Leviticus 23:15-22

How do the fifty days join harvest worship with care for the poor?

Berean Standard Bible

15 From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you are to count off seven full weeks. 16 You shall count off fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD. 17 Bring two loaves of bread from your dwellings as a wave offering, each made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with leaven, as the firstfruits to the LORD. 18 Along with the bread you are to present seven unblemished male lambs a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the LORD, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings—a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 19 You shall also prepare one male goat as a sin offering and two male lambs a year old as a peace offering. 20 The priest is to wave the lambs as a wave offering before the LORD, together with the bread of the firstfruits. The bread and the two lambs shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. 21 On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This is to be a permanent statute wherever you live for the generations to come. 22 When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap all the way to the edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the foreign resident. I am the LORD your God.’”

What is the context?

The count begins from bringing the sheaf and reaches fifty days, when a new grain offering is brought. The two loaves are explicitly baked with leaven, and burnt, sin, and peace offerings accompany the presentation. A sacred assembly and rest are commanded.

The paragraph ends by repeating the duty to leave field edges and gleanings for the poor and resident foreigner. Celebrating what the Lord provides includes making provision for others. The worship and harvest instructions meet in the same field.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley emphasizes that devotion to God must be accompanied by care for people. The USCCB notes identify the fifty-day occasion as Pentecost, also called Weeks, and connect it with the later harvest. The leavened loaves are required here; the earlier removal of leaven at a different feast does not cancel this instruction.

Where does this fit in God's plan?

Acts 2:1–21 places the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. People from many regions hear God’s works, and Peter explains the event through Joel’s promise of the Spirit and salvation for those who call on the Lord. That actual New Testament event connects the festival with the widening witness to God’s saving work.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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