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.
Original Language Analysis
שִׁבְעַ֤ת
Seven
H7651
שִׁבְעַ֤ת
Seven
Strong's:
H7651
Word #:
1 of 23
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
י֥וֹם
day
H3117
י֥וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
2 of 23
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
מַצּ֣וֹת
unleavened bread
H4682
מַצּ֣וֹת
unleavened bread
Strong's:
H4682
Word #:
3 of 23
properly, sweetness; concretely, sweet (i.e., not soured or bittered with yeast); specifically, an unfermented cake or loaf, or (elliptically) the fes
אַ֚ךְ
even
H389
אַ֚ךְ
even
Strong's:
H389
Word #:
5 of 23
a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) only
י֥וֹם
day
H3117
י֥וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
6 of 23
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הָֽרִאשֹׁ֖ן
from the first
H7223
הָֽרִאשֹׁ֖ן
from the first
Strong's:
H7223
Word #:
7 of 23
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
תַּשְׁבִּ֥יתוּ
ye shall put away
H7673
תַּשְׁבִּ֥יתוּ
ye shall put away
Strong's:
H7673
Word #:
8 of 23
to repose, i.e., desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative, figurative or specific)
מִבָּֽתֵּיכֶ֑ם
out of your houses
H1004
מִבָּֽתֵּיכֶ֑ם
out of your houses
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
10 of 23
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
כִּ֣י׀
H3588
כִּ֣י׀
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
11 of 23
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
12 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
וְנִכְרְתָ֞ה
shall be cut
H3772
וְנִכְרְתָ֞ה
shall be cut
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
15 of 23
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
הַנֶּ֤פֶשׁ
that soul
H5315
הַנֶּ֤פֶשׁ
that soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
16 of 23
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
הַהִוא֙
H1931
הַהִוא֙
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
17 of 23
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
off from Israel
H3478
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
off from Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
18 of 23
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
י֥וֹם
day
H3117
י֥וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
19 of 23
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הָֽרִאשֹׁ֖ן
from the first
H7223
הָֽרִאשֹׁ֖ן
from the first
Strong's:
H7223
Word #:
20 of 23
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
21 of 23
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
Cross References
Genesis 17:14And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.Deuteronomy 16:3Thou 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 23:15Thou 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:)Exodus 34:18The 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.Numbers 9:13But 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.Deuteronomy 16:8Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.Numbers 28:17And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.Exodus 34:25Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning.Exodus 12:8And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
Historical Context
Seven days of eating unleavened bread recalled the hurried departure from Egypt (Exodus 12:39). The feast begins on the fifteenth of Abib, immediately after Passover's fourteenth.
Questions for Reflection
- How does removing leaven from your home picture the Christian's call to purge sin from your life?
- What does the seven-day duration teach about sanctification as an extended process following initial redemption?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The seven-day 'Feast of Unleavened Bread' (chag hamatzot) immediately follows Passover, extending the celebration. 'Unleavened bread' (matzot) symbolizes purity and haste—no time for dough to rise, no leaven (corruption) allowed. Paul explicitly applies this: 'Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast...with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth' (1 Cor 5:7-8).