Exodus 34:18

The feast of vnleauened bread shalt thou keepe: Seuen dayes thou shalt eate vnleauened bread, as I commanded thee in the time of the moneth Abib: for in the moneth Abib thou camest out from Egypt. Exodus 34:18 (KJV)

The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.

Exodus 34:18 is part of the account of Moses receiving the second set of stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments from God. The first set was destroyed when Moses, upon descending from Mount Sinai, found the Israelites worshiping the golden calf they had made. In this verse, God instructs Moses to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This feast was an important event in the Jewish religious calendar, celebrated annually during the month of Abib (later known as Nisan), which corresponds roughly to March‑April. The Feast of Unleavened Bread followed immediately after the Passover and lasted for seven days, during which the people were to eat only unleavened bread.

Key Themes: The Feast of Unleavened Bread was a reminder of the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt after the final plague; they had no time to let their bread rise, so they baked unleavened bread. Symbolically, the removal of leaven, which represents sin and corruption, emphasized the importance of holiness and obedience to God’s commands. God commanded the Israelites to keep this feast as a perpetual ordinance to remember their deliverance from Egypt and their status as a redeemed people. Observing the feast demonstrated faithfulness and acknowledgment of His saving power.

Spiritual Lessons: Remembering God’s Deliverance – as Christians we should regularly recall and celebrate the salvation we have through Jesus Christ, never forgetting how God has brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). The Symbolism of Leaven – leaven often represents sin and pride; the unleavened bread signifies purity and humility, reminding us to examine our hearts, repent, and pursue holiness. Obedience and God’s Commands – God’s instructions to observe the feast were not given lightly; obedience brings blessings and deeper intimacy with Him, and we are called to obey God’s Word and live according to His precepts. Grace and Redemption – just as the Israelites were delivered through the blood of the Passover lamb, we are redeemed through the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. The feast points to the ultimate fulfillment of redemption in Christ, the sinless Bread of Life (John 6:35).