Focused Passage

Exodus 23:10-19

Justice, Sabbath Mercy, Festivals, and Covenant Faithfulness

The chapter moves from commands about truthful justice and impartial courts, to mercy toward enemies and vulnerable workers, to Sabbath and sabbatical rest, to Israel’s festival calendar, to worship instructions, and finally to covenant promises and warnings concerning the angel of the LORD, conquest, idolatry, and life in the promised land.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

10 For six years you are to sow your land and gather its produce,

11 but in the seventh year you must let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor among your people may eat from the field and the wild animals may consume what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and olive grove.

12 For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you must cease, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the son of your maidservant may be refreshed, as well as the foreign resident.

13 Pay close attention to everything I have said to you. You must not invoke the names of other gods; they must not be heard on your lips.

14 Three times a year you are to celebrate a feast to Me.

15 You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread as I commanded you: At the appointed time in the month of Abib you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, because that was the month you came out of Egypt. No one may appear before Me empty-handed.

16 You are also to keep the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the produce from what you sow in the field. And keep the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather your produce from the field.

17 Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD.

18 You must not offer the blood of My sacrifices with anything leavened, nor may the fat of My feast remain until morning.

19 Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 10

Original words

For six וְשֵׁ֥שׁ H8337 Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular years שָׁנִ֖ים H8141 Noun - feminine plural you are to sow תִּזְרַ֣ע H2232 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker your land אַרְצֶ֑ךָ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and gather וְאָסַפְתָּ֖ H622 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker its produce תְּבוּאָתָֽהּ׃ H8393 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 11

Original words

but in the seventh [year] וְהַשְּׁבִיעִ֞ת H7637 Conjunctive waw, Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular you must let it rest תִּשְׁמְטֶ֣נָּה H8058 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular and lie fallow וּנְטַשְׁתָּ֗הּ H5203 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular so that the poor אֶבְיֹנֵ֣י H34 Noun - masculine plural construct among your people עַמֶּ֔ךָ H5971 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular may eat וְאָֽכְלוּ֙ H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural from the field הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה H7704 Article | Noun - masculine singular and the wild animals חַיַּ֣ת H2416 Noun - feminine singular construct may consume תֹּאכַ֖ל H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular what they leave וְיִתְרָ֕ם H3499 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Do תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular the same כֵּֽן־ H3651 Adverb with your vineyard לְכַרְמְךָ֖ H3754 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and olive grove לְזֵיתֶֽךָ׃ H2132 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 12

Original words

For six שֵׁ֤שֶׁת H8337 Number - masculine singular construct days יָמִים֙ H3117 Noun - masculine plural you are to do תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular your work מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ H4639 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular but on the seventh הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י H7637 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular day וּבַיּ֥וֹם H3117 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular you must cease תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת H7673 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular so that לְמַ֣עַן H4616 Conjunction your ox שֽׁוֹרְךָ֙ H7794 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and your donkey וַחֲמֹרֶ֔ךָ H2543 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular may rest יָנ֗וּחַ H5117 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular and the son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of your maidservant אֲמָתְךָ֖ H519 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular may be refreshed וְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁ H5314 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular as well as the foreign resident וְהַגֵּֽר׃ H1616 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 13

Original words

Pay close attention תִּשָּׁמֵ֑רוּ H8104 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural to everything וּבְכֹ֛ל H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative I have said אָמַ֥רְתִּי H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular to you אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם H413 Preposition | second person masculine plural You must not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle invoke תַזְכִּ֔ירוּ H2142 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural the names וְשֵׁ֨ם H8034 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of other אֲחֵרִים֙ H312 Adjective - masculine plural gods אֱלֹהִ֤ים H430 Noun - masculine plural they must not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be heard יִשָּׁמַ֖ע H8085 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition your lips פִּֽיךָ׃ H6310 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

Three שָׁלֹ֣שׁ H7969 Number - feminine singular times רְגָלִ֔ים H7272 Noun - feminine plural a year בַּשָּׁנָֽה׃ H8141 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular you are to celebrate a feast תָּחֹ֥ג H2287 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to Me לִ֖י Preposition | first person common singular
Verse 15

Original words

- אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker You are to keep תִּשְׁמֹר֒ H8104 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular the Feast חַ֣ג H2282 Noun - masculine singular construct of Unleavened Bread הַמַּצּוֹת֮ H4682 Article | Noun - feminine plural as כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative I commanded you צִוִּיתִ֗ךָ H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular At the appointed time לְמוֹעֵד֙ H4150 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular in the month חֹ֣דֶשׁ H2320 Noun - masculine singular construct of Abib הָֽאָבִ֔יב H24 Article | Noun - masculine singular you are to eat תֹּאכַ֨ל H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular unleavened bread מַצּ֜וֹת H4682 Noun - feminine plural for seven שִׁבְעַ֣ת H7651 Number - masculine singular construct days יָמִים֩ H3117 Noun - masculine plural because כִּי־ H3588 Conjunction that [was the month] ב֖וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular you came out יָצָ֣אתָ H3318 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular of Egypt מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם H4714 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular No one וְלֹא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle may appear יֵרָא֥וּ H7200 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural before Me פָנַ֖י H6440 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular empty-handed רֵיקָֽם׃ H7387 Adverb

BSB notes

  • That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten; see Exodus 12:14–20.
  • Abib was the first month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of March and April.
Verse 16

Original words

[You are also to keep] the Feast וְחַ֤ג H2282 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of Harvest הַקָּצִיר֙ H7105 Article | Noun - masculine singular with the firstfruits בִּכּוּרֵ֣י H1061 Noun - masculine plural construct of the produce מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ H4639 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular from what אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative you sow תִּזְרַ֖ע H2232 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular in the field בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה H7704 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular And [keep] the Feast וְחַ֤ג H2282 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of Ingathering הָֽאָסִף֙ H614 Article | Noun - masculine singular at the end בְּצֵ֣את H3318 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct of the year הַשָּׁנָ֔ה H8141 Article | Noun - feminine singular when you gather בְּאָסְפְּךָ֥ H622 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular - אֶֽת־ H853 Direct object marker your produce מַעֲשֶׂ֖יךָ H4639 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular from מִן־ H4480 Preposition the field הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ H7704 Article | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • That is, Shavuot, the late spring feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is also known as the Feast of Weeks (see Exodus 34:22) or the Feast of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1).
  • That is, Sukkot, the autumn feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is later called the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths or Shelters).
Verse 17

Original words

Three שָׁלֹ֥שׁ H7969 Number - feminine singular times פְּעָמִ֖ים H6471 Noun - feminine plural a year בַּשָּׁנָ֑ה H8141 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct your males זְכ֣וּרְךָ֔ H2138 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular are to appear יֵרָאֶה֙ H7200 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular before אֶל־ H413 Preposition . . . פְּנֵ֖י H6440 Noun - common plural construct the Lord הָאָדֹ֥ן׀ H113 Article | Noun - masculine singular GOD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

You must not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle offer תִזְבַּ֥ח H2076 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular the blood דַּם־ H1818 Noun - masculine singular construct of My sacrifices זִבְחִ֑י H2077 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular with עַל־ H5921 Preposition anything leavened חָמֵ֖ץ H2557 Noun - masculine singular nor may וְלֹֽא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle the fat חֵֽלֶב־ H2459 Noun - masculine singular construct of My feast חַגִּ֖י H2282 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular remain יָלִ֥ין H3885 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular until עַד־ H5704 Preposition morning בֹּֽקֶר׃ H1242 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

Bring תָּבִ֕יא H935 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular the best רֵאשִׁ֗ית H7225 Noun - feminine singular construct of the firstfruits בִּכּוּרֵי֙ H1061 Noun - masculine plural construct of your soil אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ H127 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular to the house בֵּ֖ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular You must not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle cook תְבַשֵּׁ֥ל H1310 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular a young goat גְּדִ֖י H1423 Noun - masculine singular in its mother’s אִמּֽוֹ׃ס H517 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular milk בַּחֲלֵ֥ב H2461 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.