Leviticus 23 7

Leviticus 23:7 kjv

In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Leviticus 23:7 nkjv

On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it.

Leviticus 23:7 niv

On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.

Leviticus 23:7 esv

On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.

Leviticus 23:7 nlt

On the first day of the festival, all the people must stop their ordinary work and observe an official day for holy assembly.

Leviticus 23 verses

Leviticus 23 7 Meaning

Leviticus 23:7 outlines the specific commandment for the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, designating it as a "holy convocation"—a sacred assembly divinely appointed for gathering. On this day, the Israelites were strictly commanded to refrain from all customary or laborious work, emphasizing a period of dedicated worship, remembrance of their hasty departure from Egypt, and symbolic spiritual purity before the LORD. This restriction aimed to set the day apart from regular daily toil, focusing on communal reverence and the observance of God’s redemptive acts.

Leviticus 23 7 Context

Leviticus chapter 23 meticulously outlines the "appointed times" (Hebrew: mo'adim) of the LORD, which are sacred festivals and holy days commanded for Israel’s worship and observance. This chapter begins with the weekly Sabbath (v.3), establishing the pattern of resting and convening for worship. Immediately following is the Passover (v.5), which commemorates Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage, marked by the sacrifice of a lamb. Leviticus 23:6 then introduces the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which commences immediately after Passover and lasts for seven days. Verse 7 specifically sets apart the first day of this seven-day festival as distinct, requiring a "holy convocation" and cessation from "customary work," thereby inaugurating the feast with a unique solemnity. This practice not only cemented the memory of the rapid Exodus (leaving no time for bread to rise) but also underscored a national dedication to spiritual purification, symbolized by the absence of leaven. The entire series of feasts in Leviticus 23 served as a perpetual reminder of God's redemptive work, provisions, and future promises to His people.

Leviticus 23 7 Word analysis

• On the first day: Hebrew: בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן (bāyyōm hārīʾšōn), literally "in the day, the first." Significance: This phrase emphasizes the commencement and special status of this particular day within the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. It inaugurates the entire festival, setting the tone for the subsequent days, which are also observed without leaven. The strictness associated with the "first day" (and often the last) elevates it above the intermediate days.
• you shall have a holy convocation: Hebrew: מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ (miqrāʾ qōdeš), "a calling/proclamation of holiness," or "a sacred assembly." Analysis: The term miqrāʾ comes from the root qaraʾ, meaning "to call," "to proclaim," or "to summon." This is not merely a voluntary gathering but a divinely commanded summons. Qōdeš signifies holiness, sacredness, and separation for God's purposes. Thus, a "holy convocation" means an assembly that is sacred, set apart by God, and whose purpose is to worship, remember, and dedicate themselves to Him. It implies both a physical gathering and a spiritual mindset. This phrase is used throughout Leviticus 23 to designate days requiring special observance, including the weekly Sabbath and other major feasts.
• you shall do no customary work: Hebrew: מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה (məlāʾḵeṯ ʿăḇōḏāh), "work of service/labor," "laborious work." Analysis: This phrase signifies a restriction on the typical, vocational, or strenuous work that one would normally do. It differentiates from the even stricter prohibition of "any work" (kol-məlāʾḵāh) applied to the weekly Sabbath and the Day of Atonement. The allowance for preparing food, for example (as specified in Exod 12:16 for Passover/Unleavened Bread), suggests that while everyday occupation ceased, some domestic necessities were permissible. The intention was to free the people from their daily toils to allow them to focus on the spiritual aspects of the festival – communal worship, remembrance, and the Lord's redemptive acts. This limitation underscores that the day was dedicated to the Lord, not to personal gain or mundane activity.

Leviticus 23 7 Bonus section

The appointed times (or mo'adim) in Leviticus 23 are not merely historical commemorations but carry profound prophetic and spiritual significance. The Feast of Unleavened Bread, initiated by the command in Lev 23:7, pointed directly to Christ. Just as physical leaven represented corruption and was to be purged, so too is Christ our unleavened bread, symbolizing His sinless nature (1 Cor 5:7-8). Believers are called to spiritually observe this feast by cleansing out the "old leaven" of sin and malice, walking in sincerity and truth. The cessation of "customary work" also foreshadows the true spiritual rest (Heb 4:9-10) found in Jesus, where striving for righteousness by human effort ceases, and reliance is placed solely on His finished work. The structure of these divine appointments consistently reminds God's people of His perfect plan unfolding through time, culminating in the complete work of redemption and future hope.

Leviticus 23 7 Commentary

Leviticus 23:7 underscores the sacred nature and divine institution of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The "holy convocation" signified a mandatory assembly where God’s people were called to gather in corporate worship and remembrance, indicating a solemn dedication to the LORD. The prohibition of "customary work" highlighted a spiritual imperative to cease from everyday pursuits, allowing the community to focus entirely on the sanctity of the occasion. This restriction served to commemorate the haste of the Exodus and, more deeply, to symbolize Israel's separation unto God and their need for spiritual purity (represented by the unleavened bread). The observance pointed to a required spiritual "unleavening" from sin and worldliness, laying the groundwork for a walk of faith and obedience, anticipating the ultimate spiritual purification found in Christ. It also served as a pedagogical tool, teaching the people about God's timing, sovereignty, and the call to sanctified living.