Exodus 12:20
Exodus 12:20 in Multiple Translations
You are not to eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes.”
Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
Take nothing which has leaven in it; wherever you are living let your food be unleavened cakes.
You must not eat anything with yeast in it. Eat only bread without yeast in all your homes.”
Ye shall eate no leauened bread: but in all your habitations shall ye eate vnleauened bread.
anything fermented ye do not eat, in all your dwellings ye do eat unleavened things.'
You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.’”
Ye shall eat nothing leavened: in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
You shall not eat any thing leavened: in all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.
In your houses, do not eat anything that has yeast in it during those seven days.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 12:20
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Exodus 12:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כָּל
מַחְמֶ֖צֶת
לֹ֣א
תֹאכֵ֑לוּ
בְּ/כֹל֙
מוֹשְׁבֹ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם
תֹּאכְל֖וּ
מַצּֽוֹת
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
מַחְמֶ֖צֶת
châmêts
H2557
leaven
V-Hiphil
לֹ֣א
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
תֹאכֵ֑לוּ
ʼâkal
H398
to eat
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp
בְּ/כֹל֙
kôl
H3605
all
Prep | N-ms
מוֹשְׁבֹ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם
môwshâb
H4186
seat
N-mp | Suff
תֹּאכְל֖וּ
ʼâkal
H398
to eat
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp
מַצּֽוֹת
matstsâh
H4682
unleavened bread
N-fp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Exodus 12:20
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
מַחְמֶ֖צֶת
châmêts
H2557
"leaven"
V-Hiphil
This word refers to leaven or yeast, used to make bread rise, but also symbolizing corruption or evil influence. In the New Testament, Jesus warns against the leaven of the Pharisees, representing hypocrisy and false teachings. It appears in Matthew and Luke.
Definition: the thing leavened, leaven
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: leaven, leavened (bread). See also: Exodus 12:15; Exodus 34:25; Amos 4:5.
לֹ֣א
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
תֹאכֵ֑לוּ
ʼâkal
H398
"to eat"
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Definition: 1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to eat (human subject) 1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds) 1a3) to devour, consume (of fire) 1a4) to devour, slay (of sword) 1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought) 1a6) to devour (of oppression) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be eaten (by men) 1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire) 1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh) 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to cause to eat, feed with 1c2) to cause to devour 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to feed 1d2) to cause to eat 1e) (Piel) 1e1) consume Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
Usage: Occurs in 703 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. See also: Genesis 2:16; Leviticus 6:9; Numbers 24:8.
בְּ/כֹל֙
kôl
H3605
"all"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
מוֹשְׁבֹ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם
môwshâb
H4186
"seat"
N-mp | Suff
A seat can refer to a physical place of sitting or a gathering of people, like an assembly. It can also mean a dwelling place or location, and is sometimes used to describe a group of people living together.
Definition: 1) seat, assembly, dwelling-place, dwelling, dwellers 1a) seat, sitting, those sitting, sitting company or assembly 1b) dwelling place, dwelling 1c) situation, location 1d) time of dwelling 1e) those dwelling, dweller
Usage: Occurs in 43 OT verses. KJV: assembly, dwell in, dwelling(-place), wherein (that) dwelt (in), inhabited place, seat, sitting, situation, sojourning. See also: Genesis 10:30; 1 Samuel 20:25; Psalms 1:1.
תֹּאכְל֖וּ
ʼâkal
H398
"to eat"
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Definition: 1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to eat (human subject) 1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds) 1a3) to devour, consume (of fire) 1a4) to devour, slay (of sword) 1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought) 1a6) to devour (of oppression) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be eaten (by men) 1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire) 1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh) 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to cause to eat, feed with 1c2) to cause to devour 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to feed 1d2) to cause to eat 1e) (Piel) 1e1) consume Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
Usage: Occurs in 703 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. See also: Genesis 2:16; Leviticus 6:9; Numbers 24:8.
מַצּֽוֹת
matstsâh
H4682
"unleavened bread"
N-fp
In the Bible, matstsah refers to unleavened bread, a sweet bread made without yeast, often eaten during the Passover festival. It symbolizes purity and simplicity. This bread is mentioned in Exodus and Leviticus.
Definition: unleavened (bread, cake), without leaven.
Usage: Occurs in 42 OT verses. KJV: unleaved (bread, cake), without leaven. See also: Genesis 19:3; Numbers 6:15; Ezekiel 45:21.
Study Notes — Exodus 12:20
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The Feast of Unleavened Bread
18In the first month you are to eat unleavened bread, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day.
19For seven days there must be no leaven found in your houses. If anyone eats something leavened, that person, whether a foreigner or native of the land, must be cut off from the congregation of Israel.
20You are not to eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes.”
21Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and told them, “Go at once and select for yourselves a lamb for each family, and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22Take a cluster of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin, and brush the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out the door of his house until morning.Exodus 12:20 Summary
This verse reminds us that God wants us to be obedient to His commands, just like the Israelites were told to eat unleavened bread. Eating unleavened bread was a way for the Israelites to remember the miracle of their escape from Egypt (as seen in Exodus 12:11) and to symbolize the removal of sin from their lives (as seen in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8). By following God's commands, we can show our love and respect for Him, just as the Israelites did. We can also apply this principle to our own lives by removing sinful habits and patterns, just as the Israelites removed leaven from their homes, and by being obedient to God's commands, even when it's difficult.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was it so important for the Israelites to eat unleavened bread?
Eating unleavened bread was a reminder of the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, as seen in Exodus 12:11, and it also symbolized the removal of sin, as leaven is often used to represent sin in the Bible, such as in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.
What would happen if someone ate leavened bread during this time?
According to Exodus 12:19, if anyone ate something leavened, they would be cut off from the congregation of Israel, emphasizing the seriousness of disobedience to God's commands.
Was this command only for the Israelites or did it apply to foreigners as well?
Exodus 12:19 makes it clear that this command applied to both foreigners and natives of the land, indicating that God's expectations were for all people living among the Israelites to follow His commands.
How long did the Israelites have to eat unleavened bread?
The Israelites were to eat unleavened bread for seven days, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day, as stated in Exodus 12:18.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can remove 'leaven' from my own life, just as the Israelites removed physical leaven from their homes?
- How can I apply the principle of hastily obeying God's commands, just as the Israelites did when they left Egypt?
- In what ways can I use the symbolism of unleavened bread to remind myself of God's deliverance in my life?
- How can I balance the seriousness of obedience to God's commands with the grace and mercy that He offers to those who disobey?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 12:20
Ye shall eat nothing leavened,.... Bread or anything else that had any leaven in it: in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread, that is, if they eat any bread at all, it must be such;
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 12:20
Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 12:20
Exodus 12:20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.Ver. 20. Ye shall eat nothing leavened.] Watch carefully against corruption in life and doctrine: be punctual in your preparation to and participation of the Christian passover.
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 12:20
20. in all your habitations] i.e. throughout the land generally. Another of P’s standing expressions: Exodus 35:3, Leviticus 3:17; Leviticus 7:26; Leviticus 23:3; Leviticus 23:14; Leviticus 23:21; Leviticus 23:31, Numbers 35:29; cf. Ezekiel 6:6; Ezekiel 6:14. 21–27 (J). Moses gives the people directions for the observance of the Passover. As Di. has shewn, the passage cannot be the real sequel to vv. 1–13. Moses does not here repeat to the elders, even in an abridged form, the injunctions before received by him; but while, with the one exception of the application of the blood to the lintel and side posts of the door, nearly all of the many particulars laid down in vv. 1–13 are omitted, fresh points (the hyssop, the basin, none to leave the house till the morning), not mentioned before, are added. The inference is irresistible that Exodus 12:21-23 is really part of a different account (i.e. J’s) of the institution of the Passover, which ‘stands to Exodus 12:3-13 in the same relation in which the regulations respecting Maẓ ?ẓ ?oth in Exo Exodus 13:3-10 stand to those in Exodus 12:14-20’ (Di. p. 100; ed. 2, p. 111).
Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 12:20
18-20. These verses repeat and emphasize the details of the ordinance.