ζῡμ-όω G2220
to leaven, cause to ferment; to permeate thoroughly like yeast in dough
Derived from zyme (leaven), this verb describes the process by which a small quantity of yeast permeates and transforms an entire batch of dough. Jesus uses it positively in the parables of the kingdom (Matt 13:33; Luke 13:21), where a woman hides leaven in three measures of flour until the whole is leavened. Paul inverts the image: a little leaven leavens the whole lump, warning against tolerating sin (1 Cor 5:6; Gal 5:9). French 'faire lever/fermenter' captures both the literal baking process and its figurative force.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To leaven or cause to ferment—describing how yeast permeates and transforms dough completely. In Jesus' parables (Matt 13:33; Luke 13:21) the verb illustrates the kingdom's hidden but total transformative power: a woman mixes leaven into flour until the whole batch is leavened. Paul uses the same image negatively (1 Cor 5:6; Gal 5:9), warning that tolerating a little moral corruption will infect the entire community. French 'faire lever' (to cause to rise) and Spanish 'leudar' both preserve the concrete baking metaphor. 4×
AR["اختَمَرَ", "اخْتَمَرَ", "تُخَمِّرُ"]·ben["খামির-ওঠল", "খামির-দেয়?", "খামিরিত-হলো", "ফুলিয়ে-তোলে।"]·DE["durchsaeuern", "ἐζυμώθη"]·EN["leavens", "was-leavened"]·FR["faire-lever", "fermenter"]·heb["הֶחְמִיץ", "מַחְמִיץ", "מַחְמִיצַ"]·HI["खमिर-करति.", "खमीर-उठा", "खमीर-करता-है", "खमेएर-हो-गयअ"]·ID["beragi", "mengembang", "meragi?", "meragikan"]·IT["fermentare", "lievitare", "zumoi"]·jav["dados-ragi", "damel-ragi?", "mataun", "ngragi-aken."]·KO["발효되었다", "부풀리노라.", "부풀리느냐"]·PT["fermentou", "foi-fermentado", "leveda"]·RU["вскисло", "заквашивает", "заквашивает?"]·ES["fue-leudado", "leuda", "leuda?"]·SW["huchachua", "ikaumuka", "iliumuka", "inachaisha?"]·TR["mayalandı", "mayalar"]·urd["خمیر-کرتا-ہے", "خمیر-ہو-گیا", "خمیر-ہوا"]
Related Senses
H8081 1. oil (substance) (180×)H3196 1. wine (fermented grape juice) (141×)H1706 1. honey (54×)H4682 1. unleavened bread/cakes (53×)H2461 1. milk (42×)H8492 1. new wine / must (38×)H0400 1. food, nourishment (36×)G3631 1. wine (34×)H3978 1. food, nourishment (30×)H1314 1. spice / perfume / balsam (29×)H7416 1. pomegranate (fruit/ornament) (28×)H3323 1. fresh oil, olive oil (23×)H2964 1. prey, torn flesh (19×)H3899 2. food, sustenance (19×)G1033 1. food (17×)G5160 1. food (16×)H5561 1. spices, aromatic substances (16×)H0402 1. food, nourishment (14×)G2219 1. leaven (13×)H4478a 1. manna (13×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ζῡμ-όω, ζύμη ) leaven, μικρὰ ζύμη ὅλον τὸ φύραμα ζ. NT:—passive, to be leavened, ferment, LXX+1st c.AD+; of digestion, τὰ μέλανα -οῦται Refs 5th c.BC+; [κοιλίη] ἐζυμωμένη in a ferment, Refs __2 cause to effervesce, γῆν Refs 2nd c.AD+ —passive, ζυμουμένη [χύτρα] Refs 2nd c.AD+