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Leviticus 23:14 - New grain before offering?

Leviticus 23:14 - ויקרא 23:14

Hebrew Text

וְלֶחֶם וְקָלִי וְכַרְמֶל לֹא תֹאכְלוּ עַד־עֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה עַד הֲבִיאֲכֶם אֶת־קָרְבַּן אֱלֹהֵיכֶם חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם בְּכֹל מֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם׃

English Translation

And you shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until that very day, until you have brought an offering to your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Transliteration

Velechem vekali vekarmel lo tochelu ad-etem hayom haze ad haviachem et-korban Eloheichem chukat olam ledoroteichem bechol moshvoteichem.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְלֶ֩חֶם֩ וְקָלִ֨י וְכַרְמֶ֜ל לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְל֗וּ עַד־עֶ֙צֶם֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה עַ֚ד הֲבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם אֶת־קׇרְבַּ֖ן אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכֹ֖ל מֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃ <span class="mam-spi-samekh">{ס}</span>        
וְלֶ֩חֶם֩ וְקָלִ֨י וְכַרְמֶ֜ל לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְל֗וּ עַד־עֶ֙צֶם֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה עַ֚ד הֲבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם אֶת־קׇרְבַּ֖ן אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכֹ֖ל מֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃ {ס}        

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context and Source

The verse (Vayikra 23:14) appears in the Torah portion discussing the laws of the Omer offering, which is brought on the second day of Pesach. This offering marks the beginning of the counting of the Omer, leading up to Shavuot. The prohibition against eating new grain (chadash) before the Omer offering is a central halachic principle.

Prohibited Foods

  • Bread (לֶחֶם): Rashi explains this refers to bread made from the new grain of the harvest year.
  • Parched corn (קָלִי): Ibn Ezra defines this as grain roasted in fire, a common way of preparing grain for immediate consumption.
  • Green ears (כַרְמֶל): Ramban interprets this as immature grains that are soft enough to be eaten raw.

Timing of the Prohibition

The Sifra emphasizes that the prohibition lasts "until that very day" - meaning until the Omer offering is brought on the 16th of Nissan. The Mishnah in Menachot (10:5) details how the offering permits the new grain for consumption.

Halachic Ramifications

Rambam (Hilchos Ma'achalos Asuros 10:2) rules that this prohibition applies:

  • In all locations (not just Eretz Yisrael)
  • To all five species of grain (wheat, barley, spelt, rye and oats)
  • Whether the grain grew in Jewish-owned fields or others' fields

Philosophical Significance

The Kli Yakar offers a deeper understanding: By requiring us to first bring an offering to Hashem before partaking of the new grain, the Torah teaches us that our material sustenance is secondary to our spiritual service. The Omer offering represents our acknowledgment that all bounty comes from Hashem.

Eternal Statute

The phrase "חֻקַּת עוֹלָם" (statute forever) indicates this mitzvah applies in all times. The Talmud (Kiddushin 37a) derives from "in all your dwellings" that these laws apply both in and outside of Eretz Yisrael after the Omer offering was brought in the Beit Hamikdash.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Menachot 68a
The verse is discussed in the context of the laws regarding the Omer offering and the prohibition of eating new grain before the offering is brought.
📖 Kiddushin 37b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the applicability of certain commandments inside and outside the Land of Israel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Leviticus 23:14 mean?
A: Leviticus 23:14 prohibits eating bread, parched grain, or fresh grain from the new harvest until the day the Omer offering (a barley sacrifice) is brought in the Temple on the second day of Passover. This teaches us to sanctify and acknowledge G-d's blessings before partaking of the new harvest.
Q: Why is this prohibition important in Judaism?
A: This prohibition emphasizes that our sustenance comes from G-d, and we must first express gratitude through the Omer offering before enjoying the new harvest. The Rambam explains that this mitzvah trains us in self-control and recognition of the Divine source of our food.
Q: How does this law apply today without the Temple?
A: Today, since we cannot bring the Omer offering, the prohibition remains in effect until the end of the 16th of Nisan (the day the offering was brought). Orthodox Jews still refrain from eating new grain (chadash) until this time each year, based on the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 489:10).
Q: What is the 'Omer offering' mentioned in this verse?
A: The Omer was a barley offering brought in the Temple on the second day of Passover (16 Nisan). As Rashi explains, it marked the beginning of the grain harvest season and had to be brought before any new grain could be eaten. This offering expressed our gratitude to G-d for the harvest.
Q: What lesson can we learn from this verse today?
A: This verse teaches us to acknowledge G-d as the source of our sustenance before enjoying His gifts. The Talmud (Berachot 35a) derives from here that it's improper to benefit from this world without first making a blessing. We apply this by always reciting blessings before eating.