Leviticus 19:23 kjv
And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.
Leviticus 19:23 nkjv
'When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten.
Leviticus 19:23 niv
"?'When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten.
Leviticus 19:23 esv
"When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, then you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten.
Leviticus 19:23 nlt
"When you enter the land and plant fruit trees, leave the fruit unharvested for the first three years and consider it forbidden. Do not eat it.
Leviticus 19 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 23:10-11 | "For six years you are to sow your land... but the seventh year you are to let it rest..." | Rest for the land, God's timing |
| Deut 20:6 | "And is there anyone who has planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy its fruit? Let him go home..." | Privilege of enjoying fruit after planting (in specific context) |
| Exod 13:1-2 | "Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring... belongs to me." | Principle of consecrating the "first" to God |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops..." | Giving the "first" to God leads to blessing |
| Rom 11:16 | "If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy..." | Sanctification through dedication of the first |
| Rom 8:23 | "...we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly..." | Holy Spirit as the initial portion of future glory |
| 1 Cor 15:20 | "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." | Christ as the ultimate "firstfruits" of resurrection |
| James 5:7 | "Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits..." | Farmer's patience parallels spiritual patience |
| Lam 3:26 | "It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." | Wisdom of patient waiting for God's action |
| Psa 27:14 | "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." | Encouragement for patient trust in God |
| Jer 9:25-26 | "...and all those who are circumcised in heart. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all Israel is uncircumcised in heart." | Broader spiritual meaning of "uncircumcised" heart/fruit |
| Isa 5:1-7 | Parable of the Vineyard: God's planting and expectation of fruit | God's expectation from what He establishes |
| Gen 1:11-12 | "Then God said, 'Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.' And it was so." | God as the ultimate Creator and provider of fruit |
| Lev 19:24 | "In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord." | Clarifies the revia (fourth) year's purpose (immediate next verse) |
| Lev 23:10-14 | Instructions on the Feast of Firstfruits of the harvest | Specific commands for consecrating early harvests |
| Num 15:18-21 | Command to offer "first of your dough" | Consecration of food portions |
| Deut 26:1-11 | Bringing firstfruits to the Lord, acknowledgement of God's blessing | Reminder of dependence and thanksgiving for the land |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... See if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven..." | Principles of returning a portion to God first |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Therefore do not let anyone judge you... regarding a food or drink festival... These are a shadow of the things that were to come..." | Rituals and food laws pointing to spiritual realities |
| Heb 12:1-2 | "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us... fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." | Spiritual discipline and enduring for a greater goal |
Leviticus 19 verses
Leviticus 19 23 Meaning
When the Israelites entered the Promised Land and planted fruit trees, they were commanded to consider the fruit of these trees as "uncircumcised" or forbidden for the first three years. This meant it could not be eaten during that period. This divine instruction taught patience, dependence on God, and recognized His ultimate ownership and sovereignty over the land and its produce before humans partook.
Leviticus 19 23 Context
Leviticus chapter 19 is part of the "Holiness Code" (chapters 17-26), a section outlining practical applications of God's command to "Be holy, because I the LORD your God am holy" (Lev 19:2). This chapter details ethical, moral, and ceremonial laws for daily living that distinguish Israel as a holy people from surrounding nations. Verse 23 specifically applies the principle of holiness and God's ownership to the agricultural sphere, teaching patient trust and reverence for the Giver of all produce. It presupposes Israel's future entry and settlement in the Promised Land. This law stood in contrast to common pagan practices where first harvests might be offered to various deities or consumed immediately without any form of consecration or waiting period dedicated to a supreme, holy God.
Leviticus 19 23 Word analysis
- When you come (
ki tāvoʾuכִּי־תָבֹאוּ): Implies a future event, specifically their entry and possession of the land promised to Abraham (Gen 12:7). This law provided guidance for life in the land. - into the land (
el-hāʾāreṣאֶל־הָאָרֶץ): Refers to the land of Canaan, Israel's divine inheritance. This underscores that the land itself, and all it yields, ultimately belongs to God (Lev 25:23). - and plant (
uṯšaʿtemוּנְטַעְתֶּם): Refers specifically to setting up perennial fruit trees, rather than annual crops. This indicates a long-term agricultural commitment and a focus on lasting yield. - any kind of tree (
kål-ʿēṣכָּל־עֵץ): Encompasses all types of fruit-bearing trees, ensuring the law's comprehensive application to future orchards. - for food (
maʾăkālמַאֲכָל): Clarifies the purpose of the planting; these trees are for sustenance, making the prohibition on eating directly applicable to their primary use. - you shall regard their fruit as forbidden / you shall treat its fruit as uncircumcised (
vaʿărēlåṯem ʾet-prîyôוַעֲרַלְתֶּם אֶת־פִּרְיוֹ): This is the key term. The Hebrew wordʿārēl(עָרֵל) means "uncircumcised," and it's used metaphorically here. Just as a male's foreskin is removed in circumcision to signify holiness and covenant, here the fruit's "foreskin" or initial yield is seen as unholy, unconsecrated, or impure. It's not yet "cut off" from common use and dedicated to God. This phrase connects agricultural practice with the spiritual covenant concept of holiness. It is not literally removing part of the fruit, but setting it apart by abstention. - three years (
šālōš šānîmשָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים): A specific duration. Agriculturally, this period allows young trees to establish stronger root systems, ensuring healthier, more abundant, and better-quality fruit in later years. Theologically, it teaches patience, delayed gratification, and trust in God's provision. It establishes a waiting period of dedication. - it shall be forbidden to you (
yehyee lāḵem ʿărēlיִהְיֶה לָכֶם עָרֵל): Reinforces the strict prohibition. The fruit during this period remains "uncircumcised" or consecrated away from personal consumption. - it must not be eaten (
lōʾ yēʾākēlלֹא יֵאָכֵל): Direct and unequivocal prohibition.
Leviticus 19 23 Bonus section
- Agricultural Wisdom: While divinely commanded, this law also contains inherent agricultural wisdom. Removing fruit from young trees prevents premature depletion of nutrients, allowing the tree to invest energy into root and branch development. This leads to healthier, more vigorous trees and more abundant, better-quality fruit in subsequent years, particularly after the three years of "training."
- Connection to "Firstfruits" Principle: The uncircumcised fruit period, followed by the fourth-year fruit being holy, strengthens the broader biblical principle of "firstfruits." This principle dedicates the initial portion of a blessing back to God as an acknowledgment that the entire blessing originated from Him and is sanctified by His grace. It's a precursor to the firstfruit offerings later mandated for harvests.
- Spiritual Application of "Uncircumcised": The use of
ʿārēl(uncircumcised) connects this agricultural law to the deeper theological concept of spiritual circumcision – circumcision of the heart (Deut 30:6; Jer 4:4). Just as physical circumcision distinguished Israel, and spiritual circumcision transforms the heart, the "uncircumcised" fruit denotes that which is not yet set apart or fit for sacred (or even common) consumption due to its state. It must undergo a period of "maturation" and "dedication" to become pure and beneficial.
Leviticus 19 23 Commentary
Leviticus 19:23 lays down a foundational principle concerning the land God provides and its produce. It is not merely an agricultural regulation but a spiritual lesson in trust, holiness, and the recognition of divine ownership. By forbidding the fruit for the first three years, God instilled several truths: that all things come from Him and belong to Him; that patience and delayed gratification are vital; and that immediate desire should be tempered by submission to His will. This "uncircumcised" status for the fruit parallels the concept of spiritual readiness or purity. Just as circumcision marked Israel as God's covenant people, setting apart the initial fruit demonstrated Israel's covenant obedience and reliance. This law teaches that we must allow for growth and maturity, both agriculturally and spiritually, before partaking fully of blessings. It cultivated a mindset of reverence, anticipating a future harvest that would be truly blessed, setting the stage for the fourth year's fruit to be deemed holy (Lev 19:24).