1 Corinthians 5:7 kjv
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1 Corinthians 5:7 nkjv
Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
1 Corinthians 5:7 niv
Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch?as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
1 Corinthians 5:7 esv
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
1 Corinthians 5:7 nlt
Get rid of the old "yeast" by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.
1 Corinthians 5 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Corinthians 5:7 | Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. | Connects to Passover symbolism |
| Exodus 12:15 | Eat unleavened bread the first day... | Old Testament Passover commands |
| Exodus 13:6-7 | You shall eat unleavened bread seven days... | Further Passover stipulations |
| Leviticus 2:11 | For whatever... you shall offer as a grain offering to the LORD. | Prohibition of leaven in offerings |
| Deuteronomy 16:3 | You shall eat nothing with it (Passover lamb) containing leaven... | Reinforces unleavened aspect |
| Matthew 16:6 | Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. | Jesus uses leaven metaphorically |
| Mark 8:15 | Take care, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees... | Parallel teaching from Jesus |
| Luke 12:1 | Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. | Clarifies the metaphor |
| Galatians 5:7 | You were running well. Who hindered you...? | Christian life as a race |
| Galatians 5:9 | A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. | Reiteration of the principle |
| Hebrews 12:1 | Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely | Call to lay aside sin |
| 1 Peter 1:15 | But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. | Universal call to holiness |
| 2 Peter 1:4 | that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world because of passionate desire. | Escaping corruption |
| Romans 6:19 | For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness... | Past slavery to sin |
| Romans 6:12 | Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body... | Command to resist sin |
| Colossians 2:11 | In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands... | Spiritual circumcision concept |
| Ephesians 4:22 | to put off your old self, which is being corrupted... | Putting off the old self |
| 1 Corinthians 11:28 | Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. | Self-examination for communion |
| Revelation 3:20 | Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him... | Christ's invitation |
1 Corinthians 5 verses
1 Corinthians 5 7 Meaning
This verse emphasizes the importance of continuous purification from spiritual sin, like yeast contaminates dough. The call to remove the "old leaven" signifies getting rid of persistent sin and embracing the new life offered in Christ. This is a call to an ongoing state of holiness, not a one-time event.
1 Corinthians 5 7 Context
1 Corinthians chapter 5 addresses a severe case of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church—a man cohabiting with his stepmother. Paul instructs the church to expel this individual from their fellowship, emphasizing that their tolerance of such sin was like allowing leaven (symbolizing sin) to corrupt the entire community (the "lump of dough"). This verse, therefore, serves as an analogy to reinforce the need for cleansing within the body of Christ. The broader context of 1 Corinthians deals with divisions, immorality, and misunderstandings within the church, highlighting Paul's concern for the purity and proper functioning of believers. Historically, Passover, with its unleavened bread, was a central festival in Judaism, signifying freedom from sin and impurity, a theme Paul leverages here for the new covenant reality.
1 Corinthians 5 7 Word analysis
"Cleanse": (Gk: katharate) — Aorist imperative. A forceful command to remove. It's an active purging or purifying. It’s more than just cleaning; it implies making something thoroughly free from impurities or undesirable elements.
"out": Implicit in the Greek verb for cleansing, carrying the sense of expulsion.
"the old leaven": (Gk: to palaios zymē)
- "old": (Gk: palaios) — Refers to that which is ancient, outmoded, or pertains to the former time, distinct from something newly created.
- "leaven": (Gk: zymē) — In its literal sense, it's yeast or fermenting agent, which causes dough to rise. Biblically, it is consistently used metaphorically to represent corruption, sin, malice, or something that corrupts and spreads insidiously.
"that": (Gk: hina) — Indicates purpose. The cleansing is for a specific reason.
"you may be": (Gk: genēsthe) — Future subjunctive of ginomai (to become, to be). Points to the resulting state after the action of cleansing.
"a new lump": (Gk: nean lyma)
- "new": (Gk: nean) — Refers to something recently made, fresh, and distinct from the old.
- "lump": (Gk: lyma) — Refers to the whole mass of dough.
"as you are": (Gk: kathōs ester) — As a statement of present fact, reflecting their identity in Christ.
"unleavened": (Gk: azymos) — Without leaven. Directly links back to the Passover imagery.
Words-group analysis: The phrase "cleanse out the old leaven" employs the leaven metaphor prevalent in both Jewish tradition (Passover) and Jesus' teaching. The leaven represents the pervasive, corrupting influence of sin (specifically the unrepentant sin discussed in the preceding verses). The call is not to a superficial or partial removal but a thorough expulsion to reveal the true nature of the community, which, as believers, should be inherently "unleavened" – pure and holy, reflecting their new status in Christ.
1 Corinthians 5 7 Bonus Section
The emphasis on being "unleavened" connects deeply with the concept of sincerity and truth, as opposed to the deceptive nature often associated with leaven in parabolic usage. In 1 Corinthians 5:8, Paul explicitly links this to the festival: "Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." This verse underscores that their observance of the new spiritual reality in Christ (the true Passover Lamb) must be characterized by an authentic, uncorrupted life, free from the impurities of sin and malice. The call is for a holy community that reflects God's nature.
1 Corinthians 5 7 Commentary
The instruction to "cleanse out the old leaven" is a direct exhortation to actively and thoroughly remove any sinful influence or practice that compromises the spiritual purity of the church community. This isn't just about outward appearance but an internal, vital necessity for remaining true to their identity as followers of Christ. The "old leaven" refers to the sin being tolerated within the Corinthian church, particularly the sexual immorality, which, like yeast, can corrupt the entire body if left unchecked. The purpose of this purging is to reveal their identity as a "new lump, as you are unleavened." This speaks to their redeemed status in Christ, where they are set apart, and this outward conformity (removing the sin) should match their inward reality. This directive echoes the Old Testament Passover feast, where leaven was meticulously removed from households for seven days, symbolizing the purification from sin and a remembrance of God’s deliverance. This spiritual cleansing is ongoing, requiring constant self-examination and accountability within the body of believers.