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.
For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. On the very first day, you must remove all yeast from your houses. Anyone who eats bread with yeast during those seven days will be expelled from the community of Israel.
God is commanding the Israelites to eat only unleavened bread for seven days and completely remove yeast from their homes, with serious consequences for disobedience.
📚 Historical Context
This command was given as part of the Passover celebration, commemorating Israel's hurried escape from Egypt when they didn't have time to let their bread rise. The removal of leaven symbolized leaving behind the old life of slavery and beginning fresh as God's people. This became an annual festival that Jews still observe today.
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