Leviticus 23 9

Leviticus 23:9 kjv

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Leviticus 23:9 nkjv

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Leviticus 23:9 niv

The LORD said to Moses,

Leviticus 23:9 esv

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Leviticus 23:9 nlt

Then the LORD said to Moses,

Leviticus 23 verses

Leviticus 23 9 Meaning

Leviticus 23:9 provides a divine instruction to the Israelites concerning the offering of firstfruits upon their entry into and cultivation of the Promised Land. It mandates that when they begin to reap their harvest in the land given to them by God, they are to bring a sheaf, or an "omer," of the very first of their harvest to the priest. This act is a recognition of God's sovereign ownership of the land and its produce, expressing gratitude for His provision and trust in His continued blessing for the remainder of the harvest. It is a foundational element of the Feast of Firstfruits, demonstrating faith and obedience.

Leviticus 23 9 Context

Leviticus chapter 23 meticulously outlines the Lord's appointed feasts (moedim), sacred convocations that punctuate the Israelite calendar. This chapter immediately follows the laws concerning clean and unclean animals and purity, setting a framework for Israel's worship and walk with God. Verse 9 specifically initiates the instruction for the Feast of Firstfruits (Yom Habikkurim), which follows Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Historically and culturally, this instruction was given to a people soon to inherit an agricultural land, necessitating their dependence on God for harvest. The act of offering firstfruits directly countered the prevailing pagan beliefs in Canaanite culture, where people worshipped fertility gods like Baal and Asherah, believing they controlled rain and harvest. By commanding Israel to bring the first portion of their harvest to the Lord, this verse asserted Yahweh's sole sovereignty over creation, fertility, and their sustenance, establishing a direct polemic against reliance on false gods.

Leviticus 23 9 Word analysis

• Speak to the children of Israel (דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ - dabber el-bene Yisrael): This emphasizes direct divine communication. The instruction is not merely a priestly rule but a covenant command for the entire community of God's chosen people, underscoring its foundational importance to their national life and worship.
• and say to them (וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם - ve'amarta alehem): Reinforces the direct and authoritative nature of the divine word. This command requires a clear understanding and adherence by all.
• When you come into the land (כִּֽי־תָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ - ki tavo'u el-ha'aretz): Points to a future event, establishing this command as prophetic and covenantal. It highlights God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to bring them into the land of Canaan. This contingent command underscores that the observance would begin only once God's prior promise of entry had been fulfilled.
• which I give you (אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ נֹתֵ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם - asher ani noten lachem): This crucial phrase establishes God's absolute ownership of the land. It is a divine gift, not something earned or conquered by human strength. This profoundly challenges any pagan notion that the land's bounty comes from regional deities; rather, it is a direct act of divine grace and provision.
• and reap its harvest (וּקְצַרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־קְצִירָ֑הּ - uqtsartem et-qetzirah): Signifies their future agricultural life. While human effort in sowing and reaping is acknowledged, the instruction firmly places the ultimate source of the yield and abundance in God's hands. It anticipates the physical act of harvest that would lead to spiritual acknowledgment.
• then you shall bring (וַהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם - vahaveitem): A strong command, implying both a duty and an opportunity. The action of bringing is a deliberate and conscious act of obedience and worship.
• a sheaf (עֹ֙מֶר֙ - omer): Refers to a specific measure or quantity of grain (roughly 2.2 liters or the amount a man can carry). This exact amount ensures consistency and denotes a representative portion rather than just an unspecified handful. In later tradition, this was interpreted as a sheaf of barley, as it was the first grain to ripen.
• of the firstfruits (רֵאשִׁ֖ית - reshit): Meaning "first, beginning, prime part." This is the critical component. It is not merely any part of the harvest, but the very earliest and presumably the best. Offering the reshit consecrated the entire harvest that followed, affirming God's right to all of it and recognizing Him as the ultimate source of all provision.
• of your harvest (קְצִירְכֶ֑ם - qetzirkhem): Explicitly refers to their yield, the product of their labor in the land given by God. It personalizes the blessing and the required response.
• to the priest (אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֑ן - el-hakkohen): Specifies the intermediary. The offering was to be presented through God's divinely appointed representative in the Tabernacle/Temple, ensuring its sacred handling and presentation according to divine law, further emphasizing the formality and holiness of the act.

• "When you come into the land which I give you, and reap its harvest": This phrase highlights God's progressive plan of redemption and provision. The promise of the land predates the command to offer the firstfruits, implying that their prosperity and ability to harvest are entirely dependent on God's prior gracious acts. It mandates faith-filled obedience after experiencing God's blessing, serving as a constant reminder of His active involvement in their lives and land.
• "a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest": This combination precisely defines the nature of the offering. It's not a generic act of giving, but a highly specific, sacred gesture involving the very first part of the agricultural yield. It signifies the spiritual principle of giving God the "best" and the "beginning," not leftovers. This consecration implies that if the first part is holy, the entire subsequent harvest becomes blessed by extension, setting a precedent for holistic sanctification.

Leviticus 23 9 Bonus section

The "omer" of firstfruits was ritually waved by the priest before the Lord (Lev 23:11), symbolizing God's acceptance and the sanctification of the entire harvest. This act connected the people's agricultural life directly to their covenant with God. The offering was a practical demonstration of God's faithfulness even before the majority of the harvest was gathered. This yearly command fostered a culture of sustained gratitude and trust, teaching the Israelites that all their abundance was a direct result of Yahweh's divine gift, counteracting any tendencies towards self-reliance or attributing success to pagan deities.

Leviticus 23 9 Commentary

Leviticus 23:9 encapsulates a fundamental principle of covenant worship: gratitude and recognition of God's sovereignty over all provision. It establishes the Feast of Firstfruits as a national acknowledgment that every harvest, and indeed all prosperity, flows directly from God's gracious hand, not from human effort or pagan deities. By commanding the offering of the very first portion to the priest, God ensures that trust in Him precedes and encompasses all earthly security. This act was an object lesson in dependence and faith, requiring Israel to give back before the full measure of their blessing was realized. Prophetically, this institution finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is risen from the dead as the "firstfruits" of those who sleep, guaranteeing the future resurrection of all who are in Him.