The first clause repeats what is said in 12.15, but here the passive voice is used. (See the discussion at that verse.) No leavened bread shall be seen with you is literally “and will not be seen to you [anything] leavened.” With you means “in your possession” (New Revised Standard Version). And no leaven uses a different word from leavened bread, referring to the leavening agent, the sourdough itself. (This term is discussed at 12.15.) Shall be seen with you repeats the same words in the second clause, but here the with you takes on a broader meaning, like “among you” (New Revised Standard Version). This is because In all your territory means “anywhere within your borders” (Durham).

The second and third clauses are negative, and they put emphasis on the complete removal of anything leavened as well as the leaven itself. Several translations combine them; for example, Good News Translation has “there must be no yeast or leavened bread anywhere in your land.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .