Bring two loaves of bread from your dwellings as a wave offering, each made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with leaven, as the firstfruits to the LORD. Bring two loaves of bread from your dwellings as a wave offeringThis phrase refers to the Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost, a significant festival in the Jewish calendar. The instruction to bring two loaves of bread signifies a communal act of worship and thanksgiving. The loaves are brought from the people's homes, indicating personal involvement and contribution to the offering. The wave offering is a symbolic gesture of presenting the loaves to God, acknowledging His provision. This act of waving the loaves before the Lord is a form of consecration, setting apart the offering for divine purposes. The number two may symbolize unity and fellowship, possibly representing the Jewish and Gentile believers coming together in the New Testament era. each made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour
The use of fine flour indicates the quality and purity of the offering, reflecting the best of what the people could produce. An ephah is a unit of measurement used in ancient Israel, and two-tenths of an ephah would be approximately 4.4 liters or about 9 pounds of flour. This specific measurement underscores the importance of precision and obedience in worship. The fine flour can be seen as a type of Christ, who is the Bread of Life, pure and without blemish. baked with leaven
Unlike other offerings that required unleavened bread, this offering includes leaven, which is yeast. Leaven often symbolizes sin or corruption in the Bible, but in this context, it may represent the presence of sin in the world and the believer's life. The inclusion of leaven in the offering acknowledges the reality of human imperfection. It also points to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies and purifies believers, as seen in the events of Pentecost in Acts 2, where the Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles. as the firstfruits to the LORD
The concept of firstfruits is deeply rooted in the agricultural society of ancient Israel, where the first and best portion of the harvest was offered to God as an act of gratitude and trust. This offering of firstfruits signifies the dedication of the entire harvest to the Lord, acknowledging Him as the source of all provision. In the New Testament, Christ is referred to as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20), indicating His resurrection as the first of many who will be raised to eternal life. The offering of firstfruits at Pentecost also foreshadows the birth of the Church, the firstfruits of the new covenant community. Persons / Places / Events 1. The IsraelitesThe primary audience of the Levitical laws, including the instructions for offerings and feasts. 2. The LORD (Yahweh)The God of Israel, who commands the offerings and feasts as acts of worship and obedience. 3. The Feast of Weeks (Shavuot/Pentecost)A significant Jewish festival occurring 50 days after Passover, during which the wave offering of bread is made. 4. The PriestsThe mediators between God and the Israelites, responsible for performing the wave offering. 5. The Promised LandThe land given to the Israelites, from which they are to bring the firstfruits as an offering. Teaching Points The Principle of FirstfruitsThe offering of firstfruits symbolizes giving God the first and best of what we have. It is an act of trust and gratitude, acknowledging His provision. Symbolism of Leavened BreadUnlike other offerings, this one includes leaven, symbolizing the inclusion of all aspects of life in worship, even those that are imperfect. Unity and CommunityThe command to bring offerings "from wherever you live" emphasizes the collective worship and unity of the community in honoring God. Anticipation of the Holy SpiritThe Feast of Weeks foreshadows the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, marking the beginning of the church and the spread of the Gospel. Generosity and StewardshipThis passage encourages believers to be generous and wise stewards of their resources, offering them to God as an act of worship. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the concept of firstfruits in Leviticus 23:17 challenge us to prioritize God in our daily lives? 2. In what ways can the inclusion of leaven in the wave offering inform our understanding of worship and imperfection? 3. How does the communal aspect of bringing offerings "from wherever you live" apply to the modern church community? 4. What parallels can we draw between the Feast of Weeks and the event of Pentecost in Acts 2? 5. How can we practice generosity and stewardship in our lives today, reflecting the principles found in Leviticus 23:17? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 34:22This verse also discusses the Feast of Weeks, highlighting its importance as a time of harvest and offering. Acts 2:1-4The New Testament event of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles, connects to the Feast of Weeks, symbolizing a new harvest of believers. James 1:18Refers to believers as a kind of firstfruits, drawing a parallel to the concept of offering the first and best to God. People Ephah, Israelites, MosesPlaces TemanTopics Baked, Baken, Best, Bread, Bring, Cakes, Cooked, Deals, Dwelling, Dwellings, Ephah, Fifth, Fine, Firstfruits, First-fruits, First-'fruits, Flour, Fruits, Habitations, Houses, Leaven, Loaves, Meal, Offering, Places, Tenth, Tenth-parts, Tenths, Two-tenths, Wave, Waved, Wave-loaves, Wave-offering, YeastDictionary of Bible Themes Leviticus 23:17 4554 yeast Leviticus 23:9-20 4442 firstfruits Leviticus 23:9-22 8644 commemoration Leviticus 23:15-17 4404 food
7480 wave offering Leviticus 23:15-18 5222 baking Leviticus 23:15-21 4506 seed
4975 week
7355 feasts and festivals, nature of
8642 celebration Leviticus 23:15-22 4208 land, divine responsibility Leviticus 23:17-20 7361 Feast of Weeks Library The Consecration of Joy
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 34. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. 35. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureOf a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
IT was the last, the great day of the Feast,' and Jesus was once more in the Temple. We can scarcely doubt that it was the concluding day of the Feast, and not, as most modern writers suppose, its Octave, which, in Rabbinic language, was regarded as a festival by itself.' [3987] [3988] But such solemn interest attaches to the Feast, and this occurrence on its last day, that we must try to realise the scene. We have here the only Old Testament type yet unfilfilled; the only Jewish festival which has …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes - Examination of their Distinctive Doctrines.
APART from the repulsively carnal form which it had taken, there is something absolutely sublime in the continuance and intensity of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. It outlived not only the delay of long centuries, but the persecutions and scattering of the people; it continued under the disappointment of the Maccabees, the rule of a Herod, the administration of a corrupt and contemptible Priesthood, and, finally, the government of Rome as represented by a Pilate; nay, it grew in intensity …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Chronology
45. The length of the public ministry of Jesus was one of the earliest questions which arose in the study of the four gospels. In the second and third centuries it was not uncommon to find the answer in the passage from Isaiah (lxi. 1, 2), which Jesus declared was fulfilled in himself. "The acceptable year of the Lord" was taken to indicate that the ministry covered little more than a year. The fact that the first three gospels mention but one Passover (that at the end), and but one journey to Jerusalem, …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth "But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell in You, He that Raised up Christ from the Dead Shall Also
Rom. viii. 11.--"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." It is true the soul is incomparably better than the body, and he is only worthy the name of a man and of a Christian who prefers this more excellent part, and employs his study and time about it, and regards his body only for the noble guest that lodges within it, and therefore it is one of the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Jesus Living at Nazareth and visiting Jerusalem in his Twelfth Year.
(Nazareth and Jerusalem, a.d. 7 or 8.) ^C Luke II. 40-52. ^c 40 And the child grew [This verse contains the history of thirty years. It describes the growth of our Lord as a natural, human growth (compare Luke i. 80); for, though Jesus was truly divine, he was also perfectly man. To try to distinguish between the divine and human in Jesus, is to waste time upon an impracticable mystery which is too subtle for our dull and finite minds], and waxed strong [His life expanded like other human lives. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Healing Peter's Mother-In-Law and Many Others.
(at Capernaum.) ^A Matt. VIII. 14-17; ^B Mark I. 29-34; ^C Luke IV. 38-41. ^c 38 And he arose out of the synagogue [where he had just healed the demoniac], ^b 29 And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came { ^c entered} ^b into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [Peter and Andrew had dwelt at Bethsaida (John i. 44). They may have removed to Capernaum, or Bethsaida, being near by, may be here counted as a part, or suburb, of Capernaum. Its name does not contradict …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
(Jerusalem, April 9, a.d. 27.) Subdivision A. Jesus Cleanses the Temple. ^D John II. 13-25. ^d 13 And the passover of the Jews was at hand [We get our information as to the length of our Lord's ministry from John's Gospel. He groups his narrative around six Jewish festivals: 1, He here mentions the first passover; 2, another feast, which we take to have been also a passover (v. 1); 3, another passover (vi. 4); 4, the feast of tabernacles (vii. 2); 5, dedication (x. 22); 6, passover (xi. 55). This …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
(from Bethany to Jerusalem and Back, Sunday, April 2, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXI. 1-12, 14-17; ^B Mark XI. 1-11; ^C Luke XIX. 29-44; ^D John XII. 12-19. ^c 29 And ^d 12 On the morrow [after the feast in the house of Simon the leper] ^c it came to pass, when he he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, ^a 1 And when they came nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage unto { ^b at} ^a the mount of Olives [The name, Bethphage, is said to mean house of figs, but the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Leviticus 23:17 NIVLeviticus 23:17 NLTLeviticus 23:17 ESVLeviticus 23:17 NASBLeviticus 23:17 KJV
Leviticus 23:17 Commentaries
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