Leviticus 23 30

Leviticus 23:30 kjv

And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.

Leviticus 23:30 nkjv

And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people.

Leviticus 23:30 niv

I will destroy from among their people anyone who does any work on that day.

Leviticus 23:30 esv

And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people.

Leviticus 23:30 nlt

And I will destroy anyone among you who does any work on that day.

Leviticus 23 verses

Leviticus 23 30 Meaning

Leviticus 23:30 pronounces a severe divine judgment against any individual who performs any labor on the Day of Atonement. This specific command highlights the extreme sanctity and unique nature of this day as the culmination of Israel's annual calendar of holy days. It underscores the absolute necessity of resting from all work and afflicting one's soul, which together demonstrate humility, repentance, and a full reliance on God's provision for atonement. The consequence, divine destruction and removal from the community, signifies the gravity of disobedience on a day dedicated to national reconciliation with God.

Leviticus 23 30 Context

Leviticus chapter 23 meticulously outlines the Lord's appointed times (moedim), setting forth the sacred calendar for Israel. These include the Sabbaths, Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Weeks (Pentecost), Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles. Verse 30 is situated within the instructions for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which is described in verses 26-32. This day, observed on the tenth day of the seventh month, was distinct as the most solemn day of the year. Unlike other festivals marked by feasting, Yom Kippur mandated complete cessation of work, a sacred assembly, and the "affliction of soul," signifying national repentance and humility before God for sins committed throughout the year. It was the singular day when the high priest entered the Most Holy Place to make atonement for himself, his household, and the entire community of Israel. The severe penalty in verse 30 emphasizes the non-negotiable sanctity and critical importance of observing this day precisely as commanded, as it was fundamental to the purity and covenant relationship of the people with their holy God. Any act of work would be an egregious violation, trivializing the solemn act of national cleansing and reconciliation.

Leviticus 23 30 Word analysis

• And whatsoever soul (וְכָל־הַנֶּפֶשׁ – v'khol-hannefesh):

  • וְכָל (v'khol): "And all," "and every," or "and whatsoever." Indicates universality, encompassing every single individual without exception.
  • הַנֶּפֶשׁ (hannefesh): "The soul" or "the person." Nefesh (נֶפֶשׁ) in Hebrew encompasses more than just the spiritual aspect; it refers to the entire individual, including their life, breath, and being. This emphasizes individual responsibility before God.

• it be that doeth (תַּעֲשֶׂה – ta'aseh):

  • תַּעֲשֶׂה (from עָשָׂה – asah): "She/he will do," "perform," "make." Refers to carrying out an action or task.

• any work (מְלָאכָה – mela'khah):

  • מְלָאכָה (melakhah): "Work," "labor," "occupation." Specifically refers to ordinary occupational or creative work, activities done for profit, sustenance, or personal gain. It signifies ceasing from all forms of gainful or burdensome activity.

• in that same day (בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה – b'etzem hayyom hazzeh):

  • בְּעֶצֶם (b'etzem): "In the very," "in the essence of," "in the self-same." The term etzem (עֶצֶם) means "bone," "body," or "substance," conveying the idea of something being definite or inherent. Here it stresses the particularity and distinctiveness of this specific day above all others.
  • הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה (hayyom hazzeh): "This day." Reinforces the specific time, leaving no ambiguity.

• the same soul will I destroy (וְהַאֲבַדְתִּי אֶת־הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא – v'ha'avadtî et-hannefesh hahi):

  • וְהַאֲבַדְתִּי (v'ha'avadtî): "And I will cause to perish/destroy." This is the Hiphil verb of avad (אבד), meaning to destroy, vanish, or perish. The first-person singular "I" explicitly declares God as the one who enacts the judgment.
  • אֶת־הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא (et-hannefesh hahi): "That soul." Refers back to the "whatsoever soul" mentioned earlier.

• from among his people (מִקֶּרֶב עַמָּהּ – miqqerev ‘ammah):

  • מִקֶּרֶב (miqqerev): "From the midst of," "from the inner part of." Indicates a complete removal or separation.
  • עַמָּהּ (ammah): "Her people." Am (עַם) refers to the community, nation, or covenant people. This implies excommunication, severing the individual's spiritual and social connection to the covenant community, a form of spiritual death and loss of the blessings of Israel.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And whatsoever soul... that doeth any work": This phrase emphasizes that the command is absolute and applies universally to every single member of the community. No one is exempt from the obligation to cease all ordinary labor.
  • "in that same day": This pinpoints the timing with absolute precision. The prohibition against work is specifically and exclusively tied to the solemnity of the Day of Atonement, differentiating it from everyday activities. This phrase elevates the sacred status of Yom Kippur beyond all other days.
  • "the same soul will I destroy from among his people": This is a direct declaration of divine judgment. The consequence for disobedience is not a human punishment but an act initiated by God Himself ("I will destroy"). "Destroying from among his people" signifies a removal from the covenant blessings, protection, and fellowship, known as kareth (cutting off), which could imply excommunication, barrenness, or premature death, a grave separation from the body of Israel.

Leviticus 23 30 Bonus section

The repeated divine pronouncement "that soul shall be cut off from his people" (kareth in Hebrew) in various Levitical and Deuteronomic laws (e.g., for Sabbath breaking, eating blood, violating cultic purity, or rejecting circumcision) represents a fundamental legal-theological concept in ancient Israel. It goes beyond simple physical death, although it can include it. More profoundly, kareth signifies a severing of the individual from the covenant community, a loss of spiritual and social standing within Israel. This could involve being barred from communal worship, not having one's name continued, or having a short lifespan, preventing participation in Israel's generational blessings. The focus on "I will destroy" in Lev 23:30 emphasizes divine agency over human execution, distinguishing this specific judgment for Yom Kippur transgression. The penalty serves as a powerful deterrent, impressing upon the Israelites the sacred nature of God's commands and the profound implications of participation, or lack thereof, in the covenant relationship. This ultimate sanction underscores that communion with God and membership in His people were predicated on strict obedience, particularly on such a vital day of national cleansing and reconciliation.

Leviticus 23 30 Commentary

Leviticus 23:30 starkly underscores the absolute holiness of the Day of Atonement. The "no work" commandment on this day was not merely about physical rest, but about a spiritual posture: a total surrender of one's usual activities, income generation, and personal pursuits. This cessation of all labor, combined with "afflicting the soul" (Lev 23:29), called for complete introspection, repentance, and dependence solely on God's atoning sacrifice mediated by the high priest. Engaging in work on Yom Kippur demonstrated a profound disrespect for the solemnity of the day, a rejection of God's prescribed means of atonement, and a lack of faith in His provision for sin. It trivialized the divine work of purification and endangered the spiritual standing of the entire community. Thus, the consequence of being "destroyed from among his people" by God Himself was a just penalty for such blatant defiance against a command so central to the nation's spiritual well-being and covenant relationship with a holy God. The Day of Atonement points to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who truly accomplished eternal atonement (Heb 9:11-14). Disobedience to this day's command was a denial of the very mechanism God established to draw His people near, foreshadowing the greater peril of rejecting God's ultimate provision in Christ (Heb 10:26-27).