Leviticus 23:15 - The Feast of Pentecost

From the day after the Sabbath
This phrase refers to the timing of the Feast of Weeks, also known as Shavuot or Pentecost. The "Sabbath" here is understood to be the Sabbath following the Passover. This timing is significant as it connects the Feast of Weeks to the Passover, symbolizing a period of liberation and new beginnings. Theologically, this points to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which occurred on the day after the Sabbath, symbolizing a new creation and the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20).

The day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering
The "sheaf of the wave offering" refers to the offering of the firstfruits of the barley harvest, which was presented to the Lord as an act of gratitude and acknowledgment of His provision. This offering was a physical representation of the Israelites' dependence on God for sustenance. In a typological sense, this offering prefigures Christ as the firstfruits of the resurrection, as He was presented to God as the first to rise from the dead, ensuring the future resurrection of believers (1 Corinthians 15:23).

You are to count off seven full weeks
The counting of "seven full weeks" or "fifty days" leads to the Feast of Weeks, which is celebrated on the fiftieth day, known as Pentecost. This period of counting, known as the Counting of the Omer, is a time of anticipation and preparation. Historically, this connects the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, which Jewish tradition holds occurred fifty days after the Exodus. In the New Testament, Pentecost marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles (Acts 2), signifying the birth of the Church and the fulfillment of God's promise to write His law on the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:33).

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Israelites
The original audience of the Levitical laws, including the instructions for counting the weeks leading to the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost).

2. The Sabbath
A day of rest and worship, significant in Jewish tradition, marking the starting point for counting the weeks.

3. The Sheaf of the Wave Offering
An offering of the firstfruits of the harvest, symbolizing gratitude and dedication to God.

4. The Feast of Weeks (Shavuot/Pentecost)
A festival celebrated seven weeks after the wave offering, marking the end of the grain harvest and commemorating the giving of the Torah at Sinai.

5. Moses
The leader and prophet who conveyed God's laws, including these instructions, to the Israelites.

Teaching Points

Understanding God's Timing
The counting of weeks teaches us to be mindful of God's timing and seasons in our lives. It encourages patience and anticipation for God's appointed times.

Gratitude and Dedication
The wave offering symbolizes our need to dedicate the first and best of our resources to God, acknowledging His provision and sovereignty.

Celebrating Spiritual Harvests
Just as the Israelites celebrated the physical harvest, we are called to recognize and celebrate spiritual growth and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Fulfillment in Christ
The Feast of Weeks finds its ultimate fulfillment in the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, reminding us of the new covenant and the empowerment we receive to live out our faith.

Community and Worship
The communal aspect of these feasts highlights the importance of gathering together in worship and celebration, fostering unity and shared faith experiences.

(15) Ye shall count . . . from the morrow after the sabbath.--That is, from the day following the first day of holy convocation, which was a rest day. As this was the fifteenth of Nisan, the counting began from the sixteenth (see Leviticus 23:11), the day on which the omer of the first-fruits was presented to the Lord.

Seven sabbaths shall be complete.--Better, seven weeks shall be complete. That is, seven entire weeks, making forty-nine days. The expression sabbath denotes here a week, hence the parallel passage substitutes the word week, viz., "seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee" (Deuteronomy 16:9), The same usage is to be found in the New Testament. Thus the passage rendered in the Authorised version, "the first day of the week," is "the first day of the sabbath" (Matthew 28:1); and "I fast twice in the week" (Luke 18:12), is, "I fast twice in the sabbath." In accordance with the injunction here given, the Jews to the present day begin to count the forty-nine days at the conclusion of the evening service on the second day of Passover, and pronounce the following blessing every evening of the forty-nine days: "Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast sanctified us with thy commandments, and hast enjoined us to count the omer. This is the first day of the omer. May it please thee, O Lord our God, and the God of our fathers, to rebuild the sanctuary speedily in our days, and give us our portion in thy Law.

Verses 15-21. - The Feast of Pentecost lasted but one day. From the morrow after the sabbath - that is, from the second day of Unleavened Bread - the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths, i.e., weeks, were to be counted, making forty-nine days, and on the day following the completion of the seventh sabbath (meaning here the seventh week), the festival was to be held, whence its later name of Pentecost, or Fiftieth-day Feast. It would have fallen about the beginning of June - a season of the year which would have made the journey to Jerusalem easy. The characteristic offering of the day was that of two wave loaves of two tenth deals... of fine flour... baken with leaven. These loaves were regarded as the firstfruits unto the Lord of the wheat harvest, although the greater part of the crop had now been reaped and housed. They were to be leavened and brought out of your habitations; that is, they were to consist of such bread as was ordinarily used in daily life. They were made out of ears of wheat selected and cut like the barley in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and then threshed and ground in the temple court. Each loaf contained an omer of flour, amounting to about five pints, and would therefore have weighed about five pounds. With these were offered two lambs, which were waved before the Lord by being led backwards and forwards before the tabernacle or the temple, and then the loaves were waved also, but they were not placed upon the altar, as they were leavened. The twentieth verse, which is somewhat obscure in the Authorized Version, should be punctuated as follows. And the priest shall wave them (the two lambs) with the bread of the firstfruits (the two loaves) for a wave offering before the Lord; with the two lambs they (the loaves) shall be holy to the Lord for the priest. The other sacrifices to be offered on this day are described in the text as seven lambs,... one young bullock, and two rams... for a burnt offering unto the Lord, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings,... and one kid of the goats for a sin offering. In the Book of Numbers (Numbers 28:27) they are stated to be "seven lambs," "two young bullocks," "one ram," with meat and drink offerings, and "one kid of the goats." Seeing that in Leviticus one young bullock and two rams are commanded, and in Numbers "two young bullocks and one ram," it is reasonable to suppose that a copyist's error has found its way into one or the other text. The feast was to be kept as a day of holy convocation, and no servile work was to be done upon it. The number of sacrifices offered by individuals who had come to Jerusalem caused the festivity to be in practice continued for several days subsequent to the festival itself. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

From the day after
מִמָּחֳרַ֣ת (mim·mā·ḥo·raṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4283: The morrow, tomorrow

the Sabbath,
שַׁבָּת֖וֹת (šab·bā·ṯō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

the day
מִיּוֹם֙ (mî·yō·wm)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

you brought
הֲבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם (hă·ḇî·’ă·ḵem)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the sheaf
עֹ֖מֶר (‘ō·mer)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6016: A heap, a sheaf, an omer (dry measure)

of the wave offering,
הַתְּנוּפָ֑ה (hat·tə·nū·p̄āh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8573: A brandishing, tumult, the official undulation of sacrificial offerings

you are to count
וּסְפַרְתֶּ֤ם (ū·sə·p̄ar·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate

seven
שֶׁ֥בַע (še·ḇa‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

full
תְּמִימֹ֥ת (tə·mî·mōṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 8549: Entire, integrity, truth

weeks.
הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת (haš·šab·bāṯ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

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Leviticus 23:15 Catholic BibleOT Law: Leviticus 23:15 You shall count from the next day (Le Lv Lev.)