Luke 13:21 (KJV)

What does Luke 13:21 mean?

Luke 13:21 compares the kingdom of God—God’s rule—to leaven mixed into flour. Jesus uses an ordinary act of breadmaking to picture a change that spreads through a much larger amount until the whole is affected.

Jesus gives this picture as a second comparison, following the mustard seed in the previous verses. A woman works leaven into the meal, or ground grain, where it is no longer visible as a separate ingredient. His listeners would have known how leaven makes dough rise over time.

The Greek behind Luke 13:21

• “leaven” — ζύμη (zymē): Leaven was fermented dough used to make a fresh batch rise. The word points to an ingredient that works through the mixture, rather than simply being sprinkled on top.

• “hid” — ἐγκρύπτω (enkryptō): The Greek carries the sense of concealing something within something else. Here, the woman mixes the leaven into the meal, placing it out of sight within the larger batch.

• “measures” — σάτον (saton): This word names a measure used for dry goods. Three such measures would make a large quantity of flour, enough for a substantial batch of bread.

Why Luke 13:21 matters

• The comparison draws attention to the reach of the change. The words “till the whole was leavened” point beyond the place where the leaven was first put.

• Jesus uses a familiar household task to speak about God’s rule. The woman’s work with meal would have been recognizable to people who prepared bread in his day.