Exodus 23:14 (KJV)

What does Exodus 23:14 mean?

Exodus 23:14 commands the Israelites to hold a feast to God three times each year. This instruction sets a pattern for regular, communal worship centered around specific times on the calendar.

In this verse, God is speaking to the people of Israel through Moses as part of a larger set of laws and instructions given after the Exodus from Egypt. The verse introduces the idea of three annual festivals, which will be described in more detail in the following verses. These feasts are meant to bring the community together in worship and remembrance of God's actions for them.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 23:14

• "Three" (שָׁלוֹשׁ, shalosh): This word simply means the number three, emphasizing that the command is not just for one or two occasions, but for three distinct times each year.
• "Times" (רֶגֶל, regel): While often translated as "times," this word literally means "foot" or "footstep." In this context, it refers to pilgrimage occasions—times when people would travel by foot to gather for these feasts.
• "Feast" (חָגַג, chagag): This verb means to celebrate a festival, especially in a religious sense. It carries the idea of rejoicing together in a sacred gathering.
• "Year" (שָׁנָה, shanah): This is the standard Hebrew word for "year," making clear that these feasts are to be observed annually.

Why Exodus 23:14 matters

• Exodus 23:14 clarifies that worship in ancient Israel was not just a private or occasional act, but something woven into the rhythm of the whole community's year.
• The use of "regel" hints at the expectation of pilgrimage, showing that these feasts involved physically coming together, not just celebrating at home.
• This verse sets up the context for the three major festivals—Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles—that are central to Israel's identity and collective memory.