Leviticus 23:21

On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This is to be a permanent statute wherever you live for the generations to come.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses the Israelites through Moses while detailing the agricultural feasts in Leviticus 23. This directive sits between the priestly wave offering of the firstfruits and the command to leave field edges for the poor.

The words — The text emphasizes מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ (mikra kodesh), literally "a holy convocation," and בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה (be'etzem hayyom hazzeh), meaning "on the very substance of this day." These terms mark the day as structurally set apart and operationally fixed.

The thread — The mandate to proclaim sacred assemblies appears in Leviticus 23:2 and Leviticus 23:4, while the permanence of the statute aligns with the generational covenant language of Genesis 17:7.

Why it lands — The verse commands immediate suspension of routine labor and establishes a binding practice for all residents across generations. It requires adherence to a divinely fixed calendar rather than individual scheduling.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּקְרָאתֶ֞םu./ke.ra.Temand/ you will proclaim בְּעֶ֣צֶם׀be./'E.tzemon/ [the] substance of הַיּ֣וֹםhai./Yomthe/ day הַזֶּ֗הha./Zeh<the>/ this מִֽקְרָא־mik.ra'-a convocation of קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ko.deshholiness יִהְיֶ֣הyih.Yehit will beלָכֶ֔םla./Khemto <the>/ youכָּל־kol-any מְלֶ֥אכֶתme.Le.khetwork of עֲבֹדָ֖ה'a.vo.Dahservitude לֹ֣אlo'not תַעֲשׂ֑וּta.'a.Suyou will do חֻקַּ֥תchu.Kata statute of עוֹלָ֛םo.Lamperpetuity בְּכָל־be./kholin/ all מוֹשְׁבֹ֥תֵיכֶ֖םmo.she.Vo.tei./Khemdwelling places/ your לְדֹרֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃le./do.Ro.tei./Khemto/ generations/ your

King James Version

And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.

Cross-references

Leviticus 23:2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘These are My appointed feasts, the feasts of the LORD that you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.
Genesis 17:7 I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
Leviticus 23:4 These are the LORD’s appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times.
Leviticus 23:14 You must not eat any bread or roasted or new grain until the very day you have brought this offering to your God. This is to be a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live.
Numbers 18:23 The Levites are to perform the work of the Tent of Meeting, and they must bear their iniquity. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come. The Levites will not receive an inheritance among the Israelites.
Deuteronomy 16:11 and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you.
Isaiah 11:10 On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.
Exodus 12:16 On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly, and another on the seventh day. You must not do any work on those days, except to prepare the meals—that is all you may do.
Leviticus 23:7 On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any regular work.