Luke 13:21 kjv

It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Luke 13:21 nkjv

It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

Luke 13:21 niv

It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."

Luke 13:21 esv

It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened."

Luke 13:21 nlt

It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough."

Luke 13 verses

Luke 13 21 Meaning

This verse, a parable by Jesus, illustrates the pervasive, transformative, and often unseen growth of the Kingdom of God. It likens the Kingdom to leaven which, though small in quantity, quietly permeates and alters a large mass of flour until the entire dough is leavened. It emphasizes the internal, radical change and expansion initiated from seemingly humble beginnings, ultimately affecting the whole.

Luke 13 21 Context

Luke 13:21 is one of two brief parables (the other being the parable of the mustard seed) that Jesus tells directly following His discourse on signs of the times and calls for repentance. These parables aim to illustrate the nature and growth of the Kingdom of God. In Luke's narrative, this is a significant point where Jesus teaches about His divine authority and the spiritual reality of God's reign amidst discussions of immediate judgment (from a collapsed tower and Pilate's actions) and a call to enter the narrow door. The parable speaks to the internal, quiet, and gradual expansion of the Kingdom, contrasting with expectations of an immediate, political, and overtly powerful Kingdom. Historically, "three measures of flour" (a sata tria) would equate to about 39 liters or over 10 gallons of flour, which is a massive amount—enough to feed over 100 people. This hyperbole emphasizes the vast scale of the Kingdom's eventual impact despite its seemingly small beginning. Leaven, while often symbolically negative in Old Testament and some New Testament contexts (representing sin or corruption), is used here solely for its potent and permeating quality, showcasing its hidden transformative power on an entire mass.

Luke 13 21 Word analysis

• It is like: This phrase (`ὥς`) introduces a comparison or analogy, signalling a parable that aims to explain a spiritual truth through a familiar, earthly phenomenon.
• leaven (Greek: `ζύμην` - zymēn): Refers to yeast, a small amount of old dough used to ferment a new batch. In various biblical contexts (e.g., Exod 12:15; 1 Cor 5:6-8; Gal 5:9), "leaven" can symbolize corrupting influence, sin, or false doctrine. However, in this parable, the negative symbolism is set aside. Instead, its distinctive quality—its pervasive, transforming power—is highlighted. The emphasis is on its ability to permeate, ferment, and change the entire mass from within. The 'online' and scholarly view supports this positive interpretation here, focusing on the quality of expansion.
• a woman (Greek: `γυνή` - gynē): Represents a typical person involved in household duties. This mundane detail reinforces that the Kingdom's growth often occurs in ordinary, unseen ways, through ordinary people. It might also subtly counter patriarchal expectations of a male-led, outwardly forceful revolution for the Kingdom, suggesting its growth happens through humble, unpretentious means, often overlooked or undervalued by the world.
• took and hid (Greek: `λαβοῦσα ἔκρυψεν` - labousa ekrypsen): "Took" (received/acquired) and "hid" (concealed). "Hid" doesn't imply hiding something negative, but rather an unobserved, internal process. The action is deliberate and intimate, a hidden influence at work within the bulk, underscoring that the Kingdom of God operates subtly, inwardly, not always with outward pomp or fanfare. This suggests a silent, often unseen process of transformation.
• in three measures (Greek: `εἰς ἀλεύρου σάτα τρία` - eis aleurou sata tria): `σάτα` (sata) is plural of `σάτον` (saton), a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew measure `seah` (סְאָה), which was a dry measure typically about 13 liters (about a half-bushel). "Three measures" would therefore be approximately 39 liters, an enormous quantity of flour (around 60-70 lbs or 27-32 kg), enough to bake a substantial amount of bread (over 100 loaves), sufficient to feed a large gathering or a small village. This hyperbole highlights the immense scope and ultimate triumph of the Kingdom, which, despite humble beginnings, will eventually encompass and transform the entire "mass" (the world, humanity).
• of flour (Greek: `ἀλεύρου` - aleurou): The raw material to be transformed. This represents the world, humanity, or the vast societal systems that the Kingdom of God will gradually and comprehensively permeate and transform.
• until it was all leavened (Greek: `ἕως οὗ ἐζυμώθη ὅλον` - heōs hou ezymōthē holon): "Until" signifies the completion of the process, indicating inevitability and totality. "All leavened" means fully permeated and transformed. This phrase underscores the certainty of the Kingdom's ultimate, complete, and comprehensive triumph, permeating every part it touches. It assures the audience of the Kingdom's eventual full realization, regardless of its unnoticeable start.

• "leaven that a woman took and hid": This grouping emphasizes the contrast between the small, common origin point (leaven handled by a woman, in an ordinary household task) and the vast ultimate impact. It points to God's method of working through seemingly insignificant means and people.
• "three measures of flour, until it was all leavened": This highlights the scale and completeness of the transformation. The "three measures" symbolize vastness, and "all leavened" signifies that no part remains unaffected by the permeating influence of the Kingdom. The parable is not about what leavens, but how it leavens – an unseen, internal process yielding comprehensive change.

Luke 13 21 Bonus section

This parable offers insight into both the extensive reach of the Kingdom and its internal, spiritual methodology. Unlike worldly empires built by conquest and visible power, the Kingdom of God operates through spiritual principles like repentance, faith, righteousness, and peace (Rom 14:17). The "woman" who "hid" the leaven suggests that the Kingdom often advances through the quiet, consistent, and sacrificial work of ordinary believers living out their faith in everyday life. Their influence, like the hidden yeast, slowly and surely transforms the "dough" around them, piece by piece. The scale of the "three measures" signifies that this transformative work is meant for the entire world, suggesting a universal scope and the ultimate triumph of God's will. It highlights that the true power of the Kingdom lies not in outward displays, but in its ability to penetrate and revolutionize hearts and societies from within.

Luke 13 21 Commentary

The parable of the leaven vividly portrays the nature of God's Kingdom. Like a small quantity of yeast silently working through a massive amount of flour, the Kingdom begins discreetly and often unremarkably. Its growth is not typically through overt political power or grand display, but through quiet, permeating influence. The key takeaway is the transformative power—how something small can entirely change something vast, from within. The Kingdom operates by influencing individuals' hearts, renewing their minds, and subtly shaping communities and ultimately, the world. The mention of "three measures" underscores the magnitude of the Kingdom's ultimate reach, assuring us that its influence will be complete and universal. This parable reassures that even when God's work seems slow or hidden, its impact is sure and far-reaching, transforming everything it touches entirely. It challenges expectations of immediate, external revolution and instead points to a pervasive, internal transformation.