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Exodus 23:15

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Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

Thou shalt keep {H8104} the feast {H2282} of unleavened bread {H4682}:(thou shalt eat {H398} unleavened bread {H4682} seven {H7651} days {H3117}, as I commanded {H6680} thee, in the time appointed {H4150} of the month {H2320} Abib {H24}; for in it thou camest out {H3318} from Egypt {H4714}: and none shall appear {H7200} before {H6440} me empty {H7387}:)

Keep the festival of matzah: for seven days, as I ordered you, you are to eat matzah at the time determined in the month of Aviv; for it was in that month that you left Egypt. No one is to appear before me empty-handed.

You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread as I commanded you: At the appointed time in the month of Abib you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, because that was the month you came out of Egypt. No one may appear before Me empty-handed.

The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep: seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, at the time appointed in the month Abib (for in it thou camest out from Egypt); and none shall appear before me empty:

Commentary

Exodus 23:15 is part of the "Book of the Covenant" (Exodus 20:22-23:33), a collection of laws and statutes given by God to Moses after the delivery of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. This verse specifically outlines one of the three annual pilgrimage festivals that all Israelite males were required to observe before the Lord.

Context

This verse specifies the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately followed the Passover celebration. The broader context of Exodus 23 includes a series of civil, social, and religious laws designed to govern the life of the Israelite nation as they entered the Promised Land. God was establishing a covenant relationship with His people, providing clear instructions for worship, justice, and community life. The annual feasts served as crucial reminders of God's faithfulness and Israel's identity as His chosen people.

Key Themes

  • Remembrance of Deliverance: The primary purpose of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was to ensure that future generations would remember God's miraculous and swift deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The eating of unleavened bread for seven days recalled the haste of their departure, where there was no time for dough to rise (Exodus 12:34).
  • Purity and Separation: Leaven (yeast) in Scripture often symbolizes corruption or sin. The command to eat unleavened bread for seven days after Passover emphasized a spiritual cleansing and a commitment to living a life set apart for God, free from the "leaven" of malice and wickedness (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).
  • Obligation of Worship and Gratitude: The phrase "none shall appear before me empty" underscores the principle that approaching God in worship should always involve an offering. This was not merely a financial requirement but a demonstration of gratitude, dependence, and reverence, acknowledging that all blessings come from Him. It was a tangible expression of their covenant relationship.

Linguistic Insights

  • Abib (אָבִיב - ʼāḇîḇ): This Hebrew word literally means "ear of grain" or "fresh ear." It refers to the month when barley ripens, typically in March or April. Later, this month was known as Nisan. Its mention here anchors the feast to the agricultural cycle and the specific time of the Exodus event.
  • "Empty" (רֵיקָם - rêqām): This term emphasizes the idea of not coming empty-handed. It was a requirement to bring a gift or offering, often from the firstfruits of their harvest, as a sign of honor and thanksgiving to God. This tradition is echoed in other parts of Scripture (Deuteronomy 16:16).

Practical Application

For believers today, Exodus 23:15 offers profound spiritual lessons:

  • Remember God's Deliverance: Just as Israel remembered their physical liberation, Christians are called to constantly remember God's ultimate deliverance from sin and death through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. This remembrance should foster deep gratitude and worship.
  • Live a Life of Purity: The symbolism of unleavened bread encourages us to strive for holiness and to root out sin from our lives. It's a call to ongoing repentance and renewal, living in a manner worthy of our salvation.
  • Worship with Gratitude and Generosity: The principle of "not appearing empty" reminds us that our worship should be holistic, involving not just our presence but also our hearts, time, talents, and resources. We are to come before God with a spirit of giving and thankfulness, recognizing that everything we have comes from Him.
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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Numbers 28:16 (5 votes)

    ¶ And in the fourteenth day of the first month [is] the passover of the LORD.

  • Numbers 28:25 (5 votes)

    And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.

  • Exodus 34:20 (5 votes)

    But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem [him] not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.

  • Luke 22:7 (5 votes)

    ¶ Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

  • Deuteronomy 16:16 (4 votes)

    Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

  • 2 Kings 23:21 (3 votes)

    And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as [it is] written in the book of this covenant.

  • 2 Kings 23:23 (3 votes)

    But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, [wherein] this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem.