Quick Definition
leaven, ferment
Strong's Definition
ferment (as if boiling up)
Derivation: probably from G2204 (ζέω);
KJV Usage: leaven
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ζύμη, ζύμης, ἡ (ζέω (but cf. Curtius, p. 626f; Vanicek, p. 760)), leaven: Mat_13:33; Luk_13:21 (Exo_12:15; Lev_2:11; Deu_16:3, etc.; Aristotle, gen. an. 3, 4; Josephus, Antiquities 3, 10, 6; Plutarch, mor., p. 289f (quaest. Rom. 109)); τοῦ ἄρτου, Mat_16:12; metaphorically, of inveterate mental and moral corruption, 1Co_5:1-13 :(), (Ignatius ad Magnes. 10 [ET]); viewed in its tendency to infect others, ζύμη τῶν Φαρισαίων: Mat_16:6; Mat_16:11; Mar_8:15; Luk_12:1, which fig. Mat_16:12 explains of the teaching of the Pharisees, Luke, the passage cited more correctly (definitely?) of their hypocrisy. It is applied to that which, though small in quantity, yet by its influence thoroughly pervades a thing: either in a good sense, as in the parable Mat_13:33; Luk_13:21 (see ζυμόω); or in a bad sense, of a pernicious influence, as in the proverb μικρά ζύμη ὅλον τό φύραμα ζυμοῖ, a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump, which is used variously, according to the various things to which it is applied, viz. a single sin corrupts a whole church, 1Co_5:6; a slight inclination to error (respecting the necessity of circumcision) easily perverts the whole conception of faith, Gal_5:9; but many interpretations explain the passage 'even a few false teachers lead the whole church into error.'
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ζύμη zymē 13x
leaven, yeast, Mat_16:12 ; Mat_13:33 ;
met. leaven of the mind and conduct, by a system of doctrine or morals, used in a bad sense, Mat_16:6 ; Mat_16:11 ; 1Co_5:6 leaven; yeast.
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ζύμη , -ης , ἡ ,
[in LXX for H2557 , Exo_12:16 ; Exo_13:3 ; Exo_23:18 ; Exo_34:25 , Deu_16:3 ; H7603 , Exo_12:16 ; Exo_12:19 ; Exo_13:7 , Lev_2:11 , Deu_16:4 * ;]
leaven: Mat_13:33 , Luk_13:21 ; τ . ἄρτου , Mat_16:12 . Metaph ., of a moral influence or tendency, always, exc . in the Parable of the Leaven ( Mat_13:33 , Luk_13:21 ), for evil: 1Co_5:6-8 , Gal_5:9 ; ζ . τ . Φαρισαίων , Mat_16:6 ; Mat_16:11 , Mar_8:16 , Luk_12:1 ( Cremer , 723).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ζύμη [page 274]
In a proposal to lease 10½ arourae of catoecic land, P Tebt II. 375 .27 (A.D. 140), a certain Ision amongst other conditions says δ ]ῴσω σοι καθ᾽ ἔτος ζύμης ἠρτυμένης ἀρτάβης δίδυρον , I will pay you annually 2/3 artaba of prepared leaven (Edd.) : cf. ib. 401 .35 (early i/A.D.). The word represents *ζῡσμᾱ or *ζῡμᾱ , cf. ζωμός , broth, Lat. ius (Boisacq, p. 311).
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
ζύμη ζύ_μη, ἡ, [Etym: ζέω] "leaven":—metaph. of "corruption, falsehood", NTest.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ζύμη, -ης, ἡ
[in LXX for חָמֵץ, Exo.12:16 13:3 23:18 34:25, Deu.16:3; שְׂאֹר, Exo.12:16, 19 13:7, Lev.2:11, Deu.16:4 * ;]
leaven: Mat.13:33, Luk.13:21; τ. ἄρτου, Mat.16:12. Metaphorical, of a moral influence or tendency, always, exc. in the Parable of the Leaven (Mat.13:33, Luk.13:21), for evil: 1Co.5:6-8, Gal.5:9; ζ. τ. Φαρισαίων, Mat.16:6, 11, Mrk.8:16, Luk.12:1 (Cremer, 723).†
(AS)