"to leaven, cause to ferment, Mt. 13:33; Lk. 13:21; 1 Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9*"
Definition and meaning
to leaven, cause to ferment, Mt. 13:33; Lk. 13:21; 1 Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9*
In the original Greek the word is written: ζυμόω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of zymoo (G2220) across the King James Bible.
Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
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Common questions
Strong's G2220 (zymoo) is a Greek word that means: to leaven, cause to ferment, Mt. 13:33; Lk. 13:21; 1 Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word zymoo (G2220) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2220 is zymoo, a Greek word defined as: to leaven, cause to ferment, Mt. 13:33; Lk. 13:21; 1 Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
zymoo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.