Why does the woman “hide” the leaven in the parable?
Is there a theological significance to this?
The Koine Greek word that appears in the scriptures is " ἐνέκρυψεν" pronounced "enekrypsen" and literally means "hid"
Yeast is a piece of dough that is left aside for a few days to ferment, it was either dissolved in water in the kneading trough before adding the flour, or hid in the dough and then kneaded with the dough thus causing it to be mixed in it. The later appears the method mentioned by Jesus.
The Parable of the Leaven
Matthew 13:33 (NIV)
33 He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."
Luke 13:20-21 (NASB)
20" And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three [a]pecks of flour until
Is there a theological significance to this?
The leaven spreads though out the dough causing it to ferment, the leaven represents the good news of the Kingdom of God, the dough represents mankind and the fermenting which is pervasive , represents the preaching work.
NOTES: The leaven was usually cut into smaller pieces and poked (hide) in the dough,when kneaded,the leaven spread evenly in the dough.
