Leviticus 23:9-14

Offering the Firstfruits

9 The LORD said to Moses,

10 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.

11 He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.

12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the LORD a lamb a year old without defect,

13 together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah^[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the LORD, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin^[b] of wine.

14 You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

Leviticus 23:9-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 23

In this chapter an account is given of the several holy days, times, and seasons, appointed by God, under the general names of feasts and holy convocations; and first of the sabbath, Le 23:1-4; then of the passover and feast of unleavened bread, Le 23:5-8; to which is annexed the sheaf of the firstfruits, Le 23:9-14; after that of the feast of weeks or pentecost, Le 23:15-22; and of the feast of trumpets, Le 23:23-25; and of the day of atonement, Le 23:26-32; and of the feast of tabernacles, Le 23:33-44.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 15:2,18
• 2. S Leviticus 19:9
• 3. S Leviticus 19:9; Exodus 23:16,19; Exodus 34:26
• 4. S Exodus 22:29; S Exodus 34:22; Romans 11:16
• 5. S Exodus 29:24
• 6. S Exodus 28:38
• 7. S Leviticus 12:6
• 8. S Exodus 12:5
• 9. Leviticus 2:14-16; S Leviticus 6:20
• 10. ver 17; Leviticus 24:5; Numbers 15:6; Numbers 28:9
• 11. S Genesis 35:14
• 12. S Leviticus 10:9
• 13. Joshua 5:11; Ruth 2:14; 1 Samuel 17:17; 1 Samuel 25:18; 2 Samuel 17:28
• 14. Exodus 34:26
• 15. Leviticus 3:17; Numbers 10:8; Numbers 15:21
• 16. Jeremiah 2:3

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, probably about 7 pounds or about 3.2 kilograms; also in verse 17
• [b]. That is, about 1 quart or about 1 liter