The Meaning of Leviticus 23:7 Explained

Leviticus 23:7

KJV: In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

YLT: on the first day ye have a holy convocation, ye do no servile work;

Darby: On the first day ye shall have a holy convocation: no manner of servile work shall ye do.

ASV: In the first day ye shall have a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

In the first  day  ye shall have an holy  convocation:  ye shall do  no servile  work  therein. 

What does Leviticus 23:7 Mean?

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 23:7 mean?

On the day first a convocation holy shall have you Any work customary not shall you do
בַּיּוֹם֙ הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן מִקְרָא־ קֹ֖דֶשׁ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם כָּל־ מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ

בַּיּוֹם֙  On  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן  first 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.
מִקְרָא־  a  convocation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִקְרָא  
Sense: convocation, convoking, reading, a calling together.
קֹ֖דֶשׁ  holy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
יִהְיֶ֣ה  shall  have 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כָּל־  Any 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מְלֶ֥אכֶת  work 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מְלָאכָה  
Sense: occupation, work, business.
עֲבֹדָ֖ה  customary 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֲבֹדָה  
Sense: labour, service.
תַעֲשֽׂוּ  shall  you  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.