The big picture
Leviticus 23 opens in verse 1 with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 22 with “And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the…”, and closes in verse 44 with “And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD .” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, offering, holy, work, days. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Leviticus · King James Version · 44Leviticus 23:1-8
1–8: The LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 23:1–8 opens with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” and reaches “But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A seasonal sequence for Sabbath, Passover, Firstfruits, Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement, and Booths, with particular weight carried by LORD, holy, work.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’s passover.” The line’s distinctive content terms include first, fourteenth, LORD’s. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.
Leviticus 23:1-8
King James Version1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD , which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
3Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
4These are the feasts of the LORD , even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
5In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’s passover.
6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD : seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
7In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
8But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
Leviticus 23:9-16
9–16: The LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 23:9–16 opens with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” and reaches “Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A seasonal sequence for Sabbath, Passover, Firstfruits, Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement, and Booths, with particular weight carried by offering, LORD, sheaf.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD , to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Leviticus 23:9-16
King James Version9And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
10Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
11And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD , to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
12And 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 .
13And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.
14And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
15And 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:
16Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD .
Leviticus 23:17-24
17–24: Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth…
Leviticus 23:17–24 opens with “Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine…” and reaches “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A seasonal sequence for Sabbath, Passover, Firstfruits, Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement, and Booths, with particular weight carried by LORD, offering, first.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Leviticus 23:17-24
King James Version17Ye 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 .
18And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD , with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD .
19Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.
20And 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.
21And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
22And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
23And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
24Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
Leviticus 23:25-32
25–32: Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made…
Leviticus 23:25–32 opens with “Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD .” and reaches “It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A seasonal sequence for Sabbath, Passover, Firstfruits, Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement, and Booths, with particular weight carried by LORD, work, atonement.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD .” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Leviticus 23:25-32
King James Version25Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD .
26And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
27Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD .
28And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
29For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
30And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
31Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
32It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
Leviticus 23:33-40
33–40: The LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 23:33–40 opens with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” and reaches “And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A seasonal sequence for Sabbath, Passover, Firstfruits, Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement, and Booths, with particular weight carried by LORD, offering, days.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“These are the feasts of the LORD , which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Leviticus 23:33-40
King James Version33And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
34Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD .
35On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
36Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD : on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD : it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
37These are the feasts of the LORD , which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD , a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
38Beside 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 .
39Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.
40And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.
Leviticus 23:41-44
41–44: Ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall…
Leviticus 23:41–44 opens with “And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for…” and reaches “And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD .” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A seasonal sequence for Sabbath, Passover, Firstfruits, Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement, and Booths, with particular weight carried by booths, dwell, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Leviticus 23:41-44
King James Version41And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
42Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
43That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
44And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD .
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Leviticus 23:1 begins with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Leviticus 23:19 forms a natural hinge: “Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.”
The final note
Leviticus 23:44 leaves the reader with “And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD .”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, offering, holy, work, days, sabbath help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why repeat the details of the property?
The description establishes a recognized, witnessed holding for the family.
How do grief and promise coexist?
Abraham mourns fully while securing a burial place in the land associated with the promise.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- spake
- spoke
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.