Bible Strands
Leviticus 23:42
You are to dwell in booths for seven days. All the native-born of Israel must dwell in booths,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God delivers this command through Moses to the Israelites, establishing a recurring festival calendar during the wilderness period.
The words — תֵּשְב֖וּ (te.she.Vu) and יֵשְב֖וּ (ye.she.Vu) both translate literally as "you will dwell" and "they will dwell," stressing permanent residence rather than casual visitation during the festival period.
The thread — The instruction resurfaces in Nehemiah 8:14 as a recovered Mosaic statute, while Genesis 33:17 records Jacob constructing shelters at Succoth and Numbers 24:2 describes Israel's tribal encampment.
Why it lands — The text mandates that every native-born Israelite physically reside in temporary structures for seven days to preserve a collective historical memory. Readers must execute a concrete ritual that maintains national identity and acknowledges divine deliverance from Egypt.
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
King James Version
Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
Cross-references
- Nehemiah 8:14 And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,
- Genesis 33:17 but Jacob went on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.
- Numbers 24:2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,
- Numbers 24:5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!
- Jeremiah 35:10 But we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done exactly as our forefather Jonadab commanded us.
- Hebrews 11:13 All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.