Leviticus 23
📖 Understanding "Holy Convocation"
Throughout Leviticus 23, you will see the phrase "holy convocation" (Hebrew: מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ, miqra qodesh). This refers to a Sabbath Day — a sacred, officially proclaimed assembly of the people, set apart for Yahweh.
Literal meaning:
- Miqra (מִקְרָא) comes from the verb "to call" (qara). It means a "calling together," a public assembly, or a solemn gathering that is proclaimed or summoned.
- Qodesh (קֹדֶשׁ) means "holy" or "set apart."
So when you see "holy convocation" in the text below, understand that it designates a Sabbath day — a day of rest when no servile work is to be done, dedicated wholly to the LORD.
(Lev 23:1) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(Lev 23:2) Speak 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.
(Lev 23:2) Speak 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.
📅 Note: In the scripture text above, note that these are not Jewish Feasts, but Yahweh's Feasts. We obey His Feast days.
(Lev 23:3) Six 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.
The Pesach (Passover) and Feast of Unleavened Bread
(Lev 23:4) These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
(Lev 23:5) In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.
(Lev 23:6) And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
(Lev 23:7) In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
(Lev 23:8) But 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.
(Lev 23:5) In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.
(Lev 23:6) And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
(Lev 23:7) In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
(Lev 23:8) But 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.
📅 Note: The 1st day of the feast of unleavened bread occurs on day 15 of the first month. The 7th (last) day of the feast occurs on day 21. Both these days are to be held as a Sabbath (a holy feast day).
Feast of Weeks - Shavuot (Pentecost)
(Lev 23:15) 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:
(Lev 23:16) Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
(Lev 23:21) And 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.
(Lev 23:16) Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
(Lev 23:21) And 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.
Day of Trumpets
(Lev 23:23) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(Lev 23:24) Speak 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.
(Lev 23:25) Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
(Lev 23:24) Speak 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.
(Lev 23:25) Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Day of Atonement
(Lev 23:26) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(Lev 23:27) Also 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.
(Lev 23:28) And 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.
(Lev 23:29) For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
(Lev 23:30) And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
(Lev 23:31) Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
(Lev 23:32) It 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.
(Lev 23:27) Also 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.
(Lev 23:28) And 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.
(Lev 23:29) For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
(Lev 23:30) And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
(Lev 23:31) Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
(Lev 23:32) It 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.
Feast of Tabernacles / Sukkot and the Great Eighth Day
(Lev 23:33) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(Lev 23:34) Speak 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.
(Lev 23:35) On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
(Lev 23:36) Seven 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.
(Lev 23:37) These 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:
(Lev 23:38) 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.
(Lev 23:39) Also 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.
(Lev 23:40) And 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.
(Lev 23:41) 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: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
(Lev 23:42) Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
(Lev 23:43) That 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.
(Lev 23:44) And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.
(Lev 23:34) Speak 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.
(Lev 23:35) On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
(Lev 23:36) Seven 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.
(Lev 23:37) These 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:
(Lev 23:38) 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.
(Lev 23:39) Also 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.
(Lev 23:40) And 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.
(Lev 23:41) 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: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
(Lev 23:42) Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
(Lev 23:43) That 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.
(Lev 23:44) And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.
When Does a Feast Day Start?
It is important to note that only two of Our Father's feasts are specifically mentioned as exceptions to start in the evening. The other feasts are normal days during sunlight.
⚠️ Important: These exceptions indicate WHEN the feast is to begin and not to determine when a day begins.
The two exceptions of feasts are as follows:
The Feast of Unleavened Bread
To be held in the first month on the evening of day 14.
(Exo 12:18) In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
Day of Atonement
To be held in the seventh month on the evening of day 9.
(Lev 23:32) It 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.
We assume a day starts when the sun begins to shine. These two feasts are exceptions to the norm and are specifically mentioned to be in the evening and are therefore NOT an indication to the start of a day.