The Meaning of Leviticus 23:2 Explained

Leviticus 23:2

KJV: 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.

YLT: Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, Appointed seasons of Jehovah, which ye proclaim, holy convocations, are these: they are My appointed seasons:

Darby: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim as holy convocations these are my set feasts.

ASV: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, The set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Leviticus 23:2 Mean?

Study Notes

feasts
The feasts of Jehovah. As given to Israel, these were simply seven great religious festivals which were to be observed every year. The first three verses of Leviticus 23. do not relate to the feasts but separate the sabbath from the feasts.

Context Summary

Leviticus 23:1-14 - Sabbath, Passover And First-Fruits
The year of Israel's national life was marked out by high and blessed convocations, which preserved its unity, kept the people in mind of the great past, and kindled high ideals and enthusiasms. There is a divine precedent, therefore, in the observance of the Christian Year, with its holy services and commemorations. In its earlier stages the religious life requires the help of special times and seasons, when it may realize itself and catch sight of the Delectable Mountains or the Golden City.
A pause must be called in life's busy haste, and families should have an opportunity of gathering at solemn ceremonials, participation in which will leave lasting memories with the coming generation. Probably the mature soul outgrows these, and ceases to observe days. See Colossians 2:16. But remember that the absence of the temple in the New Jerusalem did not imply that there was no worship, but that every moment was worship. [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 23

1  The feasts of the Lord
3  the Sabbath
4  The Passover
9  The sheaf of firstfruits
15  The feast of Pentecost
22  Gleanings to be left for the poor
23  The feast of trumpets
26  The day of atonement
33  The feast of tabernacles

What do the individual words in Leviticus 23:2 mean?

speak to the sons of Israel and say to them the feasts of Yahweh which you shall proclaim [to be] - convocations holy these are My feasts
דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־ בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם מוֹעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ תִּקְרְא֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם מִקְרָאֵ֣י --קֹ֑דֶשׁ אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֖ם מוֹעֲדָֽי

דַּבֵּ֞ר  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
בְּנֵ֤י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣  and  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲלֵהֶ֔ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
מוֹעֲדֵ֣י  the  feasts 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
תִּקְרְא֥וּ  you  shall  proclaim  [to  be] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
אֹתָ֖ם  - 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person masculine plural
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מִקְרָאֵ֣י  convocations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מִקְרָא  
Sense: convocation, convoking, reading, a calling together.
--קֹ֑דֶשׁ  holy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
אֵ֥לֶּה  these 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
מוֹעֲדָֽי  My  feasts 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.