Leviticus 23 19

Leviticus 23:19 kjv

Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.

Leviticus 23:19 nkjv

Then you shall sacrifice one kid of the goats as a sin offering, and two male lambs of the first year as a sacrifice of a peace offering.

Leviticus 23:19 niv

Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering.

Leviticus 23:19 esv

And you shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings.

Leviticus 23:19 nlt

Then you must offer one male goat as a sin offering and two one-year-old male lambs as a peace offering.

Leviticus 23 verses

Leviticus 23 19 Meaning

Leviticus 23:19 specifies two additional sacrificial animals required during the celebration of the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot): one male goat for a sin offering and two male lambs one year old for a peace offering. These offerings accompanied the burnt offerings and grain offerings previously mentioned for this festival, symbolizing both atonement for communal sin and the re-establishment of joyous fellowship and thanksgiving with the Most High, who provides all good things.

Leviticus 23 19 Context

Leviticus chapter 23 meticulously details the seven annual appointed times (Hebrew: moedim) of the LORD, beginning with the Sabbath and proceeding through Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Each festival was given to the Israelite people to establish sacred rhythms, teach spiritual truths, and foreshadow the redemptive work of the Messiah.

Verse 19 is part of the specific instructions for the Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost (meaning "fifty" in Greek), which occurred fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits. This festival marked the completion of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest, a significant time of agricultural thanksgiving. As one of the three pilgrimage festivals, it required all Israelite males to journey to the central sanctuary. The verse's offerings underscore that even amidst a joyful harvest celebration and the presentation of firstfruits of the new wheat harvest, the people's ongoing need for atonement and the continuous pursuit of peaceful communion with their God remained central to their covenant relationship.

Leviticus 23 19 Word analysis

• You shall present: (Hebrew: וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם, vehiqravtem). This verb is in the Hiphil stem, emphasizing causing something to "come near" or "be brought forth." It's a direct command to the community, signifying their responsibility to physically bring these specific sacrifices to the LORD's altar. This collective responsibility underscores the communal aspect of worship and sin.
• one male goat: (Hebrew: שְׂעִיר עִזִּים אֶחָד, se'ir izzim echad). A se'ir refers to a shaggy or hairy male goat. This specification ensures a precise offering type. Goats often symbolized resilience or stubbornness in the biblical context, yet here, as an offering, they become instruments of purification. This distinct offering separates it from the bull and lambs of the burnt offering, highlighting its specific ritual function.
• for a sin offering: (Hebrew: לְחַטָּאת, le-chattat). The word chattat literally means "missing the mark" or "straying from the path," referring to sin. It denotes a purification offering or sin offering, which served primarily to atone for unintentional sins committed by individuals or the community, and to cleanse ritual impurity from the tabernacle/temple itself. This specific offering at the Feast of Weeks ensured the community's purification, enabling their joyous worship and fellowship to proceed without the hindrance of defilement.
• and two male lambs: (Hebrew: וּשְׁנֵי כְּבָשִׂים, u-shnei kevasim). Lambs, particularly male lambs, frequently symbolize purity, innocence, and vulnerability, making them highly prized sacrificial animals. The doubling, "two lambs," emphasizes a sufficiency or abundance in the offering. The lamb's ultimate typological significance points directly to the Messiah, the Lamb of God, who fully satisfies the demands of divine righteousness.
• one year old: (Hebrew: בְּנֵי שָׁנָה, bnei shana). Literally "sons of a year." This designates young, vibrant animals in their prime, representing the best and unblemished quality required for all sacrifices to the Most High. It reflects the principle of offering the unblemished and choice part to the LORD, signifying perfection and completeness (cf. Lev 22:20-24).
• for a peace offering: (Hebrew: לְזֶבַח שְׁלָמִים, le-zevach shelamim). Zevach is a general term for sacrifice. Shelamim (peace offering) is derived from the root shalom, meaning "wholeness," "completeness," "well-being," and "peace." This offering represented covenant fellowship and a restored or affirmed relationship with God. Unique among sacrifices, portions of the peace offering were eaten by the offerer, symbolizing a communal meal with God, expressing gratitude, devotion, or the fulfillment of a vow. The two lambs for this offering convey the fullness of the peace and communion experienced.

Words-group analysis:

• "one male goat for a sin offering and two male lambs one year old for a peace offering": The juxtaposition of the sin offering (chattat) and the peace offering (shelamim) highlights a foundational theological truth: true peace and communion with God (as represented by the shelamim) are only possible after atonement and purification from sin (as achieved by the chattat). This demonstrates that God establishes the means by which a defiled people can draw near to a holy God, allowing for joyous fellowship despite human imperfection. It sets a pattern for spiritual engagement, emphasizing that reconciliation precedes and enables intimate communion.

Leviticus 23 19 Bonus section

• The particular pairing of a chattat (sin offering) and shelamim (peace offering) at the Feast of Weeks, alongside other general burnt and grain offerings, illustrates the balance of worship in the Old Covenant. It taught that access to God and joyous celebration were predicated upon an ongoing process of atonement for sin. This pattern anticipates the ultimate work of Christ, who perfectly accomplished both aspects: removing sin and establishing eternal peace between God and humanity.
• The Feast of Weeks marked the completion of the harvest and was considered a time when the firstfruits of the new wheat were presented. Spiritually, this finds resonance in the New Covenant's Pentecost (Acts 2), where the Holy Spirit was poured out, leading to the "harvest" of 3,000 souls on that very day, representing the "firstfruits" of the Church age. The offerings of the old covenant feast symbolized a readiness for this greater spiritual outpouring.
• The instruction is given in the plural ("you shall present," directed to the community), reinforcing the communal and corporate responsibility of Israel in its worship and its need for atonement and fellowship with God.
• The detailed specific animal types (male goat, male lambs, one year old) and their designated purposes (sin offering, peace offering) demonstrate the divine precision required in worship under the Law. This highlighted God's holiness and the specific ways in which He chose to relate to His people, revealing His own character in demanding purity and order.

Leviticus 23 19 Commentary

Leviticus 23:19 specifies additional communal offerings for the Feast of Weeks, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of Israel's covenant relationship with the Most High. The inclusion of a male goat for a sin offering even amidst a harvest celebration underscores that communal purification from unintentional sin remained paramount for the people to stand in God's presence. This reveals a profound truth: human festivity and gratitude must always be grounded in divine forgiveness. Furthermore, the two male lambs for a peace offering signify a full and abundant fellowship, expressed in a shared meal. This portion of the offering emphasizes thanksgiving for God's provision and the well-being that flows from a reconciled relationship with Him. The dual nature of these offerings — atonement and communion — beautifully foreshadows the complete work of Christ. He is our ultimate sin offering, shedding His perfect blood for the remission of sins, and He is also our perfect peace offering, making it possible for us to have an unbroken and joyful fellowship with the Father. The events of the New Testament Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit empowered the believers and brought a harvest of souls, vividly portray the spiritual fulfillment of this feast, enabling true reconciliation and spiritual communion through Christ's complete sacrifice.