Keraia
Leviticus 23

Leviticus 23:11

The Feast of Firstfruits · Leviticus 23:9–14
Read Leviticus 23

Translations

Modern
And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD so that it may be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.
Traditional
And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Literal
And he shall wave the sheaf before the face of YHWH to be accepted on your behalf. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Latin
…qui elevabit fasciculum coram Domino, ut acceptabile sit pro vobis, altero die sabbati, et sanctificabit illum.

Original

Hebrew
English
And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD so that it may be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.

Notes

Leviticus 23:11

The phrase wave it symbolizes offering the grain to the Lord (see study note on Leviticus 7:34).

Leviticus 23:10–14

The burned part of each sacrifice stood for the whole offering, and the tithe symbolized that all of a person's money belonged to God. In a similar way, the first portions of each harvest, or firstfruits, represented the entire harvest and even the land itself as belonging to God (Leviticus 25:23).

During the barley harvest, people offered the first portions as part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6, 10–12). They offered the first portions of the wheat harvest during "the Feast of Weeks" (23:15–21; Exodus 34:22). These gifts to God acknowledged God's earlier gifts to Israel (see Leviticus 2:1). The entire offering of firstfruits became the property and food of God's representatives, the priests (see 2:14–16).

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes

People

Sabbath: The seventh day of the week, set apart for rest and worship

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Education Firstfruits Harvest History of Israel Leviticus, Book of Pentecost

Topics

First Fruits: Wave offering of Offerings: Wave: Ordinances Concerning Priest: Duties of To offer the Firstfruits Priests: Services of Offering First Fruits The Feast of the Passover: The First Sheaf of Barley Harvest offered the Day After The The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Barley Harvest Wave-Offering: Consisted of The First Fruits of Barely Harvest