1 Corinthians 5:7
What does 1 Corinthians 5:7 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 5:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 5:7 means
Paul applies Passover imagery: remove the old leaven so that you may be what you are—“unleavened.” The church’s identity is already set by the atoning death of Christ: “our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ.” As Israel cleared leaven before the feast, believers must clear out sinful practices and mindsets. The command rests on grace: because Christ has died, the church is consecrated to God. Therefore, live consistently with that new status. This verse plainly points to Christ as the fulfillment of Passover, the Lamb whose sacrifice delivers from judgment. Church discipline and personal holiness flow from, and honor, His redeeming work.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Purge 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:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Take away, then, the old leaven, so that you may be a new mass, even as you are without leaven. For Christ has been put to death as our Passover.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862cleanse out, therefore, the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, according as ye are unleavened, for also our passover for us was sacrificed--Christ,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new paste, as you are unleavened. For Christ our pasch is sacrificed.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, according as ye are unleavened. For also our passover, Christ, has been sacrificed;
Context
Paul moves from warning (v. 6) to gospel foundation. Cleansing the community is not about earning favor but aligning with what Christ’s sacrifice has made them. This sets the tone for verse 8’s positive exhortation to “keep the feast” with sincerity and truth. The argument shifts from danger (leaven spreads) to identity and practice (you are unleavened in Christ; therefore purge the old).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 10:17
seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of the one bread.
- Revelation 5:6
And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.
- Acts 8:32
Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:
- John 19:14
Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King!
- John 1:29
On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!
- 1 Corinthians 15:3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
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