A little leaven
The phrase "a little leaven" draws from the imagery of leaven, or yeast, which is a small but powerful agent used in baking to cause dough to rise. In the biblical context, leaven often symbolizes influence, particularly of a corrupting nature. The Greek word for leaven is "ζύμη" (zymē), which is used metaphorically in the New Testament to represent sin or false teaching. Historically, leaven was seen as something that could permeate and transform the entire substance it was added to, much like how a small amount of false doctrine or sinful behavior can infiltrate and affect an entire community or church. This imagery is consistent with Jewish customs during Passover, where leaven was removed from homes to symbolize purity and separation from sin.

works through
The phrase "works through" is translated from the Greek word "ζυμόω" (zymoō), which means to ferment or to cause to rise. This term emphasizes the active and pervasive nature of leaven. In the context of Galatians, Paul is warning the church that even a small amount of false teaching or compromise can spread and influence the entire body of believers. The historical context of the early church, which was often threatened by false teachings and divisions, underscores the importance of vigilance and purity in doctrine and practice. The idea is that just as leaven works its way through dough, so too can false teachings or sinful practices work their way through a community if not addressed.

the whole batch of dough
The "whole batch of dough" refers to the entire community of believers. In the Greek, the word for "batch" is "φύραμα" (phyrama), which denotes a lump or mass of dough. This imagery is powerful in illustrating how the actions or beliefs of a few can impact the entire group. In the scriptural context, Paul is addressing the Galatian church, which was being influenced by Judaizers who insisted on adherence to the Mosaic Law for salvation. The historical and cultural backdrop of this epistle highlights the tension between the new covenant of grace through faith in Christ and the old covenant of the law. Paul's use of this metaphor serves as a cautionary reminder that the purity of the gospel must be maintained to preserve the integrity and unity of the church.

(9) A little leaven . . .--A pregnant expression, which leaves a good deal to the reader to supply. The proverb is true which says that a little leaven leavens the whole mass of dough. And so, in your case, the malcontents may be few, but they will soon ruin the whole Church. It seems decidedly more in accordance with the context to take the "little leaven" as referring rather to a few seceders than to a little bad doctrine.

Verse 9. - A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (μικρὰ ζύμη ὅλον τὸ φύραμα ζυμοῖ); a little leaven leaveneth the whole kneading. This proverb is cited again in precisely the same words in 1 Corinthians 5:6, with the words prefixed, "know ye not that." In both passages the leaven is an element of evil, and so also in Matthew 16:11; but our Lord applied it also to an element of good, which was to penetrate (apparently) the whole mass of humanity (Matthew 13:33). What has the apostle precisely in his view as the leaven in the present instance? In 1 Corinthians 5:6 it is unchastity, which, if once tolerated in a Church, especially amid so licentious a population as that of Corinth, would be but too likely to impregnate balefully the sentiment of the whole community. And here likewise, as there, the leaven does not appear to denote, as some have supposed, the individuals in whom some noxious element was conspicuous, but that noxious element itself; namely, to judge from the colouring of the immediate context, the "readiness to hearken" to" another gospel," which was promising comfort and sense of acceptance, more or less, in the practice of at least some of the outward ordinances of Judaism. This leaven had already begun to work, embodying itself in the observance, pedantically and ostentatiously, of the days and feasts of the Jewish calendar (Galatians 4:10). Now, a movement of mind manifesting itself in some form of external religionism, when once it begins to show itself in a Christian community, has a great tendency to spread. For always, in every Church, there are unstable souls, too often not a few, never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; which have never truly discerned Christ's all-sufficiency for their spiritual needs, or have lost any superficial persuasion of it once enjoyed; and which, consciously unsatisfied with what they as yet possess, and nevertheless only toying with spiritual things, are ready to adopt almost any novelty of religious behaviour offering itself for their acceptance. The particular form in which the external religionism of seekers after another gospel clothes itself varies according to varying tastes or circumstances. Among the Galatian Christians such persons were now beginning to feel attracted by that venerable kind of outward piety exhibited by devout or professedly devout Jews; but in their own practice committing the fatal blunder of mistaking the external shows of saintliness for the reality of saintliness, and but too willing to make the former serve in lieu of the latter. The danger of the leaven spreading was, in the present case, increased by the instability of character and the quick impulsiveness belonging to the Celtic temperament. The true antidote to this "leaven" is in every age the same; namely, that which the apostle in this Epistle strives to administer - the gospel of the righteousness and Spirit of Christ crucified.

Parallel Commentaries ...


A little
μικρὰ (mikra)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3398: Little, small. Including the comparative mikroteros apparently a primary word; small (figuratively) dignity).

yeast
ζύμη (zymē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2219: Leaven, ferment, both lit. and met. Probably from zeo; ferment.

leavens
ζυμοῖ (zymoi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2220: To leaven, ferment. From zume; to cause to ferment.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

whole
ὅλον (holon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3650: All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.

batch [of dough].
φύραμα (phyrama)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5445: A mass or lump, as of bread dough. From a prolonged form of phuro, mean to knead; a mass of dough.


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NT Letters: Galatians 5:9 A little yeast grows through the whole (Gal. Ga)