Seven Biblical Feasts:
Commandments, Dates, and Significance
Introduction to Biblical Feasts
There are seven festivals or feasts, which are known as "appointed times" or "holy convocations" in the Bible. The biblical calendar divides God's seven feasts into two groups: spring feasts and fall feasts. These sets are closely linked with Israel's spring and fall harvests, as well as agricultural seasons. Spring feasts include Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits and Weeks, while fall feasts include Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles. Three of the seven feasts were pilgrimage festivals in which the Israelites were commanded to travel to the Temple in Jerusalem. The three pilgrimage feasts are Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles.
Spring feasts:
Scriptural References for Biblical Feasts
Unleavened Bread:
Firstfruits:
Trumpets:
Tabernacles:
Biblical Feasts on God's Calendar
On God's calendar Biblical Feasts serve as markers for significant events in the history of salvation, like deliverance from slavery in Egypt, reminding us of past occurrences while prophetically pointing toward future events foretold throughout the Bible. Ultimately, these feasts find their final fulfilment in Jesus Christ.
The Spring Feasts reflect the season of sowing, when God plants the foundations of redemption. In Israel’s history and in the prophetic work of Christ, these feasts reveal deliverance, purification, resurrection, and the giving of the Spirit. Spiritually, they point to the Messiah’s first coming, when the “seed” of salvation was sown through His sacrifice, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The term "Passover" originates from the Hebrew word "פֶּסַח" (pesach), meaning "to pass over," and is etymologically linked to the biblical account of God passing over the houses of the Hebrews during the final plague in Egypt, sparing their firstborns. Four days before the Exodus, the Hebrews were commanded to set aside a lamb, inspect it for blemishes, and on the 14th of Nisan, slaughter it. The blood was used to mark doorposts, symbolizing protection from the angel of death. The feast culminated in the consumption of the lamb before midnight on the 15th of Nisan, pointing to God's deliverance and the covenant between Him and the Israelites.
Scriptural References:
Date:
-
14th day of Nisan
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Late March to mid-April
Commandments:
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on the tenth day of Aviv each family must select a lamb
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the lamb must be an unblemished year-old male
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keep the lamb until the 14th of the month
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remove the leaven from your houses
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the feast of Passover begins at twilight on Aviv 14
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on the first day hold a sacred assembly
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do not do any work, except to prepare the meals
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offer the Passover sacrifice at the place Yahweh will choose
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do this in the evening as the sun sets, at the same time you departed from Egypt
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slaughter the Passover lamb for each family
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dip a hyssop cluster in lamb’s blood and brush it on the top and sides of the doorframe
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eat the meat that night, roasted over the fire, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs
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don’t go out of the house until morning
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none of the meat you sacrifice in the evening of the first day shall remain until morning
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burn up any part that is left over
1 Now Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man must select a lamb for his family, one per household. 4 If the household is too small for a whole lamb, they are to share with the nearest neighbor based on the number of people, and apportion the lamb accordingly. 5 Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats. 6 You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight. 7 They are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 They are to eat the meat that night, roasted over the fire, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9 Do not eat any of the meat raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over the fire—its head and legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it until morning; before the morning you must burn up any part that is left over. 11 This is how you are to eat it: You must be fully dressed for travel, with your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You are to eat in haste; it is Yahweh’s Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am Yahweh. 13 The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a seven-day celebration that begins on the 15th of Nisan and follows the Feast of Passover. During this time, Israelites were prohibited from eating leavened bread. Commemorating their quick departure from Egypt and pointing to the future freedom from sin in their Messiah.
Scriptural References:
Date:
-
15th–21st day of Nisan
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Late March to mid-April
Commandments:
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the feast begins at twilight on Aviv 15
-
for 7 days eat unleavened bread, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day
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no leaven is to be found in all your land for seven days
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no one may appear before Me empty-handed
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for 7 days present an offering made by fire to Yahweh
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burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished
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grain offering shall consist of fine flour mixed with oil
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offer three-tenths of an ephah with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram, and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven lambs
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include one male goat as a sin offering
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you are to present these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering
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on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly, do not do any work, except to prepare the meals
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anyone who eats something leavened, whether a foreigner or native, must be cut off from the congregation of Israel
-
keep this command as a permanent statute for you and your descendants
1 Now Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man must select a lamb for his family, one per household. 4 If the household is too small for a whole lamb, they are to share with the nearest neighbor based on the number of people, and apportion the lamb accordingly. 5 Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats. 6 You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight. 7 They are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 They are to eat the meat that night, roasted over the fire, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9 Do not eat any of the meat raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over the fire—its head and legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it until morning; before the morning you must burn up any part that is left over. 11 This is how you are to eat it: You must be fully dressed for travel, with your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You are to eat in haste; it is Yahweh’s Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am Yahweh. 13 The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
The Feast of Firstfruits occurred on Sunday, during the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Israelites had to bring a sheaf or a bundle of first-harvested barley to the priest, who would take the sheaf and wave it before the Lord. On the same day, all Israelites were to sacrifice a year-old lamb without defect as a burnt offering, as well as a food offering of grain, oil, and wine. The Israelites were not permitted to eat any of the crop until the first portion was brought to the priest.
Scriptural References:
Date:
• Day after the Sabbath during Unleavened Bread
• A Sunday between late March and mid-April
Commandments:
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keep the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the produce from what you sow in the field
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bring to the priest a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest
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he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh so that it may be accepted on your behalf
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the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath
-
offer a year-old lamb without blemish as a burnt offering to Yahweh
-
grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil made by fire to Yahweh
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drink offering of a quarter hin of wine
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you must not eat any bread or roasted or new grain until the very day you have brought this offering to your God
-
you are to hold a sacred assembly
-
you must not do any regular work
-
this is to be a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live
9 And Yahweh said to Moses, 10 “Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘When you enter the land that I am giving you and you reap its harvest, you are to bring to the priest a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest. 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh so that it may be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. 12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a year-old lamb without blemish as a burnt offering to Yahweh, 13 along with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil—an offering made by fire to Yahweh, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter hin of wine. 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.
The Feast of Weeks, also known as Shavuot in Hebrew and Pentecost in Greek, occurs seven weeks or fifty days after the first day of Passover. It was one of three pilgrimage festivals that Jews were required to attend in Jerusalem. The Feast of Weeks celebrated the first fruits of the wheat harvest. According to Jewish tradition, Shavuot also commemorates the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.
Scriptural References:
Date:
-
50 days after Firstfruits
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Late May to mid-June
Commandments:
-
count off seven weeks from the time you first put the sickle to the standing grain
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when you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap all the way to the edges of your field
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leave them for the poor and the foreign resident
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from the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you are to count off seven full weeks
-
count off fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath
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present an offering of new grain to Yahweh
-
make a freewill offering that you give in proportion to how Yahweh your God has blessed you
-
bring two loaves of bread from your dwellings as a wave offering, each made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with leaven, as the firstfruits to Yahweh
-
present seven unblemished male lambs a year old, one young bull, and two rams
-
prepare one male goat as a sin offering
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prepare two male lambs a year old as a peace offering
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the priest is to wave the lambs as a wave offering before Yahweh, together with the bread of the firstfruits
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the bread and the two lambs shall be holy to Yahweh for the priest
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you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God in the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name
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you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, the Levite within your gates, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows
-
proclaim a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work
-
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt
-
this is to be a permanent statute wherever you live for the generations to come
15 From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you are to count off seven full weeks. 16 You shall count off fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to Yahweh. 17 Bring two loaves of bread from your dwellings as a wave offering, each made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with leaven, as the firstfruits to Yahweh. 18 Along with the bread you are to present seven unblemished male lambs a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to Yahweh, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings—an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to Yahweh. 19 You shall also prepare one male goat as a sin offering and two male lambs a year old as a peace offering. 20 The priest is to wave the lambs as a wave offering before Yahweh, together with the bread of the firstfruits. The bread and the two lambs shall be holy to Yahweh for the priest. 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. 22 When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap all the way to the edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the foreign resident. I am Yahweh your God.’ ”
The Fall Feasts reflect the season of harvest, when what was sown comes to maturity and is gathered in. These feasts point to the Messiah’s second coming, when God gathers His people, brings judgment, restores righteousness, and establishes His dwelling with humanity. They reveal the completion of redemption and the final harvest of the nations.
The Feast of Trumpets occurs on the first day of the seventh month in the Hebrew calendar, marking the beginning of the fall feast season and the civil Jewish year. The blowing of trumpets at this feast symbolizes a call to repentance, self-examination, and preparation for the upcoming Day of Atonement.
Scriptural References:
Date:
-
1st day of Tishri
-
Late September to late October
-
the feast starts on the first day of the seventh month
-
you are to have a day of rest
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a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts
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you must not do any regular work
-
present a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished
-
with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil
-
three-tenths of an ephah with the bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram, and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven male lambs
-
Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you
-
in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their prescribed grain offerings and drink offerings
Commandments:
1 “On the first day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This will be a day for you to sound the trumpets. 2 As a pleasing aroma to Yahweh, you are to present a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 3 together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephah with the bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram, 4 and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven male lambs. 5 Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. 6 These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their prescribed grain offerings and drink offerings. They are a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
The Day of Atonement, also known as Yom Kippur, is observed on the 10th day of the seventh month, following the Feast of Trumpets. During this feast, the High Priest takes on a central role, entering the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle or later the Temple to symbolize God's reconciliation with His people.
Scriptural References:
Date:
-
10th day of Tishri
-
Late September to late October
Commandments:
-
on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement
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you shall hold a sacred assembly and humble yourselves
-
present a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished
-
with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil
-
three-tenths of an ephah with the bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram, and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven male lambs
-
Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you
-
in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their prescribed grain offerings and drink offerings
-
you are not to do any work at all
-
if anyone does not humble himself on this day, he must be cut off from his people
-
I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on this day
-
this is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live
-
from the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to keep your Sabbath
1 Now Yahweh spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of Yahweh. 2 And Yahweh said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat. 3 This is how Aaron is to enter the Holy Place: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself with water before he wears them. 5 And he shall take from the congregation of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 Aaron is to present the bull for his sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household. 7 Then he shall take the two goats and present them before Yahweh at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 8 After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for Yahweh and the other for the scapegoat, 9 he shall present the goat chosen by lot for Yahweh and sacrifice it as a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Yahweh to make atonement by sending it into the wilderness as the scapegoat. 11 When Aaron presents the bull for his sin offering and makes atonement for himself and his household, he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. 12 Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before Yahweh, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take them inside the veil. 13 He is to put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die. 14 And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat. 15 Aaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it. 16 So he shall make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the impurities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting which abides among them, because it is surrounded by their impurities. 17 No one may be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he leaves, after he has made atonement for himself, his household, and the whole assembly of Israel. 18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before Yahweh and make atonement for it. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. 19 He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites. 20 When Aaron has finished purifying the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he is to bring forward the live goat. 21 Then he is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task. 22 The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary place, and the man will release it into the wilderness. 23 Then Aaron is to enter the Tent of Meeting, take off the linen garments he put on before entering the Most Holy Place, and leave them there. 24 He is to bathe himself with water in a holy place and put on his own clothes. Then he must go out and sacrifice his burnt offering and the people’s burnt offering to make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 He is also to burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar. 26 The man who released the goat as the scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may reenter the camp. 27 The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp; and their hides, flesh, and dung must be burned up. 28 The one who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and afterward he may reenter the camp. 29 This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you shall humble yourselves and not do any work—whether the native or the foreigner who resides among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before Yahweh. 31 It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, that you may humble yourselves; it is a permanent statute. 32 The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest shall make atonement. He will put on the sacred linen garments 33 and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, and for the priests and all the people of the assembly. 34 This is to be a permanent statute for you, to make atonement once a year for the Israelites because of all their sins.”
The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot or the Feast of Booths, is the last of the three pilgrimage festivals and the final festival on God's calendar. The Israelites were commanded to live in temporary booths made of branches and leafy greens during the week-long festival, symbolizing their time wandering in the wilderness following their exodus from Egypt.
Scriptural References:
Date:
-
15th–22nd day of Tishri
-
Late September to late October
Commandments:
-
on the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Feast of Tabernacles to Yahweh begins
-
it continues for seven days
-
there shall be complete rest on the first day and also on the eighth day
-
on the first day you are to gather the fruit of majestic trees, the branches of palm trees, and the boughs of leafy trees and of willows of the brook
-
you are to dwell in booths for seven days
-
you are to rejoice before Yahweh your God for seven days
-
for seven days you are to present an offering made by fire to Yahweh
-
present a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished
-
along with the grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil
-
include one male goat as a sin offering
-
in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering
-
on the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made by fire to Yahweh
-
a burnt offering of one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished, along with the grain and drink offerings
-
include one male goat as a sin offering
-
you are to present these offerings in addition to your vow and freewill offerings, whether burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, or peace offerings
-
this is a permanent statute for the generations to come
-
all the native-born of Israel must dwell in booths
12 On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work, and you shall observe a feast to Yahweh for seven days. 13 As a pleasing aroma to Yahweh, you are to present an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 14 along with the grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil with each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths of an ephah with each of the two rams, 15 and a tenth of an ephah with each of the fourteen lambs. 16 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. 17 On the second day you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 18 along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 19 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. 20 On the third day you are to present eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 21 along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 22 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. 23 On the fourth day you are to present ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 24 along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 25 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. 26 On the fifth day you are to present nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 27 along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 28 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. 29 On the sixth day you are to present eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 30 along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 31 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. 32 On the seventh day you are to present seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 33 along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 34 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. 35 On the eighth day you are to hold a solemn assembly; you must not do any regular work. 36 As a pleasing aroma to Yahweh, you are to present an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished, 37 along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed. 38 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. 39 You are to present these offerings to Yahweh at your appointed times, in addition to your vow and freewill offerings, whether burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, or peace offerings.” 40 So Moses spoke all this to the Israelites just as Yahweh had commanded him.
The seven biblical feasts form a unified story—a prophetic calendar revealing God’s redemptive plan from the Exodus to the return of the Messiah. Each feast serves as both a memorial of what God has accomplished in Israel’s history and a shadow pointing toward a greater spiritual reality. While the Spring Feasts were fulfilled in the Messiah’s first coming—His sacrifice, His sinless purity, His resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—the Fall Feasts point forward to His second coming, final judgment, and the establishment of God’s eternal dwelling with His people.
Together, these appointed times reveal that the Law was never an end in itself, but a divinely crafted pattern pointing to something greater. Every sacrifice, every offering, every appointed day finds its ultimate meaning in Jesus Christ, in whom the shadows become substance and the promises find their “Yes and Amen.”
For a deeper exploration of the prophetic completion of each festival, see Feasts Fulfilled, where the messianic fulfillment of the Spring and Fall feasts is traced in detail. And for a broader understanding of how the sacrificial system, priesthood, and ritual commandments reach their intended completion in the Messiah, see Ceremonial Law Fulfilled in Christ.
Through these feasts, God not only revealed His plan for Israel, but unfolded the story of redemption for all humanity—a story completed in Christ and awaiting its final chapters at His return.
Further reading: