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 5:7KJV
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1 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 5:7 mean?

1 Corinthians 5:7 urges the believers in Corinth to remove what is corrupting their community, using the image of cleaning out old leaven (yeast) so that they can be like a new, pure batch of dough. The verse connects this action to Jesus, saying that Christ, like the Passover lamb, has been sacrificed for them.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, addressing a situation where they have tolerated serious wrongdoing among their members. He uses the picture of leaven, which in Jewish tradition often symbolized sin or impurity, to explain that even a small amount can affect the whole group. By referencing Christ as "our passover," Paul ties their need for purity to the story of Passover, when Israelites removed all leaven from their homes and sacrificed a lamb as a sign of being set apart for God.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 5:7

  • ζύμη (zymē; "leaven"): This word refers to yeast or fermenting agent, and in Jewish tradition, it often symbolized sin or corruption. Paul uses it to illustrate how even a little wrongdoing can spread through the whole community.
  • πάσχα (pascha; "passover"): This word points directly to the Jewish festival commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egypt. Paul calling Christ "our passover" highlights Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, connecting the Christian faith to the roots of the Passover story.
  • ἐκκαθάρατε (ekkatharate; "purge out"): This verb means to cleanse thoroughly. Paul is not just suggesting a minor adjustment but a complete removal of what corrupts, emphasizing the seriousness of the call to holiness.

Why 1 Corinthians 5:7 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Paul is not just talking about individual behavior but about the health and purity of the whole church community.
  • The connection to Passover helps readers see how early Christians understood Jesus' death as fulfilling and transforming Jewish traditions.
  • Paul’s use of the leaven image shows how small compromises can have a big impact, urging believers to take even minor wrongs seriously for the sake of the whole group.