### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun ἄλευρον (áleuron, `{{G224}}`) primarily denotes "flour" or "meal," the finely ground product of grain, typically wheat or barley, used as a staple for baking. Its etymological root implies the action "to grind," highlighting the transformative process required to convert raw grain into a usable foodstuff. Semantically, *áleuron* signifies a fundamental element of sustenance, a processed commodity essential for daily life in the ancient world. It represents not merely a raw ingredient but the result of labor and preparation, foundational to the production of bread, the staff of life.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἄλευρον (áleuron, `{{G224}}`) appears exclusively twice in the New Testament, both instances occurring within the Synoptic Gospels and specifically in the Parable of the Leaven (or Yeast):
* [[Matthew 13:33]]: "He told them still another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.'"
* [[Luke 13:21]]: "It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with sixty pounds of flour until all of it was leavened."
In both contexts, *áleuron* serves as the substantial medium into which the leaven (ζύμη, `{{G2219}}`) is introduced. The quantity specified, "three measures" (approximately 60 pounds or 22 liters), is significant. This large amount of flour would have been enough to feed a considerable number of people, perhaps a hundred or more. This emphasizes the vastness of the material that is to be influenced or permeated by the leaven. The flour, in this parable, represents the world, humanity, or the sphere in which the transformative power of the Kingdom of God operates. It is the passive, receptive element, awaiting the active, pervasive influence of the leaven.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{G740}}` ἄρτος (artos):** "Bread." *Áleuron* is the primary ingredient for bread. This connection is vital, as bread is a pervasive biblical symbol for sustenance, life, and in the New Testament, the body of Christ and spiritual nourishment.
* **`{{G4621}}` σῖτος (sitos):** "Grain," "wheat." This refers to the raw agricultural product from which *áleuron* is produced. The transformation from *sitos* to *áleuron* through grinding signifies processing and preparation for consumption.
* **`{{G2219}}` ζύμη (zyme):** "Leaven," "yeast." Directly related by its contextual usage in the Parable of the Leaven. *Zyme* works its way through *áleuron*, causing it to rise. This dynamic illustrates the pervasive influence of the Kingdom of God, or conversely, the corrupting influence of sin (as in [[1 Corinthians 5:6-8]]).
* **Old Testament Parallels:** The concept of flour is deeply embedded in the Old Testament, where it is frequently mentioned as a staple food (e.g., `{{H7058}}` *qemach*) and, particularly, "fine flour" (e.g., `{{H5560}}` *solet*) as a key component of grain offerings (minchah) to the Lord (e.g., [[Leviticus 2:1]], [[Numbers 28:5]]). This establishes a long-standing biblical understanding of flour as both essential for daily life and significant in worship.
### Theological Significance
In the Parable of the Leaven, ἄλευρον (áleuron, `{{G224}}`) holds profound theological significance as the substrate for the Kingdom's transformative power. It represents:
1. **The Receptive World/Humanity:** The large quantity of flour symbolizes the vastness of the world or humanity into which the Kingdom of God, like leaven, is introduced. It underscores the pervasive and all-encompassing nature of God's redemptive work, intended to permeate every aspect of existence.
2. **Basic Provision and Sustenance:** While not directly linked to the Eucharist, the inherent nature of *áleuron* as the basis for bread connects it to God's faithful provision for His people. It speaks to the foundational elements of life that God sustains.
3. **Humble and Pervasive Growth:** The act of mixing leaven into flour was a common, often domestic, task. The use of *áleuron* in the parable grounds the Kingdom's expansion in the ordinary and mundane, suggesting that its growth is often quiet, internal, and pervasive, rather than always outwardly spectacular. It highlights the Kingdom's ability to work from within, transforming vast quantities from humble beginnings.
4. **Potential for Transformation:** The flour, in its raw state, is transformed by the leaven. This illustrates the potential for spiritual transformation within individuals and society when they are exposed to and embrace the principles of God's Kingdom.
### Summary
The Greek term ἄλευρον (áleuron, `{{G224}}`) refers to "flour" or "meal," the finely ground product of grain. Its sole New Testament occurrences in the Parable of the Leaven ([[Matthew 13:33]], [[Luke 13:21]]) are highly significant. In this parable, *áleuron* serves as the substantial, receptive medium into which the leaven (`{{G2219}}`) is mixed, symbolizing the pervasive and transformative influence of the Kingdom of God within the world or humanity. Theologically, *áleuron* represents the vastness of that which is to be permeated by divine influence, emphasizing the quiet, internal, yet powerful growth of God's Kingdom from humble beginnings. It connects to broader biblical themes of divine provision (as the basis for bread, `{{G740}}`) and the transformative potential inherent in God's interaction with creation.
TRV