Topical Bible: First-Fruits

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Definition and Significance
First-fruits refer to the initial yield of a harvest, which was offered to God as an expression of gratitude and acknowledgment of His provision. This practice is deeply rooted in the agricultural lifestyle of ancient Israel and holds significant theological and spiritual meaning throughout the Bible.

Biblical Foundation
The concept of first-fruits is established in the Old Testament, where God commands the Israelites to bring the first and best of their harvests to Him. This offering was a way to honor God and recognize His sovereignty over the land and its produce. In Exodus 23:19 , it is written, "Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God."

Ceremonial Practice
The offering of first-fruits was a key component of several Jewish festivals, most notably the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. During these times, Israelites would bring their first-fruits to the temple as a sacred act of worship. Leviticus 23:10-11 instructs, "Speak to the Israelites and say, 'When you enter the land I am giving you and reap its harvest, you are to bring to the priest a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest. And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD so that it may be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.'"

Spiritual Implications
The offering of first-fruits was not merely a ritualistic act but carried profound spiritual implications. It symbolized the dedication of the whole harvest to God, acknowledging Him as the source of all blessings. Proverbs 3:9 emphasizes this principle: "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest."

New Testament Understanding
In the New Testament, the concept of first-fruits is expanded to include spiritual and eschatological dimensions. Jesus Christ is referred to as the "firstfruits" of those who have fallen asleep, signifying His resurrection as the first of many who will be raised to eternal life. 1 Corinthians 15:20 states, "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."

Believers are also described as a kind of first-fruits, set apart for God. James 1:18 declares, "He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation."

Theological Reflection
The offering of first-fruits serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the believer's call to live a life of gratitude and dedication. It underscores the principle of giving God the first and best of what we have, whether it be our time, resources, or talents. This practice encourages believers to trust in God's provision and to live in a manner that reflects His lordship over all aspects of life.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The first-fruits of the ground were offered unto God just as the first-born of man and animals.

The law required,

(1.) That on the morrow after the Passover Sabbath a sheaf of new corn should be waved by the priest before the altar (Leviticus 23:5, 6, 10, 12; 2:12).

(2.) That at the feast of Pentecost two loaves of leavened bread, made from the new flour, were to be waved in like manner (Leviticus 23:15, 17; Numbers 28:26).

(3.) The feast of Tabernacles was an acknowledgement that the fruits of the harvest were from the Lord (Exodus 23:16; 34:22).

(4.) Every individual, besides, was required to consecrate to God a portion of the first-fruits of the land (Exodus 22:29; 23:19; 34:26; Numbers 15:20, 21).

(5.) The law enjoined that no fruit was to be gathered from newly-planted fruit-trees for the first three years, and that the first-fruits of the fourth year were to be consecrated to the Lord (Leviticus 19:23-25). Jeremiah (2:3) alludes to the ordinance of "first-fruits," and hence he must have been acquainted with the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, where the laws regarding it are recorded.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

FIRST-FRUITS

furst'-froots (re'shith, bikkurim; aparche. Septuagint translates re'shith by aparche, but for bikkurim it uses the word protogennemata; compare Philo 22 33):

In acknowledgment of the fact that the land and all its products were the gift of Yahweh to Israel, and in thankfulness for His bounty, all the first-fruits were offered to Him. These were offered in their natural state (e.g. cereals, tree fruits, grapes), or after preparation (e.g. musk, oil, flour, dough), after which the Israelite was at liberty to use the rest (Exodus 23:19 Numbers 15:20; Numbers 18:12 Deuteronomy 26:2 Nehemiah 10:35, 37). No absolute distinction can be made between re'shith and bikkurim, but re'shith seems generally to mean what is prepared by human labor, and bikkurim the direct product of Nature. The phrase "the first of the first-fruits" (Exodus 23:19; Exodus 34:26 Ezekiel 44:30), Hebrew re'shith bikkure, Greek aparchai ton protogennematon, is not quite clear. It may mean the first-ripe or the choicest of the first-fruits.

The re'shith offerings were individual, except that a re'shith of dough was to be offered as a heave offering (Numbers 15:17-21). The priest waved a re'shith of corn before the Lord on the morrow after the Sabbath in the week of unleavened bread (Leviticus 23:9-11). These offerings all fell to the priest (Numbers 18:12). Bikkurim refers specially to things sown (Exodus 23:16 Leviticus 2:14). At the Feast of Weeks, seven weeks after the offering of the sheaf, bikkurim of corn in the ear, parched with fire and bruised, were brought to the House of the Lord as a meal offering (Exodus 34:22-26 Leviticus 2:14-16). The bikkurim also fell to the priest, except a portion which was burned as a memorial (Leviticus 2:8-10, 16).

The beautiful ceremony of the offering of the re'shith in the House of God is described in Deuteronomy 26:1-11, and is enlarged upon in the Talmud (Bikkurim 3 2). According to the Talmud (Terumoth 4 3) a sixtieth part of the first-fruits in a prepared form was the minimum that could be offered; the more generous brought a fortieth part, and even a thirtieth. The fruits of newly planted trees were not to be gathered during the first three years; the fruits of the fourth year were consecrated to Yahweh, and from the fifth year the fruits belonged to the owner of the trees (Leviticus 19:23-25). According to Mishna, `Orlah i.10, even the shells of nuts and pomegranates could not be used during the first three years as coloring matter or for the lighting of fires. It is held by some scholars that the institution of the tithe (see TITHE) is a later development from the first-fruits.

Figurative: In the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 2:3, Israel is called "the re'shith of his increase." In the New Testament aparche is applied figuratively to the first convert or converts in a particular place (Romans 16:5 1 Corinthians 16:15); to the Christians of that age (James 1:18 2 Thessalonians 2:13, WHm), and to the 144,000 in heaven (Revelation 14:4); to Christ, as the first who rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23); also to the blessings which we receive now through the Spirit, the earnest of greater blessings to come (Romans 8:23).

Paul Levertoff

Greek

536. aparche -- the beginning of a sacrifice, ie the first fruit
... apo and arche Definition the beginning of a sacrifice, ie the first fruit NASB Word
Usage first convert (1), first fruits (6), first piece (1). firstfruits. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/536.htm - 6k

205. akrothinion -- the top of a heap, ie the best of the spoils
... akrothinion Phonetic Spelling: (ak-roth-in'-ee-on) Short Definition: spoil, treasure
Definition: (lit: top of a heap), first-fruits, spoil, treasure (taken in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/205.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

1061. bikkurim -- first fruits
... 1060, 1061. bikkurim. 1062 . first fruits. Transliteration: bikkurim Phonetic
Spelling: (bik-koor') Short Definition: fruits. Word ...
/hebrew/1061.htm - 6k

7225. reshith -- beginning, chief
... NASB Word Usage beginning (19), choice (2), choicest (3), finest (2), first (16),
first fruits (7), foremost (2). beginning, chiefest, firstfruits, part, time ...
/hebrew/7225.htm - 6k

Library

The First-Fruits of the Gentiles
... ST. MATTHEW Chaps. I to VIII THE FIRST-FRUITS OF THE GENTILES. 'Now ... latest.
These are the first-fruits of the Gentiles unto Christ. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the first-fruits of the gentiles.htm

Whether Men are Bound to Pay First-Fruits?
... OF OBLATIONS AND FIRST-FRUITS (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether men are bound to pay
first-fruits? Objection 1: It would seem that men are not bound to pay first-fruits. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether men are bound to.htm

The First Fruits of the Spirit
... First Series Sermon 8 THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT. "There is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 8 the first fruits.htm

Of Oblations and First-Fruits (Four Articles)
... OF OBLATIONS AND FIRST-FRUITS (FOUR ARTICLES). We must next consider oblations and
first-fruits. Under this head there are four points of inquiry: ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/of oblations and first-fruits four.htm

The Study of the Gospels is the First Fruits Offered by These ...
... Book I. 4. The Study of the Gospels is the First Fruits Offered by These
Priests of Christianity. Now our whole activity is devoted ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/4 the study of the.htm

How we Ought Also to Offer Our Firstfruits to the Lord.
... as divine offerings, what are they doing indeed but rendering the firstfruits of
their ... steps, and set them in His praise and so render the first fruits of all ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xxvi how we ought.htm

The Fourfold Gospel. John's the First Fruits of the Four. ...
... Book I. 6. The Fourfold Gospel. John's the First Fruits of the Four. Qualifications
Necessary for Interpreting It. Now the Gospels are four. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/6 the fourfold gospel johns.htm

Of the Offering of Tithes and Firstfruits.
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter III. Of the offering of tithes
and firstfruits. For indeed by the Lord's command tithes ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter iii of the offering.htm

Celsus Would Also have us to Offer First-Fruits to Demons. ...
... Chapter XXXIV. Celsus would also have us to offer first-fruits to demons.?
Celsus would also have us to offer first-fruits to demons. ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxxiv celsus would also.htm

He Further Very Appositely Expounds the Meaning of the Term "Only ...
... But since it was also meet that He should implant in our nature the power of rising
again from the dead, He becomes the "first-fruits of them that slept [334 ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 8 he further very.htm

Thesaurus

Firstfruits (37 Occurrences)
... in Egypt, the first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham; (See NIV). Psalms
105:36 And he smote every firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all ...
/f/firstfruits.htm - 24k

First-fruits (45 Occurrences)
First-fruits. Firstfruits, First-fruits. Firstling . Easton's Bible Dictionary ...
(YLT). Firstfruits, First-fruits. Firstling . Reference Bible.
/f/first-fruits.htm - 27k

First-fruit (19 Occurrences)
... First-fruit. Firstfruits . Multi-Version Concordance First-fruit (19 Occurrences).
Romans 8:23 And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits...
/f/first-fruit.htm - 12k

Contributions (19 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 10:37 and that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our wave
offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil ...
/c/contributions.htm - 12k

Vigour (8 Occurrences)
... in Egypt, the first-fruits of their vigour in the tents of Ham. (DBY). Psalms
105:36 And he smote every firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their ...
/v/vigour.htm - 8k

Epaenetus (1 Occurrence)
... sent his salutation (Romans 16:5). He is spoken of as "the firstfruits of Achaia ...
Paul describes him as (1) "my beloved," (2) "who is the firstfruits of Asia ...
/e/epaenetus.htm - 8k

Fruits (109 Occurrences)
... Romans 8:23 Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit ...
Romans 11:16 Now if the firstfruits of the dough are holy, so also is the ...
/f/fruits.htm - 37k

Crops (48 Occurrences)
... Exodus 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of your labors, which you
sow in the field: and the feast of harvest, at the end of the year, when you ...
/c/crops.htm - 19k

Heave-offerings (13 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 10:37 and that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our
heave-offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil ...
/h/heave-offerings.htm - 11k

Dough (15 Occurrences)
... Romans 11:16 Now if the firstfruits of the dough are holy, so also is the ... Nehemiah
10:37 and that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our wave ...
/d/dough.htm - 12k

Resources

How did Jesus fulfill the meanings of the Jewish feasts? | GotQuestions.org

What is the first resurrection? What is the second resurrection? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Feast of Weeks? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

First-fruits (45 Occurrences)

Romans 8:23
And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for 'our' adoption, 'to wit', the redemption of our body.
(ASV DBY WBS)

Romans 16:5
and 'salute' the church that is in their house. Salute Epaenetus my beloved, who is the first-fruits of Asia unto Christ.
(ASV DBY WBS)

1 Corinthians 15:20
But now Christ has truly come back from the dead, the first-fruits of those who are sleeping.
(BBE DBY WBS YLT)

1 Corinthians 15:23
But every man in his right order: Christ the first-fruits; then those who are Christ's at his coming.
(BBE DBY WBS)

1 Corinthians 16:15
Now I make my request to you, my brothers, for you have knowledge that the house of Stephanas is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have made themselves the servants of the saints,
(BBE DBY)

James 1:18
Of his purpose he gave us being, by his true word, so that we might be, in a sense, the first-fruits of all the things which he had made.
(BBE DBY WBS)

Revelation 14:4
These are they who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins: these are they who follow the Lamb wheresoever it goes. These have been bought from men as first-fruits to God and to the Lamb:
(DBY WBS)

Genesis 49:3
Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength; The pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power.
(See JPS)

Exodus 23:16
and the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of thy labors, which thou sowest in the field: and the feast of ingathering, at the end of the year, when thou gatherest in thy labors out of the field.
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS)

Exodus 23:19
The first of the first-fruits of thy ground thou shalt bring into the house of Jehovah thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in it mother's milk.
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT)

Exodus 34:22
And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, even of the first-fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT)

Exodus 34:26
The first of the first-fruits of thy ground thou shalt bring unto the house of Jehovah thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother's milk.
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT)

Leviticus 2:12
You may give them as an offering of first-fruits to the Lord, but they are not to go up as a sweet smell on the altar.
(BBE DBY JPS WBS)

Leviticus 2:14
And if thou offer a meal-offering of first-fruits unto Jehovah, thou shalt offer for the meal-offering of thy first-fruits grain in the ear parched with fire, bruised grain of the fresh ear.
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS)

Leviticus 23:10
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring the sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest:
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS)

Leviticus 23:17
Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave-loaves of two tenth parts of an ephah: they shall be of fine flour, they shall be baken with leaven, for first-fruits unto Jehovah.
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS)

Leviticus 23:20
And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first-fruits for a wave-offering before Jehovah, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to Jehovah for the priest.
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS)

Leviticus 27:26
But a man may not give by oath to the Lord the first-fruits of cattle which are offered to the Lord: if it is an ox or a sheep it is the Lord's.
(BBE)

Numbers 13:20
And what the land 'is', whether it 'is' fat or lean; whether there is wood in it or not; and ye have strengthened yourselves, and have taken of the fruit of the land;' and the days 'are' days of the first-fruits of grapes.
(YLT)

Numbers 18:12
All the best of the oil, and all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first-fruits of them which they give unto Jehovah, to thee have I given them.
(ASV BBE WBS)

Numbers 18:13
The first-fruits of all that 'is' in their land, which they bring in to Jehovah, are thine; every clean one in thy house doth eat it;
(YLT)

Numbers 28:26
Also in the day of the first-fruits, when ye offer a new meal-offering unto Jehovah in your feast of weeks, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work;
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT)

Deuteronomy 18:4
The first-fruits of thy grain, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.
(ASV JPS)

Deuteronomy 20:6
Or if any man has made a vine-garden without taking the first-fruits of it, let him go back to his house, so that in the event of his death in the fight, another may not be the first to make use of the fruit.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 21:17
But he is to give his first son his birthright, and twice as great a part of his property: for he is the first-fruits of his strength and the right of the first son is his.
(BBE JPS)

Deuteronomy 26:2
You are to take a part of the first-fruits of the earth, which you get from the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and put it in a basket, and go to the place marked out by the Lord your God, as the resting-place of his name.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 26:10
And now, behold, I have brought the first-fruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me: and thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:
(WBS)

2 Kings 4:42
And there came a man from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
(ASV BBE DBY JPS YLT)

2 Chronicles 31:5
And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first-fruits of grain, new wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS)

Nehemiah 10:35
and to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all manner of trees, year by year, unto the house of Jehovah;
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS)

Nehemiah 10:37
and that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our heave-offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
(ASV DBY WBS)

Nehemiah 12:44
And on that day were men appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave-offerings, for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT)

Nehemiah 13:31
and for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS YLT)

Psalms 78:51
He gave to destruction all the first sons of Egypt; the first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham;
(BBE DBY JPS)

Psalms 105:36
He put to death the first child of every family in the land, the first-fruits of their strength.
(BBE JPS)

Psalms 135:8
He put to death the first-fruits of Egypt, of man and of beast.
(BBE)

Psalms 136:10
To him who put to death the first-fruits of Egypt: for his mercy is unchanging for ever:
(BBE)

Proverbs 3:9
Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS)

Jeremiah 2:3
Israel was holiness unto Jehovah, the first-fruits of his increase: all that devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come upon them, saith Jehovah.
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS)

Ezekiel 20:40
For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first-fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.
(ASV BBE DBY)

Ezekiel 44:30
And the first of all the first-fruits of every thing, and every oblation of everything, of all your oblations, shall be for the priest: ye shall also give unto the priests the first of your dough, to cause a blessing to rest on thy house.
(ASV BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 47:12
And by the stream there cometh up on its edge, on this side and on that side, every 'kind of' fruit-tree whose leaf fadeth not, and not consumed is its fruit, according to its months it yieldeth first-fruits, because its waters from the sanctuary are coming forth; and its fruits hath been for food, and its leaf for medicine.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 48:14
And they shall sell none of it, nor exchange it, nor shall the first-fruits of the land be alienated; for it is holy unto Jehovah.
(ASV DBY WBS)

Hosea 9:10
I made discovery of Israel as of grapes in the waste land; I saw your fathers as the first-fruits of the fig-tree in her early fruit time; but they came to Baal-peor, and made themselves holy to the thing of shame, and became disgusting like that to which they gave their love.
(BBE)

Nahum 3:12
All thy fortresses 'are' fig-trees with first-fruits, If they are shaken, They have fallen into the mouth of the eater.
(YLT)

Subtopics

First-Fruits

Related Terms

Makest (68 Occurrences)

Kine (24 Occurrences)

Firstlings (7 Occurrences)

Dash (30 Occurrences)

Fire-offering (45 Occurrences)

Fragrance (63 Occurrences)

Savour (52 Occurrences)

Openeth (48 Occurrences)