ζύμη (zumē)
zumē
leaven
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun zumē refers to leaven, a substance used in baking to make dough rise. In the Old Testament, it appears frequently in laws regarding the Feast of Unleavened Bread and grain offerings (Exodus 12:15-20; Leviticus 2:11), where its presence was strictly prohibited as a symbol of haste or corruption.
In the New Testament, Jesus uses zumē metaphorically to describe a pervasive moral influence. In Matthew 16:6 and Mark 8:15, He warns His disciples against "the leaven of the Pharisees," linking it to hypocrisy and false teaching. Similarly, Paul urges the Corinthians to purge this leaven so they may be a new batch, pure and sincere (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).
While most biblical uses portray leaven as a negative force that spreads corruption quietly through a community, Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13:33 offers a rare positive image. Here, the kingdom of heaven is like leaven hidden in three measures of flour until the whole batch is leavened, illustrating how God’s reign works subtly and thoroughly to transform the world.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zumē describes a small amount of starter dough that transforms an entire batch of flour. In Scripture, this image carries two distinct meanings. Often it warns against hidden corruption spreading quietly through a community, as seen when Jesus warned His followers to guard against the hypocrisy of religious leaders. This serves as a gentle reminder to examine our own hearts and words, ensuring they do not harbor deceit or pride that might influence those around us.
Yet there is also a beautiful positive use in Jesus’ parable where the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to leaven hidden in flour. Here, the image illustrates how God’s reign works subtly but thoroughly to transform lives and the world from the inside out. You do not need to force this change; it happens naturally as His truth takes root. This offers hope that small acts of faithfulness can have a lasting impact.
Understanding this word helps us see that influence is rarely loud or immediate. Whether we are guarding against negative attitudes or trusting in God’s transformative power, the lesson remains the same: what starts small often grows into something significant. We can rest in the knowledge that God uses these quiet processes to shape us and our communities.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- leaven10×
- to leaven,1×
- to leaven1×
- leaven,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ζύμης6×
- ζύμῃ3×
- ζύμη2×
- ζύμῃ,1×
- ζύμην,1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 13:33
He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened.”
This verse uniquely presents leaven as a positive symbol for the Kingdom of Heaven, showing how God's influence works subtly to transform everything.
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Luke 12:1
Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Here Jesus explicitly defines the negative metaphor, identifying the Pharisees' leaven specifically as hypocrisy that spreads through deception.
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I Corinthians 5:7
Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.
Paul uses the imagery of removing old leaven to urge believers to live in purity, connecting this cleansing directly to Christ's sacrifice as our Passover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does zumē mean in the Bible?
Is leaven always negative in Scripture?
Why did Jesus warn against the 'leaven of the Pharisees'?
Every Occurrence (11 verses across 5 books)
Matthew 4 verses
He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of…
Matthew 16:6Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Matthew 16:11How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees…
Matthew 16:12Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and…