The Seven Feasts of Israel

מוֹעֲדֵי יְהוָה — Mo'adei YHWH

The appointed times of Jehovah, given to Israel through Moses, reveal God's prophetic calendar and foreshadow the complete work of redemption through Messiah Yeshua.

Feast Calendar

Passover
Unleavened Bread
Firstfruits
Pentecost
Trumpets
Day of Atonement
Tabernacles
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Spring Feasts

Nisan–Sivan (March–June) — Fulfilled in Christ's First Coming

1

Passover

פֶּסַח — Pesach
Nisan 14 (March/April)

Commemorates Israel's deliverance from Egypt when the angel of death "passed over" houses marked with the blood of the lamb.

Scripture Foundation

"In the first month, on the fourteenth of the month, between the evenings is the Passover to Jehovah."

— Leviticus 23:5 (KJ3)

Observance Practices

  • Selection of an unblemished lamb on Nisan 10
  • Lamb slaughtered at twilight on Nisan 14
  • Blood applied to doorposts and lintel
  • Lamb roasted and eaten with bitter herbs
  • Eaten in haste, ready for departure
  • Memorial celebration continued annually

Prophetic Fulfillment

Fulfilled
Christ Our Passover Lamb

Jesus was crucified on Passover, becoming the ultimate Passover Lamb. His blood covers our sins, causing God's judgment to "pass over" believers.

"For also Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us."

— 1 Corinthians 5:7 (KJ3)

2

Unleavened Bread

חַג הַמַּצּוֹת — Chag HaMatzot
Nisan 15-21 (7 days)

A seven-day feast beginning the day after Passover, commemorating Israel's hasty departure from Egypt when there was no time for bread to rise.

Scripture Foundation

"And on the fifteenth of this month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to Jehovah; you shall eat unleavened things seven days."

— Leviticus 23:6 (KJ3)

Observance Practices

  • Remove all leaven from the house
  • Eat only unleavened bread (matzah) for 7 days
  • Holy gathering on first and seventh days
  • No work of service permitted
  • Daily fire offerings to Jehovah
  • Symbolic cleansing of sin from life

Prophetic Fulfillment

Fulfilled
Christ's Sinless Body in the Grave

Leaven represents sin. Jesus' sinless body lay in the tomb during this feast, the "bread of life" without corruption. Believers are called to live unleavened lives.

"So then let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of malice and of wickedness, but with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

— 1 Corinthians 5:8 (KJ3)

3

Firstfruits

בִּכּוּרִים — Bikkurim
Day after Sabbath in Unleavened Bread

The first sheaf of the barley harvest was waved before Jehovah as a pledge of the full harvest to come.

Scripture Foundation

"When you come in to the land which I am giving to you, and have reaped its harvest, and have brought in the sheaf, or the beginning of your harvest, to the priest, then he shall wave the sheaf before Jehovah for your acceptance; on the morrow of the Sabbath the priest shall wave it."

— Leviticus 23:10-11 (KJ3)

Observance Practices

  • Bring first sheaf of barley harvest to priest
  • Priest waves sheaf before Jehovah
  • Offer a male lamb without blemish as burnt offering
  • Food offering of flour mixed with oil
  • Drink offering of wine
  • No eating of new harvest until offering made

Prophetic Fulfillment

Fulfilled
Christ's Resurrection

Jesus rose from the dead on this exact day—the day after the Sabbath during Unleavened Bread. He is the firstfruits of the resurrection, guaranteeing the harvest of all who believe.

"But now Christ has been raised from the dead ones; He became the firstfruit of the ones having fallen asleep."

— 1 Corinthians 15:20 (KJ3)

4

Pentecost / Weeks

שָׁבוּעוֹת — Shavuot
50 days after Firstfruits (Sivan 6)

Celebrated 50 days after Firstfruits, marking the wheat harvest and traditionally associated with the giving of the Torah at Sinai.

Scripture Foundation

"And you shall number to you from the next day after the Sabbath, from the day you bring in the sheaf of the wave offering; they shall be seven complete sabbaths; the next day after the seventh sabbath, you shall number fifty days; and you shall bring near a new food offering to Jehovah."

— Leviticus 23:15-16 (KJ3)

Observance Practices

  • Count 50 days from Firstfruits (7 weeks + 1 day)
  • Wave two loaves of leavened bread
  • Multiple animal offerings (7 lambs, 1 bull, 2 rams)
  • Sin offering and peace offerings
  • Holy gathering with no work
  • Leave corners of fields for poor

Prophetic Fulfillment

Fulfilled
Coming of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit descended upon believers on this exact day, birthing the Church. The two leavened loaves represent Jews and Gentiles united in one body, containing leaven because the Church still struggles with sin.

"And in the day to be fulfilled, the day of Pentecost, they were all with one mind upon the same place and purpose. And suddenly a sound came out of the heaven, as being borne along by a violent wind! And it filled all the house where they were sitting."

— Acts 2:1-2 (KJ3)

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Fall Feasts

Tishri (September–October) — Awaiting Fulfillment in Christ's Second Coming

5

Feast of Trumpets

יוֹם תְּרוּעָה — Yom Teruah
Tishri 1 (September/October)

A day of rest and trumpet blowing, beginning the civil new year (Rosh Hashanah) and the Ten Days of Awe leading to the Day of Atonement.

Scripture Foundation

"Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first of the month, a sabbath shall be to you, a called memorial, a holy gathering. You shall do no work of service and you shall bring a fire offering to Jehovah."

— Leviticus 23:24-25 (KJ3)

Observance Practices

  • Blowing of the shofar (ram's horn trumpet)
  • Complete sabbath rest from work
  • Holy gathering of the congregation
  • Fire offerings to Jehovah
  • Day of memorial (zikkaron)
  • Beginning of 10 Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim)

Prophetic Fulfillment

Future
The Rapture & Regathering of Israel

This feast points to the future resurrection of believers and the regathering of Israel. The "last trump" heralds the Messiah's return and the awakening of the dead in Christ.

"Because the Lord Himself shall come down from Heaven with a commanding shout of an archangel's voice, and with God's trumpet. And the dead ones in Christ will rise again first."

— 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (KJ3)

6

Day of Atonement

יוֹם כִּפּוּר — Yom Kippur
Tishri 10

The most solemn day of the Hebrew calendar, when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement for all Israel's sins.

Scripture Foundation

"Also, on the tenth of this seventh month shall be a day of atonement; there shall be a holy gathering, and you shall humble your souls and shall bring a fire offering to Jehovah. And you shall do no work in this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to atone for you before Jehovah your God."

— Leviticus 23:27-28 (KJ3)

Observance Practices

  • Complete fasting ("afflict your souls")
  • High Priest enters Holy of Holies (only day)
  • Blood sprinkled on the mercy seat
  • Two goats: one sacrificed, one sent away (scapegoat)
  • Absolute rest from all work
  • National confession and repentance

Prophetic Fulfillment

Future
Israel's National Salvation

While Christ's sacrifice provides atonement, this feast points to Israel's future national repentance when they recognize Jesus as Messiah. Christ is both the sacrificed goat (whose blood cleanses) and the scapegoat (who carries sins away).

"But Christ having appeared as a High Priest of the coming good things... nor through the blood of goats and of calves, but through His own blood, He entered once for all into the Holy of Holies, having procured everlasting redemption."

— Hebrews 9:11-12 (KJ3)

7

Feast of Tabernacles

סֻכּוֹת — Sukkot
Tishri 15-22 (8 days)

The most joyful feast, commemorating Israel's wilderness wanderings and celebrating the final harvest—a time of dwelling in temporary booths.

Scripture Foundation

"Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, In the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be a Feast of Booths seven days to Jehovah... You shall live in booths seven days; all who are native in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations shall know that I caused the sons of Israel to live in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt."

— Leviticus 23:34, 42-43 (KJ3)

Observance Practices

  • Dwell in temporary booths (sukkot) for 7 days
  • Wave the "four species" (palm, myrtle, willow, citron)
  • Daily fire offerings, decreasing bulls each day
  • Holy gatherings on first and eighth days
  • Water-drawing ceremony with great rejoicing
  • Eighth day: Shemini Atzeret (solemn assembly)

Prophetic Fulfillment

Future
The Millennial Kingdom

Tabernacles pictures God dwelling with His people in the Millennial Kingdom. Jesus attended this feast and offered living water. The eighth day points to the eternal state—the new heavens and new earth.

"And in the last great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink."

— John 7:37 (KJ3)

"Behold, the tabernacle of God with men! And He will tabernacle with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them as their God."

— Revelation 21:3 (KJ3)

1. Passover

Nisan 14 • פֶּסַח

Christ our Passover Lamb, sacrificed for sin

Fulfilled

2. Unleavened Bread

Nisan 15-21 • חַג הַמַּצּוֹת

Christ's sinless body in the grave

Fulfilled

3. Firstfruits

Day after Sabbath • בִּכּוּרִים

Christ's resurrection—firstfruits of the dead

Fulfilled

4. Pentecost

50 days later • שָׁבוּעוֹת

Coming of the Holy Spirit, birth of the Church

Fulfilled
⋮
The Church Age — ~2000 years

5. Feast of Trumpets

Tishri 1 • יוֹם תְּרוּעָה

Rapture, resurrection, and regathering of Israel

Future

6. Day of Atonement

Tishri 10 • יוֹם כִּפּוּר

Israel's national repentance and salvation

Future

7. Tabernacles

Tishri 15-22 • סֻכּוֹת

Millennial Kingdom—God dwelling with man

Future
Feast Hebrew Name Date Duration Key Practice Prophetic Meaning Status
Passover פֶּסַח (Pesach) Nisan 14 1 day Lamb sacrifice, blood on doorposts Christ's death as Passover Lamb Fulfilled
Unleavened Bread חַג הַמַּצּוֹת (Chag HaMatzot) Nisan 15-21 7 days Remove leaven, eat matzah Christ's sinless burial Fulfilled
Firstfruits בִּכּוּרִים (Bikkurim) Day after Sabbath 1 day Wave first sheaf of harvest Christ's resurrection Fulfilled
Pentecost שָׁבוּעוֹת (Shavuot) Sivan 6 1 day Wave two leavened loaves Coming of the Holy Spirit Fulfilled
Trumpets יוֹם תְּרוּעָה (Yom Teruah) Tishri 1 1 day Blowing of the shofar Rapture, resurrection, regathering Future
Day of Atonement יוֹם כִּפּוּר (Yom Kippur) Tishri 10 1 day High Priest enters Holy of Holies Israel's national salvation Future
Tabernacles סֻכּוֹת (Sukkot) Tishri 15-22 8 days Dwell in booths, wave four species Millennial Kingdom Future

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