Lexicon :: Strong's G2219 - zymē

ζύμη, -ης, ἡ, (ζέω [but cf. Curtius, p. 626f; Vanicek, p. 760]), leaven: Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21, (Exodus 12:15; Leviticus 2:11; Deuteronomy 16:3, etc.; Aristotle, gen. an. 3, 4; Josephus, Antiquities 3, 10, 6; Plutarch, mor., p. 289f [quaest. Rom. 109]); τοῦ ἄρτου, Matthew 16:12; metaphorically, of inveterate mental and moral corruption, 1 Corinthians 5:8 [1 Corinthians 5:7], (Ignatius ad Magnes. 10); viewed in its tendency to infect others, ζύμη τῶν Φαρισαίων: Matthew 16:6, 11; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1, which figuratively Matthew 16:12 explains of the teaching of the Pharisees, Luke, the passage cited more correctly [definitely?] of their hypocrisy. It is applied to that which, though small in quantity, yet by its influence thoroughly pervades a thing: either in a good sense, as in the parable Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21, (see ζυμόω); or in a bad sense, of a pernicious influence, as in the proverb μικρὰ ζύμη ὅλον τὸ φύραμα ζυμοῖ, a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump, which is used variously, according to the various things to which it is applied, namely a single sin corrupts a whole church, 1 Corinthians 5:6; a slight inclination to error (respecting the necessity of circumcision) easily perverts the whole conception of faith, Galatians 5:9; but many interpretations explain the passage 'even a few false teachers lead the whole church into error.'

BLB Scripture Index of Thayer's