Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

FIRSTFRUITS

The first of the seasonal produce from the soil (Heb. bikkûrîm, “first ripe”; rēʾšîṯ, “first processed”). It was considered to be intrinsically holy, the possession of God. In acknowledgement that Yahweh owns the land as well as the crops produced on it, and also that he brought Israel into the land, the first part of the crop was to be transferred to God before the rest could be consumed. Without that transfer, there could be no blessing on the rest of the crop (Lev. 19:23-25; 23:14; Deut. 26:1-15; Prov. 3:9-10). This transfer of the firstfruits to God was required not only from the first ripe of the crop, but also from the first processed of some products: grain, new wine, new olive oil, first syrup, leavened food, bread dough, and even wool (Lev. 2:12; Num. 15:20-21; 18:12; Deut. 18:4).

The very first sheaf of grain harvested (probably barley, since it ripened first) was to be transferred to God by the elevation ceremony (“wave” in many translations; NRSV “raise”) before the Lord (Lev. 23:10ff.) preceding the consumption of any of the new harvest, along with other sacrifices. This public act proclaimed that the harvest belonged to the Lord. Seven weeks later a sacred occasion was to be proclaimed during which no laborious work could be performed.

In Greek literature up to the 1st century, Gk. aparchḗ is used as a term for “firstfruits” sacrificed to the gods in nonbiblical literature and to the Lord in the LXX. In the NT Paul uses this concept of firstfruits, especially relating to the OT, as a metaphor for Jesus as the first one to rise from the dead, the first in a series of those who will rise from the dead in the future (1 Cor. 15:20, 23). He also uses it to describe the first converts to Christianity in certain geographical areas (1 Cor. 16:15; Rom. 16:5). In Rom. 8:23 Paul names the gift of the Spirit as firstfruits. In Rom. 11:16 he uses a double metaphor of the dough as firstfruits to the whole lump, and secondly a tree, naming roots and branches. Both stress that Israel is holy because of her holy origin, despite unholy appearances at this time. Similarly, James (Jas. 1:18) uses the term to address Christians as the “firstfruits of (God’s) creatures.” In Rev. 14:4 the 144 thousand are a “firstfruit” for Christians; they are undefiled, without deceit, and spotless.

Michael D. Hildenbrand

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

FIRSTFRUITS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)