Why Unleavened Bread?

Question

I need to know, the myth the theory and history. Even where the word, 'Unleavened comes from. But most of all what Unleavened bread represents.

I know what it is I need to know what it stands for its History.

Answer 1

The simplest answer is that unleavened bread represents the bread hastily made by the Israelites when they fled Egypt. Leavened bread takes time to rise and there was no time for this. This event is remembered every year in the Passover, when matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten during the Passover seder. Therefore, matzah at this meal can be seen to represent the release from slavery and is a symbol of G_d's remembrance of His people. Some biblical references to injunctions on leavened bread can be found in Ex. 12:15-17; Lev. 23:6; Deut. 16:3; Ex. 12:30-34 and 39.

There are other associated customs, such as the search for and removal of chametz (leaven) from the house in the lead-up to Passover - this is best explained by the experts on the Judaism 101 site cited below. As this site notes, a figurative interpretation of the removal of leaven is a removal of 'puffiness' or arrogance. The other site notes in addition that the fermentation process involved in leavened bread and the tendency of leaven to permeate all it touches can be seen as a metaphor for sin. Biblical references to this idea include Gal. 5:9; I Cor. 4:18-19; 5:2; Col. 2:18. In this way, the physical cleansing of the house of chametz/leaven can stand for an inner spiritual search and cleansing.

It is an interesting note that Lot's family baked unleavened bread for the two angels that came to Sodom - Gen. 19:3.

Some Christians also see messianic significance in unleavened bread, which is a little more difficult to explain. In the first instance, Jesus was without sin, in the way that unleavened bread is without leaven (referring to the ideas above). Tenuous links can also be made with the striped and pierced appearance of matzah and Christ's body on the cross. Bread and particularly unleavened bread is often referred to in the New Testament (which is not surprising given that the early Christians were Jewish). Indeed, Jesus referred to Himself as the bread of G-d and of life (John 6:33, 35). It could also be interpreted that He used the breaking of bread at Passover to represent His own portented death and broken body.

Paul uses Passover rituals, including the eating of unleavened bread, to illustrate Christ's sacrifice and our salvation - '... therefore let us keep the feast, not with leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth' I Cor. 5:7-8.

Lastly, the English word 'leaven' is Middle English from the Old English 'levain' which itself is from a Gallo-Roman use of the Latin 'levamen' meaning relief, which in turn is from 'levare', meaning lift. It is used to mean the substance added to dough to make it rise (usually yeast) but has also come to mean a pervasive transforming influence or, as a verb, to modify with a tempering element (The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 1990)

Answer 2

Days of Unleavened bread. 7 days a three hundred and sixty 5 days. previous testomony. Falls between Passover and Pentecost. No, no longer wine. No, do no longer save lent. importance... to recollect the Hebrews making haste as they fled Egypt. Symbolism: The 'leavening' is symbolized as 'sin' and that's the putting out of sin from their lives. Grew up interior the cult that lived like this... all previous testomony holy days have been strictly saved. the days of Unleavened Bread ... additionally we had to 'unleaven' our properties, workplaces, and so on. any components we owned, became into to grow to be unleavened.

Answer 3

Unleavened bread has no yeast.

The term unleavened breads can also refer to breads which are not prepared with leavening agents. These flatbreads holds special religious significance to adherents of Judaism and Christianity. Jews consume unleavened breads such as Matzo during Passover. They are also used in the Western Christan liturgy when Christians celebrate the Eucharist.

Answer 4

When God freed Israel from slavery in Egypt, He told His people that for "seven days you shall eat unleavened bread" (Exodus 12:15). Verse 39 further explains: "And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves."

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They were in a hurry.

Answer 5

So it wouldn't spoil during their long journey, as leavened bread made with yeast would!