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Exodus 13:7

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Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

Unleavened bread {H4682} shall be eaten {H398} seven {H7651} days {H3117}; and there shall no leavened bread {H2557} be seen {H7200} with thee, neither shall there be leaven {H7603} seen {H7200} with thee in all thy quarters {H1366}.

Matzah is to be eaten throughout the seven days; neither hametz nor leavening agents are to be seen with you throughout your territory.

Unleavened bread shall be eaten during those seven days. Nothing leavened may be found among you, nor shall leaven be found anywhere within your borders.

Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee, in all thy borders.

Commentary

Exodus 13:7 continues the divine instructions given to the Israelites immediately following their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, focusing on the strict observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Context

This verse is part of the instructions for the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzot), which was to be observed for seven days immediately after the Passover. The command to eat unleavened bread (matzah) and to remove all leaven from their homes served as a perpetual reminder of their hasty departure from Egyptian bondage. They left so quickly that their dough had no time to rise, symbolizing the urgency of God's deliverance and the complete break from their former life.

Key Themes

  • Remembrance and Deliverance: The seven-day feast serves as a tangible annual reminder of God's mighty hand in bringing Israel out of slavery with speed and power. It was a physical act designed to instill the historical truth into every generation.
  • Purity and Separation: The strict prohibition against having any leaven in their possession underscored a theme of spiritual purity. Just as they were to be physically separate from the leaven, they were to be spiritually separate from the corrupting influences of Egypt and, by extension, sin.
  • Obedience and Covenant: This command, like others given to Moses, was a fundamental part of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, requiring absolute obedience in their worship and daily life.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for 'leaven' is se'or (sour dough starter) or chametz (leavened bread/fermented dough). In biblical symbolism, leaven often represents corruption, sin, or hypocrisy because of its ability to permeate and affect an entire batch of dough, causing it to puff up. The removal of all leaven before and during the feast symbolized a thorough cleansing and a commitment to a new, pure beginning with God.

Practical Application

For believers today, the principles embedded in Exodus 13:7 hold profound spiritual significance. The call to remove leaven can be seen as a powerful metaphor for actively purging sin and spiritual corruption from our lives. Just as the Israelites made a complete break from Egypt, Christians are called to live a life of separation from worldly influences and sin. Paul elaborates on this concept, urging believers to be "unleavened" in their lives, free from the "leaven of malice and wickedness" and instead to live with the "unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). This verse encourages a continuous process of self-examination and spiritual purification, remembering God's liberating work in our lives.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 12:19 (5 votes)

    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.

  • Matthew 16:6 (1 votes)

    Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.