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:

LEVITICUS 23:15KJV
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Leviticus 23:15 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 23:15 mean?

Leviticus 23:15 instructs the Israelites to begin counting seven full weeks, starting from the day after the Sabbath when they brought the first sheaf of the grain harvest as a wave offering. This counting leads up to the festival known as Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks.

In this verse, God is speaking to the people of Israel through Moses, giving them specific instructions about their religious calendar. The context is the spring harvest season, and the counting begins with the offering of the first sheaf, marking a period of anticipation and preparation for another major festival.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 23:15

  • "count" (סָפַר, saphar): This word means to count or number carefully, emphasizing that the Israelites were to keep a precise tally of the days and weeks.
  • "sabbath" (שַׁבָּת, shabbat): Here, "Sabbath" refers to the weekly day of rest, and the counting starts from the day after this Sabbath, not just any day.
  • "sheaf" (עֹמֶר, omer): The "sheaf" is a bundle of harvested grain, and this particular offering (the omer) marks the start of the counting period.
  • "complete" (תָּמִים, tamim): This word means whole, perfect, or complete, showing that the seven weeks are to be fully counted with nothing skipped.

Why Leviticus 23:15 matters

  • Leviticus 23:15 clarifies that the counting toward the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) is tied to a specific event—the offering of the first sheaf—rather than a random date.
  • The verse highlights the importance of careful observance and precision in following God's instructions, as seen in the use of the word "complete."
  • Understanding this verse helps explain the timing and significance of one of Israel’s major festivals, connecting the agricultural cycle to their worship practices.

Where else these words appear

“sheaf” Hebrew H6016 · used in 14 verses

  • Exodus 16:16 This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.
  • Exodus 16:33 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.
  • Leviticus 23:12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.

“offering” Hebrew H8573 · used in 28 verses

  • Exodus 29:24 And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them for a wave offering before the LORD.
  • Leviticus 8:29 And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD: for of the ram of consecration it was Moses' part; as the LORD commanded Moses.
  • Numbers 6:20 And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.

“morrow” Hebrew H4283 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 19:34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
  • Numbers 16:41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.
  • 1 Samuel 11:11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

“be” Hebrew H1961 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
  • Exodus 12:4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
  • 2 Samuel 9:9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.