Professional Documents
Culture Documents
David J. Conklin
In a previous study, du Preez noted that
An investigation of all available documents has yet to reveal any
scholars whose writings on the feast, new moon, sabbath of
Colossians have seriously examined any of the terms used in the
Bible for the ritual feast days of the Israelite nation.1
This study aims, at least partially, to rectify that shortcoming.
It is commonly assumed that when the terms feasts, new moons and sabbaths are used
together in the Bible that these are being used in a chronological sequence of yearly, monthly,
weekly.2 However, the fact that in most cases these terms are used in reverse order seems to
mitigate against such an interpretation. While the perception that these are technical terms3 is a
correct, it would be helpful to study what was meant by each term vs. assuming that we already
know what they mean. To that end this study will focus its attention on the word feast (using
the KJV as our base) to determine what it meant in the time of the OT. We will examine the
terminology used in the MT and the LXX (comparing them with some English translations, other
than just the KJV) with respect to the various feasts that were held during that time-frame. We
Judging the Sabbath: Discovering What Cant be Found in Colossians 2:16. (Andrews
University Press, 2007): 72.
2
Paulien [ibid., page 4] also takes it as a "typical OT expression for annual, monthly and
weekly celebrations." Oppenheimer [ibid., page 3] describes it as a "consistent pattern" with the
"same type of progression in the O.T.." Bacchiocchi [(1977): page 358] notes that the
"unanimous consensus of commentators is that these" days are in a "a logical and progressive
sequence." In his 1988 book [page 117] he states it more carefully when he writes: "the sequence
of the enumeration ... suggests yearly, monthly, and weekly festivities." Note how the New
American Bible inserts the words right into the text: "on yearly or monthly feasts ...". Gladson,
[Jerry A. " The Sabbath in Christian Life: A Reconsideration," page 2] says: "The full formula,
which uses a chronological pattern, annual...monthly..weekly, invariably includes the weekly day
Sabbath."
3
Gladson has done [ibid.], that this is a "technical formula" and that "Paul uses the same
formulaic style found repeatedly in the Old Testament ..." Vincent Word Studies describes it as
the "same enumeration of sacred seasons". Noel [Ted "Sabbath-Sunday Discussion. Installment
6," email correspondence 9/12/2000, page 3] describes it as "a typical Jewish literary pattern."
Pipa [Joseph A. The Lord's Day., page 98] states that these "three terms are often used together ...
to describe the various ceremonial days ...".
Page -1-
See Exodus 12:14, 17; 13:6, 10; 23:15, 34:18, 25; Leviticus 23:6; Numbers 28:17;
Deuteronomy 16:16; 2 Chronicles 8:13; 30:13, 21-2; 35:17; Ezra 6:22; Ezekiel 45:21, 23, 25.
5
See Leviticus 23:34, 39, 41; Numbers 29:12; Deuteronomy 16:13-6; 31:10; 2 Chronicles
8:13; Ezra 3:4; Nehemiah 8:14, 18; Zechariah 14:16, 18-9.
6
See Leviticus 23:24 a memorial of blowing of trumpets. See also Numbers 29:1.
10
This text is the key to understanding what is meant by the terms feasts, new moons
and sabbaths. A fact noted to Conklin by Kevin Morgan.
Page -2-
was simply a way of listing all of the ceremonial days of the year.
We should also note that in the verses just given we are also supplied with more precision
as to what feasts are being referred to. 1 Chron. 23:31, 2 Chron. 31:3 and Neh. 10:33 call them
set feasts. In 2 Chron. 2:4, 8:13 and Hosea 2:11 they are called solemn feasts. Only Ezekiel
45:17 refers to them as simply feasts.
The following table11 lists all of the uses of the word feast (KJV) in the OT with their
Hebrew and Greek. Cases such as, Ezra 3:7 where mishteh is translated as drink are excluded.
Others, such as Esther 5:4-6, 8, 12, 14; 6:14; 7:2; 7-8 the Hebrew word mishteh is found
translated as doxen, poio, poton, sumposiou (banquet in the KJV) are also excluded from the
list. Likewise, all translations of mishteh as drink (Dan. 1:5, 8, 10, 16) are excluded. [Or,
shorten the list and simply exclude all references to a secular feast?]
If we search using the Greek term eort* we find that in some cases it is used in the
sense of sacrifice: Exodus 23:18; solemn days: Numbers 10:10 (Heb. mowed); due
season: Numbers 28:2 (Heb. mowed); solemn assembly: Deuteronomy 16:8 (Heb. atsarah);
dancing: 1 Samuel 30:16 (Heb. chagag)
In the table below there is one case (Exodus 12:17) where is no Hebrew or Greek
equivalent because the English word feast was supplied. In other cases, there is no Greek
equivalent; for example, in 1 Kings 8:2. In other cases, also not shown in the table, we find that
the LXX has eorte where there is no Hebrew equivalent in its text; for example, 2 Kings 23:16
the LXX (Brenton translation) has the following: when Jeroboam stood by the altar at the feast:
and he turned and raised his eyes to the tomb of the man of God that. Likewise, in Jeremiah
38:8 (LXX) the phrase to the feast of the passover ... has no corresponding Hebrew equivalent.
In 2 Chronicles 30:26 the corresponding English phrase is the like which is to be understood
without support from the Hebrew. In Psalm 118:27 (117:27, LXX) we have sacrifice (chag)
with cords vs. feast with thick branches. In Zephaniah 3:17 (LXX) emera eortes (day of
feasting) is given as mowed (solemn assembly) in the Hebrew. In Isaiah 30:29 (LXX)
eortazontas (keep a feast) is given as chag (holy solemnity) in the Hebrew. In Lamentations
2:22 both the Hebrew (mowed) and the Greek (eortas) are translated as solemn day. In
Ezekial 23:34 the texts are completely different:
(KJV) Thou shalt even drink it and suck it out, and thou shalt break
the sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts: for I have
spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
(LXX) drink thou it, and I will take away her feasts and her new
moons: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord.
11
12
See, for instance, Exodus 23:18 (heortes in the LXX) , Psalm 118:27, Isaiah 29:1
where, in the KJV, it is rendered as sacrifice(s). In Isaiah 30:29 it is rendered as solemnity.
13
See, for instance, Leviticus 23:39 where it means ye shall keep a feast (likewise, see
Numbers 29:12; Nahum 1:5; Zech. 14:16, 18-9). 1 Samuel 30:16 where it is translated as and
dancing. Psalm 42:4 where it is rendered as holyday. Or, Psalm 107:27 where it is translated
as They reel to and fro.
14
In Genesis 1:14 the word is translated as and for seasons (see also Exodus 13:10), or
simply as at the season (Deut. 16:6; see also 2 Kings 4:16-7). In other verses, it carries the
meaning of set time or time appointed (Genesis 17:21, 18:14, 21:2; Exodus 9:5, 34:18, 1
Sam. 20:35; 2 Sam. 20:5; Jeremiah 8:7, 46:17; Habakkuk 2:3; Daniel 8:19; 11:27, 29, 35), or
appointed sign (Judges 20:38), or simply appointed (1 Samuel 13:11 and 2 Samuel 24:15).
In other cases, it means appointed seasons (Numbers 9:2, 3, 7, 13 or appointed feasts (Isaiah
1:14)), or solemn days (Numbers 10:10), or ... solemn feasts(Numbers 15:3, 2 Chronicles
2:4, 8:13; Lamentations 1:4, 2:7; Ezekiel 36:38; Hosea 2:11;12:9), or ... set time (1 Sam. 13:8;
Psalm 102:13), or ... set feasts (1 Chronicles 23:31; 2 Chronicles 31:3; Ezra 3:5; Nehemiah
10:33). Once, the word is translated as unto me in their due season (Numbers 28:2), or, the
word is translated as in your set feasts (Numbers 29:39), or in the solemnity (Deut. 31:10), or
for unto this time (1 Sam. 9:24), or throughout the feast (2 Chronicles 30:22), or appointed
(Job 30:23), or dancing (1 Sam. 30:16 (in the LXX as well)), or for seasons (Psalm 104:19),
or in the feast (Hosea 2:9), or of our solemnities (Isaiah 33:20), or solemn assemblies
(Zephaniah 3:18), or mine assemblies (Ezekiel 44:24), or feasts (Zechariah 8:19). Several
times the words is simply translated as solemn or solemnities (Lamentations 2:22; Ezekiel
45:17; 46:11; Hosea 9:5). As we can see from the above the word covers the concept of time
(and it is once translated as such: Daniel 12:7) and it carries with it the concept of this time being
special or solemn and appointed by God..
15
Once the word is translated as all the synagogues (Psalm 74:8). Twice, the word has
to do with assemblies (Lamentations 1:15, 2:6).
16
For instance, in Lev. 22:21 the LXX has a phrase that is inserted into the text that
means or an offering in your feasts. In Numbers 10:10 the phrase and in your feasts has been
substituted for and in your solemn days. In Psalm 118:27 (177:27 in the LXX) the phrase
celebrate the feast is inserted. In Isaiah 30:29 the phrase as they that keep a feast? is
substituted for and gladness of heart.
Page -4-
Brenton translation is quite different from that we find in the KJV.17 In other cases, the Greek
word heorte is used as a substitute for a Hebrew word that does not mean feast.18
In the table below evidence from the Apocrypha has been ignored at this time.
Conclusion
Coming from a Jewish background and writing to a church whose members were
probably primarily Jews, Paul would not have used the word heorte to refer to two ceremonial
sabbaths: the Day of Atonement and the blowing of trumpets. To be consistent with the practice
his initial readers would have seen in their Bibles, Paul was not talking about the seventh day
17
Such as Numbers 28:2 Charge the children of Israel, and thou shalt speak to them,
saying, Ye shall observe to offer to me in my feasts my gifts, my presents, my burnt-offerings for
a sweet-smelling savour.
1 Kings 12:33 and went up to the altar which he made in Baethel to sacrifice to the heifers
which he made, and he placed in Baethel the priests of the high places which he had made. And
he went up to the altar which he had made, on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, at the feast
which he devised out of his own heart; and he made a feast to the children of Israel, and went up
to the altar to sacrifice.
In 2 Kings 23:16 the LXX, it ends with ... when Jeroboam stood by the altar at the feast: and he
turned and raised his eyes to the tomb of the man of God that spoke these words.
In 2 Chronicles 30:26 the KJV ends with ... there was not the like in Jerusalem. In the LXX it
has ... there was not such a feast in Jerusalem.
In Psalm 76:10 (75:11 in the KJV) For the inward thought of man shall give thanks to thee: and
the memorial of his inward thought shall keep a feast to thee.
In Jeremiah 31:8 (38:8 in the LXX) Behold, I bring them from the north, and will gather them
from the end of the earth to the feast of the passover: and the people shall beget a great multitude,
and they shall return hither.
In Lamentations 2:22 THAU. He has called my sojourners round about to a solemn day, and
there was not in the day of the wrath of the Lord any one that escaped or was left; whereas I have
strengthened and multiplied all mine enemies. (Emphasis for the translation)
In Ezekiel 23:34 drink thou it, and I will take away her feasts and her new moons: for I have
spoken it, saith the Lord.
18
Sabbath in Colossians 2:16. An abnormal usage would have confused his readers. Clark was
correct in noticing that the feasts and new moons of this verse are ceremonial and thus he also
correctly suggested that Paul was talking about ceremonial sabbaths.19
19
Table of the Hebrew and Greek Translations for feast in the Old Testament
Text
Hebrew
Genesis 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned
in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a
feast,* and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
Greek
(LXX)
mishteh
poton
mishteh
doxen
mishteh
doxen
mishteh
gamon
mishteh
poton
20
YLT - The English Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible 1862/1887/1898, by
J. N. Young.
22
The English Translation of The Septuagint Version of the Old Testament by Sir
Lancelot C. L. Brenton, 1844, 1851, published by Samuel Bagster and Sons, London.
Page -7-
Exodus 5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told
Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go,
that they may hold a feast* unto me in the wilderness.
chagag
eortasosin
chag
eorte
chag /
chagag
eortasete
(2x); eorten
chag
eorte
chagag
eortasate
chag
eorten
Page -8-
chag (2x)
eorten (2x)
chag
eorte
chag
eorten
chag (2x)
eorten (2x)
Exodus 34:25 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with
leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be
left unto the morning.
chag
eortes
Leviticus 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto
them, Concerning the feasts* of the LORD, which ye shall
proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.*
mowed
(2x)
eortai (2x)
mowed
eortai
* The CJB has designated times. The JPS and YLT have
appointed seasons.
Leviticus 23:4 These are the feasts* of the LORD, even holy
convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
* The CJB has designated times. The JPS and YLT have
appointed seasons.
Page -9-
chag
eorte
chag
eorte
mowed
eortai
chag
eortasete
chag
eortasete
mowed
eortas
mowed
eortais
Leviticus 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the
feast* of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must
eat unleavened bread.
* The CJB says festival.
* The CJB has designated times. The JPS and YLT have
appointed seasons.
Leviticus 23:39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month,
when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a
feast* unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a
sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.
* The CJB says festival.
* The CJB has designated times. The JPS and YLT have
appointed seasons.
Numbers 15:3 And will make an offering by fire unto the
LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a
freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts,* to make a sweet
savour unto the LORD, of the herd or of the flock:
* The CJB has designated times. The JPS has appointed
seasons, while the YLT has appointed things.
Page -10-
chag
eorte
chag
eorten
mowed
eortais
chag
eorten
chag
eorten
chag
eorte
chagag
eortaseis
chag (3x)
eorte (3x)
chag
eorte
mishteh
poton
mishteh
potou
mishteh
potos
chag
eorte
Page -12-
mishteh
(2x)
potos (2x)
mishteh
poton
mishteh
poton
chag
chag
eorten
chag (2x)
eorten (2x)
Page -13-
chag
eorte
mowed
eortais
mowed
eortais
chag
eorte
chag
eorten
23
chag
eorten
mowed
/ chag
(3x)
eortais
/ eorte (3x)
chag
eorten
chag
eorten
mowed
eorten
Page -15-
mowed
eortas
chag
eorten
chag
eorten
mowed
eortas
Ezra 6:22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days
with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the
heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in
the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
chag
eorten
Nehemiah 8:14 And they found written in the law which the
LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel
should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:
chag
eorte
Nehemiah 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last
day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast
seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly,
according unto the manner.
chag
eorten
Page -16-
Nehemiah 10:3324 For the shewbread, and for the continual meat
offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of
the new moons, for the set feasts,* and for the holy things, and for
the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the
work of the house of our God.
mowed
eortas
mishteh
doxen
mishteh
poton
mishteh
poton
mishteh
(2x)
poton /
gamos
* Where the KJV has set feasts, Brenton simply has feast. The
CJB has designated times. The JPS and YLT have appointed
seasons.
Esther 1:3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast* unto all
his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the
nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
* The CJB and YLT have banquet.
Esther 1:5 And when these days were expired, the king made a
feast* unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace,
both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of
the king's palace;
* The CJB has seven-day banquet, while Brenton and YLT have
banquet.
Esther 1:9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast* for the women
in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
* The CJB, Brenton and YLT have banquet.
Esther 2:18 Then the king made a great feast* unto all his
princes and his servants, even Esther's feast**; and he made a
release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of
the king.
* The CJB, Brenton and YLT have banquet.
** The CJB and Brenton habe nothing, while the YLT has
banquet.
24
mishteh
kothon
mishteh
charas
(joy)
mishteh
charas
(joy)
mishteh
agathen
(joy)
mishteh
gamon
(joy)
mishteh
poton
Page -18-
Job 1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting* were
gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in
the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number
of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and
cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
mishteh
potou
maowg
chagag
eortazontos
mowed
eortes
mowed
eortas
chag
eortes
25
Psalm 41:5 in the LXX; chapter 42, verse 5 in CJB (parenthetical in JPS).
26
27
28
Psalm 80:4 in the LXX; chapter 81, verse 4 in CJB (parenthetical in JPS).
Page -19-
Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that
is of a merry heart hath a continual feast*.
mishteh
mishteh
potou
lechem
(bread)
arton
(bread)
mowed
eortas
mishteh
* The CJB has parties. The YLT has banquets. The Brenton
has nothing.
Isaiah 25:6 And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make
unto all people a feast* of fat things, a feast* of wines on the lees,
of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
mishteh
(2x)
* The YLT has banquet for both. The CJB and Brenton merge
both into one term with the Brenton in italics indicating that it was
supplied.
Jeremiah 16:8 Thou shalt not also go into the house of feasting*,
to sit with them to eat and to drink.
* Instead of house of feasting as in the KJV, Brenton has
banquet-house. The CJB has celebrating. The YLT has
banqueting.
Page -20-
mishteh
potou
Jeremiah 51:39 In their heat I will make their feasts*, and I will
make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual
sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.
mishteh
* The CJB has drink. JPS has feast. Brenton has draught.
The YLT has banquets.
Lamentations 1:4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none
come to the solemn feasts*: all her gates are desolate: her priests
sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
mowed
eorte
mowed
eorten
mowed
eortes
mowed
eortais
* The CJB has festivals. The JPS has assembly. Brenton has
feast, without indicating that it is solemn as in the KJV. The
YLT has appointed time.
Lamentations 2:6 And he hath violently taken away his
tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places
of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts* and
sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the
indignation of his anger the king and the priest.
* Brenton has feast, without indicating that it is solemn as in
the KJV. The CJB has designated times. The JPS has
appointed season. The YLT has appointed time.
Lamentations 2:7 The LORD hath cast off his altar, he hath
abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the
enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the
house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast*.
* Brenton has feast, without indicating that it is solemn as in
the KJV. The CJB has festival day. The JPS has solemn
assembly. The YLT has day of appointment.
Ezekiel 36:38 As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her
solemn feasts*; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of
men: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
* The CJB has designated times. The JPS has appointed
season. Brenton has feast, without indicating that it is solemn
as in the KJV. The YLT has appointed seasons.
Page -21-
chag /
mowed
eortais (2x)
chag
eorte
chag
eortes
chag
eorte
Ezekiel 46:9 But when the people of the land shall come before
the LORD in the solemn feasts*, he that entereth in by the way of
the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate;
and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by
the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate
whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.
mowed
eortais
chag
eortais
Page -22-
lechem
doxen (BGT)
or deimnon
(BGT-TH)
chag /
mowed
eortas /
panegureis
chag
eortes
mowed
eortes
chag
eortas
29
30
Amos 8:10 And I will turn your feasts* into mourning, and all
your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all
loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the
mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
chag
eortas
chag
eortas
mowed
eortas
chag
eorten
chag
eorten
chag
eortasai
31
Malachi 2:3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung
upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts*; and one
shall take you away with it.
* The CJB has festival. The YLT has festivals. Brenton has
feasts, without indicating that it is solemn as in the KJV. The
JPS has sacrifices.
Page -25-
chag
eorton