Leviticus 23:15-17
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The verse emphasizes counting "seven full weeks," not just counting days. This highlights that the feast of Weeks (Pentecost) was not simply a day, but a season of anticipation that culminated on the fiftieth day, built upon the completeness of each preceding week.
“You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of God's detailed instructions for the appointed feasts, laying out the rhythm of the year for Israel. Following the commands for Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which mark the barley harvest's beginning, God now institutes the count towards the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. This festival celebrates the wheat harvest, occurring seven weeks after the initial firstfruits offering.
Why did God tell His people to count? It wasn't just about marking time; it was a deliberate act that connected harvests, remembrance, and future hope.
The commandment to count seven full weeks, beginning the day after the Sabbath (the first day of Unleavened Bread) and after the firstfruits offering, was central to the Feast of Weeks, later known as Pentecost.
A Deliberate Beginning
The starting point is crucial: 'from the morrow after the sabbath.' This refers to the day after the first holy day of Passover week, which was itself a day of rest, a Sabbath.
The Offering Connects to the Count
This count also began 'from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering.' This offering, the firstfruits of the barley harvest, marked the official start of the harvest season. The counting wasn't arbitrary; it was tied to the land's bounty and God's provision.
Weeks, Not Just Days
The phrase 'seven sabbaths shall be complete' emphasizes the completion of seven full weeks. While we often translate 'sabbath' as a seven-day period here, it underscores the idea of a full cycle of time, leading to the fiftieth day – Pentecost.
This wasn't just a religious festival; it was deeply connected to the land, the harvest, and the recognition of God as the ultimate provider.
The timing of Leviticus 23:15 is tied directly to the agricultural cycle of ancient Israel, reminding them of where their sustenance truly came from.
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The Barley Harvest's Beginning
The 'sheaf of the wave offering' was the firstfruits of the barley harvest. Offering this to God was a critical act of acknowledging Him as the source of the land's fertility and the harvest's success. It was a declaration that the entire harvest belonged to Him.
More Than Just a Ritual
This act preceded the consumption of the new grain. As Calvin notes, it was 'not lawful to taste even of parched grain before the offering of the firstfruits.' This prevented any enjoyment of the harvest before acknowledging God's sovereignty over it.
A Foundation for Gratitude
By counting the weeks from this offering, Israel was continuously reminded of their dependence on God's provision. This anticipation built towards the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), which included offerings of leavened bread, signifying gratitude for the bounty God had provided throughout the harvest season.
Understand the original words
shabbat · Hebrew Noun
A rest day ordained by God, beginning at creation and formalized in the Ten Commandments, signifying covenantal relationship and rest.
minchah · Hebrew Noun
A non-animal offering presented to God, typically consisting of flour, oil, or grain, symbolizing the recognition that all provisions come from Him.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name for God, emphasizing His self-existence, faithfulness, and personal relationship with His people.
bikkurim · Hebrew Noun
The initial portion of a harvest, set apart and offered to God to acknowledge Him as the source of all fruitfulness.
chamets · Hebrew Noun
A substance added to dough to cause fermentation; in the Bible, it often represents the presence of corruption or sin, though in this context, it signifies the ordinary daily provision being offered to God.
This passage explicitly commands the counting of seven weeks from the beginning of the barley harvest, directly paralleling the instruction in Leviticus and reinforcing the importance of this period.
Matthew 28:1The New Testament uses the word 'Sabbath' to refer to a week, as seen in this verse where 'the first day of the week' describes the day after the Sabbath, connecting to the Levitical 'morrow after the Sabbath' for counting.
Acts 2:1This verse describes the day of Pentecost ('when the day of Pentecost had come'), highlighting that it occurred after the seven weeks had been counted, showing the fulfillment of the Levitical ordinance.
1 Corinthians 15:20Paul refers to Christ as the 'firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep,' drawing a spiritual parallel to the physical offering of the firstfruits sheaf in Leviticus that initiated this counting period.
John 7:2This passage mentions the approach of the Feast of Tabernacles, but the context of Jesus' ministry shows that the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) was also a significant pilgrimage feast for Jews, implying the anticipation and observance tied to the count.
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 counting "seven full weeks," not just counting days. This highlights that the feast of Weeks (Pentecost) was not simply a day, but a season of anticipation that culminated on the fiftieth day, built upon the completeness of each preceding week.
This passage is part of God's detailed instructions for the appointed feasts, laying out the rhythm of the year for Israel. Following the commands for Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which mark the barley harvest's beginning, God now institutes the count towards the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. This festival celebrates the wheat harvest, occurring seven weeks after the initial firstfruits offering.
This passage is part of God's detailed instructions for the appointed feasts, laying out the rhythm of the year for Israel. Following the commands for Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which mark the barley harvest's beginning, God now institutes the count towards the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. This festival celebrates the wheat harvest, occurring seven weeks after the initial firstfruits offering.
"“You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new…" — The verse emphasizes counting "seven full weeks," not just counting days. This highlights that the feast of Weeks (Pentecost) was not simply a day, but a season of anticipation that culminated on the…
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Last reviewed October 2026
