Exodus 34 22

Exodus 34:22 kjv

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

Exodus 34:22 nkjv

"And you shall observe the Feast of Weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year's end.

Exodus 34:22 niv

"Celebrate the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the year.

Exodus 34:22 esv

You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year's end.

Exodus 34:22 nlt

"You must celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the first crop of the wheat harvest, and celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the harvest season.

Exodus 34 verses

Exodus 34 22 Meaning

Exodus 34:22 commands the Israelite people to observe two significant annual pilgrimage festivals: the Feast of Weeks, marking the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering, which concludes the agricultural year. This verse highlights the interconnectedness of worship, gratitude, and God's provision within the covenant established with Israel, requiring His people to acknowledge Him as the source of their sustenance and blessings by bringing their choicest produce.

Exodus 34 22 Context

Exodus 34 details the renewal of the covenant after Israel's sin with the golden calf. Moses returns to Mount Sinai, and God, proclaiming His character (Exod 34:6-7), graciously reinstitutes His covenant commands. Verses 10-26 outline key aspects of this covenant, particularly regarding worship. This section mandates specific practices to ensure Israel's fidelity, including the observance of three annual pilgrimage festivals: the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover), the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Ingathering. Verse 22 specifically focuses on the latter two, emphasizing their connection to Israel's agricultural life and God's role as the sovereign provider of all harvests. Historically and culturally, these feasts integrated Israel's faith into the very rhythms of their agrarian society, countering surrounding pagan cults that attributed fertility and harvest success to various false deities like Baal.

Exodus 34 22 Word Analysis

• And you shall observe:
  • The phrase "And you shall observe" (וְחַג֙ וּקְצִ֤יר) carries the force of a divine command, implying mandatory participation. It indicates a perpetual and communal responsibility for the Israelites to actively perform these rites.
• the Feast of Weeks (חַג שָׁבֻעֹת - Khag Shavu'ot):
  • Feast (חַג - Khag): Refers to a "pilgrimage festival" or "religious festival," requiring all male Israelites to travel to the central sanctuary. It denotes a joyful occasion marked by feasting, offerings, and celebration, often associated with a circling or dancing.
  • Weeks (שָׁבֻעֹת - Shavu'ot): Plural of "week," denoting "seven weeks." This name derives from the counting of seven full weeks (49 days) starting from the Passover barley harvest, culminating on the 50th day (Pentecost in Greek, meaning "fiftieth"). Its specific naming reinforces its timing within the harvest cycle.
• of the firstfruits (בִּכּוּרֵ֣י - bikkurei):
  • Firstfruits (bikkurim): Signifies the choicest, earliest, and best part of the harvest. The offering of firstfruits was a tangible expression of dependence on God, acknowledging His ownership of all land and its produce, and recognizing Him as the giver of all good things. It symbolized the consecration of the entire harvest, implying that if the first portion was holy, the whole would be sanctified. This practice was a direct polemic against Canaanite fertility rites where the "first" or "best" might be offered to Baal or other local deities to secure the rest of the harvest. Israel's offering was to Yahweh alone.
• of wheat harvest (קְצִ֥יר חִטִּ֛ים - qetzīr ḥittim):
  • Harvest (qetzīr): Refers generally to the cutting and gathering of crops.
  • Wheat (ḥittim): Specifies the particular grain. While barley ripened earlier, wheat followed. The Feast of Weeks marked the completion of the general grain harvest season, specifically focusing on the wheat harvest. This was demonstrated by the waving of two leavened loaves made from new wheat at the temple during this festival, a unique offering distinct from other grain offerings, signifying God's blessing on daily sustenance.
• and the Feast of Ingathering (וְחַג֙ הָֽאָסִ֔יף - v'khag ha'Asif):
  • Ingathering (Asif): This feast (later known as Sukkot or Tabernacles) refers to the collection of all remaining fruits, such as grapes, olives, and dates. It signifies the culmination of the entire agricultural year when all the produce has been brought in, and fields are bare.
  • Feast (חַג - Khag): Reiterates it as another pilgrimage festival of joy and celebration.
• at the year's end (תְּקוּפַ֣ת הַשָּׁנָֽה - tequfat ha'shanah):
  • Year's end (tequfat ha'shanah): This phrase means "at the circuit/revolution of the year." It refers to the conclusion of the agricultural cycle, specifically in autumn (roughly September/October). This phrase reflects an ancient understanding of the year starting and ending with the agricultural rhythm, prior to the later establishment of the Nisan (spring) new year for religious purposes. This specific timing provided a clear demarcation for their worship and seasonal dependency on God. It was a time of immense relief and celebration after the toil of the harvest season.

Exodus 34 22 Bonus Section

• The three annual pilgrimage feasts (Passover/Unleavened Bread, Weeks, and Ingathering) not only anchored Israel's life to God's providence and history but also providentially foreshadowed key redemptive events. Christ's crucifixion and resurrection align with Passover, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church at Pentecost aligns perfectly with the Feast of Weeks, and the ultimate ingathering of believers into God's presence, as well as the Millennial Kingdom, are themes connected with the Feast of Ingathering (Tabernacles).
• The precise agricultural timing ("firstfruits of wheat harvest" and "at the year's end") rooted Israel's spiritual life firmly in their agrarian existence, ensuring their faith was not merely abstract but deeply intertwined with the tangible realities of their daily bread and livelihood.
• The repetition of these commands across Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy underscores their non-negotiable importance for maintaining the covenant relationship and distinct identity of Israel.

Exodus 34 22 Commentary

Exodus 34:22 is a concise but profoundly significant command. It requires Israel to participate in two vital annual pilgrimage festivals, connecting their physical provision directly to divine blessing. The "Feast of Weeks" (Shavu'ot), known as Pentecost, served as a communal thanksgiving for the completion of the grain harvest, particularly the wheat. Its observance of bringing the "firstfruits" was not merely agricultural but a profound theological act—a public acknowledgment of God's ownership and gracious provision for His people. This proactive offering also separated Israel from pagan agricultural rites, asserting Yahweh's sole authority over the earth's bounty.

The "Feast of Ingathering" (Sukkot/Tabernacles), occurring "at the year's end" when all the crops were gathered, marked the completion of the entire agricultural cycle. It was a week-long celebration of exuberant thanksgiving for the entire year's produce and a historical commemoration of God dwelling with Israel in booths during their wilderness journey. Together, these feasts established a rhythm of life for Israel that centered on divine dependency, communal rejoicing, and historical remembrance. These celebrations reinforced their covenant relationship with God, calling them to gratitude and faithfulness throughout the seasons of their lives.

Practical examples:

• Acknowledging God as the provider in all areas of life, not just financially.
• Giving thanks for the work of our hands and attributing its fruitfulness to divine blessing.
• Finding spiritual rhythm and rest in celebrating God's provision.