Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.

LEVITICUS 23:17KJV
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Leviticus 23:17 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 23:17 mean?

Leviticus 23:17 instructs the Israelites to bring two loaves of bread made with fine flour and leaven from their homes as an offering of firstfruits to the LORD. These loaves are to be presented as part of a special ceremony, marking the beginning of the wheat harvest and dedicating its first portion to God.

In this verse, God is speaking to the people of Israel through Moses, giving specific directions for the Feast of Weeks (also known as Shavuot or Pentecost). The command is unique because the bread is to be baked with leaven (yeast), unlike most other offerings that require unleavened bread. This ceremony emphasizes gratitude for the harvest and acknowledges God as the provider.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 23:17

  • "Wave" (תְּנוּפָה, tenuphah): This word describes the ritual act of presenting or "waving" the loaves before the LORD, symbolizing their dedication to God.
  • "Leaven" (חָמֵץ, chamets): Most offerings were made without leaven, but here, leavened bread is required, highlighting the everyday, celebratory nature of this offering.
  • "Firstfruits" (בִּכּוּרִים, bikkurim): This term refers to the first and best portion of the harvest, set apart as a sign of trust and thankfulness to God.

Why Leviticus 23:17 matters

  • Leviticus 23:17 clarifies that not all offerings had to be unleavened; this exception shows that God sometimes called for ordinary, leavened bread in worship, especially in times of celebration.
  • The verse highlights the importance of bringing offerings "out of your habitations," meaning the people were to give from their own homes and resources, making the act personal and meaningful.
  • This command connects to the larger theme of Leviticus 23, where God outlines the sacred calendar for Israel, teaching the people to honor Him with the rhythm of their daily lives and yearly cycles.

Where else these words appear

“leaven” Hebrew H2557 · used in 11 verses

  • Exodus 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
  • Exodus 23:18 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.
  • Leviticus 6:17 It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.

“firstfruits” Hebrew H1061 · used in 16 verses

  • Exodus 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
  • Leviticus 23:20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.
  • Nehemiah 10:35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:

“deals” Hebrew H6241 · used in 22 verses

  • Exodus 29:40 And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.
  • Numbers 15:9 Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil.
  • Numbers 28:29 A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;

“baken” Hebrew H644 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
  • Genesis 40:22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
  • 1 Samuel 8:13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.