Leviticus 23:14

KJV

And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: [it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

KJV (with Strong's)

And ye shall eat {H398} neither bread {H3899}, nor parched corn {H7039}, nor green ears {H3759}, until the selfsame {H6106}{H2088} day {H3117} that {H5704} ye have brought {H935} an offering {H7133} unto your God {H430}: it shall be a statute {H2708} for ever {H5769} throughout your generations {H1755} in all your dwellings {H4186}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You are not to eat bread, dried grain or fresh grain until the day you bring the offering for your God; this is a permanent regulation through all your generations, no matter where you live

Berean Standard Bible

You must not eat any bread or roasted or new grain until the very day you have brought this offering to your God. This is to be a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live.

American Standard Version

And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched grain, nor fresh ears, until this selfsame day, until ye have brought the oblation of your God: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 23:14 establishes a divine prohibition regarding the consumption of new harvest produce until a specific offering has been presented to God. This verse, situated within the broader instructions for the Feast of Firstfruits, mandates that no Israelite should eat bread, parched grain, or fresh green ears from the new crop until the wave offering of the firstfruits has been brought to the Lord. It underscores Israel's complete dependence on God as the ultimate Provider of their sustenance and serves as a perpetual statute, emphasizing the foundational principle of honoring God with the first and best of all blessings.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 23 is a pivotal chapter in the Pentateuch, meticulously detailing the Lord's appointed feasts, or *mo'adim* (מועדים), which are divine appointments for Israel to meet with God and commemorate His redemptive acts. This chapter begins with the Sabbath and then systematically outlines the annual cycle of festivals: Passover and Unleavened Bread ([Leviticus 23:4-8](/leviticus/23-4 "Leviticus 23:4-8 - Passover and Unleavened Bread")), the Feast of Firstfruits ([Leviticus 23:9-14](/leviticus/23-9 "Leviticus 23:9-14 - The Feast of Firstfruits")), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) ([Leviticus 23:15-22](/leviticus/23-15 "Leviticus 23:15-22 - The Feast of Weeks")), the Feast of Trumpets ([Leviticus 23:23-25](/leviticus/23-23 "Leviticus 23:23-25 - The Feast of Trumpets")), the Day of Atonement ([Leviticus 23:26-32](/leviticus/23-26 "Leviticus 23:26-32 - The Day of Atonement")), and the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) ([Leviticus 23:33-44](/leviticus/23-33 "Leviticus 23:33-44 - The Feast of Booths")). Verse 14 specifically concludes the instructions for the Feast of Firstfruits, serving as the culminating prohibition that ensures the sanctity and divine priority of the initial harvest offering. It highlights that the entire subsequent harvest is consecrated and made permissible for consumption only *after* God has received His due.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The command in Leviticus 23:14 is deeply rooted in the agricultural calendar and societal practices of ancient Israel. As an agrarian society, their life revolved around the cycles of planting and harvesting. The barley harvest was the first grain harvest of the year, typically occurring in the spring, shortly after Passover. The prohibition against consuming any new grain—whether as bread baked from fresh flour, roasted kernels (parched corn), or raw young ears (green ears)—before the firstfruits offering was a tangible expression of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. It served as a constant reminder that the land and its bounty belonged to God, and that their sustenance was a direct gift from His hand. This practice instilled a profound sense of dependence and gratitude, preventing the Israelites from taking God's provision for granted. It also reinforced the principle of divine ownership and the sacredness of the first portion, a concept seen throughout the Mosaic Law, such as in the command to dedicate the firstborn ([Exodus 13:2](/exodus/13-2 "Exodus 13:2 - Consecration of the Firstborn")) and the first of all produce ([Exodus 23:19](/exodus/23-19 "Exodus 23:19 - The First of the Firstfruits")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bread (Hebrew, _lechem'_):** This term broadly refers to food or sustenance, but specifically here, it denotes bread made from the new grain harvest. It signifies the most common and essential form of processed grain for daily consumption. The prohibition on "bread" from the new harvest emphasizes that even the most fundamental staple was not to be consumed until God's portion was presented.
* **Parched Corn (Hebrew, _karmel'_):** Refers to roasted kernels of the new grain. This was a common way to consume fresh grain quickly, often eaten as a snack or a simple meal. The inclusion of "parched corn" indicates that even minimally processed forms of the new harvest were forbidden. It highlights the comprehensiveness of the prohibition, covering various stages of consumption.
* **Green Ears (Hebrew, _'aviv'_):** Denotes fresh, unripe ears of grain, often eaten raw or lightly roasted directly from the field. The term _'aviv_ itself is also the name of the first month of the Hebrew calendar (later called Nisan), when the barley harvest began. This specific mention underscores that *nothing* from the new crop, even in its earliest, rawest form, was to be consumed before the offering.
* **Statute for Ever (Hebrew, _chukkat olam'_):** This phrase signifies a perpetual or everlasting ordinance. It emphasizes the enduring and binding nature of this command, not just for the generation receiving the law but "throughout your generations in all your dwellings." This legal formulary underscores the foundational and unchanging importance of the principle of honoring God with the firstfruits within the covenant.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears,"**: This clause establishes a strict, comprehensive prohibition against consuming any form of the new grain harvest. The listing of "bread," "parched corn," and "green ears" covers the entire spectrum of how the new grain might be eaten, from its raw, unripe state to its processed form as baked bread. This emphasizes the totality of the command: absolutely no part of the new harvest is to be consumed by the people.
* **"until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God:"**: This phrase introduces the critical condition for the lifting of the prohibition. Consumption of the new grain is forbidden *until* the specific firstfruits offering (the sheaf of barley mentioned in [Leviticus 23:10-11](/leviticus/23-10 "Leviticus 23:10-11 - The Wave Offering")) has been presented to the Lord by the priest. This temporal link highlights the divine priority: God's portion must be acknowledged and offered *first* before the people can partake of His bounty. It underscores the principle of consecration—the entire harvest is sanctified through the dedication of its first portion.
* **"[it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings."**: This concluding phrase declares the perpetual and universal nature of this command within Israelite society. "A statute for ever" (חֻקַּת עוֹלָם, _chukkat olam_) signifies an ordinance that is binding for all time, across all generations, and wherever Israelites might reside ("in all your dwellings"). This emphasizes the fundamental and unchanging theological principle embedded in the command: the consistent recognition of God's sovereignty and provision is a timeless requirement for His people.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 23:14 employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is **Prohibition**, explicitly stated with the negative command "ye shall eat neither." This direct injunction leaves no room for ambiguity regarding the forbidden action. Coupled with this is **Conditionality**, indicated by the phrase "until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering." This establishes a clear prerequisite that must be met before the prohibition is lifted, emphasizing the sequence of divine priority over human consumption. The listing of "bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears" functions as a form of **Merism** or **Comprehensive Enumeration**, where specific parts are named to represent the whole. By mentioning different forms of the grain at various stages of preparation and ripeness, the text emphasizes that *no* part of the new harvest, in *any* form, is to be consumed prematurely. Finally, the concluding phrase, "[it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings," is a standard **Legal Formulary** or **Covenantal Formula**, characteristic of Levitical law. This formula underscores the perpetual and universal applicability of the command within the Mosaic Covenant, signifying its enduring importance and binding nature for all Israelites, regardless of time or location.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 23:14 is rich with theological significance, primarily emphasizing the foundational principle of divine priority and the recognition of God as the ultimate Provider. By mandating that the firstfruits of the harvest be offered before any new produce is consumed, God instilled in Israel a profound understanding that all blessings originate from Him. This act was not merely an agricultural ritual but a tangible expression of dependence, gratitude, and obedience to the covenant. It taught the Israelites to acknowledge God's sovereignty over their land, their labor, and their very sustenance, sanctifying the entire harvest through the dedication of its initial portion. This principle extends beyond agriculture, calling believers in every age to honor God with the "first and best" of their lives—their time, talents, resources, and affections—as a demonstration of trust and acknowledgment of His benevolent provision.

* [Proverbs 3:9](/proverbs/3-9 "Proverbs 3:9 - Honor the Lord with your wealth")
* [Exodus 23:19](/exodus/23-19 "Exodus 23:19 - The First of the Firstfruits")
* [Romans 11:16](/romans/11-16 "Romans 11:16 - The Sanctifying Root")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Leviticus 23:14, though rooted in ancient agricultural practices, offers timeless spiritual principles for believers today. It calls us to cultivate a posture of profound gratitude and dependence on God, recognizing that everything we possess—our abilities, our resources, our very breath—is a gift from His hand. The command to offer the firstfruits before consumption challenges us to prioritize God in every area of our lives, giving Him the "first and best" rather than the leftovers. This means dedicating our prime time to prayer and worship, utilizing our strongest talents for His kingdom, and faithfully stewarding our finances by giving generously and sacrificially. It's an invitation to trust that when we honor God first, He will bless and sanctify the rest. This practice fosters a heart of humility, reminding us that our labor is fruitful only by His grace, and it cultivates a spirit of contentment, knowing that our true provision comes from Him alone.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I tend to consume or use my "new harvest" (time, energy, resources) before acknowledging God's provision?**
* **How can I more intentionally give God the "firstfruits" of my day, week, or income as an act of worship and trust?**
* **What does it mean to truly depend on God for my sustenance, both physically and spiritually, in a modern context?**
* **How does a heart of gratitude, as exemplified by this command, impact my daily perspective and choices?**

### FAQ

**What is the "Feast of Firstfruits" and how does Leviticus 23:14 relate to it?**

Answer: The Feast of Firstfruits (Hebrew: *Reishit Katzir*) was one of the three annual pilgrimage festivals commanded by God to ancient Israel, celebrated on the day after the Sabbath following Passover. It marked the beginning of the barley harvest. [Leviticus 23:9-14](/leviticus/23-9 "Leviticus 23:9-14 - The Feast of Firstfruits") outlines the instructions for this feast, which involved bringing a sheaf (omer) of the first ripe barley to the priest as a wave offering to the Lord. Leviticus 23:14 specifically serves as the culminating prohibition for this feast, stating that no Israelite was permitted to eat any new grain—whether as bread, parched corn, or green ears—until this firstfruits offering had been presented to God. This ensured that God received the first acknowledgment and honor for the harvest before any of its produce was consumed by the people, emphasizing His sovereignty and provision.

**Why was it so important for the Israelites to wait to eat the new grain?**

Answer: The command to wait was profoundly significant for several reasons. Firstly, it reinforced the principle of divine ownership: the land and its produce belonged to God, and He was the ultimate Provider of their sustenance. Eating before the offering would have been an act of presumption, taking God's provision for granted. Secondly, it fostered dependence and gratitude, reminding the Israelites that every harvest was a gift, not merely the result of their labor. Thirdly, the act of offering the firstfruits sanctified the entire harvest. By dedicating the initial portion to God, the rest of the crop was deemed permissible and blessed for consumption. Finally, it was an act of obedience and faithfulness to the Mosaic Covenant, demonstrating their commitment to God's laws and their unique relationship with Him. This principle is echoed in other commands concerning firstfruits throughout the Old Testament, such as in [Exodus 23:19](/exodus/23-19 "Exodus 23:19 - The First of the Firstfruits") and [Deuteronomy 26:1-11](/deuteronomy/26-1 "Deuteronomy 26:1-11 - Offering of Firstfruits").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 23:14, with its emphasis on the firstfruits offering and the subsequent sanctification of the entire harvest, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals Jesus as the true and perfect [firstfruits](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ, the Firstfruits") of the resurrection, guaranteeing the future resurrection of all who believe in Him. Just as the barley sheaf offered in the temple was the first portion of the harvest, symbolizing the promise of a full harvest to come, so Christ's resurrection is the definitive proof and promise of the resurrection of all believers. His sacrifice on the cross and triumphant resurrection sanctified not just a portion, but the entire "harvest" of humanity, making reconciliation with God possible. Furthermore, Jesus identifies Himself as the [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), the spiritual sustenance without which one cannot truly live. Through His perfect obedience, He fulfilled the spirit of the law, offering Himself completely to God, thereby making it possible for us to partake freely and fully of the spiritual nourishment He provides. In Christ, we are not merely permitted to eat after an offering; we are invited to feast on the very One who *is* the offering, the source of all life and blessing, who has already secured our eternal provision by giving His "first and best"—His very life—for us ([John 6:51](/john/6-51 "John 6:51 - Jesus, the Living Bread")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.