Leviticus 23:1-16

Listen to Leviticus 23:1-16
1 The Lord gave Moses
2 the following regulations for the religious festivals, when the people of Israel are to gather for worship.
3 You have six days in which to do your work, but remember that the seventh day, the Sabbath, is a day of rest. On that day do not work, but gather for worship. The Sabbath belongs to the Lord, no matter where you live. 1
4 Proclaim the following festivals at the appointed times
5 The Passover, celebrated to honor the Lord, begins at sunset on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2
6 On the fifteenth day the Festival of Unleavened Bread begins, and for seven days you must not eat any bread made with yeast. 3
7 On the first of these days you shall gather for worship and do none of your daily work.
8 Offer your food offerings to the Lord for seven days. On the seventh day you shall again gather for worship, but you shall do none of your daily work.
9 When you come into the land that the Lord is giving you and you harvest your grain, take the first sheaf to the priest.
11 He shall present it as a special offering to the Lord, so that you may be accepted. The priest shall present it the day after the Sabbath.
12 On the day you present the offering of grain, also sacrifice as a burnt offering a one-year-old male lamb that has no defects.
13 With it you shall present four pounds of flour mixed with olive oil as a food offering. The odor of this offering is pleasing to the Lord. You shall also present with it an offering of one quart of wine.
14 Do not eat any of the new grain, whether raw, roasted, or baked into bread, until you have brought this offering to God. This regulation is to be observed by all your descendants for all time to come
15 Count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath on which you bring your sheaf of grain to present to the Lord. 4
16 On the fiftieth day, the day after the seventh Sabbath, present to the Lord another new offering of grain.

Leviticus 23:1-16 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.

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Cross References 4

  • 1. 23.3Exodus 20.8-10; 23.12; 31.15; 34.21; 35.2;Deuteronomy 5.12-14.
  • 2. 23.5Exodus 12.1-13;Deuteronomy 16.1, 2.
  • 3. 23.6-8Exodus 12.14-20; 23.15; 34.18;Deuteronomy 16.3-8.
  • 4. 23.15-21Exodus 23.16; 34.22;Deuteronomy 16.9-12.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.