Leviticus 23:15
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The verse emphasizes that the counting begins after the Sabbath, specifically on the day the first sheaf was offered. This isn't just about marking time; it connects the beginning of the barley harvest's offering to the start of the count for the wheat harvest's celebration, showing a deliberate rhythm in God's appointed times.
“You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger section outlining the feasts of Israel. It immediately follows the instructions for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins with the Passover, and specifically follows the command to offer a wave sheaf of barley as the firstfruits of the harvest. The counting described here is the prelude to the Feast of Weeks, later known as Pentecost, which celebrates the completion of the grain harvest.
Ever notice how certain days feel like turning points? For ancient Israel, the day after a sacred Sabbath wasn't just another day—it was the start of a significant countdown.
Leviticus 23:15 instructs the Israelites to begin counting seven full weeks, or 49 days, starting 'from the morrow after the Sabbath.' This specific Sabbath refers to the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:7), not the weekly Sabbath. The day following, the 16th of Nisan, marked the offering of the 'sheaf of the wave offering,' symbolizing the firstfruits of the barley harvest. This initiated a period of anticipation leading to the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost.
This ritualistic counting was crucial. It wasn't about idly passing time; it was a deliberate act of faith, acknowledging God as the source of their harvest and anticipating the abundance He would provide. Each day of the count was a step closer to a significant celebration of thanksgiving.
What does a single sheaf of barley have to do with a grand feast? The connection is deeper than you might think, stretching across weeks of anticipation and divine promise.
The act of presenting the 'sheaf of the wave offering' on the day after the Sabbath was the pivotal starting point for counting the seven weeks leading to Pentecost. This initial offering, though small, represented the entire barley harvest. It signified Israel's dependence on God and His provision.
By counting 49 full days after this initial offering, they arrived at the 50th day – the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. This feast was a celebration of the entire harvest, including the wheat harvest, marked by the offering of two loaves of leavened bread. This transition from a single, early offering to a larger, communal celebration highlights God's faithfulness in bringing a complete harvest to fruition.
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This passage describes the fulfillment of the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) when the Holy Spirit descended, directly connecting to the counting and anticipation established in Leviticus 23:15.
1 Corinthians 15:20Paul uses the imagery of Christ as the 'firstfruits' of those who have died, drawing a parallel to the 'sheaf of the wave offering' that initiated the counting period in Leviticus 23:15.
Deuteronomy 16:9This passage reiterates the command to count seven weeks from the beginning of the barley harvest, reinforcing the timing and agricultural significance initiated in Leviticus 23:15.
John 7:2Jesus' attendance at the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) highlights the ongoing importance of these appointed times, while the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), begun by the counting in Leviticus 23:15, is a foundational element of Israel's sacred calendar.
gillLeviticus 23:15: "And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:"
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath,.... Not the seventh day sabbath in the passover week, nor the whole feast of unleavened bread, but the first day of it, which was an holy convocation, a sabbath in which no servile work was to be done, Leviticus 23:7 ; and it was from the day after this, even…
calvinLeviticus 23:1-44: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Alloquere filios Israel, et dic eis, Quum ingressi fueritis terrain quam ego do vobis, et messueritis messem ejus, tunc offeretis omnes primitias messis vestrae ad sacerdotem.
And he shall wave the shea…
The verse emphasizes that the counting begins after the Sabbath, specifically on the day the first sheaf was offered. This isn't just about marking time; it connects the beginning of the barley harvest's offering to the start of the count for the wheat harvest's celebration, showing a deliberate rhythm in God's appointed times.
This passage is part of a larger section outlining the feasts of Israel. It immediately follows the instructions for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins with the Passover, and specifically follows the command to offer a wave sheaf of barley as the firstfruits of the harvest. The counting described here is the prelude to the Feast of Weeks, later known as Pentecost, which celebrates the completion of the grain harvest.
This passage is part of a larger section outlining the feasts of Israel. It immediately follows the instructions for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins with the Passover, and specifically follows the command to offer a wave sheaf of barley as the firstfruits of the harvest. The counting described here is the prelude to the Feast of Weeks, later known as Pentecost, which celebrates the completion of the grain harvest.
"“You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering." — The verse emphasizes that the counting begins after the Sabbath, specifically on the day the first sheaf was offered. This isn't just about marking time; it connects the beginning of the barley har…
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Last reviewed October 2026
