Deuteronomy 16 4

Deuteronomy 16:4 kjv

And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.

Deuteronomy 16:4 nkjv

And no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory for seven days, nor shall any of the meat which you sacrifice the first day at twilight remain overnight until morning.

Deuteronomy 16:4 niv

Let no yeast be found in your possession in all your land for seven days. Do not let any of the meat you sacrifice on the evening of the first day remain until morning.

Deuteronomy 16:4 esv

No leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory for seven days, nor shall any of the flesh that you sacrifice on the evening of the first day remain all night until morning.

Deuteronomy 16:4 nlt

Let no yeast be found in any house throughout your land for those seven days. And when you sacrifice the Passover lamb on the evening of the first day, do not let any of the meat remain until the next morning.

Deuteronomy 16 verses

Deuteronomy 16 4 Meaning

Deuteronomy 16:4 mandates two core prohibitions concerning the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover week). Firstly, no leavened bread, symbolic of corruption or sin, was to be seen within an Israelite's dwelling or territory for the entire seven-day duration of the feast. This demanded a thorough spiritual and physical cleansing. Secondly, no part of the Passover sacrifice, consumed on the first evening, was permitted to remain until the following morning. This underscored the urgency, purity, and completeness of the sacrifice's consumption, emphasizing total devotion and remembrance of the hasty Exodus.

Deuteronomy 16 4 Context

Deuteronomy 16 is part of Moses' farewell discourse, delivered to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab before entering the Promised Land. This chapter focuses on the annual pilgrimage festivals (Passover/Unleavened Bread, Weeks/Harvest, Booths/Tabernacles), re-establishing and clarifying their observances for a life settled in the land. Verse 4 specifically reiterates two strict commandments for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, originally given in Exodus (e.g., Exod 12, 13). This reaffirmation ensures the people's ongoing commitment to memorializing their liberation from Egypt, recognizing Yahweh's holiness, and maintaining ritual purity within their communities once they inhabit the land. It emphasizes that this observance is not merely ceremonial but deeply impacts daily life and communal responsibility for purity before God.

Deuteronomy 16 4 Word analysis

• No: Emphatic negation, underscoring the absolute nature of the command. It's a non-negotiable directive.
• leavened bread: (Hebrew: חָמֵץ chametz) – Fermented or sour dough, representing decay, corruption, and the natural process of decomposition. Spiritually, it symbolizes sin, pride, or moral impurity in Biblical thought due to its expanding nature. Its prohibition points to a requirement for purity and separation.
• shall be seen: (Hebrew: יֵרָאֶה yera'eh) – Literally, "shall be made to appear," "shall be visible." This is stronger than merely prohibiting consumption. It signifies a comprehensive search and removal from possession and presence within the household or property. The holiness of God requires the total absence of that which represents sin. This also speaks to a complete, visible dedication.
• with you: Pertains to personal possession and household presence, emphasizing individual and communal responsibility. Each household was tasked with this thorough purging.
• in all your territory: Extends the prohibition beyond individual homes to one's entire domain or dwelling place, highlighting the all-encompassing nature of this spiritual cleansing and its application across the land promised by God.
• for seven days: (Hebrew: שִׁבְעַת יָמִים shiv'at yamim) – The full duration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, emphasizing sustained, week-long obedience and a deep commitment to purification. Seven often signifies completion or perfection in biblical numerology.
• nor: Another negation, linking the two distinct prohibitions in this verse, underscoring both as critical components of the same divine command.
• shall any of the meat: (Hebrew: בָּשָׂר basar) – Specifically refers to the Passover sacrifice, a lamb eaten during the first evening of the feast. The term evokes the Lamb whose blood protected the Israelites in Egypt.
• which you sacrificed: (Hebrew: זָבַחְתָּ zavachta) – Referring to the act of ritual slaughter, denoting its sacred, sacrificial purpose directly connected to God.
• on the evening of the first day: (Hebrew: בָּעֶרֶב בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן ba'erev ba'yom ha'rishon) – Refers specifically to the night of the 14th/15th of Nisan, when the Passover lamb was killed and eaten, marking the beginning of the week-long feast.
• remain overnight until morning: (Hebrew: יָלִין... לַבֹּקֶר yalin... laboker) – Prohibits any of the sacrificial meat from being kept until sunrise. This ensures the full and immediate consumption of the sacrifice, symbolizing the urgency of the Exodus, preventing decay (which could invite ritual impurity or pagan practices), and emphasizing the complete giving over to God. It highlights the fleeting nature of life and God's provision.

Deuteronomy 16 4 Bonus section

The phrase "shall be seen with you" (לֹא־יֵרָאֶה לְךָ) could imply that it's not merely about individual action but communal responsibility; if it's seen in your midst, even if it belongs to someone else, it defiles the community. This broad interpretation enforces communal holiness. The immediate consumption of the Passover meat and not allowing it to "remain overnight" can also be linked to the concept of spiritual decay and corruption which often metaphorically ties into physical decay. It emphasizes the ephemeral nature of earthly life and highlights that God's grace and provision are for the present moment, to be fully embraced without lingering attachment to the past or waiting for the future. It’s a call to immediate spiritual nourishment and renewal. This meticulousness in ritual also served as a polemic against common Canaanite religious practices, where leftover sacrificial meat might be stored, re-offered, or associated with superstitious rites over multiple days, thus affirming the unique and pure standards of Yahweh's worship.

Deuteronomy 16 4 Commentary

Deuteronomy 16:4 establishes stringent ritual purity requirements for the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. The ban on chametz being "seen" signifies an exhaustive purge, extending beyond merely refraining from eating it, to its complete physical absence. This serves as a tangible reminder of the haste of the Exodus, where there was no time for bread to rise (Exod 12:34). More profoundly, it carries a theological meaning: chametz, through its fermentation and pervasive nature, symbolizes the corrupting influence of sin (1 Cor 5:6-8) or false doctrine (Mt 16:6). The complete removal demands total cleansing and separation from anything impure in preparation for worshiping a holy God. Similarly, the command for the Passover sacrifice not to "remain overnight" stresses prompt consumption. This prevented desecration or putrefaction (Exod 12:10) and ensured that the memorial meal was distinct from pagan rites where leftover sacrifices might be kept or sold. It reinforces the transient nature of the sacrificial Lamb, pointing forward to Christ, the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29), whose atoning work is complete and wholly effective, leaving no residual sin. The commands collectively impressed upon Israel the need for urgency in their redemption, thoroughness in their sanctification, and complete dependence on God's provision.