Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, festivals hold significant importance as they are divinely instituted occasions for worship, remembrance, and community gathering. These festivals are primarily found in the Old Testament and are deeply rooted in the religious and cultural life of the Israelites. They serve as reminders of God's covenant, His mighty acts, and His provision for His people.
1. The Sabbath (Shabbat):The Sabbath is a weekly day of rest and worship, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening. It is the first festival mentioned in the Bible and is rooted in the creation narrative.
Genesis 2:2-3 states, "By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished." The Sabbath is further emphasized in the Ten Commandments (
Exodus 20:8-11) as a day to remember God's creation and deliverance.
2. Passover (Pesach):Passover commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It begins on the 14th day of the first month, Nisan, and lasts for seven days.
Exodus 12:14-17 describes the institution of Passover: "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD. You are to celebrate it as a permanent statute for the generations to come." The festival includes the Seder meal, where the account of the Exodus is recounted, and unleavened bread (matzah) is eaten.
3. Feast of Unleavened Bread:Directly following Passover, this seven-day festival involves the removal of leaven from homes and the consumption of unleavened bread. It symbolizes the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt and the purity required in worship.
Leviticus 23:6-8 outlines its observance: "On the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread."
4. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost):Celebrated 50 days after Passover, this festival marks the end of the grain harvest and commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
Leviticus 23:15-21 describes its observance, including offerings and a holy convocation. It is a time of thanksgiving for God's provision and the revelation of His law.
5. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah):This festival marks the beginning of the civil year and is a time of reflection and repentance.
Leviticus 23:24-25 commands its observance: "In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts."
6. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur):The holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur is a day of fasting, prayer, and repentance.
Leviticus 16:29-30 instructs its observance: "This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you must humble yourselves and not do any work... because on this day atonement will be made for you to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD."
7. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot):This seven-day festival celebrates the harvest and commemorates the Israelites' wilderness wanderings.
Leviticus 23:34-43 details its observance, including dwelling in temporary shelters: "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it continues for seven days."
8. Purim:Instituted in the Book of Esther, Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman's plot to destroy them.
Esther 9:20-22 records its establishment: "Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews... to establish among them an annual celebration on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar."
9. Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication):Though not mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, Hanukkah is celebrated to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple following the Maccabean Revolt. It is referenced in the New Testament in
John 10:22: "At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter."
These festivals, while rooted in the Old Testament, continue to hold spiritual significance for many believers today, serving as opportunities to reflect on God's faithfulness and to celebrate His ongoing work in the world.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
FestivalsI. The religious times ordained int he law fall under three heads:
- Those formally connected with the institution of the Sabbath;
- This historical or great festivals;
- The day of atonement.
- Immediately connected with the institution of the Sabbath are-- a. The weekly Sabbath itself. b. The seventh new moon, or feast of trumpets. c. The sabbatical year. d. The year of jubilee.
- The great feasts are-- a. The passover. b. The feast of pentecost, of weeks, of wheat-harvest or of the first-fruits. c. The feast of tabernacles or of ingathering. On each of these occasions every male Israelite was commanded to "appear before the Lord," that is, to attend in the court of the tabernacle or the temple, and to make his offering with a joyful heart. (27:7;Nehemiah 8:9-12) The attendance of women was voluntary, but the zealous often went up to the passover. On all the days of holy convocation there was to be an entire suspension of ordinary labor of all kinds, (Exodus 12:16;Leviticus 16:29;23:21,24,25,35) but on the intervening days of the longer festivals work might be carried on. The agricultural significance of the three great festivals is clearly set forth int he account of the Jewish sacred year contained in (Leviticus 23:1) ... The times of the festivals were evidently ordained in wisdom, so as to interfere as little as possible with the industry of the people. The value of these great religious festivals was threefold. (1)Religious effects. --They preserved the religious faith of the nation and religious unity among the people. They constantly reminded the people of the divinely-wrought deliverances of the past; promoted gratitude and trust; and testified the reverence of the people for the temple and its sacred contents. Besides this was the influence of well-conducted temple services upon the synagogues through the land. (2)Political effects. --The unity of the nation would be insured by this fusion of the tribes; otherwise they would be likely to constitute separate tribal states. They would carry back to the provinces glowing accounts of the wealth, power and resources of the country. (3)Social effects. --They promoted friendly intercourse between travelling companions; distributed information through the country at a time when the transmission of news was slow and imperfect; and imported into remote provincial districts a practical knowledge of all improvements in arts and sciences.
- For the day of atonement see that article. II. After the captivity, the feast of purim, (Esther 9:20) seq., and that of the dedication, 1Macc 4:56, were instituted.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Festivals, Religious
There were daily (Leviticus 23), weekly, monthly, and yearly festivals, and great stress was laid on the regular observance of them in every particular (Numbers 28:1-8;Exodus 29:38-42;Leviticus 6:8-23;Exodus 30:7-9;27:20).
(1.) The septenary festivals were,
(a) The weekly Sabbath (Leviticus 23:1-3;Exodus 19:3-30;20:8-11;31:12, etc.).
(b) The seventh new moon, or the feast of Trumpets (Numbers 28:11-15;29:1-6).
(c) The Sabbatical year (Exodus 23:10, 11;Leviticus 25:2-7).
(d) The year of jubilee (Leviticus 23-35;25:8-16;27:16-25).
(2.) The great feasts were,
(a) The Passover. (b) The feast of Pentecost, or of weeks. (c) The feast of Tabernacles, or of ingathering.
On each of these occasions every male Israelite was commanded "to appear before the Lord" (Deuteronomy 27:7;Nehemiah 8:9-12). The attendance of women was voluntary. (Comp.Luke 2:41;1 Samuel 1:7;2:19.) The promise that God would protect their homes (Exodus 34:23, 24) while all the males were absent in Jerusalem at these feasts was always fulfilled. "During the whole period between Moses and Christ we never read of an enemy invading the land at the time of the three festivals. The first instance on record is thirty-three years after they had withdrawn from themselves the divine protection by imbruing their hands in the Saviour's blood, when Cestius, the Roman general, slew fifty of the people of Lydda while all the rest had gone up to the feast of Tabernacles, A.D. 66."
These festivals, besides their religious purpose, had an important bearing on the maintenance among the people of the feeling of a national unity. The times fixed for their observance were arranged so as to interfere as little as possible with the industry of the people. The Passover was kept just before the harvest commenced, Pentecost at the conclusion of the corn harvest and before the vintage, the feast of Tabernacles after all the fruits of the ground had been gathered in.
(3.) The Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month (Leviticus 16:1, 34;23:26-32;Numbers 29:7-11). (seeATONEMENT, DAY OF.)
Of the post-Exilian festivals reference is made to the feast of Dedication (John 10:22). This feast was appointed by Judas Maccabaeus in commemoration of the purification of the temple after it had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes. The "feast of Purim" (q.v.),Esther 9:24-32, was also instituted after the Exile. (Cf.John 5:1.)
Greek
5524. choregeo -- to lead a chorus (ie a group of performers), to...... "The provision of a chorus at public
festivals was a costly business for
the Athenian public offices, who supplied " (P. Hughs).].
...Strong's Hebrew
4150. moed -- appointed time, place, or meeting... 1), appointed time (21), appointed times (8), appointment (1), assembly (2), definite
time (1), feasts (2), festal assemblies (1), fixed
festivals (3), meeting
...2282. chag -- a festival gathering, feast, pilgrim feast
... from chagag Definition a festival gathering, feast, pilgrim feast NASB Word Usage
feast (52), feasts (5), festival (1), festival sacrifice (1),festivals (3)....
Library
Of the HeavenlyFestivals, of which those on Earth are Typical.
... Tenth Book. 12. Of the HeavenlyFestivals, of Which Those on Earth are
Typical. Now in what manner, in those heavenly things of...
General Service for theFestivals of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
... CHAPTER I. GENERAL SERVICE FOR THEFESTIVALS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,.
AS WELL AS PREPARATIONS THERETO AND OCTAVES THEREOF. At the...
Concerning PrivateFestivals.
... Chapter XVI."Concerning PrivateFestivals. Touching the ceremonies, however,
of private and social solemnities"as those of the...
The Service Common to theFestivals of the Holy virgin.
... CHAPTER II. THE SERVICE COMMON TO THEFESTIVALS OF THE HOLY VIRGIN. For O
Lord, I have cried, the following Stichera Tone 4. Similar...
Concerning theFestivals; and How Each Day of Such Festival is to...
... From The Exodus Out Of Egypt, To The Rejection Of That Generation. CHAPTER 10.
Concerning TheFestivals; And How Each Day Of Such Festival Is To Be Observed....
Saints' Days, Fasts, andFestivals.
... SAINTS' DAYS, FASTS, &FESTIVALS. MAY 1. St. Philip and St. James, Apostles
and Martyrs. Christ's cross says still, and will say...
Saints' Days, Fasts, andFestivals.
... SAINTS' DAYS, FASTS, &FESTIVALS. OCTOBER 18. St. Luke, Physician and Evangelist.
It is good to follow Christ in one thing and to follow Him utterly in that....
Saints' Days, Fasts, andFestivals.
... SAINTS' DAYS, FASTS, &FESTIVALS. SEPTEMBER 21. St. Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist,
and Martyr. There is something higher than happiness....
Saints' Days, Fasts, andFestivals.
... SAINTS' DAYS, FASTS, &FESTIVALS. Whit Sunday. Think of the Holy Spirit
as a Person having a will of His own, who breatheth whither...
Saints' Days, Fasts, andFestivals.
... SAINTS' DAYS, FASTS, &FESTIVALS. FEBRUARY 2. The Presentation of Christ in the
Temple, COMMONLY CALLED The Purification of the Virgin Mary....
Thesaurus
Festivals (17 Occurrences)... Easton's Bible Dictionary
Festivals, Religious. There were daily (Leviticus
23
... 9; 27:20). (1.) The septenary
festivals were,. (a) The
...Fasts (3 Occurrences)
... of affliction"): I. PRE-EXILIC A) Annual 1. Passover, 15th-22d Nican 2. Pentecost,
6th Ciwan) Pilgrimage 3. Tabernacles, 15th-22d Tishri)Festivals 4. Shemini...
Feasts (45 Occurrences)
... of affliction"): I. PRE-EXILIC A) Annual 1. Passover, 15th-22d Nican 2. Pentecost,
6th Ciwan) Pilgrimage 3. Tabernacles, 15th-22d Tishri)Festivals 4. Shemini...
Feast (209 Occurrences)
... of the observances connected with the offering up of sacrifices (Deuteronomy
12:6, 7; 1 Samuel 9:19; 16:3, 5), and with the annualfestivals (Deuteronomy 16:...
Trumpets (52 Occurrences)
... Some were made of silver (Numbers 10:2), and were used only by the priests in
announcing the approach offestivals and in giving signals of war....
Pentecost (3 Occurrences)
... pen'-te-kost: 1. In the Old Testament: As the name indicates (pentekoste), this
second of the great Jewish nationalfestivals was observed on the 50th day, or...
Degrees (18 Occurrences)
... is the circumstance that these psalms came to be sung by the people on the ascents
or goings up to Jerusalem to attend the three greatfestivals (Deuteronomy 16...
Songs (100 Occurrences)
... (4) The most probable view is that the hymns were sung by pilgrim bands on
their way to the three greatfestivals of the Jewish year....
Greece (15 Occurrences)
... FORMS OF WORSHIP 1. Shrines 2. Temples 3. Priests 4. Seasons of Worship:Festivals
5. Elements of Worship 6. Prayer 7. Burnt Offering, or Sacrificial Meal 8...
Begging (18 Occurrences)
... (Matthew 20:30 and parallels), which was a gateway to pilgrims going up to Jerusalem
to the greatfestivals and in the neighborhood of rich men's houses (Luke...
Resources
What are the different Jewish festivals in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgShould Christians participate in religious festivals of other religions? | GotQuestions.orgThe Feasts and Festivals of Judaism ' Article Index | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
