What are the 7 feasts mentioned in the bible?
We’re used to our modern calendar with all of the holidays that come with it: Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and more. But did you know that buried in the Old Testament book of Leviticus, we find a God who cares about his people so much that he designates seven events throughout the year so they can rest, remember Him, and enjoy the good life He created?
God spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites and say to them: There are special times that you must celebrate as sacred holidays to God. The following are my special times.
—Leviticus 23:1–2
The phrase “appointed time” or “special times” comes from a Hebrew word, מֹעֵד “moedim.” This word signifies and important event that's not just a regular day. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew concordance defines it as “appointed place, appointed time, meeting; sacred season, set feast, appointed season.”
One way to think about this is how we treat anniversaries or birthdays. They’re special enough to be remembered and give us a purpose in gathering together.
These moedim are a Biblical rhythm outlined in Scripture to remember how God has been faithful, celebrate his goodness, and enjoy his gifts in a community of people.
Sound interesting? Didn’t realize that God himself prescribed special holidays?
Let’s dive in as we explore the 7 feasts mentioned in the Bible.
Golan Heights, Israel. Photo by Aviv Ben Or.
1. The Sabbath
The first of all the seven biblical feasts is the Sabbath, instituted within the very first chapter of Genesis when God declared this day as set apart and holy. It’s celebrated every week on the seventh day.
“You may do work during the six weekdays, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of Sabbaths. It is a sacred holiday to God, when you shall do no work. Wherever you may live, it is God’s Sabbath.”
—Leviticus 23:3
Our English word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word shabbat (שׁבת), which means to cease or to stop. In ancient Jewish tradition, Shabbat was celebrated beginning a few minutes before sundown on Friday night, until after sundown on Saturday evening. This marked the seventh day, and followed the pattern that God modeled for all of humanity after creating the world.
In Genesis, 1:31–2:1 we read about the reason that God rested—so that his creation would continue to function. We can look at the sabbath as a burden—just another thing to do—or we can accept the invitation into a day of rest and peace in order to recover our souls.
In our western culture that thrives on the hustle and grind, we wrestle with the idea of slowing down. But I promise there’s a unique peace that settles over the day when you embrace it with intentionality. The God of the universe will meet you there with his presence and shalom during his appointed time.
He shows us that we’re not still slaves in Egypt or cogs in the never-ending machine of business and work. That we’re first and foremost humans, created in His image.
And so we rest.
We spend time with family and friends.
We enjoy the goodness of the life He’s given us
And this is the beginning of shalom.
2. Passover (Pesach) & The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Many of us are familiar with passover—the epic story where God displayed his power over the Egyptian gods, culminating in the death of every firstborn. Except for those who sacrificed a lamb and spread the blood over the doorposts of their houses.
The angel of death passed over the homes of the ancient Hebrews, while death visited the homes of the Egyptians. And so after 10 displays of God’s power through various plagues, Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go.
“These are God’s festivals that you must celebrate as sacred holidays at their appropriate times: The afternoon of the 14th day of the first month is God’s Passover offering. Then, on the 15th of that month, it is God’s festival of matzahs, when you eat matzahs for seven days.
—Leviticus 23:4–6
That night initiated an eternal command to commemorate Passover and God’s great deliverance. To then remove all of the hametz (or leaven) from their homes and to bake unleavened bread as a symbol of the haste in which they had to leave Egypt.
Today, Jewish tradition has given us a beautiful Passover Seder meal filled with a rich tapestry of experiences, from the bitter herbs and the sweet charoset, to the hiding of the matzah in the afikomen, and the four cups that symbolize God’s promise to His people in Exodus 6:6–7: I will bring you out, I will deliver you, I will redeem you, and I will take you to Myself as a people, and I will be your God.
We also remember some of the final words of Yeshua (Jesus) at the Last Supper, where He was having a Passover meal with his disciples. He prays a blessing over the matzah and breaks the bread, symbolizing His body broken for us. He raises the cup of redemption, symbolizing his blood poured out for the redemption of sins.
“He did the same with the cup after the meal, saying, ‘This cup is the New Covenant, ratified by my blood, which is being poured out for you.’”
—Luke 22:20
The Passover story showcases God’s amazing lovingkindness, power, and deliverance for His people. And the same power that rescued the Israelite people from slavery in Egypt is the same God who rescues us from sin and death today.
What an amazing moment to celebrate His goodness and His ways and how He showed up during the appointed time of Passover.
3. The Feast of First fruits
For all of the great reasons that Christians celebrate Easter as the moment of Jesus’ resurrection, it’s unfortunate at how church history has completely disconnected this incredible, life-changing event from the Jewish feast of first fruits.
“God spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you come to the land that I am going to give you, and reap its harvest, you must bring an omer of your first reaping to the priest.”
—Leviticus 23:9–10
Regardless of when Passover falls, the Sunday after Sabbath after Passover is the feast of Firstfruits. It’s on this day, that the people were supposed to to bring an omer (a small measure of flour) of the first fruit from the harvest to wave as an offering before God as a way to bless and recognize Him for His goodness and provision. This is known as the feast of first fruits.
In addition to this appointed time, what we find in the gospel of Matthew is a connection of the day after the Sabbath that Jesus was buried. His resurrection happened on the feast of first fruits.
“After Shabbat, as the next day was dawning, Miryam of Magdala and the other Miryam went to see the grave. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of Adonai came down from heaven, rolled away the stone and sat on it.”
—Matthew 28:2 CJB
Yeshua is the firstborn among the dead. The first fruits of all creation who has gone back to the Father on our behalf. And so we celebrate this feast with joy, knowing that our Messiah is risen!
4. The Feast of Weeks: Shavuot (Also known as Pentecost)
Beginning the day after the feast of first fruits, God commands the Israelites to count a measure of flour called an omer (עמר), for 7 weeks (49 days)
“You shall then count seven complete weeks after the day following the Passover holiday when you brought the omer as a wave offering until the day after the seventh week, when there will be a total of 50 days.
On that 50th day you may present new grain as a meal offering to God.”
—Leviticus 23:15–16
Immediately I think of the connection with the Jubilee year that happens on after 49 years—on the 50th year all slaves were released. Debts were forgiven. Everyone had a new start.
Shavuot is also known as the second harvest—where the first harvest was of wheat, the barley harvest grew next, and was harvested separately.
And did you know that the early Jewish believers in Yeshua (Jesus) were in the upperroom you’ve likely read about celebrating this exact festival?
“The festival of Shavu`ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.”
–Acts 2:1–4 CJB
In the traditional Jewish observance of this feast, many rabbis commemorate the giving of the torah on Mount Sinai, referencing Exodus 20:18, where the original Hebrew literally reads, “And all the people saw the voices and the torches.”
An ancient story says that flames of fire appeared on everyone of the Israelite people at the base of the mountain as they heard the roaring of a rushing wind.
Can you imagine what those early believers would have thought as they look around, experiencing the very story they’ve been taught growing up? It’s as if God is saying, today, my Spirit that was talked about in Jeremiah 31:33 is now resting on you to give you power and enable you to live out my commands.
Over time, it also became Jewish tradition to read the book of Ruth—remembering the gentile, moabite woman who lovingly told her mother in-law: “Your people will be my people; your God will be my God.” She later was redeemed by Boaz and grafted into the lineage of the Messiah.
What an incredible picture of God’s lovingkindness to paint a picture of the second harvest that includes Gentiles in the family of God.
5. The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah)
In Jewish tradition, this feast is commonly known as Rosh Hashanah (literally, head of the year), or the first of the new year on the Hebrew calendar.
“God spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites and say; The first day of the seventh month shall be a day of rest. It is a sacred holiday for remembrance and sounding of the ram’s horn.”
—Leviticus 23:23-24
Biblically, it’s the seventh month, even though it’s celebrated as the new year, likely stemming from the release from Babylonian captivity.
The Hebrew word Teruah (תּרוּעה) can be translated as “shouting” or “battle cry”, a blast for marching, or a shout of Joy. It’s most often equated with the blast of a shofar or trumpet, noted in Leviticus 23:23.
In Jewish tradition, this symbolized several things:
It could be a call to battle
It can represent a shout of joy
The sounded of the shofar signified that the King was near as a way to alert the people to pay attention.
It signaled a return of the people to repentance at the start of the Days of Awe, leading up to the Day of Atonement.
It’s a time of reflection to introspect and determine the things you need to let go of and cast into the sea.
There’s a beautiful Jewish ceremony during this holiday called Tashlich (in Hebrew, this means “you will cast”), where you pick up a stone near a body of water and you ask God to forgive you of your sins. Then you cast your stone into to the water, never to be found again.
Who is a God like You pardoning iniquity, overlooking transgression, for the remnant of His heritage? He will not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us. He will subdue our iniquities, and You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
—Micah 7:18-19
What a wonderful expression of God’s faithfulness to His people. And so with repentant hearts, we turn towards Yom Kippur
6. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
In Jewish tradition, we count down 10 days the from Yom Teruah until the Day of Atonement. It was on this somber day, that the Israelites would fast, and present themselves before the high priest to come before God to atone for their sins from the previous year.
The people would confess their sins over a goat (often called a scapegoat) that would be released into the wilderness and a second goat that was sacrificed on the altar.
“God spoke to Moses, saying: the 10th of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement for you. It is a sacred holiday when you must fast and bring a fire offering to God.”
—Leviticus 23:26-27
Today, as followers of Yeshua, we remember that He is both the lamb and our high priest who perpetually intercedes before God on our behalf, making atonement for all of the times we have missed the mark.
We confess our sins again before God and remember His covenantal faithfulness to His people.
With tears in our eyes, we remember His goodness to remove our sin as far as the east is from the west, and we renew our commitment to follow the King of the Universe.
7. The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
This final fall feast is filled with joy and celebration, and is the culmination of the fall feasts of Israel. In fact, it’s the only feast where we are commanded to celebrate with joy.
It lasts for seven whole days—bookend by days of Sabbath rest. It’s as if God is saying—the year is over, you’ve worked hard, but your work is done. Come enter my rest and enjoy the fruit of your labors.
“God spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites, as follows: The 15th of this seventh month shall be a festival of Sukkoth to God, lasting seven days.”
—Leviticus 23:33-34
In Jewish tradition, families build a sukkah in their yard or synagogue. A sukkah is a shaky, impermanent structure that reminds us of the Israelites’ time in the wilderness. It’s not just a reminder of traveling in the wilderness—but a reminder of God’s faithfulness.
Of how he guided and directed them by His presence.
Of how their clothes and sandals didn’t wear out.
Of how we miraculously provided bread from the sky known as manna so they could service (with a double portion on Friday in order to allow them to keep the Sabbath.)
Sukkot is a reminder that God always takes care of His people.
And so we construct a shaky sukkah on our deck or in our yard as we remember God’s faithful provision in our lives. We have a feast, we enjoy time outside under the starts. We reflect on the ancient Hebrew people who followed this rescuer God.
We tell our own stories of His faithfulness in our lives.
And we look forward to a day when our Messiah will come to set everything right again.
In the Gospel of John, we encounter a story of Yeshua on the final day of Sukkot:
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Yeshua stood up and cried out loudly, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture says, ‘out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”
—John 7:37–38
Yeshua declares that He can give us the living water we all crave. That He alone can satisfy the longing of our souls, just like He provided water in the desert wilderness.
As this final feast culminates, our hearts are full of joy and love of our Creator. We raise our glass to this loving King of the Universe as we look forward with hopeful anticipation for the future day when our King will return again!
Conclusion
The Bible is filled with an incredibly rich array of holidays for us to celebrate that all point to the Messiah. As believers in Jesus, we have an invitation to participate in the commonwealth of Israel, and to experience through our actions the work that God has done throughout history.
You may push back and take the approach that the Old Testament has been done away with or you can take a step and just try it. What you’ll find through your actions are a beautiful moments of celebration throughout the year. Moments where God will meet you and reveal a little bit more about His love for you and His people.
If you’ve been exploring the 7 biblical holidays, but have been on the fence about where you should start, let this be the encouragement you need to take that step and celebrate these moments with your family or friends. As you do, we’d love to hear your stories of how God shows up.
May you be richly blessed as you follow the Master and His ways. 🙏
