Leviticus 23:38 kjv

Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.

Leviticus 23:38 nkjv

besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD.

Leviticus 23:38 niv

These offerings are in addition to those for the LORD's Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the LORD.)

Leviticus 23:38 esv

besides the LORD's Sabbaths and besides your gifts and besides all your vow offerings and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD.

Leviticus 23:38 nlt

These festivals must be observed in addition to the LORD's regular Sabbath days, and the offerings are in addition to your personal gifts, the offerings you give to fulfill your vows, and the voluntary offerings you present to the LORD.)

Leviticus 23 verses

Leviticus 23 38 Meaning

Leviticus 23:38 clarifies that the offerings and observances mandated for the annual feasts of the LORD, particularly those surrounding the Feast of Tabernacles, are entirely separate from and do not negate other ongoing sacred obligations. These include the weekly Sabbaths of the LORD, personal gifts to God, solemn vows made, and freewill offerings given voluntarily. The verse emphasizes that these different categories of dedication and sacrifice are cumulative, showcasing a comprehensive and multifaceted devotion required of Israel.

Leviticus 23 38 Context

Leviticus Chapter 23 outlines the sacred calendar of the LORD, detailing "His appointed times" or feasts for Israel. It begins with the weekly Sabbath as a foundational, perpetual holy day, then moves chronologically through the annual festivals: Passover and Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Weeks (Pentecost), Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) and the subsequent Eighth Day Assembly (Shemini Atzeret). These feasts marked crucial moments in Israel's year, aligning with agricultural cycles and commemorating divine acts of redemption and provision. Verse 38 specifically concludes the instructions for the Feast of Tabernacles and its final assembly, ensuring that the elaborate and extensive sacrifices prescribed for these grand festivals do not lead to the neglect of regular, individual, or ongoing sacred duties that were already established parts of their worship and covenant relationship with God. The historical context reflects a society deeply interwoven with religious ritual, where specific instructions for every type of offering and holy observance were crucial for maintaining ritual purity and proper relationship with a holy God.

Leviticus 23 38 Word analysis

• בְּמִלְּבַד (bə·milləḇaḏ) - "besides" / "apart from" / "in addition to": This crucial Hebrew preposition signifies exclusion of substitution while emphasizing inclusion through accumulation. It asserts that the preceding instructions regarding feast offerings do not override, but rather supplement, the following categories of obligations. It counters any misunderstanding that the extraordinary festival offerings could somehow fulfill all of Israel's giving responsibilities.

• שַׁבְּתֹת (šabbəṯōṯ) - "Sabbaths": The plural form refers specifically to the weekly Sabbaths (the seventh day), distinct from "sabbath rest" that applied to feast days (e.g., first day of Unleavened Bread). The weekly Sabbath was a perpetual covenant sign (Exo 31:13), fundamental to Israel's identity and worship, requiring distinct offerings and rest. Its specific mention here emphasizes its non-negotiable status.

• יְהוָה (YHWH) - "LORD": The Tetragrammaton, God's personal covenant name. This asserts divine authority for all the commandments regarding these Sabbaths and offerings, signifying they are ordained by God Himself and are directed to Him.

• וּבְמִלְּבַד (ū·ḇə·milləḇaḏ) - "and besides": The repetition of "besides" reinforces the clear distinction and additive nature of these categories of offerings. It stresses the continuous nature of giving to God across all areas of life.

• מַתְּנוֹתֵיכֶם (mattənōṯêḵem) - "your gifts": A broad term encompassing various forms of offerings or dedicated contributions beyond specific burnt offerings or peace offerings, potentially including general contributions or items designated as holy. It highlights the wider spectrum of Israelites' contributions to God's service and sanctuary.

• נִדְרֵיכֶם (niḏrêḵem) - "your vows": From the Hebrew root נֶדֶר (neder), a solemn promise made to God, often conditional on His favor or an expression of earnest devotion. Vows were personally initiated but binding commitments (Num 30; Deut 23:21-23), signifying deep personal piety and commitment.

• נְדָבוֹתֵיכֶם (nəḏāḇōṯêḵem) - "your freewill offerings": From the Hebrew root נְדָבָה (nedavah), referring to voluntary offerings given out of spontaneity, generosity, and gratitude, without being prompted by a vow or specific commandment. These highlighted a heart willing to give beyond mere obligation (Exo 35:29).

• אֲשֶׁר תִּתְּנוּ (ʾăšer tittə·nū) - "which you give": This phrase directly attributes the act of offering to the Israelite people, emphasizing their active participation and personal responsibility in fulfilling these diverse duties.

• לַיהוָה (layhōwāh) - "to the LORD": Again, emphasizing the divine recipient and the ultimate sacred purpose of all these gifts and observances.

• "besides the Sabbaths of the LORD": This phrase underscores the perpetual and foundational importance of the weekly Sabbath. Its sanctity and requirements for offerings were not superseded by the special, seasonal festival requirements; rather, they stood as distinct, ongoing obligations.

• "besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings": This grouped phrase clarifies the multi-layered and individual aspects of worship. It ensures that general giving, solemn personal commitments, and spontaneous acts of devotion were maintained alongside communal festival observance, portraying a holistic system of devotion where no single form of offering negates another.

• "which you give to the LORD": This final clause unites all the various categories of offerings and devotion, from mandated Sabbaths to freewill offerings, under the common banner of being directed specifically to God. This affirms their ultimate purpose as acts of worship and obedience.

Leviticus 23 38 Bonus section

The repetitive use of the Hebrew term milləḇaḏ ("besides") in Leviticus 23:38 and throughout the offering lists in Numbers chapters 28 and 29 reveals a clear divine legislative principle: sacred obligations are often cumulative. This avoids ambiguity and prevents any misinterpretation that observing a grand festival could be an excuse to neglect more routine or personally dedicated acts of worship. This teaching reinforces the holistic nature of biblical faith, where adherence to grand, communal celebrations does not negate the importance of personal piety, fulfilled promises, or consistent, basic obedience to God's established laws. It highlights that God values not only communal reverence but also individual, spontaneous, and dutiful devotion across all aspects of one's walk with Him.

Leviticus 23 38 Commentary

Leviticus 23:38 serves as a vital safeguard clause within the divine instructions for Israel's calendar of holy times. Its placement, immediately following the comprehensive detailing of the annual feasts, specifically the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles and its concluding Eighth Day Assembly, is significant. The verse unequivocally states that the specific and often elaborate offerings mandated for these great public festivals do not substitute for or supersede other, pre-existing, equally vital obligations. These ongoing duties included the regular burnt offerings and observances for the weekly Sabbaths, a pillar of the covenant; general tithes and designated "gifts" to the sanctuary; solemn "vows" individuals made to God, requiring diligent fulfillment; and spontaneous "freewill offerings" demonstrating a willing heart beyond obligation. By emphasizing the cumulative nature of these requirements, God conveyed that true devotion encompassed consistent obedience in every sphere—personal, weekly, and annual—and that no singular act of worship, no matter how grand, absolved one from others. This comprehensive framework of dedication illustrated that worship was an intricate, pervasive, and constant commitment to the LORD, touching every aspect of an Israelite's life and resource.