ScriptureDepth's study of Leviticus 23
“‘You shall count from the next day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be completed:”
Leviticus 23:15
Yahweh instructs Moses to tell the children of Israel to count seven Sabbaths, which sets in motion the timing for the feast of Pentecost.
What Leviticus 23 is about
Yahweh commands Moses to instruct the children of Israel about the Sabbath, a day of rest and holy convocation (vv. 1-3). The annual festivals begin with Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, followed by the feast of unleavened bread for seven days (vv. 4-8). After the harvest, the people are to bring the first fruits to the priest, who will wave the sheaf before Yahweh (vv. 9-14). They will count fifty days to celebrate the feast of weeks, offering various sacrifices (vv. 15-21). The text also commands leaving part of the harvest for the poor (v. 22). In the seventh month, a solemn rest begins with the blowing of trumpets (vv. 23-25). The day of atonement occurs on the tenth day, requiring self-denial and no work (vv. 26-32). The feast of tents starts on the fifteenth day, marked by temporary shelters and joy (vv. 33-43). Moses relays these appointed feasts to the people (v. 44).
Each feast is a statute forever throughout generations in all dwellings.
Leviticus 23 at a glance
- Leviticus 23:1–3The Sabbath Commandment
- Leviticus 23:4–22The Annual Festivals
- Leviticus 23:23–44Additional Feasts and Observances
Key verse: Leviticus 23:15
One thing to notice
The phrase 'you shall' is repeated throughout the text, particularly in the context of festivals and offerings. It appears in verses 4, 10, 15, 17, and 39, structuring the commands given to the people of Israel.
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Leviticus 23 (WEB)
The Sabbath Commandment Leviticus 23:1–3
1Verse 1. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2Verse 2. “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘The set feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts. 3Verse 3. “‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no kind of work. It is a Sabbath to Yahweh in all your dwellings.
The Annual Festivals Leviticus 23:4–22
4Verse 4. “‘These are the set feasts of Yahweh, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their appointed season. 5Verse 5. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, is Yahweh’s Passover. 6Verse 6. On the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to Yahweh. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7Verse 7. In the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. 8Verse 8. But you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh seven days. In the seventh day is a holy convocation: you shall do no regular work.’”
9Verse 9. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 10Verse 10. “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest: 11Verse 11. and he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted for you. On the next day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12Verse 12. On the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb without defect a year old for a burnt offering to Yahweh. 13Verse 13. The meal offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire to Yahweh for a pleasant aroma; and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin.
14Verse 14. You must not eat bread, or roasted grain, or fresh grain, until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God. This is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 15Verse 15. “‘You shall count from the next day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be completed: 16Verse 16. even to the next day after the seventh Sabbath you shall count fifty days; and you shall offer a new meal offering to Yahweh. 17Verse 17. You shall bring out of your habitations two loaves of bread for a wave offering made of two tenths of an ephah of fine flour. They shall be baked with yeast, for first fruits to Yahweh.
18Verse 18. You shall present with the bread seven lambs without defect a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to Yahweh, with their meal offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet aroma to Yahweh. 19Verse 19. You shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old for a sacrifice of peace offerings. 20Verse 20. The priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits for a wave offering before Yahweh, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to Yahweh for the priest.
21Verse 21. You shall make proclamation on the same day: there shall be a holy convocation to you; you shall do no regular work. This is a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. 22Verse 22. “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not wholly reap into the corners of your field, and you must not gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor, and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God.’”
Additional Feasts and Observances Leviticus 23:23–44
23Verse 23. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 24Verse 24. “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest to you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25Verse 25. You shall do no regular work; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh.’” 26Verse 26. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 27Verse 27. “However on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. 28Verse 28. You shall do no kind of work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before Yahweh your God.
29Verse 29. For whoever it is who shall not deny himself in that same day; shall be cut off from his people. 30Verse 30. Whoever it is who does any kind of work in that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31Verse 31. You shall do no kind of work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32Verse 32. It shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall keep your Sabbath.” 33Verse 33. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 34Verse 34. “Speak to the children of Israel, and say, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tents for seven days to Yahweh.
35Verse 35. On the first day shall be a holy convocation: you shall do no regular work. 36Verse 36. Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. On the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. It is a solemn assembly; you shall do no regular work. 37Verse 37. “‘These are the appointed feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh, a burnt offering, and a meal offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, each on its own day—
38Verse 38. besides the Sabbaths of Yahweh, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to Yahweh. 39Verse 39. “‘So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the feast of Yahweh seven days: on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. 40Verse 40. You shall take on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God seven days.
41Verse 41. You shall keep it as a feast to Yahweh seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations. You shall keep it in the seventh month. 42Verse 42. You shall dwell in temporary shelters for seven days. All who are native-born in Israel shall dwell in temporary shelters, 43Verse 43. that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in temporary shelters, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.’” 44Verse 44. Moses declared to the children of Israel the appointed feasts of Yahweh.
World English Bible (public domain)
Go deeper
Ask the AI about Leviticus 23
Bring your question about the chapter, the key verse, or how this passage fits the rest of Scripture. Ask unlimited questions and keep study notes on every chapter. 7 days free, no card.
Main themes in Leviticus 23
Worship and Remembrance
In Leviticus 23, worship is structured around appointed feasts and holy convocations. For example, in vv. 5-8, the chapter details 'Yahweh’s Passover' and the 'feast of unleavened bread', prescribing specific offerings and communal rest. The passage reiterates the need for remembrance through these feasts, as seen in v. 43, where the observance of temporary shelters reminds Israel of their exodus from Egypt. This established rhythm of worship facilitates a continual remembrance of God's actions.
Community and Identity
This chapter outlines communal responsibilities related to worship, particularly in vv. 15-22, where the Israelites are instructed to bring offerings during the harvest. In v. 42, all native-born Israelites are required to dwell in temporary shelters, establishing a practice that fosters community participation. These instructions create a shared experience that ties the community together in their relationship with Yahweh and their collective history.
God's Provision and Faithfulness
God’s provision is underscored in the commands regarding harvest in v. 22, where Israelites must leave portions for the poor and the foreigner, ensuring that all experience His care. Additionally, v. 10 outlines the offering of the 'first fruits of your harvest', which acknowledges God's role in their agricultural success. The entire chapter is a reminder of God’s faithfulness in providing for His people, both spiritually through the feasts and physically through the harvest.
The Rhythm of Life
Leviticus 23 presents a structured rhythm of life through weekly and annual observances. The Sabbath is established in v. 3 as a day of 'solemn rest', while v. 4 introduces a cycle of annual feasts, each with its own rhythm and purpose. This rhythm is echoed in the counting of seven Sabbaths in v. 15, culminating in the feast of weeks. Such a framework invites the community into a predictable pattern that integrates rest, worship, and communal gatherings throughout the year.
Chapter outline
How Leviticus 23 unfolds
Leviticus 23:1–3 The Sabbath Commandment
Yahweh instructs Moses to tell the Israelites about the Sabbath, a day of 'solemn rest' where 'you shall do no kind of work' (v. 3), marking a weekly holy convocation.
Leviticus 23:4–22 The Annual Festivals
Yahweh outlines annual festivals for the Israelites, beginning with Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, with specific offerings and holy convocations prescribed.
Leviticus 23:23–44 Additional Feasts and Observances
The verses describe the observance of the Day of Atonement (vv. 26-31) and the Feast of Booths (vv. 34-43), highlighting specific rituals such as 'you shall afflict yourselves' and the requirement to dwell in temporary shelters.
Key verses
Leviticus 23:15Yahweh instructs Moses to tell the children of Israel to count seven Sabbaths, which sets in motion the timing for the feast of Pentecost.
Get a short devotional by email, one passage and one question a day.
One short email each morning, with the free study guide. Unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. We use your address only to send this email.
Study questions
Questions for studying Leviticus 23
- observeIn v5, what event is marked by the 'fourteenth day of the month'?
- observeWhat must the people do on the 'first day' of the Feast of Unleavened Bread in v7?
- interpretThe phrase 'holy convocation' in vv. 21-22: how does it shape the understanding of community worship?
- interpretThe command to leave gleanings for the poor in v22: what does this tell us about God's concern for social justice?
- applyWhen have you set aside time for a 'holy convocation' as mentioned in v21?
For Bible groups
Study Leviticus 23 with your group
A free one-page handout with the overview, key verse, outline and discussion questions, ready to print for everyone at the table.
Cross-references
Passages that echo Leviticus 23
- Exodus 12Leviticus 23:5 and Exodus 12:6Both mention Passover: Leviticus 23:5 states Yahweh’s Passover, while Exodus 12:6 describes the assembly killing it.
- Nehemiah 8Leviticus 23:34 and Nehemiah 8:14Both discuss the feast of tents: Leviticus 23:34 speaks of the feast for seven days, while Nehemiah 8:14 records the law about dwelling in booths.
- Numbers 28Leviticus 23:5 and Numbers 28:16Both mention Passover: Leviticus 23:5 identifies the day as Yahweh’s Passover, while Numbers 28:16 confirms the same day.
- Deuteronomy 16Leviticus 23:5 and Deuteronomy 16:1Both command observing Passover: Leviticus 23:5 identifies it and Deuteronomy 16:1 recalls the exodus from Egypt.
- Exodus 23Leviticus 23:39 and Exodus 23:16Both speak of harvest feasts: Leviticus 23:39 describes the feast of Yahweh, while Exodus 23:16 mentions the feast of ingathering.
- Leviticus 16Leviticus 23:27 and Leviticus 16:29Both refer to the day of atonement: Leviticus 23:27 describes afflicting yourselves, while Leviticus 16:29 states the same.
Related chapters
Chapters that connect with Leviticus 23
Elsewhere on ScriptureDepth
Where to go from here
- Leviticus: the whole bookLeviticus picks up exactly where Exodus ends: God's glory now fills the tabernacle, and the urgent question is…
- Full Year Chronological Bible, day 48Day 48 of 365: Leviticus 22–24.
- ForgivenessWhat the Bible says about forgiveness, with verses.
- Common Bible questionsThe questions people bring to Bible study, each answered from the text.
- Today's devotionalOne verse and a short reflection, new every morning.
Leviticus 23: frequently asked questions
What is Leviticus 23 about?+
What is the key verse in Leviticus 23?+
What are the main themes of Leviticus 23?+
Studying Leviticus with a print Bible beside you? See our study Bible guides.