Leviticus 23 14

Leviticus 23:14 kjv

And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Leviticus 23:14 nkjv

You shall eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Leviticus 23:14 niv

You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

Leviticus 23:14 esv

And you shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Leviticus 23:14 nlt

Do not eat any bread or roasted grain or fresh kernels on that day until you bring this offering to your God. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation wherever you live.

Leviticus 23 verses

Leviticus 23 14 Meaning

Leviticus 23:14 lays down a strict prohibition for the Israelites regarding the new grain harvest. Before the specific wave offering of the first sheaf (the Omer) is presented to the Lord, no one is permitted to eat any food made from the new season's grain, whether in the form of bread, parched kernels, or fresh, green ears. This command serves as a perpetual statute for all future generations and in every place where they reside, emphasizing the Lord's prior claim over the first produce of the land and teaching reliance and gratitude for His provision.

Leviticus 23 14 Context

Leviticus 23:14 is situated within a broader passage outlining the annual feasts of the Lord. Specifically, it falls within the instructions for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, immediately following the commandment to bring the "sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest" (Lev 23:10-11). This offering, known as the "Omer offering," marked the beginning of the barley harvest in ancient Israel and initiated the counting of seven weeks until the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). The verse's prohibition underscores that the Israelites were to refrain from enjoying any produce of the new harvest until the Lord's claim over it was acknowledged through this designated offering, reflecting both the agricultural cycle and a deep spiritual principle of divine priority and trust.

Leviticus 23 14 Word analysis

• And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears:

  • bread (לֶחֶם - lechem): While commonly "bread," lechem often refers broadly to food, especially grain-based products. Here, it implies any cooked or processed form of the new grain.
  • parched corn (קָלִי - qali): This refers to grains roasted by fire, a simple and common way to prepare freshly harvested kernels for consumption. It indicates the early, basic processing of the grain.
  • green ears (כַּרְמֶל - karmel): Unripe or fresh ears of grain, often eaten directly in the field, representing the rawest, earliest form of the new harvest.
  • Significance: The triad covers the entire spectrum of how the new season's grain might be consumed – raw, simply processed, or elaborately processed into bread. This absolute prohibition emphasizes that no part of the new harvest was to be appropriated by the people before God received His due. It highlights God's ownership and provision of the entire harvest, from its earliest budding to its finished product.

• until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God:

  • until the selfsame day (עֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה - ‘etsem hayyom hazzeh): Emphasizes a precise, divinely ordained timing. This day is specifically the "day after the Sabbath" during the Feast of Unleavened Bread when the Omer offering (Lev 23:11) was to be waved before the Lord.
  • an offering (קָרְבָּן - qorban): A general term for something brought near to God, encompassing various types of sacrifices or gifts. In this context, it refers specifically to the wave offering of the first sheaf of barley mentioned just prior.
  • unto your God: Reinforces that the offering is directed towards the Lord, signifying their worship and submission to Him as the Giver of all good things.
  • Significance: This clause establishes a strict timeline for the prohibition, linking it directly to the act of recognizing God's sovereignty. It's not about denying pleasure but delaying it until proper spiritual protocol is observed, acknowledging God as the primary source of blessing and sustenance.

• it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings:

  • statute (חֹק - choq): An appointed decree or ordinance, a fixed, unchangeable law. It denotes a perpetual obligation.
  • for ever (עוֹלָם - ‘olam): Often means "perpetual," "enduring," "unending" in context. While not necessarily literal eternity for a specific ritual in a post-Christ era, it signifies a foundational principle to be maintained through time in that covenant.
  • throughout your generations (דֹרֹתֵיכֶם - doroteichem): Literally "your generations," signifying that this law is binding for all future descendants of Israel.
  • in all your dwellings (מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם - moshevoteichem): Refers to all places where the Israelites might live, not just in the Promised Land. This underscores the universality of the command, regardless of geographical location.
  • Significance: These phrases emphasize the immutable and widespread nature of the command. It's a foundational, binding law for the covenant community, demonstrating God's consistent expectation of obedience, worship, and reliance across time and place. It highlights that the spiritual principle of putting God first is timeless.

Leviticus 23 14 Bonus section

• The timing of this offering—"the day after the Sabbath" (Lev 23:11)—during the Feast of Unleavened Bread is pivotal, as it means the new grain was offered on the first day of the week, linking to Christ's resurrection as the ultimate "firstfruits" on a Sunday.
• This command trained the Israelites to overcome the natural human impulse for immediate gratification and instilled discipline, requiring them to wait for God's designated time before enjoying His provision.
• The ritualistic act transformed a mundane agricultural activity into an act of worship, reminding every Israelite that their sustenance was directly tied to the divine hand. It ensured that no harvest could ever be considered merely a result of human toil without first acknowledging the divine blessing.

Leviticus 23 14 Commentary

Leviticus 23:14 is not merely an agricultural regulation; it is a profound theological statement woven into the fabric of Israelite life. It teaches that the abundance of the earth is a gift from God, and therefore, His claim on the produce must be acknowledged before any part of it is consumed by humanity. The prohibition, encompassing bread, parched corn, and green ears, signifies that the entire range of the new harvest, from raw to processed, falls under divine ownership until sanctified by the required offering. This act of deferral cultivated patience, humility, and trust, reinforcing Israel's dependence on their covenant God. It served as a practical outworking of the command to "honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your increase" (Prov 3:9). The stipulation that this is "a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings" elevates it beyond a mere temporal rule, establishing a timeless principle: God deserves the first and best, and His blessings are to be received with grateful acknowledgment, not taken for granted. This foreshadows Christ as the "firstfruits from the dead," signifying His preeminence and the sanctification of those who believe in Him.