Leviticus 19:24 kjv
But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withal.
Leviticus 19:24 nkjv
But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the LORD.
Leviticus 19:24 niv
In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD.
Leviticus 19:24 esv
And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD.
Leviticus 19:24 nlt
In the fourth year the entire crop must be consecrated to the LORD as a celebration of praise.
Leviticus 19 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 19:23 | When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, then you shall count its fruit as forbidden... For three years... forbidden to you; it must not be eaten. | Prior restriction before holy use. |
| Lev 19:25 | But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the LORD your God. | Follow-up instruction for eating the fruit. |
| Exod 23:19 | The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God. | Principle of firstfruits offerings. |
| Exod 34:26 | You shall bring the very first of the firstfruits of your land to the house of the LORD your God. | Reinforces firstfruits offering. |
| Deut 10:14 | Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. | God's absolute ownership of creation. |
| Deut 12:17-18 | You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or of your new wine or of your oil, or the firstborn... you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place that the LORD your God will choose... | Sacred eating and joyful celebration before God. |
| Deut 14:23 | And you shall eat before the LORD your God... so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. | Purpose of consuming sacred produce. |
| Deut 26:10 | And now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me... | Offering of thanksgiving for God's provision. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty... | Blessing associated with honoring God first. |
| Ps 24:1 | The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. | God's ultimate ownership. |
| Ps 67:5-6 | May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you! Then the land will yield its harvest... | Praise and God's blessings from the land. |
| Ps 100:4 | Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! | Call to worship and praise. |
| Jas 5:7 | Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth... | Principle of patience and waiting for harvest. |
| Rom 11:16 | If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. | Principle of sanctification extending to the whole. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | Dedication of oneself as worship. |
| Jn 15:1-8 | I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser... Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away... my Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit... | Spiritual fruit-bearing for God's glory. |
| Gal 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience... | Description of spiritual fruit. |
| Col 1:10 | So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work... | Bearing spiritual fruit to please God. |
| Heb 12:10 | He disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. | God's work to make us holy. |
| Heb 13:15 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. | New Covenant emphasis on praise as an offering. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” | Command to be holy. |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. | Prioritizing God's will and kingdom. |
Leviticus 19 verses
Leviticus 19 24 Meaning
Leviticus 19:24 decrees that in the fourth year after a fruit tree is planted in the land of Canaan, all its produce must be consecrated as holy, specifically for the purpose of praising and celebrating the Lord. This law established God's ownership over the land and its bounty, cultivated patience and trust in His provision, and instilled the principle of dedicating the first and best to Him before personal consumption.
Leviticus 19 24 Context
Leviticus chapter 19 is often called the "Holiness Code," emphasizing the command for Israel to "be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" (Lev 19:2). This chapter details practical laws that manifest this holiness in various aspects of daily life, from ethical conduct to ritual purity and agricultural practices. Verses 23-25 specifically address the proper use of newly planted fruit trees in the land of Canaan, instructing the Israelites on a phased approach to partaking in the harvest. For the first three years, the fruit (orlah) was considered forbidden and unfit for consumption. Only in the fourth year, as described in verse 24, did the fruit gain a sacred status, becoming consecrated to God for celebratory praise, before it became permissible for general consumption from the fifth year onward. This sequence highlighted God's sovereignty over the land and its produce, instructing the people in patience, gratitude, and the sanctity of offerings to Him. This also stood in contrast to common Canaanite fertility practices, affirming Yahweh as the sole source of blessing and requiring His worship instead of pagan rituals.
Leviticus 19 24 Word analysis
- And in the fourth year: This phrase marks a significant temporal distinction following three years of the fruit being orlah (uncircumcised or forbidden). The number 'four' here symbolizes a period of maturation and preparation, a time when the tree has become established and its fruit considered fully ready not just for consumption, but first for dedication.
- all the fruit thereof: Hebrew: kol piryo (כָּל פִּרְיוֹ). Kol (all/every) emphasizes the totality of the yield; not a portion, but every single fruit produced in that fourth year was to be set apart. This signifies comprehensive dedication and acknowledges that the entire blessing comes from God. Piry refers specifically to fruit or produce of trees, reinforcing the agricultural context.
- shall be holy: Hebrew: kodesh (קֹדֶשׁ). This word denotes something consecrated, set apart for God's exclusive use, or designated as sacred. It implies a change in status from common to dedicated. Being "holy" meant it could not be consumed arbitrarily by the owner or treated as ordinary produce; it now had a special religious purpose related to divine service or communal celebration under God's ordinance.
- to praise the Lord withal / an offering of praise to the LORD: Hebrew: hillulim l'YHWH (הִלּוּלִים לַיהוָה). Hillulim is derived from the verb halal (הלל), meaning to praise, celebrate, boast, or shout with joy. It refers to the "praises" or "celebratory things." Thus, this fruit was designated not for ritual sacrifice in the strict sense (like animal offerings on an altar) but specifically for celebratory rejoicing and praise directed towards YHWH (the LORD), the covenant God of Israel. It represents a joyous and thankful acknowledgement of God's blessing and provision.
Leviticus 19 24 Bonus section
The concept of orlah (forbidden fruit for the first three years) and hillulim (fourth year's holy fruit) teaches an essential principle of delayed gratification and proper sanctification. The fruit of the fourth year was likely to be consumed in a festive manner in Jerusalem, much like the second tithe (ma'aser sheni), symbolizing communal rejoicing in God's presence and affirming His benevolence. This legal detail emphasizes a deep spiritual discipline: recognizing that maturity in production (whether agricultural or spiritual) is meant first for God's glory and not immediate self-indulgence. It highlights that true abundance comes through submission to God's patterns and priorities, ultimately leading to greater yield in the long run, as promised for the fifth year onward. This practice not only glorified God but also helped in nurturing young trees, ensuring their healthier long-term productivity and reinforcing responsible stewardship of the land given by God.
Leviticus 19 24 Commentary
Leviticus 19:24 is a testament to God's deep engagement with the practical lives of His people, even in their agricultural endeavors. It conveys several profound theological truths. Firstly, it underscores God's absolute ownership over the land and its produce, teaching Israel that all their prosperity stems from Him. By requiring the fruit of the fourth year to be solely for "praise to the LORD," it cultivated patience and disciplined the Israelites against immediate gratification, fostering trust in God's perfect timing and provision. This also served as a clear distinction from the practices of surrounding pagan nations who might exploit their land immediately or dedicate their harvests to false deities. The emphasis on "holy...to praise the Lord" transforms ordinary agricultural yield into an act of profound worship and celebration, signifying that prosperity is not merely for personal gain but ultimately for the glory of the Giver. It also foreshadows the New Testament concept that believers are to bear spiritual fruit, consecrated for God's glory and for His purposes, bringing forth sacrifices of praise from a grateful heart.