Leviticus 23:2
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The word for "feasts" here means more than just holidays; it refers to "appointed times," highlighting that God's calendar is deliberately set, and these are not optional celebrations but divine appointments. This emphasizes that they are His feasts, not just Israel's, marking His presence and action throughout their history.
“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is about to lay out the most important annual holy days for Israel, a rhythm of worship and remembrance. Before listing each specific festival, God emphasizes that these "appointed times" are uniquely His, to be proclaimed as sacred gatherings for His people. This sets the stage for a series of divine appointments meant to keep Israel focused on Him throughout their lives and generations.
Ever feel like your schedule is packed with obligations? What if your holidays were directly appointed by God himself?
In Leviticus 23:2, God declares, 'These are my appointed feasts.' The original Hebrew word used here, 'moed,' doesn't just mean 'holiday' or 'festival.' It signifies an 'appointed time' or 'appointed place' – a designated moment or location set by God for a specific purpose.
Think of it like a divine appointment on God's calendar. These weren't just suggestions or cultural traditions; they were divine mandates. God Himself set the times and the significance for these gatherings. This wasn't about Israel creating their own holy days; it was about participating in God's pre-ordained plan.
What makes a gathering 'holy'? It’s not just the place, but the purpose and the presence.
The text calls these appointed times 'holy convocations.' The word 'convocation' implies a calling together, an assembly. But the key is 'holy.' This signifies that these gatherings were set apart, dedicated to God, and intended for His worship and service.
This wasn't just about religious duty; it was about intimate communion. The scholars note that these were special times to 'assemble together to my worship and service.' God wasn't just creating a calendar; He was creating opportunities for His people to meet with Him, to be reminded of His presence, and to renew their covenant relationship.
Understand the original words
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mowʿed · Hebrew Noun
A specific, set time or season established by God for meeting with His people; often implying an assembly or a gathering at a predetermined point in time.
miqraʾ · Hebrew Noun
A gathering of the people of God, set apart by divine authority for a specific purpose of worship or observance. It implies a public calling together of the assembly to honor God.
This passage introduces the Passover, the first of the Lord's appointed feasts, emphasizing its remembrance as a perpetual ordinance, directly paralleling Leviticus 23:2's command to proclaim these appointed times.
Numbers 10:1-10This section details the use of trumpets to call the people to assembly for appointed times and sacred feasts, directly linking to the 'holy convocations' mentioned in Leviticus 23:2.
Nehemiah 8:1-3This shows the people gathering for a 'holy convocation' in obedience to the Law, demonstrating how the 'appointed feasts' of the Lord were proclaimed and observed in later Israelite history.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8The Apostle Paul connects the New Testament reality of Christ being our Passover lamb with the ancient feasts, showing how these appointed times find their ultimate fulfillment in Him and the ongoing celebration of His sacrifice.
clarkeLeviticus 23:2: "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts."
These are my feasts - The original word מועד moad is properly applied to any solemn anniversary, by which great and important ecclesiastical, political, or providential facts were recorded; see Clarke on Genesis 1:14 (note). Anniversaries of this kind were observed in all nations; and some of them, in consequence o…
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 word for "feasts" here means more than just holidays; it refers to "appointed times," highlighting that God's calendar is deliberately set, and these are not optional celebrations but divine appointments. This emphasizes that they are His feasts, not just Israel's, marking His presence and action throughout their history.
God is about to lay out the most important annual holy days for Israel, a rhythm of worship and remembrance. Before listing each specific festival, God emphasizes that these "appointed times" are uniquely His, to be proclaimed as sacred gatherings for His people. This sets the stage for a series of divine appointments meant to keep Israel focused on Him throughout their lives and generations.
God is about to lay out the most important annual holy days for Israel, a rhythm of worship and remembrance. Before listing each specific festival, God emphasizes that these "appointed times" are uniquely His, to be proclaimed as sacred gatherings for His people. This sets the stage for a series of divine appointments meant to keep Israel focused on Him throughout their lives and generations.
"“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts." — The word for "feasts" here means more than just holidays; it refers to "appointed times," highlighting that God's calendar is deliberately set, and these are not optional celebrations but divine appo…
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Last reviewed October 2026
