Deuteronomy 16 3

Deuteronomy 16:3 kjv

Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

Deuteronomy 16:3 nkjv

You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.

Deuteronomy 16:3 niv

Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste?so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt.

Deuteronomy 16:3 esv

You shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven days you shall eat it with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction ? for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste ? that all the days of your life you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 16:3 nlt

Eat it with bread made without yeast. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, as when you escaped from Egypt in such a hurry. Eat this bread ? the bread of suffering ? so that as long as you live you will remember the day you departed from Egypt.

Deuteronomy 16 verses

Deuteronomy 16 3 Meaning

Deuteronomy 16:3 commands that during the Passover and the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, no leavened bread is to be eaten. Instead, unleavened bread, specifically termed "the bread of affliction," must be consumed. This practice serves as a perpetual memorial, recalling the rapid departure of the Israelites from Egypt and prompting remembrance of that foundational day throughout their lives.

Deuteronomy 16 3 Context

Deuteronomy 16 falls within Moses' farewell discourses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. This chapter specifically outlines the regulations for the three annual pilgrim feasts: Passover/Unleavened Bread, Weeks (Pentecost), and Booths (Tabernacles). These feasts required all males to appear before the Lord at the central sanctuary God would choose. Deuteronomy 16:3 details specific instructions for the Passover and the ensuing seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. The immediate context of verses 1-8 focuses solely on the observance of Passover, ensuring that this pivotal moment in Israel's history is never forgotten and continually re-enacted, with the "bread of affliction" serving as a tangible reminder of their hurried departure and hardship in Egypt.

Deuteronomy 16 3 Word analysis

• You shall eat no leavened bread: This phrase (לֹא תֹאכַל עָלָיו חָמֵץ, lo tokhal 'alav chametz) conveys an absolute prohibition.

  • no...: Hebrew lo (לֹא), a strong negation.
  • leavened bread: Hebrew chametz (חָמֵץ). This refers to any bread or dough made with yeast or leavening agents that have been allowed to ferment and rise. Biblically, leaven often symbolizes corruption, sin, swelling, or pride due to its expansive nature (1 Cor 5:6-8; Gal 5:9). Its complete removal during Passover signifies a spiritual cleansing and a definitive break from the past life of slavery and sin.

• seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it: Hebrew שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תֹּאכַל עָלָיו מַצּוֹת (shiv'at yamim tokhal 'alav matzot). This specifies the duration and type of bread.

  • seven days: Refers to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately follows Passover. The number seven in Hebrew culture signifies completion and holiness.
  • unleavened bread: Hebrew matzah (מַצָּה). Flat, thin, unrisen bread, prepared quickly without yeast. It is food made without the comfort of leavening, symbolizing both purity and haste.

• the bread of affliction: Hebrew לֶחֶם עֹנִי (lechem 'oni). This powerful descriptive phrase connects the bread directly to their experience.

  • bread: Hebrew lechem (לֶחֶם), a staple food, signifying sustenance and life.
  • affliction: Hebrew 'oni (עֹנִי). This word means misery, poverty, distress, suffering, or humiliation. Eating this bread recalls the hardship and servitude in Egypt (Deut 26:6-7) but also the swift, humiliating rush out of bondage. It keeps the memory of their bitter past and God's intervention fresh.

• for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste: Hebrew כִּי בְחִפָּזוֹן יָצָאתָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם (ki v'chippazon yatza'ta me'eretz Mitzrayim). This explains why the matzah is eaten.

  • for: Hebrew ki (כִּי), indicating cause or reason.
  • in haste: Hebrew chippazon (חִפָּזוֹן). Refers to the rapid, sudden, urgent departure, without time for preparations like waiting for dough to rise (Ex 12:33-34, 39). God's timing was immediate, compelling their flight. This urgency signifies divine intervention and God's sovereign hand in their deliverance, not just human planning.

• that you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life: Hebrew לְמַעַן תִּזְכֹּר אֶת יוֹם צֵאתְךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ (l'ma'an tizkor et yom tzeit'kha me'eretz Mitzrayim kol yemei chayeykha). This states the explicit purpose of the ordinance.

  • that you may remember: Hebrew לְמַעַן תִּזְכֹּר (lema'an tizkor). Zakar (זָכַר) implies more than just mental recollection; it means to bring to mind, to observe, to acknowledge by action. The entire observance—eating matzah, no leaven, seven days—is designed as an active, embodied act of remembrance.
  • the day when you came out...all the days of your life: The Exodus event is presented not as a singular historical event but as an ongoing truth to be continuously commemorated and understood as the defining moment of Israel's identity and their covenant relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 16 3 Bonus section

• The "bread of affliction" does not imply the bread tasted bad, but rather it referred to their condition as afflicted people and their swift escape.
• This specific instruction to remember the haste (chippazon) explains a deeper layer than simply having no time for dough to rise; it highlights God's immediate and sovereign hand in leading them out, giving no time for hesitation or preparation. It speaks to divine urgency and Moses' unwavering leadership under God's command.
• The ceremonial practices like this Feast had a didactic purpose: to teach future generations about God's powerful deeds and faithfulness (Ex 13:8). This experiential learning deepened their faith.
• The Feast of Unleavened Bread immediately following Passover forms one extended redemptive celebration, emphasizing that deliverance (Passover) must be followed by purity and sanctification (Feast of Unleavened Bread—removal of leaven). This anticipates the Christian journey of salvation followed by ongoing sanctification.

Deuteronomy 16 3 Commentary

Deuteronomy 16:3 serves as a pivotal summary of the spiritual and historical significance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, following Passover. The prohibition of leaven, a substance symbolizing corruption and the hurried constraints of their flight, emphasizes a definitive break from Egypt's spiritual and physical bondage. The substitution of matzah, "the bread of affliction," turns a food necessitated by haste into a profound symbol. This matzah directly connects generations of Israelites to the real hardship and swift divine rescue of their ancestors. Eating it is an act of identification with both the suffering that preceded liberation and the urgent freedom God granted. The directive to remember "all the days of your life" underscores the non-negotiable, perpetual nature of this memorial, reinforcing that the Exodus is the cornerstone of Israel's national and religious identity. This remembrance is not passive recall, but an active, embodied re-experiencing that shapes behavior and worldview, ensuring God's redemptive work is perpetually honored.