Leviticus 23:1 kjv
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 23:1 nkjv
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Leviticus 23:1 niv
The LORD said to Moses,
Leviticus 23:1 esv
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Leviticus 23:1 nlt
The LORD said to Moses,
Leviticus 23 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 1:1 | The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, "Speak to the people..." | Similar divine address and Moses' mediation |
| Num 1:1 | The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting... saying... | Standard formula for divine instruction |
| Deut 4:10 | "when you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, 'Gather the people...'" | God speaks directly to Moses |
| Exod 19:3 | "Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him... saying, 'Thus you shall say...'" | God calls and speaks to Moses as mediator |
| Deut 5:31 | "But as for you, stand here by Me, and I will speak to you all the commandment..." | God speaks all commandments to Moses |
| Isa 55:11 | "So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty..." | Authority and efficacy of God's Word |
| Jer 1:4 | "Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying..." | Prophetic formula, God initiating revelation |
| Ps 33:9 | "For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm." | God's word in creation, omnipotent |
| John 1:17 | "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." | Moses' role in mediating the Law |
| Heb 1:1-2 | "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these..." | God's continuous revelation to humanity |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." | Living nature and power of God's Word |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof..." | Inspiration and divine origin of Scripture |
| 1 Thess 2:13 | "...you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men..." | Receiving God's word with divine authority |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Acting upon God's Word |
| Rev 1:1 | "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place..." | God continues to reveal His will to His servants |
| Ps 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | God's Word as guidance |
| Ps 12:6 | "The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace..." | Purity and reliability of God's words |
| Exod 3:14 | "God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel: 'I AM has sent me...'" | Revelation of God's covenant name, YHWH |
| Gen 12:1 | "Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go from your country...'" | God's initiative in covenant |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink... a shadow of the things to come..." | Feasts as shadows, pointing to Christ |
Leviticus 23 verses
Leviticus 23 1 Meaning
Leviticus 23:1 serves as a foundational declaration, indicating that the instructions and commandments to follow are a direct revelation from YHWH (The Lord) to Moses. It signifies God's sovereign initiative in communicating His divine will concerning the appointed times of worship, which are essential elements of Israel's covenant relationship with Him. This verse sets the authoritative tone for the entire chapter, asserting that the subsequent details about the feasts are not human ordinances but divine commands.
Leviticus 23 1 Context
Leviticus 23:1 introduces the detailed regulations concerning the "appointed feasts of the Lord" (mo'adei YHWH), which were sacred assemblies (mikra'ei kodesh) set apart by God for His people Israel. This chapter falls within the section of Leviticus dealing with practical aspects of Israel's covenant relationship with God, following laws on ritual purity, priestly holiness, and proper offerings (Lev 21-22). It precedes further laws on sacred oil, showbread, and judicial matters (Lev 24). Historically, this revelation came to Moses while the Israelites were in the wilderness, as God was establishing a structured worship calendar and a distinct identity for them, differentiating their religious practices from the surrounding pagan cultures which often linked their festivals to natural cycles and involved idolatrous or immoral practices. The unique feasts given by YHWH underscored His sovereignty over time, creation, and His specific redemptive acts for Israel.
Leviticus 23 1 Word analysis
- And: Connects this new section of divine instruction to the preceding regulations, implying a continuous flow of God's authoritative commands for Israel's conduct and worship.
- the Lord (Hebrew: YHWH, יְהוָה): Refers to the personal, covenantal name of God. This emphasizes His unchanging character, His faithfulness to His promises, and His supreme sovereignty. It highlights that the source of these instructions is the unique God who entered into a specific covenant relationship with Israel, distinguishing Him from any generic deity or local gods.
- spoke (Hebrew: Vay·ḏab·bêr, וַיְדַבֵּר, from root דָּבַר - davar): Signifies direct, verbal communication. It's not a vague impression, a mystical vision, or an indirect revelation, but a clear, articulate declaration. This active verb underscores God's initiative in revealing His will to humanity.
- unto Moses (Hebrew: el-mōše, אֶל־מֹשֶׁה): Designates Moses as the chosen recipient and unique mediator of God's Law and instructions to the Israelites. His unique role as God's spokesperson and prophet is continuously emphasized throughout the Pentateuch, affirming the divine authority of the laws delivered through him.
- saying (Hebrew: lēʾmōr, לֵּאמֹר): This is a formulaic Hebrew expression introducing the direct words of the speaker. It confirms that what follows is an exact rendition of God's communicated message, not an interpretation or summary by Moses. It asserts the literal and authoritative nature of the subsequent divine instructions.
- Words-group analysis: "And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying": This ubiquitous formula throughout the Pentateuch powerfully asserts the divine authorship and absolute authority of the subsequent instructions. It signifies that the content which follows is a direct command from the Sovereign God, YHWH, Himself, revealed through His chosen servant, Moses. This phrasing eliminates any doubt about the origin and binding nature of the laws, rituals, and ordinances Israel was to observe, emphasizing that these are not human traditions or mere suggestions, but divine pronouncements intended for obedient reception.
Leviticus 23 1 Bonus section
The repetitive formula "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying" is a consistent literary device employed over a hundred times in the Pentateuch. Its frequent use serves to constantly remind the reader of the divine origin of the law and God's consistent engagement with His covenant people through Moses. This constant affirmation reinforces the distinctiveness of Israel's faith: their entire legal and religious system was founded on direct divine communication, setting it apart from the practices of surrounding nations which were often based on human wisdom, ancient traditions, or mythological narratives. This emphasis on divine speech foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of God's Word in Christ and the New Covenant's foundation upon inspired Scripture, breathed out by God Himself.
Leviticus 23 1 Commentary
Leviticus 23:1 is far more than a simple narrative introduction; it is a foundational statement affirming the divine origin and supreme authority of all the instructions that follow regarding Israel's sacred calendar. It unequivocally states that God, the covenantal YHWH, is the source, and Moses is merely the divinely chosen conduit for this revelation. This emphasis establishes the absolute requirement for Israel to observe these feasts as God's direct appointments, not merely as cultural traditions. For believers today, this initial verse underscores that God is a speaking God who initiates relationship and reveals His will, urging us to recognize the divine authority inherent in all of Scripture.