Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.

LEVITICUS 23:38KJV
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Leviticus 23:38 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 23:38 mean?

Leviticus 23:38 states that the special offerings and sacrifices described in this chapter are to be given in addition to the regular sabbath observances, personal gifts, vows, and freewill offerings that people already bring to the LORD. This verse clarifies that the festival sacrifices do not replace other regular or voluntary offerings.

In this passage, God is speaking through Moses to the Israelites, giving instructions about the various holy days and feasts they are to observe. Leviticus 23:38 comes near the end of a list of these special days, making it clear that these festival offerings are extra and do not take the place of the ongoing commitments and worship practices already expected of the people.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 23:38

  • שַׁבַּתּוֹת (shabbatot, H7676): This word refers to the sabbaths, the regular weekly day of rest and worship. The verse emphasizes that the festival offerings are separate from the weekly sabbath sacrifices.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH, H3068): This is the personal name of God, often rendered as "the LORD." The verse repeats this name to stress that all these offerings, whether regular or special, are directed to the same God.
  • מִנְחָה (minchah, H4979): This word means "gifts" or "grain offerings." It highlights that the regular offerings of grain or food are not replaced by the festival sacrifices.
  • נֶדֶר (neder, H5088): This means "vows," referring to offerings promised by individuals as part of personal commitments to God.
  • נְדָבָה (nedavah, H5071): This means "freewill offerings," which are voluntary gifts given out of gratitude or devotion.
  • נָתַן (natan, H5414): This is the verb "to give," emphasizing the act of presenting these various offerings to God.

Why Leviticus 23:38 matters

  • Leviticus 23:38 clarifies that the special festival offerings are not a substitute for the regular sabbath or personal offerings, preventing confusion about what is required.
  • The verse highlights the layered nature of Israelite worship, showing that both regular and special acts of devotion are important and distinct.
  • By listing different types of offerings—regular, vowed, and voluntary—Leviticus 23:38 shows the variety of ways people could express their relationship with God, underlining the richness and complexity of their worship life.

Where else these words appear

“gifts” Hebrew H4979 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 25:6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
  • Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
  • Ecclesiastes 7:7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

“offerings” Hebrew H5071 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 35:29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.
  • Deuteronomy 12:6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
  • Ezra 8:28 And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.

“vows” Hebrew H5088 · used in 57 verses

  • Genesis 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
  • Numbers 30:6 And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul;
  • 2 Samuel 15:8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

“sabbaths” Hebrew H7676 · used in 89 verses

  • Exodus 16:23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
  • Leviticus 26:43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.
  • Nehemiah 13:22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.