Leviticus 23:10

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:

Speak {H1696} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, and say {H559} unto them, When ye be come {H935} into the land {H776} which I give {H5414} unto you, and shall reap {H7114} the harvest {H7105} thereof, then ye shall bring {H935} a sheaf {H6016} of the firstfruits {H7225} of your harvest {H7105} unto the priest {H3548}:

"Tell the people of Isra'el, 'After you enter the land I am giving you and harvest its ripe crops, you are to bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the cohen.

“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘When you enter the land that I am giving you and you reap its harvest, you are to bring to the priest a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest.

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring the sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest:

Commentary

Context of Leviticus 23:10

Leviticus chapter 23 meticulously outlines the various feasts and holy days appointed by the LORD for the children of Israel. These annual festivals, known as mo'edim or "appointed times," served as a divine calendar, teaching profound spiritual truths and commemorating God's mighty acts. Verse 10 specifically introduces the instructions for the Feast of Firstfruits, which was to be observed after the Israelites had entered and settled in the land which God promised to give them. This command was forward-looking, preparing them for life in Canaan, where they would transition from wilderness wanderers to an agrarian society dependent on God's provision for their crops.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Acknowledgement of God's Provision: The primary message of this verse is the recognition that every blessing, especially the bounty of the harvest, comes directly from God. By requiring the first portion, God ensured that His people would always remember He is the ultimate source of their sustenance.
  • Obedience and Trust: Bringing the firstfruits was an act of obedience, demonstrating faith that God would provide the rest of the harvest. It was a tangible expression of trust in His continued faithfulness, even before the full yield was gathered.
  • Sanctity of the First: This principle emphasizes that the "first" or "best" belongs to God. It sets a precedent for dedicating the initial and prime portion of one's increase to Him, rather than waiting to see what is left over. This dedication sanctified the entire harvest.
  • Anticipation of Fulfillment: The offering of firstfruits was a celebration of the beginning of the harvest season, looking forward to the full ingathering. It also foreshadowed a greater spiritual reality, particularly Christ as the firstfruits of the resurrection, guaranteeing the future resurrection of all believers.

Linguistic Insights

The term "sheaf" in this verse comes from the Hebrew word omer (עֹמֶר), which refers to a specific dry measure of grain, or a small bundle of freshly cut grain. The phrase "firstfruits" is from the Hebrew reshith (רֵאשִׁית), meaning "first," "beginning," or "best." It emphasizes the initial, prime quality of the offering, underscoring that God is to receive the choicest part.

Practical Application for Today

While the specific agricultural practice of bringing a sheaf to the priest is not observed today, the underlying principles of Leviticus 23:10 remain profoundly relevant:

  • Gratitude and Recognition: We are called to recognize God as the source of all our blessings—our health, our resources, our talents, and our opportunities. A spirit of continuous gratitude should permeate our lives.
  • Giving Our "First and Best": The command to bring the firstfruits encourages us to give our "first and best" to God, whether it's our time, our energy, our financial resources, or our abilities. This aligns with the wisdom found in Proverbs 3:9, "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase."
  • Trust in God's Provision: Just as the Israelites trusted God for the full harvest after offering the firstfruits, we are called to trust Him for our future needs. Giving generously and faithfully is an act of faith that God will continue to provide.
  • Living in Anticipation: The firstfruits offering was a sign of hope for the future. Similarly, our lives as believers should reflect a hopeful anticipation of God's continued work in us and in the world, culminating in His ultimate redemption and glory. The ritual of bringing the sheaf to the priest for a wave offering on the day after the Sabbath further highlighted this joyful anticipation of the full harvest.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 34:26 (8 votes)

    The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

  • Exodus 23:19 (5 votes)

    The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

  • Numbers 28:26 (3 votes)

    Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks [be out], ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:

  • Deuteronomy 16:9 (3 votes)

    Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from [such time as] thou beginnest [to put] the sickle to the corn.

  • James 1:18 (3 votes)

    Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

  • Revelation 14:4 (3 votes)

    These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:20 (3 votes)

    ¶ But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.