Pronunciation Guide: ah’-zoo-mos

Basic Definition

Strong’s G106: ἄζυμος (azymos) refers to bread made without yeast or leaven, specifically unleavened bread. This term carries deep symbolic significance in biblical contexts, particularly in relation to the Passover feast and as a metaphor for spiritual purity and sincerity.

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Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Root Formation: Compound word from ἀ- (a-) “without” + ζύμη (zymē) “leaven”
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Ritual contexts, narrative passages, and metaphorical teaching

ἄζυμος Morphology:

• ἄζυμος (nominative singular) – unleavened
• ἄζυμον (accusative singular) – unleavened
• ἄζυμοι (nominative plural) – unleavened ones
• ἀζύμους (accusative plural) – unleavened ones

Origin & History

The term ἄζυμος has its roots in ancient Greek culinary and religious practices. In classical Greek literature, it appears in works discussing bread-making and religious rituals. Xenophon mentions it in his “Anabasis” when describing military provisions, highlighting its practical value as bread that would not spoil quickly.

The word gained particular significance through its use in the Septuagint (LXX) translation of the Hebrew Bible, where it became the standard translation for מַצָּה (matzah). This connection firmly established its association with the Passover narrative and Jewish religious observances.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Bread made without yeast or leavening agents
• Metaphorically representing purity, sincerity, and freedom from corruption
• Ritual bread used in religious ceremonies, particularly Passover

ἄζυμος Translation Options:

• “Unleavened” – Most literal translation, particularly in ritual contexts
• “Unfermented” – Emphasizes the chemical process that has not occurred
• “Pure” – When used metaphorically to describe spiritual conditions
• “Without mixture” – In contexts emphasizing moral or spiritual purity

Biblical Usage

The term ἄζυμος appears prominently in both ceremonial and metaphorical contexts throughout Scripture. Its first New Testament appearance in Matthew 26:17 connects directly to the Passover tradition, where Jesus and His disciples prepare to celebrate this significant feast.

The word carries dual significance in biblical usage – both as a literal reference to bread without leaven and as a powerful metaphor for spiritual purity. Paul particularly employs this dual meaning in his letters to emphasize the importance of living lives free from sin’s corruption.

• “Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread [ἄζυμος] the disciples came to Jesus” Matthew 26:17
• “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened [ἄζυμος]” 1 Corinthians 5:7
• “Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread [ἄζυμος] of sincerity and truth” 1 Corinthians 5:8
• “And he took some bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'” Luke 22:19

Cultural Insights

In ancient Middle Eastern culture, leaven (yeast) was preserved by keeping a portion of each day’s dough to ferment the next day’s bread. During Passover, the complete removal of leaven from homes symbolized a complete break with the past and preparation for a new beginning. This practice required meticulous cleaning of every corner of the house, a tradition that continues in Jewish homes today.

The process of removing leaven became a powerful object lesson about purification and dedication to God. The urgency of the Exodus story, where bread was baked without time to rise, transformed into an annual reminder of God’s deliverance and the importance of being ready to follow Him at a moment’s notice.

Theological Significance

The concept of ἄζυμος carries profound theological implications. In the Passover narrative, unleavened bread represents both the haste of deliverance and the purity required to participate in God’s redemptive work. This dual significance points forward to the Messiah Jesus, the pure and spotless Lamb of God, who delivers His people from bondage to sin.

The New Testament expands this symbolism, with Paul using ἄζυμος to illustrate the transformative nature of salvation. As believers are made new in the Messiah, they are called to live lives characterized by sincerity and truth, free from the “leaven” of malice and wickedness. This imagery powerfully connects the historical deliverance from Egypt with the spiritual deliverance accomplished through the Messiah’s sacrifice.

Personal Application

The concept of ἄζυμος challenges believers to examine their lives for areas where the “leaven” of sin might be corrupting their walk with God. Just as ancient Israelites carefully searched their homes for leaven before Passover, we are called to regular self-examination and purification.

This word reminds us that holiness isn’t just about removing negative influences but about becoming something new – like fresh, pure bread that nourishes others. When we celebrate communion with unleavened bread, we’re reminded of both our need for purity and God’s provision for achieving it through the Messiah Jesus.

Related Words

• ζύμη (zymē) – leaven, yeast; metaphorically, a pervasive influence (pronunciation: zoo’-may) See G2219
• καθαρός (katharos) – clean, pure, undefiled (pronunciation: kath-ar-os’) See G2513
• εἰλικρινής (eilikrinēs) – pure, sincere, genuine (pronunciation: i-lik-ree-nace’) See G1506
• ἁγνός (hagnos) – pure, holy, chaste (pronunciation: hag-nos’) See G53

Did you Know?

• Modern Jewish families still practice “bedikat chametz” – the ritual search for leaven before Passover, using a candle, feather, and wooden spoon to symbolically cleanse their homes of all leaven.
• The chemical process of leavening was so mysterious to ancient peoples that it became a universal metaphor for hidden influence and gradual change – both positive and negative – across many cultures.
• The unleavened bread used in early Christian communion services deliberately connected the Lord’s Supper to the Passover tradition, emphasizing Jesus as the fulfillment of this ancient feast.

Remember This

ἄζυμος reminds us that true spiritual purity, like unleavened bread, requires both the removal of corrupting influences and the preparation of our hearts as a fresh, pure offering to God.