Exodus 23:16

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, [which is] in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Next, the festival of harvest, the firstfruits of your efforts sowing in the field; and last, the festival of ingathering, at the end of the year, when you gather in from the fields the results of your efforts.

Berean Standard Bible:

You are also to keep the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the produce from what you sow in the field. And keep the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather your produce from the field.

American Standard Version:

and the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of thy labors, which thou sowest in the field: and the feast of ingathering, at the end of the year, when thou gatherest in thy labors out of the field.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the feast^{H2282} of harvest^{H7105}, the firstfruits^{H1061} of thy labours^{H4639}, which thou hast sown^{H2232} in the field^{H7704}: and the feast^{H2282} of ingathering^{H614}, which is in the end^{H3318} of the year^{H8141}, when thou hast gathered^{H622} in thy labours^{H4639} out of the field^{H7704}.

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Commentary for Exodus 23:16

1. **Themes:**
- **Agricultural Cycle:** The verse emphasizes the importance of the agricultural cycle in ancient Israel, highlighting two key festivals tied to the harvest seasons.
- **Religious Observance:** It prescribes religious observance in conjunction with agricultural activities, integrating faith with daily life.
- **Gratitude and Offering:** The themes of gratitude for the harvest and the obligation to offer firstfruits to God are central, reflecting a culture of thankfulness and acknowledgment of divine provision.
- **Community Celebration:** The festivals mentioned are communal celebrations, reinforcing the idea of shared worship and the collective identity of the Israelites.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time of Planting and Harvest:** Exodus 23:16 refers to the Feast of Harvest (also known as Shavuot or Pentecost) and the Feast of Ingathering (Succoth or Tabernacles), which were established during the time of Moses, following the Exodus from Egypt.
- **Post-Exodus Legislation:** This verse is part of the legal code given to the Israelites after their deliverance from slavery, as they were being shaped into a nation.
- **Covenant Relationship:** The instructions for these festivals are part of the Mosaic covenant, which outlined the relationship between God and Israel, including statutes and ordinances for religious and social life.
- **Agrarian Society:** The verse reflects the agrarian nature of Israelite society, where the success of harvests was critical for survival and formed the backdrop for religious practices.

In summary, Exodus 23:16 encapsulates the intertwining of religious and agricultural life in ancient Israel, mandating festivals that celebrate the harvest while reinforcing the community's covenant relationship with God. These festivals served to remind the Israelites of God's provision and their dependence on divine favor for the fruitfulness of their land.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2282
   There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חַג
   Transliteration: chag
   Pronunciation: khag
   Description: or חָג; from חָגַג; a festival, or a victim therefor; (solemn) feast (day), sacrifice, solemnity.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7105
   There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָצִיר
   Transliteration: qâtsîyr
   Pronunciation: kaw-tseer'
   Description: from קָצַר; severed, i.e. harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or figuratively; also a limb (of a tree, or simply foliage); bough, branch, harvest (man).
   
3. Strong's Number: H1061
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בִּכּוּר
   Transliteration: bikkûwr
   Pronunciation: bik-koor'
   Description: from בָּכַר; the first-fruits of the crop; first fruit (-ripe (figuratively)), hasty fruit.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4639
   There are 221 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַעֲשֶׂה
   Transliteration: maʻăseh
   Pronunciation: mah-as-eh'
   Description: from עָשָׂה; an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property; act, art, [phrase] bakemeat, business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making, occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, [idiom] well, (handy-, needle-, net-) work(ing, -manship), wrought.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2232
   There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָרַע
   Transliteration: zâraʻ
   Pronunciation: zaw-rah'
   Description: a primitive root; to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify; bear, conceive seed, set with sow(-er), yield.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7704
   There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂדֶה
   Transliteration: sâdeh
   Pronunciation: saw-deh'
   Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild.
   
7. Strong's Number: H614
   There are 73 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָסִיף
   Transliteration: ʼâçîyph
   Pronunciation: aw-seef'
   Description: or אָסִף; from אָסַף; gathered, i.e. (abstractly) a gathering in of crops; ingathering.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3318
   There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצָא
   Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
   
9. Strong's Number: H8141
   There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁנֶה
   Transliteration: shâneh
   Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
   Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly).
   
10. Strong's Number: H622
    There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָסַף
    Transliteration: ʼâçaph
    Pronunciation: aw-saf'
    Description: a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.); assemble, bring, consume, destroy, felch, gather (in, together, up again), [idiom] generally, get (him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from leprosy), (be) rereward, [idiom] surely, take (away, into, up), [idiom] utterly, withdraw.