Definition: Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Exodus 12:15. It’s a really important passage about cleanliness and avoiding contamination in the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt. Here’s what it means, explained simply: The Basic Idea: This verse is telling God to make the Israelites eat unleavened bread for seven days after they leave Egypt. The purpose is to prevent them from getting sick or contaminated with yeast – a substance that can cause illness and even death. Let’s look at it piece by piece: “Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread…” : This means they must consume bread made without yeast. Yeast is what makes bread rise. “…even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses…” : “Leaven” refers to a small amount of yeast that was used in making bread. It's the thing that causes the dough to bubble and become light and airy. So, this verse means they must not have any yeast in their homes – no bread-making supplies allowed. “For whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.” : This is the scary part! If someone eats anything with yeast on it anytime during those seven days, they'll be considered "cut off" or separated from God’s people – meaning they will be cursed and not allowed to truly belong to them. What was happening before this verse? Before this verse, the Israelites were allowed to eat bread made with yeast. This was a bit of a problem because some people were sick, and it could have spread illness throughout the community. God’s decision to ban yeast was an act of protection for the entire nation. Why is this important? This verse shows how God cares deeply about his people and wants to keep them healthy and safe. It's a reminder that we should always be careful not to contaminate things with unhealthy substances. In short, it’s a rule set by God to protect the Israelites from illness and ensure they remain in his presence. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Give you a historical context for why this law was created? Or perhaps offer a related biblical story or concept?