Unleavened, What's Allowed or Forbidden For The Night of Passover & Days of Unleavened Bread

If you observe/keep the Passover Communion and the Feast of the 7 Days of Unleavened Bread, you are probably confused about what is allowed and what is forbidden. What is truly meant by "leavening" and "leaven" in the bible? Can I eat eggs, popcorn, mayonnaise, cheese, butter, yogurt, rice or beans? These are good questions. Let's dig deep to learn what the truth of this matter really is!

The 2 most relevant key verses are Exodus 12:15 and 13:7, let's take a very close look at these verses in Aramaic Hebrew and also in Greek (Paleo-Hebrew).

Exodus 12:15
(KJV: Babylonian Assyrian Aramaic) Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread (H4682 matzot/matstsah); even the first day ye shall put away leaven (H7603 seor) out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread (chametz H2557 Food leavened by seor) from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

(AOB: Greek Paleo-Hebrew) Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread (G106 azumos. Gen. 19:3 Matt. 26:17), and from the first day you shall have utterly removed leaven (G2219 zyme/zume = enzymes for the purpose of rising bread/grains. Matt. 13:33; 1 Cor. 5:6-8 Gal. 5:9) from your houses.
From the first day until the seventh day, whoever shall eat leaven (G2219 zyme/zume/enzymes for the purpose of rising bread), that soul shall be utterly destroyed from Jesrael.

Exo. 13:7
(KJV: Babylonian Assyrian Aramaic) Unleavened bread (H4682 matzot/matstsah) shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread (H2557 chametz) be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven (H7603 seor) seen with thee in all thy quarters.

(AOB: Greek Paleo-Hebrew) Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread (G106 azumos. Exo.12:15). Nothing leavened (G2220.1 Exo. 12:19-20 Lev. 2:11 Breads/grains leavened by enzymes) shall be seen with you, neither shall you have leaven (G2219 zyme/zume/enzymes for the purpose of rising bread. Exo.12:15) in all your boundaries (property lines).

What Kind of Leavening Agents Did They Have and Use?

The ancient Israelites couldn't buy little paper packets or glass jars of powdered yeast like we do today. What kind of yeast or leavening did they use? They used a "leavening starter" (sourdough starter dough) made from a previous batch of dough. Every day that they made leavened (fluffed up or puffed up) bread or cakes, they would use some starter dough from the previous batch of bread that they had made the previous day. The beginning batch of dough was made leavened by adding and mixing water to the flour and letting it sit for at least 18 minutes, and sometimes hours or overnight, for the natural yeast (already found naturally in all grains) to grow and expand the flour. They did not add yeast. Instead, they allowed the natural yeast to grow, and then kept a remnant of that batch of dough to leaven the next batch, and then the next and the next.
This understanding of the ancient leavening technique is key to understanding the above scriptures and what the ancient words mean.

Let's study the Greeks words shown in Exodus chapters 12 and 13. These would be the words in the Greek Septuagint which is the translation of the bible used by Jesus and the apostles. The Alpha & Omega Bible is an English translation of it. The below numbers are reference numbers used in "Strong's Concordance" which is a dictionary of the entire bible.

G2219 (Greek #2219) = Zyme = Enzyme

Definition of enzyme = Noun in biochemistry = A substance produced by a living organism which acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.
Enzymes are protein molecules that are present in all living things. They speed up and target chemical reactions, in many cases increasing the rate of reaction millions of times. For example, they aid digestion, metabolize and eliminate waste in humans and animals, and play a crucial role in muscle contraction.

There are enzymes in every living thing, even inside our own body! If we take it literal and legalistically, we would have to remove from our house even our own bodies and our family and all pets and animals and also all plants and all foods. Therefore, it can not really mean that we must remove everything that contains enzymes, as that would be impossible to observe.
So what/which enzymes is the bible really talking about? From the context of the scriptures, we see that it's talking about enzymes that makes bread rise. It's important to notice the spiritual symbolism of the bread as well as the historical context. Let's first take a look at the historical context.

Exodus 12:39 (KJV) And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared (cooked) for themselves any victual (food).

The above bible verse shows that the Israelites were thrown out of Egypt very quickly, so they did not have time to leaven their dough. Therefore, the historical context of "unleavened" in Exodus 12-13 is bread. Almost all bible translations include the word "bread" in many of the verses in relation to the unleavened requirements. The enzymes that the bible is talking about is sour dough "starter dough" that they would have used to add to each day's new bread.
However, today we can buy powdered yeast which contains enzymes that can be used to rise bread. If we use it to rise bread, then it's the same concept. Also, if we use eggs to make the bread rise, it's also the same concept. Sour dough, yeast, eggs, baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate), baking powder, vinegar, wine, beer, mayonnaise, yogurt, any of these things can be used to make bread rise, and they all contain enzymes. Bread without any added enzymes can also rise on its own if the flour is allowed to sit mixed with water for longer than 18 minutes. Therefore, what is forbidden during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover), is leavened (rised/risen/fluffed up) bread, regardless of what would be used in the recipe.

G106 = Azumos = A-zumos = Combination of the Letter A + a Version of 2219 Zyme/Enzyme.

This word combination is used to describe bread that does not contain enzymes. It is flat bread, that we call "unleavened bread".

G2220.1

G2220.1 is not found in Strong's Concordance but you can find it at https://studybible.info/strongs/G2220.1 It's most closely related to Greek 2220. zumoo/zymoo. G2220.1 refers to bread and grains leavened by any enzyme.

Spiritual Symbolism of Bread in the Bible

Matt. 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven G2219 of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Matt. 16:11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven G2219 of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Matt. 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven G2219 of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Mark 8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven G2219 of the Pharisees, and of the leaven G2219 of Herod.

Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven G2219 of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

John 6:35 (KJV) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (KJV) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 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: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Gal. 5:9 (KJV) A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (dough).

Did you read the above scriptures in your personal paperback/hardback bible today or just only on this website?
If only online, I encourage you to please open your bible and read these verses both on our website and in your bible. There is power in reading the real bible. Also, did you pray before beginning to read about this specific subject today? If not, I encourage you to take the time now to pray for understanding of truth.

We see from the above verses that leavening/yeast/enzymes is used as a symbolism for sin. This is because sin inflates (puffs up, fluffs up, increases) the carnal sinful self. Sin exalts the self and your own will over and above God's will. In contrast, Jesus is the bread of life which gives us the nourishment of eternal life. Eating unleavened bread for 7 days starting at Passover communion, reminds us that Jesus is the bread of life without sin and that we must receive Him into ourselves and eventually become sinless like Him. It's a lifelong process, but the bible promises us that nothing is impossible to us (Matt.17:10), and instructs us that we must become holy (1 Peter 1:16) and without sin (1 John 3:9 Matt.5:48) in order to enter the fullness of The Kingdom.

But what about in relation to food? Any time and every time in the entire bible where leaven/leavening/enzymes is used in connection to food, it's always in relation to bread or grains. Never just eating eggs alone, or soup, milk, yogurt or cheese or anything else. It's always bread/grains when speaking of food. I am confident that the ancient Israelites knew how to attain milk, yogurt and cheese, all of which contain fermenting enzymes. Yet the bible never refers to unleavened milk, unleavened yogurt or unleavened cheese.

What about eggs? When you fry an egg, there are gases released that cause the egg to fluff up and rise. But the bible never mentions unleavened eggs. Yet it is possible to have unleavened eggs. Science shows that when you boil an egg, it does not release air bubbles and gases to fluff up the egg, but rather, the heat only turns the egg into a solid. So a boiled egg is not leavened, but a fried egg is leavened. As a side note, mayonnaise would also contain leavened eggs, as it's made from whipped/fluffed eggs. But the bible never mentions abstaining from fried eggs or leavened eggs of any kind.

What about rice and beans? During Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, many people abstain from rice and beans because it seems fluffed up to them. But actually, I believe that they are only swelled up with water, not actually aired up. Plus, again, the leavening in the bible is always in relationship to bread grains, never to eggs, milk, rice, beans, etc.

What about oatmeal? Many people also abstain from oatmeal. But I believe it to be similar to rice and beans, in that it's only swelled up with water, not fluffed up with air. Also, it's not being eaten as a bread unless it's bread made from oats. So you do not need to fast from oatmeal during the feast days except only when you are fasting from all foods on The Day of Atonement.

Wine, Beer and Other Alcohol

Leviticus 23:13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.

The above verse shows that during the Old Covenant, wine was commanded to be part of an offering made to God which was to be offered on the day that the sheaf of the first fruits was waved, which was during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. All wine contains live enzymes which has caused the sugars to turn into alcohol. Yet instead of the wine being forbidden during the Feast/Fiest of Unleavened Bread, it was actually commanded, even as Jesus also taught New Covenant Christians to drink wine as an offering to Him on every Passover until He comes again.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

Despite popular false doctrines, the above verses do not command us to take communion often. Nor does it allow us to do so. But rather it says "as often as ye", not "do this often". There's a big difference. I take communion as often as once per year on every Passover until He comes. That's not often. To take communion more often is to cheapen the communion and make it as just another meal. It's holy and should be treated as such. I've had people try to tell me that they always take it serious even though they take communion weekly. That's impossible and they are liars! Passover communion should be very seriously prepared for in advance by several weeks, not just one week after the last time. The other verses in 1 Corinthians tell us to examine ourselves and to also judge the other members of the body (congregation). It warns that some people have gotten sick or even died because they did not take it serious enough and took it in an unworthy manner.

Alcohol, especially wine, is a very important part of the observance of Unleavened Bread. It should be real wine (unless you are an alcoholic). It shouldn't be just grape juice unless you are a little child playing a game, pretending to serve Jesus. The verses in 1 Corinthians reveal that it was truly real wine.

Wine contains fermenting enzymes and can be used to make bread rise. Yet, wine, beer and other alcohol is allowed during the fiesta, and even commanded. So very clearly, the only things forbidden during the fiesta is leavened bread and anything that we would normally use only exclusively for that purpose. So if we have baking soda that we normally use only for making bread rise, then we should remove it from our homes before Passover evening. We can keep it if that specific box is normally used only for cleaning or other use. We can keep eggs as long as we do not add it to grains. We can eat scrambled eggs although it's fluffed up, it's not bread and therefore it's allowed. We can continue to keep and eat mayonnaise, yogurt, milk, cheese, vinegar, beer, etc. even though they are full of enzymes, unless mixed with a grain, they are not leavened breads.
You can eat anything you want during Passover and the 7 Days of Unleavened bread except breads, cakes, cereals and crackers that have leavening ingredients. Also abstain from anything else that lists ingredients of both a leavening agent + wheat, corn or other grain. You can eat soup and other products that contain "yeast" or other leavening agents, as long as the product does not also contain a bread grain such as wheat or barley.

What is Being Eaten As The Replacement For What is Forbidden?

During the Fiesta of Unleavened Bread, we are eating unleavened bread. The bible does not command us to eat unleavened beer, unleavened eggs, unleavened wine, unleavened yogurt, unleavened butter or unleavened soup. Therefore the fact that we are commanded to eat unleavened bread, teaches us what we are replacing. We are replacing leavened bread with unleavened bread. It's all about the bread and the symbolism of it. It's called "The Feast of Unleavened Bread", not "The Feast of Unleavened Everything".

Special Warning About Popcorn and Bread's Natural Hidden Enzymes

Because bread grains already contain their very own enzymes by nature, bread grains can be leavened by adding only water (and not adding any other leavening agent) and allowing the dough to sit longer than 18 minutes. Sometimes people allow their dough to sit for 30 minutes or hours, or even over night. The longer it sits, the more the natural yeasts grow. Therefore, it's important when making your own unleavened bread at home, to fry or bake the dough very quickly, 17 minutes maximum or less! Start the timer as soon as the water comes into contact with the flour. Therefore, add the water last, and work quickly. Yeast dies at about 130-140F. Therefore the tiny amount of natural occurring yeast in the flour will die quickly once the cooking process begins. But if you allow the wet dough to sit for 18 minutes after the water is added, then your unleavened bread will be more fluffy which is not allowed.

Corn is a bread grain. Therefore, if you have popcorn that is already popped, that bread grain has been fluffed up with air. The corn was at one time a living thing, and therefore the kernels of corn contains enzymes. Inside each kernel of popcorn is a tiny droplet of water surrounded by a hard shell called a hull. As the popcorn is heated, the water turns into steam, which builds pressure inside the kernel. When the hull can no longer contain the pressure, the kernel explodes and becomes what we know as popcorn. Because corn is an ingredient in many bread type products such as taco shells and burrito shells, and because the popcorn results in a fluffed up food product, I believe that popcorn that has been popped is a leavened bread product and the tiny drop of water was the leavening agent. In fact, I discovered just now, that some people even make "popcorn bread". I believe, just to be on the safe side, when in doubt, don't eat it. But if the pop corn seeds are not popped yet, there's nothing leavened about it, and does not contain a leavening ingredient and so it's acceptable to have in the house.

Swelled Versus Leavened

Rice, bean, oatmeal and some other foods become swelled with water when they are added to water. This is not leavening. Leavening is the result of gases or air released by yeast or other leavening agent. Leavened food is food that has been fluffed or puffed up with air. Not water. And it's important to remember that the context is always bread in the bible. Never rice, beans, eggs, etc. Only bread and grains used to make bread. Rice, beans and oatmeal are acceptable. They are only swelled up with water, not leavened (puffed up) with air or gases.

Simple List of Forbidden Foods During Passover and Unleavened Bread

Corn, wheat, barley, flour, corn meal or other bread grains that contain or are mixed with a leavening agent such as vinegar, yeast, "leaven", "leavening", baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate), eggs, wine, beer, mayonnaise or other ingredient for the purpose of making the bread grain rise.
Most cold breakfast cereals are bread grains mixed with a leavening agent.
Crackers contain bread grains and usually contain a leavening agent. Check the package for the ingredients.
Burrito shells contain bread grains and usually contain a leavening agent. Check the package for the ingredients.
Popcorn that has been popped is corn (which is a bread grain) and it has been fluffed up with air.
Most cakes and pies contain both bread grains and leavening agents.
Baking soda should not be allowed to stay in your house during the Passover season, unless it is baking soda that is used exclusively only for the purpose of cleaning, toothpaste, healing or other reason and not for the purpose of leavening.
Baking powder should be removed from your home before Passover sunset.
Bread yeast should not be allowed to stay in your house during the Passover season. Wine yeast is acceptable to keep.
Other leavening agents that you would normally use for only the purpose of making breads/cakes/flour or crust rise, should be removed before Passover sunset.

Acceptable

Soup with yeast in it as an ingredient is acceptable to eat during the Passover season because the yeast is not leavening anything. There is no bread in the soup, unless there is bread or noodles in the soup. If there is bread or noodles in the soup with yeast, then it's forbidden because it's leavening bread grains.
Eggs are acceptable to eat. Although scrambled eggs are fluffed up with air, they are not leavening any bread unless added into bread as an ingredient.
Oatmeal if eaten as oatmeal and not as a bread is not leavened, but only swelled up with water. So oatmeal is acceptable.
Rice and beans are acceptable. They are only swelled with water, not leavened.

What To Do If You Find Leavening in Your House During The Feast of Unleavened Bread

It's extremely common that we will find leavened foods or leavening in our homes during the 7 Days of Unleavened Bread. It's an easy mistake that we all make. If and when you find it, the only thing that you can do is to remove it from your home as soon as possible and then just simply ask Jesus for forgiveness. He understands that you only forgot about it being in the home, or you didn't realize that it was an unleavened bread product or you didn't realize it was a leavening product. Just simply remove it and say a very short little prayer and Jesus will be faithful to forgive you. You don't need to beat yourself up over it. It's a honest mistake.

Exceptions: Prepping and Quarantine

If you are wise, you will prepare (prep) for the Great Tribulation. And therefore, you might have multiple boxes of baking soda, baking powder, bread yeast, etc. In this case, you should hopefully be able to take these items to a storage unit rental or a friend's house. But if you don't have such a friend who is not also following Jesus in the truth, and you don't have the money for a paid rental on a storage unit, then leaving the leavening in your home might be the only thing that you can do. In that situation, just simply hide the leavening in a place where you can't see it, nor touch it during the 7 days.
I realize that the bible says that the leavening must not be found within your property. But Jesus is the God of mercy, grace and understanding. He's not legalistic like most people believe. He's understanding. Plus, we must consider what is the spiritual principle of the requirement to remove the leavening from the entire property. Of course, it was so that we would not be tempted to eat it during our fasting from leavening. Plus, preparing for the Great Tribulation is a very special situation that previous generations did not have. Special situations demand exceptions.

Another exception would be during a disease epidemic. During an epidemic, we might be in quarantine, or otherwise unable to take our supplies to the storage unit or friend's or relative's house. Or we might need to save our money instead of paying for a storage unit. God understands our needs. He understands that we must save supplies for the future and that special situations can occur.

I believe that it's fully acceptable to keep leavening in your home in the above special situations but you must not eat the leavening during these holy days.

Passover For New Covenant Christians
Fiesta of Unleavened Bread For New Covenant Christians
God's Holy Days For Christians
What is Done Away?

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