Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

EXODUS 13:7KJV
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Exodus 13:7 (KJV)

What does Exodus 13:7 mean?

Exodus 13:7 commands the Israelites to eat only unleavened bread for seven days during the festival, making sure that no leavened bread or any leaven is present anywhere in their homes. This instruction is part of the rules for observing the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which follows the Passover.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, who is then to instruct the Israelites as they prepare to leave Egypt. The command is very specific: not only must they avoid eating leavened bread, but they must also remove all leaven from their living spaces. This careful removal of leaven is a sign of obedience and a reminder of the haste with which they left Egypt, when there was no time for their bread to rise.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 13:7

  • "Unleavened bread" (מַצָּה, matzah) refers to bread made without any leavening agent, emphasizing the need for purity and haste.
  • "Leaven" (שְּׂאֹר, se'or) means any substance that causes dough to rise, such as yeast. Its removal from "all your quarters" (בְּכָל־גְּבֻלֶךָ, b'chol-gevulekha) shows the thoroughness expected—not just avoiding eating it, but removing even the possibility of it being present.
  • "Seen" (רָאָה, ra'ah) is used twice, stressing that leaven or leavened bread should not even be visible, highlighting the seriousness of the command.

Why Exodus 13:7 matters

  • Exodus 13:7 clarifies that the command is not just about diet but about a complete removal of leaven, showing the depth of the ritual's meaning.
  • The verse connects the physical act of removing leaven to the memory of the Exodus, reinforcing the story's importance in Israelite identity.
  • This verse helps explain later Jewish traditions of thoroughly cleaning homes before Passover, showing the roots of those customs in the original command.

Where else these words appear

“leaven” Hebrew H7603 · used in 5 verses

  • Exodus 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
  • Exodus 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
  • Leviticus 2:11 No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.

“bread” Hebrew H2557 · used in 11 verses

  • Exodus 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
  • Exodus 34:25 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning.
  • Leviticus 7:13 Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.

“bread” Hebrew H4682 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
  • Leviticus 2:5 And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.
  • Deuteronomy 16:16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: