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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 12:20 You are not to eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/12-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/02_Exo_12_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 12:20 - The Feast of Unleavened Bread" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You are not to eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/exodus/12-20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/exodus/12-20.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/12.htm">Chapter 12</a> > Verse 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/12-19.htm" title="Exodus 12:19">◄</a> Exodus 12:20 <a href="/exodus/12-21.htm" title="Exodus 12:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/exodus/12.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/12.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/12.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />During those days you must not eat anything made with yeast. Wherever you live, eat only bread made without yeast.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/12.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/12.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />You are not to eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/12.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/12.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’ ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/12.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />You shall not eat anything with yeast; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/12.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.&#8217&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/12.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/12.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your <i>places of</i> habitation you shall eat unleavened bread.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/12.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/12.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/12.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/12.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/12.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Stay away from yeast, no matter where you live. No one is allowed to eat anything made with yeast! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/12.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/12.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat [only] unleavened bread."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/12.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />You are not to eat what is leavened. You are to eat unleavened bread in all your settlements.'"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/12.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />You are not to eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/12.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />You will not eat anything made with yeast; in all the places where you live you must eat bread made without yeast.'" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/12.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.'"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/12.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall eat nothing leavened: in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/12.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.’” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/12.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />you do not eat anything fermented—in all your dwellings you eat [only] unleavened things.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/12.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> anything fermented ye do not eat, in all your dwellings ye do eat unleavened things.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/12.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />All leavened ye shall not eat: in all your dwellings ye shall eat unleavened.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/12.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />You shall not eat any thing leavened: in all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/12.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />You shall not consume any leaven. In all your dwelling places, you shall eat unleavened bread.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/12.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />You shall eat nothing leavened; wherever you dwell you may eat only unleavened bread. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/12.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your settlements you shall eat unleavened bread.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/12.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/12.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />You shall eat no leaven; in every place of your dwelling you shall eat unleavened bread.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/12.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/12.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall eat nothing leavened, but in every habitation of your ye shall eat unleavened bread.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/12-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=2888" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/12.htm">The Feast of Unleavened Bread</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>For seven days there must be no leaven found in your houses. If anyone eats something leavened, that person, whether a foreigner or native of the land, must be cut off from the congregation of Israel. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">You are not</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: ṯō·ḵê·lū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">to eat</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">anything</a> <a href="/hebrew/2557.htm" title="2557: maḥ·me·ṣeṯ (N-fs) -- That which is leavened. From chamets; ferment, extortion.">leavened;</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: tō·ḵə·lū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">eat</a> <a href="/hebrew/4682.htm" title="4682: maṣ·ṣō·wṯ (N-fp) -- Unleavened bread or cake. ">unleavened bread</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: bə·ḵōl (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">in all</a> <a href="/hebrew/4186.htm" title="4186: mō·wō·šə·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem (N-mpc:: 2mp) -- Or moshab; from yashab; a seat; figuratively, a site; abstractly, a session; by extension an abode; by implication, population.">your homes.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and told them, “Go at once and select for yourselves a lamb for each family, and slaughter the Passover lamb.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/23-6.htm">Leviticus 23:6-8</a></span><br />On the fifteenth day of the same month begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. / On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any regular work. / For seven days you are to present a food offering to the LORD. On the seventh day there shall be a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/16-3.htm">Deuteronomy 16:3-4</a></span><br />You must not eat leavened bread with it; for seven days you are to eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left the land of Egypt in haste—so that you may remember for the rest of your life the day you left the land of Egypt. / No leaven is to be found in all your land for seven days, and none of the meat you sacrifice in the evening of the first day shall remain until morning.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/9-11.htm">Numbers 9:11-12</a></span><br />Such people are to observe it at twilight on the fourteenth day of the second month. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs; / they may not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. They must observe the Passover according to all its statutes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/5-7.htm">1 Corinthians 5:7-8</a></span><br />Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. / Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-17.htm">Matthew 26:17-19</a></span><br />On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” / He answered, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him that the Teacher says, ‘My time is near. I will keep the Passover with My disciples at your house.’” / So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/14-12.htm">Mark 14:12-16</a></span><br />On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” / So He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him, / and whichever house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/22-7.htm">Luke 22:7-13</a></span><br />Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. / Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” / “Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/19-31.htm">John 19:31-36</a></span><br />It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed. / So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and those of the other. / But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-28.htm">Hebrews 11:28</a></span><br />By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/30-21.htm">2 Chronicles 30:21</a></span><br />The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and priests praised the LORD day after day, accompanied by loud instruments of praise to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/35-17.htm">2 Chronicles 35:17</a></span><br />The Israelites who were present also observed the Passover at that time, as well as the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/6-19.htm">Ezra 6:19-22</a></span><br />On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles kept the Passover. / All the priests and Levites had purified themselves and were ceremonially clean. And the Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their priestly brothers, and for themselves. / The Israelites who had returned from exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to seek the LORD, the God of Israel. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/45-21.htm">Ezekiel 45:21</a></span><br />On the fourteenth day of the first month you are to observe the Passover, a feast of seven days, during which unleavened bread shall be eaten.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/5-10.htm">Joshua 5:10-11</a></span><br />On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover. / The day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate unleavened bread and roasted grain from the produce of the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/81-3.htm">Psalm 81:3-5</a></span><br />Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast. / For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. / He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall you eat unleavened bread.</p><p class="hdg">no reference </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/12-18.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/genesis/18-6.htm">Cakes</a> <a href="/exodus/10-23.htm">Dwellings</a> <a href="/exodus/12-18.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/exodus/12-19.htm">Fermented</a> <a href="/exodus/12-18.htm">Food</a> <a href="/genesis/49-5.htm">Habitations</a> <a href="/exodus/12-19.htm">Leavened</a> <a href="/exodus/12-18.htm">Unleavened</a> <a href="/exodus/5-11.htm">Wherever</a> <a href="/exodus/12-19.htm">Yeast</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/13-3.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/exodus/12-39.htm">Cakes</a> <a href="/exodus/35-3.htm">Dwellings</a> <a href="/exodus/12-43.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/exodus/12-34.htm">Fermented</a> <a href="/exodus/12-39.htm">Food</a> <a href="/exodus/35-3.htm">Habitations</a> <a href="/exodus/12-34.htm">Leavened</a> <a href="/exodus/12-39.htm">Unleavened</a> <a href="/exodus/20-24.htm">Wherever</a> <a href="/exodus/12-34.htm">Yeast</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 12</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/12-1.htm">The beginning of the year is changed</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/12-3.htm">The Passover is instituted</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/12-11.htm">The import of the rite of the Passover</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/12-15.htm">Unleavened bread</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/12-29.htm">The firstborn are slain</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/12-31.htm">The Israelites are driven out of the land</a></span><br><span class="reftext">37. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/12-37.htm">They come to Succoth</a></span><br><span class="reftext">41. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/12-41.htm">The time of their sojourning</a></span><br><span class="reftext">43. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/12-43.htm">The ordinance of the Passover</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/exodus/12.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>You are not to eat anything leavened</b><br />This command is a direct instruction from God to the Israelites, emphasizing the prohibition of consuming leavened bread during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Hebrew word for "leavened" is "chametz," which refers to any fermented product. In the context of the Exodus, leaven symbolizes sin and corruption, as it permeates and alters the dough. The removal of leaven from their homes and diet was a physical representation of the need for spiritual purity and separation from sin. Historically, this practice served as a reminder of the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, not having time to let their bread rise. Spiritually, it calls believers to examine their lives and remove any sin that might corrupt their relationship with God.<p><b>eat nothing leavened</b><br />The repetition of the command underscores its importance. The Hebrew structure here is emphatic, reinforcing the seriousness of the prohibition. This repetition serves as a pedagogical tool, ensuring that the Israelites understand the gravity of the command. In a broader scriptural context, this mirrors the New Testament teachings where believers are called to live lives free from the "leaven" of malice and wickedness, as seen in <a href="/1_corinthians/5-8.htm">1 Corinthians 5:8</a>. The emphasis on "nothing" highlights the totality of the exclusion, pointing to the comprehensive nature of holiness that God desires from His people.<p><b>in all your homes</b><br />The phrase "in all your homes" indicates that this command was not just for public observance but was to be practiced within the private sphere of the household. The Hebrew word "beyt" for "homes" signifies not just a physical dwelling but also the family unit. This instruction implies that holiness and obedience to God's commands begin at home, within the family. It is a call for the Israelites to ensure that their domestic life aligns with God's statutes. Archaeologically, evidence of ancient Israelite homes shows that they were central to community life, reinforcing the idea that faith and practice were deeply integrated into daily living.<p><b>you shall eat unleavened bread</b><br />The command to "eat unleavened bread" is both a literal and symbolic act. The Hebrew word "matzah" refers to bread made without yeast, which is flat and simple. This bread is a reminder of the Israelites' affliction in Egypt and their subsequent deliverance. It symbolizes humility and reliance on God, contrasting with the puffed-up nature of leavened bread, which represents pride and self-sufficiency. Scripturally, unleavened bread is a type of Christ, who is sinless and pure. The act of eating unleavened bread is a call to partake in the life of Christ, embracing His purity and righteousness. This practice is a profound reminder of God's deliverance and the call to live a life set apart for Him.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/12.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - Here again there is no repetition, but an extension. "Ye shall eat <span class="cmt_word">nothing</span> leavened," not only no leavened <span class="cmt_word">bread</span> (ver. 15), but no leavened cake of any kind. And "<span class="cmt_word">in all your habitations</span> shall ye eat unleavened bread," <span class="accented">i.e.</span>, wherever ye dwell, whether in Egypt, or in the wilderness, or in Palestine, or in Babylonia, or in Media, this law shall be observed. So the Jews observe it everywhere to this day, though they no longer sacrifice the Paschal lamb. <p> CHAPTER 12:21-28 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/12-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">{You are} not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to eat</span><br /><span class="heb">תֹאכֵ֑לוּ</span> <span class="translit">(ṯō·ḵê·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">anything</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">leavened;</span><br /><span class="heb">מַחְמֶ֖צֶת</span> <span class="translit">(maḥ·me·ṣeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2557.htm">Strong's 2557: </a> </span><span class="str2">That which is leavened</span><br /><br /><span class="word">eat</span><br /><span class="heb">תֹּאכְל֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(tō·ḵə·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">unleavened bread</span><br /><span class="heb">מַצּֽוֹת׃</span> <span class="translit">(maṣ·ṣō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4682.htm">Strong's 4682: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sweetness, sweet, an unfermented cake, loaf, the festival of Passover</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in all</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּכֹל֙</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ḵōl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your homes.”</span><br /><span class="heb">מוֹשְׁבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(mō·wō·šə·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4186.htm">Strong's 4186: </a> </span><span class="str2">A seat, assembly, dwelling place, dwelling, dwellers</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/12-20.htm">Exodus 12:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/12-20.htm">Exodus 12:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/12-20.htm">Exodus 12:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/12-20.htm">Exodus 12:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/12-20.htm">Exodus 12:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/12-20.htm">Exodus 12:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/12-20.htm">Exodus 12:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/12-20.htm">Exodus 12:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/12-20.htm">Exodus 12:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/12-20.htm">Exodus 12:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/12-20.htm">OT Law: Exodus 12:20 You shall eat nothing leavened (Exo. 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