Leviticus 23:15

¶ And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:

And ye shall count {H5608} unto you from the morrow {H4283} after the sabbath {H7676}, from the day {H3117} that ye brought {H935} the sheaf {H6016} of the wave offering {H8573}; seven {H7651} sabbaths {H7676} shall be {H1961} complete {H8549}:

"'From the day after the day of rest -that is, from the day you bring the sheaf for waving -you are to count seven full weeks,

From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you are to count off seven full weeks.

And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave-offering; seven sabbaths shall there be complete:

Commentary

Context of Leviticus 23:15

Leviticus chapter 23 meticulously outlines the annual festivals, or "appointed times" (mo'adim), that the Lord commanded the Israelites to observe. These festivals served as a divine calendar, guiding their worship, agricultural cycles, and remembrance of God's mighty acts. Verse 15 specifically details the instructions for the period leading up to the Feast of Weeks, known as Pentecost in the New Testament.

This verse immediately follows the directives for the Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:10-11), where the first sheaf of the barley harvest (the "wave offering") was presented to the priest. The phrase "the morrow after the sabbath" refers to the day after the first Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which marked the beginning of this significant counting period. The command here is to count seven full weeks, or 49 days, from that initial offering, culminating on the 50th day with the Feast of Weeks.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Order and Timing: God establishes a precise calendar for His people, emphasizing His sovereignty over time, seasons, and human activity. The counting period signifies a divinely ordained progression in the agricultural and spiritual year.
  • Agricultural Significance: The counting links the early barley harvest (Firstfruits) with the later wheat harvest (Feast of Weeks). It underscores Israel's dependence on God for their sustenance and the blessings of the land.
  • Anticipation and Preparation: The 49-day count, traditionally known as the "counting of the Omer," fostered a period of anticipation and spiritual readiness for the next major festival, a time of thanksgiving for the complete harvest.
  • Foreshadowing of Pentecost: This Old Testament command profoundly foreshadows the New Testament event of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples, marking the spiritual harvest of souls and the birth of the church.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "seven sabbaths shall be complete" (Hebrew: שֶׁבַע שַׁבָּתוֹת תְּמִימֹת - sheva shabbatot temimot) is significant. The word "sabbaths" (shabbatot) here refers to weeks, not just the weekly day of rest, indicating a full, unbroken period of seven weeks. "Complete" (temimot) emphasizes that the full cycle must be meticulously observed and brought to its perfect conclusion before the next commanded event, the Feast of Weeks itself (Leviticus 23:16), can begin.

Practical Application

Leviticus 23:15 reminds us of several enduring truths:

  • God's Faithfulness: Just as God faithfully brought the harvests to completion, He is faithful to fulfill His promises in our lives and in His redemptive plan.
  • The Value of Anticipation: There is spiritual value in periods of waiting and preparation. The counting of the Omer teaches us to anticipate God's next move with reverence and expectation, much like the disciples waited for the promised Holy Spirit in Jerusalem.
  • Connection Between Old and New: This verse beautifully illustrates how God's ancient commands for Israel find their ultimate spiritual fulfillment in Christ and the New Covenant. The physical harvest pointed to the spiritual harvest of souls, and the giving of the Law on Sinai (traditionally associated with Pentecost) finds its new expression in the giving of the Holy Spirit.
  • Order in Our Lives: God's desire for order and intentionality in worship and life is a timeless principle. Just as He set specific times for His people to meet with Him, we are called to intentionally set aside time for spiritual growth and communion.
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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

  • Leviticus 23:10 (5 votes)

    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:

  • Leviticus 23:11 (5 votes)

    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.

  • 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.

  • Deuteronomy 16:10 (3 votes)

    And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give [unto the LORD thy God], according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

  • Exodus 34:22 (3 votes)

    And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.

  • Leviticus 25:8 (3 votes)

    ¶ And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.

  • Numbers 28:26 (2 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: