Passage Explorer
Word study · Greek

zýmē

yeast, leaven

Say it: ZOO-may (approximate)

ζύμη

What it means

Yeast or sourdough starter, a bit of old dough that makes new dough rise. Because a small amount spreads through the whole lump, it became a picture for something small that spreads, usually evil in the New Testament. At Passover, Jews removed all leaven from their homes (Exodus 12). Paul uses the picture in 5:6-8 and Galatians 5:9.

Range of meaning

  • YeastFermenting dough.
  • Corrupting influenceSomething that spreads.

In 1 Corinthians

  • Chapter 5

    "A little yeast leavens the whole lump" (5:6-8).

Every verse (3)

Verses where G2219 is tagged in the Hebrew text: STEPBible Data (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. About our sources