Firstfruits – Yom Habikkurim

In the first two verses of Leviticus 23, Yahweh proclaims His feasts: “And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of Yahweh, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.”

 

And as we continue to read about Yahweh’s feast days in Leviticus, we run into a very interesting passage starting in verse nine.

 

Leviticus 23:9 And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying,   10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:   11 And he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

 

This article will explain the significance of “Firstfruits” and how it applies to believers today.

 

• For believers today, Firstfruits is ultimately about Messiah (1) as the Firstfruit of the resurrection from the dead accepted unto Yahweh, (2) as our High Priest, and (3) as our Wave Sheaf Offering.
• Firstfruits implies that there is more fruit to come.  (4) We see in Yahweh’s Word multiple resurrections of the dead accepted unto Yahweh.
• (5) The observation of Firstfruits occurs the day after the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

 

As we proceed in this article, we will go into in-depth discussion on each of these five aspects of Firstfruits listed above.  Before we get into the focus of this article, let us look at the meaning of the original Firstfruits observance.  The observance of Firstfruits was carried out when the standing ripe harvest of barley and wheat was ready to be reaped. The celebrant would take one sheaf from the standing harvest and bring it to the priest. The lone sheaf was called “the sheaf of the Firstfruits.” The priest was then to take this one sheaf and wave it before Yahweh in His house in praise and thanksgiving. This was to be done “the day after the sabbath.” Also, other prescribed offerings were presented to Yahweh along with the sheaf.

 

Deuteronomy 26:1 And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which Yahweh thy Elohim giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;   2 That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that Yahweh thy Elohim giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which Yahweh thy Elohim shall choose to place his name there.   3 And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto Yahweh thy Elohim, that I am come unto the country which Yahweh sware unto our fathers for to give us.   4 And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of Yahweh thy Elohim.

 

 

10 And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O Yahweh, hast given me. And thou  shalt set it before Yahweh thy Elohim, and worship before Yahweh thy Elohim:   11 And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which Yahweh thy Elohim hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.

 

The Hebrew word for “sheaf” is “omer”. An “omer” is defined as “a measure of dry things, containing a tenth part of an ephah.” This definition of an “omer” being a tenth part of an “ephah” is found in Exodus.

 

Exodus 16:36 Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah (0374).

 

0374 ‘eyphah {ay-faw’} or (shortened) ephah {ay-faw’}  •  of Egyptian derivation; TWOT – 82; n f •  AV – ephah 34, measure(s) 6; 40 •  1) ephah 1a) a dry measure of quantity, equal to 3 seahs, 10 omers; the same as the liquid measure bath;  (about 9 imperial gallons (40 l), rabbinical writings give sizes of one-half this amount) 1b) the receptacle for  measuring or holding that amount

 

(1) Messiah, the Firstfruit of the resurrection:

 

“Sheaf”/“omer” in Scriptures can not only be used to describe an agricultural measure of volume, it can also represent a person or persons.

 

Genesis 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.   6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:   7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.   8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

 

Therefore, if the sheaf can represent people, then harvests in the Scriptures have multiple meanings.  Not only do the harvests pertain to agricultural harvests, harvests also represent the gathering of people on this earth who put their faith, trust, and confidence in Yahweh Messiah.

 

Matthew 13:36 Then Yah’shua sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.   37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;  38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;   39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.   40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.   41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;   42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.   43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 

Luke 10:1 After these things the Sovereign appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.   2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Sovereign of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

 

Revelation 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.   15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.   16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

 

And the harvest of mankind includes the resurrection from the dead accepted unto Yahweh, the sheaf of the Firstfruits being Messiah.

 

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Messiah risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.   21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.   22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah shall all be made alive.   

 

 

There is an interesting connection between the words “Firstfruits” and “Firstborn” in the Scriptures.  The Hebrew root of “Bikkuwr” (Firstfruits) is the same as that of “Bekowr” (Firstborn) and that root word is “Bakar”.  The Firstfruits are dedicated to Yahweh just as the Firstborn belong to Yahweh.

 

And we know that YahwehShua is the Firstborn of every creature.

 

Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible Yahweh, the firstborn of every creature:   16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:   17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.   18 And he is the head of the body, the assembly: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

 

And YahwehShua is the Firstborn of many brethren.

 

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 

And YahwehShua is the Firstfruit of the resurrection.

 

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Messiah risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept

 

YahwehShua is the first, the choicest, the preeminent One. He is both the Firstborn of Yahweh and the Firstfruit unto Yahweh.

 

(2) Messiah, our High Priest:

 

Not only is Messiah the Firstfruit of the resurrection from the dead accepted unto Yahweh, we know that Messiah is our High Priest according to the order of Melchisedec.

 

Hebrews 5:5 So also Messiah glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.   6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.   7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;   8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;   9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;   10 Called of Yahweh an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

 

Hebrew 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, YahwehShua the Son of Yahweh, let us hold fast our profession.   15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

Zechariah 3:1 And he (angel/messenger of Yahweh) shewed me Yah’shua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.   2 And Yahweh said unto Satan, Yahweh rebuke thee, O Satan; even Yahweh that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?   3 Now Yah’shua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.   4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.   5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of Yahweh stood by.   6 And the angel of Yahweh protested unto Yah’shua, saying,   7 Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.   8 Hear now, O Yah’shua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.   9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Yah’shua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith Yahweh of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.   10 In that day, saith Yahweh of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

 

(3) Messiah, our perfect Wave Sheaf offering:

 

As we read in John, it seems clear that Messiah as our High Priest was presenting Himself as the perfect Wave Sheaf offering to Yahweh after His resurrection from the dead: The first of a spiritual harvest!

 

John 20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.   11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,   12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Yah’shua had lain.   13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Sovereign, and I know not where they have laid him.   14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Yah’shua standing, and knew not that it was Yah’shua.   15 Yah’shua saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

 

In the dim light of early dawn Mary may have seeen someone carrying the wave sheaf.  And we know that where Messiah was crucified and buried there was a garden (John 19:41).  Not recognizing Messiah could have been based on His disfigured body from torture and crucifixion.

 

Isaiah 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

 

We know that Messiah is our High Priest and the High Priest performed the wave offering to be accepted before Yahweh.

 

Exodus 29:24 And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them for a wave offering before Yahweh.

 

We conclude that in all likelihood, Mary saw Messiah as the High Priest offering Himself as the Sheaf of the Firstfruit of the resurrection to be accepted unto Yahweh.  An interesting note is that although Messiah had been resurrected, He asked Mary not to touch Him.  The reason for asking Mary not to touch Him could be that He had not performed the Wave Sheaf offering of Himself as High Priest.  Therefore He had not been accepted unto the Father.

 

John 20:16 Yah’shua saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.   17 Yah’shua saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my Elohim, and your Elohim.

 

(4) There are multiple resurrections accepted unto Yahweh:

 

Not only was Messiah the sheaf of the Firstfruit of the resurrection, we see two more resurrections from the dead!  First Messiah.  Then they that are Messiah’s at His Second Coming.  Lastly, at the end of the ages, when Messiah delivers the Kingdom to the Father.

 

1 Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Messiah the firstfruits; afterward they that are Messiah’s at his coming.   24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to Yahweh, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.   25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

 

This is illustrated by the early rain that brings the early harvest (of crops and men) and the latter rain which represents the later harvest (of crops and men).

 

James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Sovereign. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

 

Deuteronomy 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love Yahweh your Elohim, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,   14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

 

Jeremiah 5:24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear Yahweh our Elohim, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

 

Not only do you have early and latter rains, which implies multiple harvests and the word “Firstfruits” which implies additional fruits, the three feast periods (i.e. Passover/Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Tabernacles/Last Great Day) all revolve around different harvests.  These three feast periods may symbolize the three resurrections from the dead accepted unto Yahweh which we just read in 1 Corinthians 15:23-24.

 

Exodus 23:14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.   15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)   16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.   17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before Sovereign Elohim.

 

Exodus 34:18 The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.

22 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.   23 Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Sovereign Elohim, the Elohim of Israel.

 

Agricultural Firstfruits were always the choicest, the foremost, the first, the best, and the preeminent of all that was to follow. They were Holy to Yahweh. Believers are called the Firstfruits.

 

James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

 

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 7:9 shows in addition that there is also a “great multitude”)  2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:   3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.   4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto Yahweh and to the Lamb.

 

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.   23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 

(5) When does the observance of Firstfruits occur?

 

Knowing when the Wave Sheaf offering of the Firstfruits occurs helps us to understand when to observe Firstfruits.  We concluded earlier that Messiah was our Wave Sheaf offering.  We know that Yah’shua was nailed to a stake, hanged on a living tree, and put into the grave at sunset on the day of Passover (Pesach), the fourteenth of Abib.  He is our Passover lamb.

 

1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us:

 

We know that the only sign given to man about the resurrection was that Messiah would be in the grave three days and nights.

 

Matthew 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.   39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:   40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

 

Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Yah’shua to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. (also see Luke 24:44-46)

 

So Messiah is our Passover sacrifice and the Wave Sheaf offering.  He died on Passover and was buried at sunset at the end of Passover. Messiah rose from the grave after three days and nights at which time he presented Himself to Yahweh as the sheaf of the Firstfruit.   We know that the Feast of Unleavened Bread starts the day after Passover and runs for a full week.  We already read in Leviticus 23:11 that the Wave Sheaf offering occurs the day after the weekly Sabbath.

 

Putting all these facts together, the only thing we can conclude is that Firstfruits is during the Feast of Unleavened Bread and occurs the day after the weekly Sabbath during the Feast.

 

Lastly, this day of Firstfruits during the Feast of Unleavened Bread marks the transition from Unleavened Bread to Shavouth/Pentecost:

 

Leviticus 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:   16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto Yahweh.   17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto Yahweh.

 

We conclude that Firstfruits should be observed the day after the weekly Sabbath during the week of Unleavened Bread.  It symbolizes to us today that Messiah is our High Priest and the sheaf of the Firstfruit accepted unto Yahweh through the resurrection from the dead.  It also represents Yahweh’s spiritual harvest at the Second Coming of Messiah and at the end of the ages (Last Great Day) when all obedient believers will be resurrected and accepted unto Yahweh.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For YahwehShua himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of Yahweh: and the dead in Messiah shall rise first:   17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet YahwehShua in the air: and so shall we ever be with YahwehShua.   18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

HalelluYah

(4/13e)