Leviticus 23:25 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 23:25 mean?

Leviticus 23:25 instructs the Israelites not to do any regular work on a special day and instead to present an offering by fire to the LORD. The verse sets apart this day as one of rest and worship, focusing on honoring God rather than daily labor.

In this verse, God is speaking to the people of Israel through Moses, giving them directions about sacred times and festivals. The context is the list of appointed feasts, and this specific instruction is about a day of assembly, where ordinary work is paused and a special sacrifice is made to God.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 23:25

• "do" (עָשָׂה, asah): This word means to make or perform. Here, it refers to carrying out work, highlighting what is to be avoided on this day.
• "servile" (עֲבֹדָה, avodah): This term means labor or service, often referring to work done by servants or for daily needs. The verse singles out this kind of routine, necessary work as what should be set aside.
• "work" (מְלָאכָה, melakhah): This word means occupation or task, often used for skilled or occupational work. The combination with "servile" emphasizes that all kinds of ordinary labor are to be stopped.
• "offer" (קָרַב, qarav): This word means to bring near or present. It is used here for bringing an offering to God, stressing the act of drawing close to Him through sacrifice.
• "fire" (אֵשׁ, esh): This word simply means fire, but in this context, it refers to offerings that are burned, a common way sacrifices were made in ancient Israel.
• "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, reminding the reader that the offering is directed specifically to Israel’s covenant God.

Why Leviticus 23:25 matters

• Leviticus 23:25 clarifies that the focus of the holy day is not just rest, but also actively honoring God through a specific offering, not merely refraining from work.
• The verse helps distinguish between different kinds of work, showing that even necessary daily labor was to be set aside for the sake of worship on this day.
• This instruction ties into the larger pattern of sacred times in Leviticus 23, showing how Israel’s calendar was shaped around both rest and acts of worship, not just one or the other.