Leaven topics with levity

The word "leaven" is not related to the number 110 as in "eleventy" as in "eighty", "ninety", "hundred", "eleventy".
It is from the Old English word "hundendlefti" ≈ "one hundred and ten" from the Old English prefix "hund" ≈ "hundred" and the Old English word "endleofan" ≈ "eleven" and ending "tig" where the hard "g" softened to a "y".

J. R. Tolkien in the Lord of the Rings trilogy popularized the usage of "eleventy" as 110. Tolkien writes the following in regards to Bilbo's birthday: Bilbo was going to be eleventy-one, 111, a rather curious number, and a very respectable age for a hobbit (the Old Took himself had only reached 130); and Frodo was going to be thirty-three, 33, an important number:…

This play on words was used in the Beverly Hillbillies TV comedy series (by Grannie) in the 1960's. The name "Eleventy" has been used in software as a name for a simple static web site generator.

More: Counting and numbers

More: Matthew 16:5-12 Leaven: the yeast of these

More: J. R. Tolkien

Shakespeare, in Macbeth, uses the phrase "Double double toil and trouble, fire burn and caldron bubble" as part of the song of the witches.

The Greek words for yeast or dough come from the ancient Greek word "ζέω" ≈ "boil, seethe, bubble", related to "fervent" (discussed below), which comes from the PIE (Proto Indo-European) root "*YES" ≈ ""

The Sanskrit word "येषति" (yesati) ≈ "boil, bubble up".
The English word "yeast" comes from the Middle English word "yest" ≈ "yeast" and comes from the Old English word "gist" ≈ "yeast" (where the hard "g" often went to a softer "y".)

The German word "Gischt" ≈ "sea foam".
The German word "Gest" ≈ "yeast".
The Gothic word "beistis" ≈ "leaven" (see Mark 8:15, 1 Corinthians 5:6, below) which is related to English "bite".

The Latin word "levandura" ≈ "leaven" comes from the Latin word "levo" ≈ "raise" which is the source of the following English words.

levy - a way to raise money via taxes (they almost never go down)
elevate - to raise up
levitate - to raise up and maintain that elevation
levee - raised earth to protect against floods

A related word is the Latin word "levis" ≈ "light". This "levis" does not appear to be related to Levi's blue jeans whose name was "Levi" and appears to goes back to the Hebrew name for the Levities.

The Latin word "farina" ≈ "flour, meal" and is the name of a milled wheat cereal and the name of a cereal product from Farina Mills.

Note that "leaven" and "zesty" as "hot" are both derived from the word for "fervent" (discussed below).

Here is a discussion on "zesty" as "hot".

Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. [kjv]

οιδα σου τα εργα οτι ουτε ψυχρος ει ουτε ζεστος οφελον ψυχρος ειης ης η ζεστος [gnt]

3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. [kjv]

ουτως οτι χλιαρος ει και ουτε ψυχρος ουτε ζεστος ουτε ψυχρος μελλω σε εμεσαι εκ του στοματος μου [gnt]

Jesus would prefer that the church be either "hot" or "cold" rather than "lukewarm" (neither "hot" nor "cold", shown as "?"). In this case, both "hot" and "cold" appear to be good (e.g., refreshing).

"ζεστός" ≈ "seethed, boiled, hot" and is the source of the English word "zesty".
"ψυχρός" ≈ "cold, frigid, cold-hearted, lifeless, ineffectual"

Is there a pattern to how "hot" and "cold" are used in the Bible as far as being "good", "bad", etc.?

More: Revelation 3:15-16 Zesty hot and frigid cold

Acts 18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. [kjv]

ουτος ην κατηχημενος την οδον του κυριου και ζεων τω πνευματι ελαλει και εδιδασκεν ακριβως τα περι του κυριου ιησου επισταμενος μονον το βαπτισμα ιωαννου [gnt]

… fervens … [v]

As mentioned above, the Greek word for "leaven" comes from the Greek word for "fervent". Here are some verses using that word for "fervent".

Acts 18:25

All

KJV: This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

Greek: ουτος ην κατηχημενος την οδον του κυριου και ζεων τω πνευματι ελαλει και εδιδασκεν ακριβως τα περι του κυριου ιησου επισταμενος μονον το βαπτισμα ιωαννου

Latin: hic erat edoctus viam Domini et fervens spiritu loquebatur et docebat diligenter ea quae sunt Iesu sciens tantum baptisma Iohannis

Wycliffe: This man was tauyt the weie of the Lord, and was feruent in spirit, and spak, and tauyte diligentli tho thingis that weren of Jhesu, and knew oonli the baptym of Joon.

Luther: Dieser war unterweiset den Weg des Herrn und redete mit brünstigem Geist und lehrete mit Fleiß von dem Herrn und wußte allein von der Taufe des Johannes.

Spanish: Éste había sido instruido en el camino del Señor; y siendo ferviente de espíritu, hablaba y enseñaba diligentemente lo concerniente al Señor, aunque sólo conocía el bautismo de Juan.

Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; [kjv]

τη σπουδη μη οκνηροι τω πνευματι ζεοντες τω καιρω κυριω δουλευοντες [gnt]

… slow … bisynesse… [wy]

… busynes … tedious … [ty]

The ancient Greek word "σπεύδω" ≈ "be keen, make haste" in the sense of an urgent focused priority. The Old English word for "busy-ness" became the modern word "business". The KJV (King James Version) "slothful" is "ὄκνος" ≈ "shrinking, hesitation" as in being "fearful".

Paraphrase: Make it an urgent and immediate priority not to shy away or be hesitant of ... serving the Lord.

Anyone in business knows not to be fearful or shy away from approaching a customer rather than have them walk out of the store without buying anything.

More: 2 Timothy 2:15 An urgent focused priority to do diligent study

Romans 12:11

All

KJV: Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Greek: τη σπουδη μη οκνηροι τω πνευματι ζεοντες τω καιρω κυριω δουλευοντες

Latin: sollicitudine non pigri spiritu ferventes Domino servientes

Wycliffe: not slow in bisynesse, feruent in spirit, seruynge to the Lord,

Gothic: usdaudein ni latai; ahmin wulandans; fraujin skalkinondans;

Luther: Seid nicht träge, was ihr tun sollt. Seid brünstig im Geiste. Schicket euch in die Zeit.

Spanish: Diligentes, no perezosos; fervientes en espíritu, sirviendo al Señor.

Job 32:19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. [kjv]

η δε γαστηρ μου ωσπερ ασκος γλευκους ζεων δεδεμενος η ωσπερ φυσητηρ χαλκεως ερρηγως [lxx]

This verse from Job may have significance in relation to old an new wine and wine skins in the GNT (Greek New Testament).

Details are left as a future topic.

Job 32:19

All

KJV: Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

Hebrew: הנה בטני כיין לא יפתח כאבות חדשים יבקע׃

Greek: η δε γαστηρ μου ωσπερ ασκος γλευκους ζεων δεδεμενος η ωσπερ φυσητηρ χαλκεως ερρηγως

Job 41:31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. [kjv]

αναζει την αβυσσον ωσπερ χαλκειον ηγηται δε την θαλασσαν ωσπερ εξαλειπτρον [lxx]

fervescere … [v]

… siedet … [lu]

To "effervesce" is to froth or boil over. It comes from the Latin word "fervesco" ≈ "grow hot, begin to boil".

Job 41:31

All

KJV: He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.

Hebrew: ירתיח כסיר מצולה ים ישים כמרקחה׃

Greek: αναζει την αβυσσον ωσπερ χαλκειον ηγηται δε την θαλασσαν ωσπερ εξαλειπτρον

Latin: fervescere faciet quasi ollam profundum mare ponet quasi cum unguenta bulliunt

Luther: Er macht, daß das tiefe Meer siedet wie ein Topf, und rührt es ineinander, wie man eine Salbe menget.

The English word "enzyme" comes from the German word "Enzym" ≈ "enzyme" which was coined in 1878 by German physiologist Wilhelm Kühne from the ancient Greek prefix "ἐν" ≈ "in" and the ancient Greek word "ζύμη" ≈ "leaven, yeast" as, for example, "sourdough".

The fundamental building block code of enzymes is DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid).

DNA is known as the code of life, a (fairly) fault-tolerant digital code. It contains the building blocks of plant and human life.

All 20 human amino acids can be created with these building blocks and are used to make complex molecules called proteins which make enzymes.

Together, proteins and enzymes control almost everything that happens in life from conception through life until death.

More: DNA: code introduction

1 Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? [kjv]

ου καλον το καυχημα υμων ουκ οιδατε οτι μικρα ζυμη ολον το φυραμα ζυμοι [gnt]

5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: [kjv]

εκκαθαρατε ουν την παλαιαν ζυμην ινα ητε νεον φυραμα καθως εστε αζυμοι και γαρ το πασχα ημων υπερ ημων ετυθη χριστος [gnt]

1 2 3 4 5 + - ▶

Paul uses "leaven" in an interesting way. Apple

An English proverb is that "One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch" (or variation thereof).

1 Corinthians 5:6

All

KJV: Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Greek: ου καλον το καυχημα υμων ουκ οιδατε οτι μικρα ζυμη ολον το φυραμα ζυμοι

Gothic: ni goda so hvoftuli izwara; niu wituth thatei leitil beistis allana daig gabeisteith?

1 Corinthians 5:7

All

KJV: Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Greek: εκκαθαρατε ουν την παλαιαν ζυμην ινα ητε νεον φυραμα καθως εστε αζυμοι και γαρ το πασχα ημων υπερ ημων ετυθη χριστος

Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. [kjv]

μικρα ζυμη ολον το φυραμα ζυμοι [gnt]

A more concise statement by Paul is in Galatians 5:9.

Galatians 5:9

All

KJV: A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Greek: μικρα ζυμη ολον το φυραμα ζυμοι

Latin: modicum fermentum totam massam corrumpit

Wycliffe: A litil souredowy apeirith al the gobet.

*G5445 *5 φύραμα (foo'-ram-ah) : from a prolonged form of phuro (to mix a liquid with a solid; perhaps akin to G5453 through the idea of swelling in bulk), mean to knead; a mass of dough:--lump.

Usage

All

φυραμα *4

Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if ...

1 Corinthians 5:6 ... leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

1 Corinthians 5:7 ... that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. ...

Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

φυραματος

Romans 9:21 ... over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel ...

*G5445 *5 φύραμα (foo'-ram-ah) : from a prolonged form of phuro (to mix a liquid with a solid; perhaps akin to G5453 through the idea of swelling in bulk), mean to knead; a mass of dough:--lump.

Words: φυραμα=4 φυραματος

Here is the progression. Start with a group where everything is going good.

Now get a little leaven into the group. Would "one bad apple" work?

That leaven, or "bad apple" spreads to some others.

Then it spreads more.

Eventually, the leaven has spread to the entire group. The one "bad apple" has made all of the apples bad.

Once it is through the entire group, everything seems consistent and bad teaching or doctrine might not even be noticed.

An English proverb is that "One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch" (or variation thereof).

The origin is that of a metaphor whereby one person can corrupt (or change) an entire group
The English phrase "A rotten apple quickly infects its neighbor" dates to 1340. Wikipedia.

Benjamin Franklin include "the rotten apple spoils his companion" in his Poor Richard's Almanac in 1736. Wikipedia.

Does the apple really spoil the others or were they ready to go bad?

This fundamental question is similar to the corrupting influence of absolute power.

John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton (1834-1902) said that "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men..." in a letter to an Anglican bishop (Wikipedia).

The question is this. Did the power corrupt or did the opportunity to use power show what already existed in the person?

[Augustine and innocence of babies, parents and children]
All balls are red or blue. In a very dark room, what color is a bright red ball? What happens when the light is turned on? [information]

To be "great" one needs an observable "measure" by which one can be "greater" than others.
What does Jesus say about being "great"? Who is the "greatest"?
How does wanting to be "great" relate to "evil" as "oppressing" others and/or oneself?

More: Matthew 16:5-12 Leaven: the yeast of these

More: Matthew 18:6-7 Sea the neck millstone entrapment

More: Matthew 4:1-11 Examining evil temptations

More: Matthew 24:21-24 Short day cutoff

Apparently, a gas related to ethylene which causes the nippering process to accelerate and cause over-ripening is the cause of one bad apple (fruit, etc.) having an effect on making the others go bad (ripen or over-ripen) faster.

The Osmonds musical group of 1970 takes issue with this reasoning in their hit song "One bad apple", released November 14, 1970. It was written with the Jackson 5, including young Michael Jackson, in mind, but then recorded and released by the Osmonds in their album, "Osmonds".
Another song on that Osmonds album was "He ain't heavy, he's my brother". The chorus lyrics providing the title are as follows.

In Genesis in the Garden of Eden, one not necessarily bad but forbidden apple that was eaten did make the whole bunch (i.e., the human race) spoiled.
Thus genetic sin entered the human race and is part of human nature from birth.

In Old English, an apple was a piece of fruit. A pineapple is a piece of fruit that looks somewhat like a pine cone.

Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. [kjv]

ει αλλαξεται αιθιοψ το δερμα αυτου και παρδαλις τα ποικιλματα αυτης και υμεις δυνησεσθε ευ ποιησαι μεμαθηκοτες τα κακα [lxx]

Is it nature (e.g., genetics) or nurture (e.g., environment)? Is it a combination of these?
Jeremiah uses that analogy to tell the people that they have learned to do some of the bad things that they do and they need not be bad in that way.

More: Jeremiah 13:23 Nature and nurture and leopard spots

According to Greek legend, the fruit was a fig - from which the fig leaves for garments were created by Adam and Eve.

Figs and fig trees are mentioned often in the GNT.

Details are left as a future topic.

God provided the sacrifice of a sheep (it would appear) to provide wool clothing as a better covering than the leaves.

Cain learned this later when Abel's animal-based offering was preferred to his plant-based offering.

In Malcolm Gladwell's book "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference" (2007) Gladwell investigates how little changes can add up to suddenly tip the result the other way.

I remember a demonstration of this in chemistry (at a World's Fair) where adding drop by drop did not change the color of the solution until, suddenly, one added drop did change the color of the entire solution.