) is foundational to the Passover narrative in Exodus. It symbolized the haste of Israel's departure from Egypt ([[Exodus 12:34]], [[Deuteronomy 16:3]]) and was commanded as an integral part of the sacred meal, emphasizing purity and the consecration of the firstfruits. This historical and ritualistic context provides the rich symbolic backdrop for the New Testament's theological application.
* **Purity and Holiness:** The figurative use of ἄζυμος aligns with broader biblical themes of purity, holiness, and separation from sin. It underscores the call for believers to live lives that reflect their new identity in Christ, who is himself pure and undefiled.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ἄζυμος is profound, moving beyond mere dietary or calendrical observance to embody core Christian truths.
1. **Continuity and Fulfillment:** ἄζυμος provides a vital link between the Old and New Covenants. The historical Feast of Unleavened Bread, commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egypt, prefigures the greater deliverance wrought by Christ. The New Testament uses this established imagery to explain the spiritual reality of salvation in Christ.
2. **Christ as the Basis for Purity:** Paul's declaration, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" ([[1 Corinthians 5:7]]), is pivotal. Christ's perfect, sinless life and atoning death are the ultimate "unleavened" offering. His sacrifice cleanses believers, making them "unleavened" in their spiritual identity – pure and set apart for God.
3. **Ethical Imperative for Holiness:** This spiritual reality demands a corresponding ethical response. If believers *are* unleavened in Christ, they are called to *live* unleavened lives. The command to "cleanse out the old leaven" ([[1 Corinthians 5:7]]) is a call to continuous repentance and purging of sin, malice, and evil from their lives and communities. The Christian life is to be a continuous "festival" of "sincerity and truth" ([[1 Corinthians 5:8]]), reflecting the character of Christ.
4. **Transformation and New Creation:** The imagery of a "new lump" ([[1 Corinthians 5:7]]) speaks to the transformative power of the Gospel. Believers are not merely cleansed but are made new creations, embodying the purity and integrity that characterize those who belong to Christ.
### Summary
The Greek word ἄζυμος (azymos), meaning "unleavened," serves as a rich theological term in the New Testament. Literally referring to bread made without yeast and, by extension, to the Jewish Feast of Unleavened Bread ([[Matthew 26:17]], [[Acts 12:3]]), its deeper significance is unveiled in the Pauline epistles. In [[1 Corinthians 5:7-8]], ἄζυμος becomes a powerful metaphor for spiritual purity and freedom from corruption. Drawing on the negative symbolism of leaven (ζύμη `{{G2219}}`) as sin or malice, Paul exhorts believers to live lives consistent with their new identity in Christ. Because Christ, our perfect Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed, believers *are* fundamentally "unleavened." This spiritual reality compels them to actively "cleanse out the old leaven" of sin and to live with "sincerity and truth," thus celebrating the ongoing "festival" of their redemption in Christ. Thus, ἄζυμος encapsulates both a vital historical link to God's saving acts and a timeless call to Christian holiness and integrity.
TRV