Deuteronomy 16:9
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The verse begins by emphasizing the start of the harvest, not just the end. It's about marking the very moment the sickle first touches the grain, signaling the beginning of a new season of bounty. This timing highlights that every good thing, from the smallest harvest to our greatest blessings, has a distinct beginning that God calls us to acknowledge.
“You shall count seven weeks. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following instructions for the Passover, God now directs Israel to prepare for the Feast of Weeks, later known as Pentecost. This feast marks the culmination of the grain harvest, so the counting of seven weeks begins from the moment the first sickle touches the barley. It's a time to celebrate the bounty God provides and to express gratitude with joyful offerings.
Ever wonder how a holiday's date is set? This verse pinpoints the exact moment for a major celebration to begin, tied directly to the land's bounty.
God establishes a clear starting point for the Feast of Weeks (later known as Pentecost): the moment the sickle first touches the grain.
Why count? This isn't just about marking time; it's about anticipation and a specific purpose tied to giving thanks.
The seven weeks counted from the start of the barley harvest culminate in a joyous celebration – the Feast of Weeks, also called Pentecost.
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This passage directly links the counting of seven weeks to the offering of the wave sheaf, establishing the specific starting point for the Feast of Weeks that Deuteronomy expands upon.
Exodus 34:22This verse names the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Harvest, reinforcing the agricultural connection and the timing based on the commencement of the harvest.
Numbers 28:26This passage details the specific sacrifices for the Feast of Firstfruits (which is the Feast of Weeks), highlighting the celebratory aspect and the offering of new grain.
Acts 2:1This New Testament passage describes the fulfillment of the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) in Jerusalem, showing the Holy Spirit's descent and the birth of the Church, a pivotal moment following Christ's resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:20This verse speaks of Christ as the 'firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep,' drawing a parallel between the agricultural firstfruits offered at the Feast of Weeks and the resurrection of believers through Christ.
gillDeuteronomy 16:9: "Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn."
Seven weeks then shalt thou number unto thee,.... And then another feast was to take place, called from hence the feast of weeks, and sometimes Pentecost, from its being the fiftieth day: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn; for the sheaf of the wave offering, as the first fruits of…
ellicottDeuteronomy 16:9: "Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn."
Deuteronomy 16:9-12 . THE FEAST OF WEEKS, OR PENTECOST. See also Exodus 23:16; Exodus 34:18-23; Leviticus 23:15-22; Numbers 28:26-31. The feast itself is ordained in Exodus; the time is given in Leviticus; and the sacrifices in Numbers. (9) From such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.—The word for sickle only occurs here…
The verse begins by emphasizing the start of the harvest, not just the end. It's about marking the very moment the sickle first touches the grain, signaling the beginning of a new season of bounty. This timing highlights that every good thing, from the smallest harvest to our greatest blessings, has a distinct beginning that God calls us to acknowledge.
Following instructions for the Passover, God now directs Israel to prepare for the Feast of Weeks, later known as Pentecost. This feast marks the culmination of the grain harvest, so the counting of seven weeks begins from the moment the first sickle touches the barley. It's a time to celebrate the bounty God provides and to express gratitude with joyful offerings.
Following instructions for the Passover, God now directs Israel to prepare for the Feast of Weeks, later known as Pentecost. This feast marks the culmination of the grain harvest, so the counting of seven weeks begins from the moment the first sickle touches the barley. It's a time to celebrate the bounty God provides and to express gratitude with joyful offerings.
"“You shall count seven weeks. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain." — The verse begins by emphasizing the start of the harvest, not just the end. It's about marking the very moment the sickle first touches the grain, signaling the beginning of a new season of bounty.…
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Last reviewed October 2026
