Exodus 23:15 kjv
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:)
Exodus 23:15 nkjv
You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty);
Exodus 23:15 niv
"Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. "No one is to appear before me empty-handed.
Exodus 23:15 esv
You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you shall eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear before me empty-handed.
Exodus 23:15 nlt
First, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of Abib, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. No one may appear before me without an offering.
Exodus 23 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 12:1-20 | Details on Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. | Establishment of the feasts. |
| Ex 13:3-10 | Remember the day, eat unleavened bread, explanation to children. | Continuation of the command for future generations. |
| Ex 34:18-20 | Reiteration of Unleavened Bread command and "not appear empty". | Another direct command in a later covenant renewal. |
| Lev 23:6-8 | The Feast of Unleavened Bread, offerings, sacred assemblies. | Levitical laws for observance and offerings. |
| Num 28:17-25 | Detailed offerings and rituals for the seven days. | Specific sacrificial requirements. |
| Deut 16:1-8 | Observe month of Abib for Passover, seven days unleavened bread. | Deuteronomy's review and reinforcement of the command. |
| Deut 16:16-17 | Three times a year male must appear before the LORD with an offering. | General principle of bringing an offering. |
| 1 Cor 5:7 | Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump... for Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. | Christ is our true Passover sacrifice. |
| 1 Cor 5:8 | Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven... | Call for spiritual purity and obedience in light of Christ's sacrifice. |
| Luke 22:19 | This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. | Lord's Supper echoes the remembrance theme of Passover. |
| Ex 13:4 | This day came ye out in the month Abib. | Explicit naming of the month of the Exodus. |
| Neh 8:9-12 | Rejoicing because the words of the law were understood. | Emphasizes understanding and joy in obeying God's commands. |
| Ps 116:12 | What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits toward me? | Reflects the sentiment behind "not appearing empty." |
| Rom 12:1 | Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. | New Testament equivalent of presenting oneself fully to God. |
| Heb 13:15 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God. | Offering spiritual sacrifices under the New Covenant. |
| Ps 51:17 | The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart. | Inner disposition is more important than external offering. |
| Gen 8:20 | Noah built an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings. | Earliest example of voluntary offerings to God. |
| Mal 3:10 | Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... test me in this. | Divine challenge concerning faithfulness in giving. |
| Is 1:12 | When you come to appear before me, who has required this... ? | God's warning against ritual without true heart. |
| Mt 5:23-24 | If you are offering your gift... first be reconciled... | Importance of right relationships preceding offerings. |
| Jn 6:35 | I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry... | Spiritual fulfillment of the physical bread. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race... proclaim the excellencies of him who called you. | Identity rooted in God's deliverance, prompting worship. |
| Phil 4:18 | I have received from Epaphroditus what you sent, a fragrant offering. | New Testament example of material gifts as pleasing offerings to God. |
Exodus 23 verses
Exodus 23 15 Meaning
This verse mandates the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, emphasizing its duration of seven days and specifying the consumption of unleavened bread. It highlights the divine origin of this command and grounds its purpose in the historical event of Israel's exodus from Egypt, which occurred in the month Abib. A critical instruction concludes the verse, stating that no one should approach God empty-handed when appearing before Him, signifying the requirement for an offering of gratitude and worship.
Exodus 23 15 Context
Exodus chapter 23 is part of the "Covenant Code" (Exodus 20-23), a detailed collection of laws delivered by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, establishing the legal and moral framework for Israel's life as God's covenant people. Following the Ten Commandments and general statutes, this chapter provides specific socio-religious and judicial laws. Verses 14-19 outline the three annual pilgrimage feasts where all Israelite males were to appear before the Lord: the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Harvest (Weeks/Pentecost), and the Feast of Ingathering (Booths/Tabernacles). Verse 15 specifically focuses on the first of these, setting out its requirements and reinforcing its profound link to their foundational act of redemption from Egypt. This covenant context emphasizes obedience as integral to their relationship with God and memory as a vital component of their faith identity.
Exodus 23 15 Word analysis
- Thou shalt keep: Hebrew: šāmar (שָׁמַר). This word implies careful observance, guarding, watching over, and obeying. It emphasizes not just a casual participation but a diligent, protective adherence to the divine instruction, ensuring its proper continuation and meaning.
- the feast of unleavened bread: Hebrew: ḥag ham·maṣṣōṯ (חַג הַמַּצּוֹת). This identifies the specific annual festival. "Feast" (ḥag) indicates a joyous, communal gathering, often involving a pilgrimage. "Unleavened bread" (maṣṣāh) is bread made without yeast, symbolizing purity, speed, and the haste of their departure from Egypt, leaving no time for dough to rise.
- (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days,: Specifies both the central action (eating unleavened bread) and its precise duration (seven days), highlighting a complete period of consecration and remembrance.
- as I commanded thee,: Hebrew: ka·ʾă·šer ṣiwwî·ṯîḵā (כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִךָ). This phrase firmly establishes the divine authority behind the commandment, attributing its origin directly to God. It removes any human discretion regarding its form or purpose.
- in the time appointed: Hebrew: bə·mō·wə·ʿêḏ (בְּמוֹעֵד). This signifies a fixed or appointed time, a sacred season or assembly. It denotes God's precise scheduling of these divine encounters and rites, emphasizing order and divine initiative rather than human choice.
- of the month Abib;: Hebrew: ḥō·ḏeš hā-ʾā·ḇîḇ (חֹדֶשׁ הָאָבִיב). Abib means "ear of grain" or "green ears," referring to the spring month when barley ripens. It underscores the agricultural context of the feasts while simultaneously anchoring the specific month of the Exodus to this natural seasonal marker. This highlights God's sovereignty over both history and creation.
- for in it thou camest out from Egypt::: This clause provides the foundational historical rationale and spiritual significance for the Feast. It anchors the religious observance to a pivotal act of divine deliverance, ensuring that the ritual serves as a perpetual memorial of God's redemptive power and Israel's liberation from bondage.
- and none shall appear before me empty::: Hebrew: lōʾ yē·rāʾū pā·na-y rē·qām (לֹא יֵרָאוּ פָנַי רֵיקָם). "Appear before me" (yērāʾū pā·nay, literally "My face shall not be seen") means to come into God's presence at His sanctuary. "Empty" (rēqām) means empty-handed, vainly, or without an offering. This is a crucial command, indicating that approaching the Lord in worship and pilgrimage necessitates an act of giving, acknowledgment, and thanksgiving. It demonstrates a proper disposition of heart that recognizes God's sovereignty and provision.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread": This highlights the fundamental mandate for Israel's corporate identity. It's a national covenant observance, not merely a personal one. The act of "keeping" signifies an active, deliberate preservation and execution of the command.
- "(thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib": This comprehensive clause details the duration, the specific dietary practice, divine authority, and precise timing. The seven days signify completion and consecration. The linking back to God's command stresses unwavering obedience and the pre-existing nature of the divine order, emphasizing God's foresight and consistent purpose from the Exodus itself.
- "for in it thou camest out from Egypt": This explanatory phrase links the religious practice to historical redemption. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is not merely an agricultural feast but primarily a historical memorial of liberation from slavery. It serves as a pedagogical tool for future generations to remember their identity and God's mighty acts on their behalf. This emphasis on divine deliverance differentiates Israel's worship from the generic fertility cults of their neighbors.
- "and none shall appear before me empty": This principle transcends the specific feast, applying to all required appearances before God. It reinforces the idea that true worship involves tangible expression, a giving from what God has provided, demonstrating gratitude, acknowledgment of His ownership, and recognition of covenant relationship. It speaks against a merely formalistic or superficial approach to divine presence.
Exodus 23 15 Bonus section
- Pedagogical Purpose: The feasts, especially Unleavened Bread, served a crucial role in intergenerational transmission of faith. They were practical, repeatable events designed to prompt questions from children ("What do these rituals mean?"), leading to explanations of God's mighty acts (Ex 13:8). This ensures covenant memory.
- Theology of Remembering (Zikkaron): The command to "keep" and "remember" this event (and all others linked to the feasts) establishes a core theological principle: Israel's identity and future were rooted in their continuous recollection of God's past intervention. This "zikkaron" made the past event present and dynamic for each new generation.
- Anticipatory Symbolism: The strict avoidance of leaven points beyond historical context to moral and spiritual purity. It anticipates the New Testament concept of spiritual leaven (malice, wickedness) that believers must purge, mirroring Christ as the pure, unblemished sacrifice.
- The Offering as Worship: The directive "none shall appear before me empty" emphasizes that true worship is never passive. It involves a responsive, grateful giving of one's resources and self. This principle is not solely about material wealth but a holistic acknowledgment of God's generosity and rightful claim on all life.
Exodus 23 15 Commentary
Exodus 23:15 stands as a foundational instruction within the Covenant Code, particularly detailing the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It firmly anchors this religious duty in Israel's historical redemption from Egypt, ensuring that every observance is a vibrant memorial of God's mighty deliverance. The consumption of unleavened bread for seven days served not only as a remembrance of the hasty departure but also symbolized a breaking from the old "leaven" of Egypt, pointing to a life of purity and renewal under God's covenant. The explicit divine command, given in the divinely appointed month of Abib, underscores God's sovereignty over time and history. The concluding mandate, "none shall appear before me empty," is profound, setting a standard for worship that involves more than just physical presence. It calls for intentional, grateful offerings, recognizing God as the ultimate provider and sovereign over all resources. This principle resonates throughout scripture, urging believers to offer their "firstfruits" and themselves as acts of worship. In the New Testament, this feast finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, our "Passover Lamb," who enables believers to live as "unleavened," free from sin's corruption.