“The First Day of the Week”—Mian Sabbaton/Mia Ton Sabbaton Explained

Matthew 28:1, First of the week. 

Is this phrase only emphasizing that Yeshua’s resurrection was on the first day of the week, or is it also telling us something else? This verse reads:

 “In the end [Greek: de] of the sabbath [Greek: sabbaton], as it began to dawn [Greek: epiphosko] toward the first day [a supplied word which is not in the Greek] of the week [Greek: sabbaton], came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.” (KJV)

The other parallel passages in the Gospel accounts include:

And when the sabbath [Greek: sabbaton] was past [diaginomai], Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. (Mark 16:1, KJV)

Now upon the first [Greek: mia] day [a supplied word which is not in original Greek] of the week [Greek: sabbaton], very early in the morning [Greek: orthros] , they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. (Luke 24:1, KJV)

Now one of the week, while still very early, they came on the tomb … (Luke 24:1, J.P. Green Interlinear)

The first [Greek: mia] day [a supplied word which is not in original Greek] of the week [Greek: sabbaton] cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher. (John 20:1, KJV)

According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, the Greek word shabbaton as used in Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, Acts 20:7,11 and 1 Corinthians 16:2 though translated in the KJV as “the first day of the week” literally and idiomatically means, “one of the sabbaths” signifying “the first day after the sabbath.” (p. 810)

Some scholars see this as a reference to the beginning count of the Feast of Weeks since in all the above references either that Feast or the Feast of Unleavened Bread is mentioned in the textual context of each passage.

The Interlinear Bible of J.P. Green translates sabbaton in Matthew 28:1, John 20:19, and Acts 20:7 as sabbaths, though he translates the same word not as sabbaths, but first of the week or of a week in Mark 16:2 and 1 Corinthians 16:2 respectively. Green translates the phrase containing sabbaton in Luke 24:1 as “But on one of the week, while still very early…” Likewise, Young’s Literal Translation reads, “And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths…” The Bishops Bible of 1568 translates John 20:1 as, “The first day of ye Sabbothes, came Marie Magdalene early, when it was yet darke, unto the sepulchre, and sawe the stone taken awaye from the grave.”

On Acts 20:7, Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament admits that sabbaton is plural in the Greek, though he reference it as a singular word saying, “The plural [is] used for the singular, in imitation of Hebrew form. The noun Sabbath is often used after numerals in the signification of a week. See Matt 28:1; Mark 16:2; John 20:19” (vol. 1, p. 558).

The Greek word sabbaton, as noted, is from the Hebrew word shabbaton, which is from the Hebrew root word shabbat, which can mean “weeks of Sabbaths.” Shabbatown (Strong’s H7677, from H7676) means “a special holy day” and is used in reference to the weekly Sabbath, Day of Atonement, the sabbatical year, Day of Trumpets and the first and last days of the Feast of Tabernacles and is translated in the KJV as rest (8 times), sabbath (3 times). Examples of its usage include:

  • The weekly Sabbath: Exod 31:15; 16:23; 35:2; Lev 23:3
  • The Day of Atonement: Lev. 16:31; 23:32
  • The sabbatical year: Lev 25:4
  • The Day of Trumpets: Lev 23:24
  • The First day of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Eighth Day (Shemini Atzeret): Lev 23:34

What can we conclude from this? The word translated for first [as in “first of the weeks”] is the Greek word mia which, according to the Greek lexicons, refers to the cardinal number one and is not the ordinal number first, which is a completely different Greek word. Why would the writers of the Gospel accounts of the empty tomb emphasize literally week one? Could it be that they are referring to week one of the counting of the omer the seven weeks between the weekly Sabbath within the seven day festival of Hag HaMatzot (Feast of Unleavened Bread) and Shavout (Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks)? The Torah specifically speaks of the day after the Sabbath when the high priest would lift heavenward in a waving motion the freshly cut barley for Elohim to accept (Lev 23:9–14). This event, which would occur on the first day of the week (Sunday) would also commence the counting of the 49 days (seven weeks) of the omer concluding with the celebration of Shavuot (Pentecost, literally meaning to count fifty) on the fiftieth day (Lev 23:15–16).

It seems likely that not only did Yeshua resurrect just after the end of the Sabbath, and barely into the evening portion of the first day, but that he ascended to heaven on the first day, as well, when the priests were waving the barely omer—on Wave Sheaf or First Fruits Day.

Therefore, the Gospel writers were emphasizing a “morrow after the Sabbath” or first day (Lev 23:15) wave sheaf offering, which was a prophetic shadow-picture of Yeshua’s resurrection and ascension to his Father in heaven (John 20:17) to be accepted as the first of the first fruits of those resurrected from the dead (1 Cor 15:20–23) as well as the commencement of the counting of the seven weeks leading to Shavuot (Pentecost).

Interestingly, E.W. Bullinger, the noted late nineteenth-century British Bible scholar, linguist and author of the Companion Bible has come to the same conclusion. Bullinger says in his Companion Bible commentary on John 20:1, states that the phrase “On the first day of the week” should read “on the first (day) of the Sabbath.” He goes on to explain that this is passage is a reference to the Leviticus 23:15–17. On the day that the disciples found the empty tomb was “the first of the days for reckoning the seven Sabbaths to Pentecost. On this day, therefore, the Lord became the firstfruits (verses 10–11) of God’s resurrection harvest (1 Cor 15:23).” (The Companion Bible, p. 1570).

 

30 thoughts on ““The First Day of the Week”—Mian Sabbaton/Mia Ton Sabbaton Explained

  1. In the key resurrection verse of Matthew 28:1 (below) the original Koine Greek word ‘σαββατων’ appears twice in the same sentence and is plural in meaning at both instances;

    “οψε δε σαββατων τη επιφωσκουση εις μιαν σαββατων ηλθεν μαρια η μαγδαληνη και η αλλη μαρια θεωρησαι τον ταφον”

    GREEK TEXT – STEPHENS (Editor) 1550  – TEXTUS RECEPTUS

    The full sentence of Matthew 28:1 would render closely like;

    “Late (οψε) but (δε) sabbaths (σαββατων) to the (τη) lighting-up (επιφωσκουση) into (εις) one of (μιαν) sabbaths (σαββατων) Mary (μαρια) Magdalene (μαγδαληνη) and (και ) the (η) other (αλλη) Mary (μαρια) observed (θεωρησαι) the (τον) sepulchre (ταφον).”

    What could this possibly mean according to Greek Syntax with the contrasting ‘sabbaths’ in the very same sentence having a duality sense of definition with a co-existence between one and another??

    Hence, Matthew 28:1 is describing details in meaning like; ‘Late (adverb) (post-after-end) (genitive of separation) but (with exception of the annual Passover) sabbaths (plural) as it was lighting up (twi-lighting e.g. Psm 148:3) on one (a cardinal number) of the (a partitive- genitive case function) sabbaths (plural)…… (etc).

    Thus a description that pertains to a time interval when the Passover festal period was finished and had already completed (e.g. ‘End’, opse-adverbial) the 2 High sabbaths (Nisan 15 & 21 i.e. Ex 12:16) of the Passover period onto a weekly sabbath ( 1 of 7 ) or one sabbath (Nisan 23) from a group of seven weekly sabbaths within the 50 day counted duration of time between Passover (i.e. from the sheaf offering – Lev 23:11,15,16) leading up to Pentecost.

  2. The phrase ‘the first day of the week’ has been traditionally perceived, interpreted, and understood to read as ‘the first day of the week’, or less commonly as ‘the first of sabbaths’. However, let us consider specifically the Koine Greek word ‘σαββατων’ which is transliterated as ‘sabbaton’ where the literal English rendering is translated as ‘sabbaths’ and is plural of meaning in line with Greek Syntax rules.

    In the key resurrection verse of Matthew 28:1 (below) the original Koine Greek word ‘σαββατων’ appears twice in the same sentence and is plural in meaning at both instances;

    “οψε δε σαββατων τη επιφωσκουση εις μιαν σαββατων ηλθεν μαρια η μαγδαληνη και η αλλη μαρια θεωρησαι τον ταφον”

    GREEK TEXT – STEPHENS (Editor) 1550  – TEXTUS RECEPTUS

    The full sentence of Matthew 28:1 would render closely like;

    “Late (οψε) but (δε) sabbaths (σαββατων) to the (τη) lighting-up (επιφωσκουση) into (εις) one of (μιαν) sabbaths (σαββατων) Mary (μαρια) Magdalene (μαγδαληνη) and (και ) the (η) other (αλλη) Mary (μαρια) observed (θεωρησαι) the (τον) sepulchre (ταφον).”

    What could this possibly mean according to Greek Syntax with the contrasting ‘sabbaths’ in the very same sentence having a duality sense of definition with a co-existence between one and another??

    Hence, Matthew 28:1 is describing details in meaning like; ‘Late (adverb) (post-after-end) (genitive of separation) but (with exception of the annual Passover) sabbaths (plural) as it was lighting up (twi-lighting e.g. Psm 148:3) on one (a cardinal number) of the (a partitive- genitive case function) sabbaths (plural)…… (etc).

    Thus a description that pertains to a time interval when the Passover festal period was finished and had already completed (e.g. ‘End’, opse-adverbial) the 2 High sabbaths (Nisan 15 & 21 i.e. Ex 12:16) of the Passover period onto a weekly sabbath ( 1 of 7 ) or one sabbath (Nisan 23) from a group of seven weekly sabbaths within the 50 day counted duration of time between Passover (i.e. from the sheaf offering – Lev 23:11,15,16) leading up to Pentecost.

    Then, Yehoshua would have arrived at Bethany on Friday Nisan 8th being six days (Jhn 12:1) before the Passover (preparation day) on Thursday Nisan 14th (full moon), and ate the Passover meal (on the first day of unleavevened bread) at the precise designated time (Mth 26:17, Mrk 14:12, Luke 22:7) on the nightly beginning of Friday Nisan 15th. He was cut off in AD 34 being the prophetic 69th Sabbatical year (Dan 9:25,26) since the temple of Jerusalem had been reconstructed on Nisan in 445 BC.

    There He was crucified on Wednesday Nisan 20th on the Passover preparation day (Jhn 19:31) before Thursday Nisan 21 = the seventh day of unleavened bread (a Holy Convocation Day) and would resurrect ‘3 days and 3 nights’ later (Sign of Jonah/Mth 12:39, 40) on the weekly Sabbath late afternoon of Saturday Nisan 23rd. This particular Divine inspired day being one integral Sabbath in a week of (7) sabbaths within the 50 day period leading up to Pentecost.

    • Thank you, but this seems like a lot of info without making a point; therefore, I’m not sure what your main point is. Whatever the case, it seems that we agree and teach what you’re stating. Have been doing so for years. It’s a matter of record.

      BTW, is what you’ve written your work based on your understanding of Koine Greek, or did you copy and paste this info from another source? If so, please cite the source. Not trying to be insulting, but from time time people do this. (E.g, just a couple of days ago on this same blog, someone actually quoted me from an article I had written previously on this blog as if they were the one making the statement. No kidding!) If you do indeed have a deeper understanding of Greek, as you purport, then I’d like to know your background, so that we can ask you questions from time to time and draw on your expertise.

      I studied Greek for a year at the academic level a few years back, but like a lot of things, if you don’t use it, you get rusty. It would be nice to have someone in the wings to rely on who has a better working knowledge than I do of Greek, so that we could ask questions.

    • Just a slighy correction… In your last paragraph you said Thursday Nissan 21 = the 7th day of Unleavened Bread… that should be ” = the 1st day of Unleavened Bread…”

      • No. You are incorrect. Passover is on the 14th day of the first month. The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is on the 15th day of the first month and lasts for seven days, which makes the 21st day of the first month the last day of Unleavened Bread. I invite you to confirm this by reading Lev 23:4-8.

    • Not sure what you mean. Please explain. We believe and teach that Yeshua was in the grave a full three days and three nights as he prophesied he would be, and not parts of three days and nights as the mainstream church teaches.

      The length of time Yeshua was in the grave was not the point of this article. That’s another discussion outside the scope of the article. We deal with the subject elsewhere.

      • Nathan, if the Lord “was in the grave a full three days and three nights” then it means exactly 72 hours. If that is so, how would you harmonized these verses?

        Matthew says in 12:40 – “three days and three nights,”

        Mark says in 8:31 – “after three days.”

        John says in 2:19 – “in three days,”

        Who is correct among these 3 apostles? Is one of them correct and the other two are wrong?

        They are definitely referring to ONLY ONE EVENT, and that is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus!

        Ten times Jesus said “on the third day”

        Five times He said “in” or “within three days”

        Two times He said “after three days”

        And then the controversial “three days and three nights” He said it only ONCE.

        “after three days’ would certainly have to be interpreted as longer than 72 hours.

        “Within three days” could mean anytime less than 72 hours,

        and “three days and three nights” could only mean exactly 72 hours

        And how about “the third day” which represents even greater problems.

        Is Jesus Himself guilty of compounding the confusion, because He used all of the expressions at different times in speaking of His death and resurrection?

        AGAIN, how do you reconcile what Matthew, Mark and John said?

        Five (5) times Jesus said, “on the third day”. Read Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; Luke 13:32; 24:46.

        ANOTHER QUESTION:

        1. What is the Biblical counting of days? Isn’t it sunset to sunset” and the fraction of the day is counted as one whole day?

        Luke 24:20-21 ESV say:

        21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, TODAY IS THE THIRD DAY since these things were done.”

        Verse one says this day is Sunday, the first day of the week and the two speaking to Jesus say that He was crucified and this is the THIRD DAY since this happened.

        So we are told that the “third day” is this day being Sunday. Let’s count backwards and see what day Christ was crucified on.

        Sunday is the third day

        Saturday (Sabbath) is the second day

        And so Friday is the first day and the day of crucifixion.

        WHAT ARE YOUR COMMENTS ON ALL OF THESE?

      • We have discussed these points here and elsewhere, so I’m not going to rehash my position. Not interested in arguing. If you want to believe that Yeshua was a liar when he clearly stated that he would be in the grave for three days and three nights (i.e. 72 hours) as Jonah was in the fish, be my guest, but I won’t go there.

        In believing that Yeshua was not in the grave for 72 hours, the mainstream church has, in essence, called Yeshua a liar. I shake in my boots to think how they will have to answer to him on judgment day for making such a railing allegation against our LORD and Savior and the Creator of the Universe and them!

        If other Scriptures don’t seem to line up with Yeshua’s statement in Matthew 12:40, the problem isn’t with the other statements in the holy and divinely inspired word of Elohim, the problem is with humans whose understanding is limited and with so-called highly “educated,” and often non-believing idiots who call themselves “scholars” as they employ demonic and secular humanistic tactics (called “theology”) to twist the word of Elohim to put it at odds with itself. These are the same “scholars” who’ve twisted the words of Paul to make him say things he never meant and the are against the words of Yeshua, the other apostolic writers and the rest of the Bible by saying the Torah was done away with, nailed to the cross, is no longer for us today, etc., etc., ad nauseum.

        With all due respect, I will not answer your comments until you deal first with the larger issues I have just brought to the light above and you tell me why I should trust these “scholars” who treat the Word of Elohim and Yeshua the Messiah with such brazen impunity, rebellious impudence and hubris. And why do people even listen to and follow these false teachers even against the clear words of Yeshua????? I’ll tell you why:

        “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jer 17:9)

        “The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so.” (Jer 5:23)

    • We must be careful not to change Scripture from “three days and three nights” to the opposite: “three nights and three days” to suit our belief system. The fact is that the Law of the voluntary peace offering, Lev.7:11-21, shows that there is only one day in the week Christ could have been sacrificed in order to BE our Savior. If He was sacrificed on any other day He would have borne his own sin, and could not be the Savior.

      Therefore, He was not in the grave “three NIGHTS and three DAYS”, but was 3d and 3n PAYING for our sins, as described by the 12 verses that make reference to this. Christ did not have to PROVE He was the Savior to anyone. He IS the Savior because His sinless life paid for our sins by virtue of the fact that His Life was valuable enough to pay for the SUM TOTAL of ALL that He created. Had he sinned at all He would only pay the death penalty for Himself.

      In addition to that, His sacrifice was a Peace Offering, “making PEACE BY the Blood of His cross,”: Col.1:20. He BECAME SIN for us. He paid for our HEALING by His stripes (“we are healed”) and these 12 verses and Isaiah 53 show the ENTIRE PACKAGE of payment for SIN includes betrayal, arrest, scourging, trial, crucifiction, death and burial. His BLOOD sacrifice pays our death penalty, but His resurrection shows we are “saved by His LIFE”, that we can be resurrected to eternal life when we repent.

      That sacrifice took all of 3 days and 3 nights total: the words “heart”, “earth”, and “belly” have nothing to do with a TOMB, DEATH or BURIAL. They have to do with the wicked nature of man’s heart, his carnal MIND, and man’s mortality. That is what He became FOR us, “sin”.That took 3 days and 3 nights and was a total sacrifice.

      Here are the 12 verses:
      1. “From that time forth began Jesus to show 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.” (Matthew 16:21)

      2.  “Jesus said unto them, the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of man; and they shall kill Him, and the third day He shall be raised again.”(Matthew 17:22)

      3. “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles, to mock and to scourge, and to crucify Him, and the third day He shall rise again.” (Matthew 20:18) 

      4.  “Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” (Mark 8:31)

      5.  “For He taught His disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him, and after that He is killed, He shall rise the third day.” (Mark 9:31) (note: the repetition emphasizes Jesus was definitely dead, in other words, “make no mistake He IS KILLED” and not isolating the sequence.) 

      6. “and they shall mock Him, and shall scourge Him, and shall spit upon Him, and shall kill Him, and the third day He shall rise again.” (Mark 10:34) 

      7.  “Saying, the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.” (Luke 9:22)

      8.  “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished, for He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on, and they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death, and the third day He shall rise again.” (Luke 18:31)

      9.  “The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of men, crucified, and the third day rise again.” (Luke 24:7)

      10.  (The disciples were explaining unknowingly to the risen Jesus ) “And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him. But we trusted that it had to be He which should have redeemed Israel, and besides all this, today is the third day since these things (plural) were done.” (Luke 24:20) (This verse is unique in that Jesus then replied, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?’ ” (Luke 24:25)

      11.  “And said unto them, thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.” (Luke 24:46)

      12.  “And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day.”  (note:  Look up the original Greek word for “slew” used in the New Testament. It means “Alas! woe” which are clearly suffering and included in the sequence.  By our definition, “slew” means: “To kill by violent means.” ~American Heritage )  (Acts 10:39)
      Notice how each one gives the necessary sequence.  ALL verses follow the pattern and include the “deliverance,” “betrayal,” or “suffering” of  Jesus within the sentence describing the three-day timeframe.  
      The only verse that comes close to omitting a mention of Christ’s suffering as part of the time frame is when Paul later wrote to the Corinthians and relied heavily on what was previously written:
      “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”

      According to the Scriptures, in the Law of Peace Offerings (Lev.7), a voluntary offering MUST BE Waved before the LORD to be accepted before the THIRD DAY after it is offered or it will NOT be accepted and is an ABOMINATION. Crucified on the 6th day of the week, He was resurrected and offered by the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, the THIRD DAY.

      Also: @ Natan Lawrence

      • Hmmm. You make some interesting points, which I will address shortly when I have a little more time. Fundamentally, we are in totally agreement with what you say as to the purpose of Yeshua’s sacrifice, and that is the main and most important thing. The exact details, to one degree or another, are of lesser importance and may be more due to our lack of understanding of the total truth of the Scriptures and to semantics more than anything else. Blessings!

      • Two points here:

        First point: If Yeshua went into the grave at the end of the day on the day on which he was crucified and rose at the end of the of the day three days later, then it would be three days and three nights in the grave as he specifically said.

        Second point: Yeshua fulfilled all the offerings of the Levitical system including the peace offering. The writer of Hebrews makes this very plain, and this is generally understood by nearly all Christian scholars and Bible teachers because it is such an obvious biblical truth. After Yeshua paid for our sins to which the the sin, grain, drink burnt offerings prophetically pointed, the peace offering occurred. This was a fellowship offering that occurred once the sin penalty was paid for and the two parties (in this case, Elohim and man) had been reconciled. The peace offering was a joyous celebration of renewed fellowship—a barbecue, if you will. It was not an offering to pay for sin. I deal with this issue in many places on this blog which you can access here:

      • https://hoshanarabbah.org/blog/?s=sacrificial+system&submit=Search
  3. Here’s an article from [edited out].

    From Natan: This blog is open to posting the respectful and righteous comments and questions of its readers. We do not allow the posting of articles written by others, or the mentioning of websites, ministries or posting links to other websites. This is because I don’t have the time to read everything or vet everything out to ascertain its validity biblically.

    Also, please keep comments short and to the point. If someone doesn’t agree with the the positions of this blog host, or wants to explore the opinions of other authors or researchers on a given subject your best friend is Google.

    Blessings.

  4. So many of the comments really muddy the waters, when it is real simple if you study the Pasha/Passover feast. To put it simple: HE and HIS disciples entered Jerusalem during the day of the 12th of Nisan. They had their Pasha feast on the evening of the 13th of Nisan. While dark they came and arrested HIM beat HIM into the day light hours. Nailed HIM to the Cross on the third hour (9:00 am). HE gave up the Ghost the 9th hour of the 13th. They had to get HIM in the grave before the Pasha Feast, of the first seder night, began on the 14th day of Nisan a High Shabbath. The 15th day of Nisan or second seder night is another High Shabbath. The 16th day of Nisan HE rose in the early morning hours on the Feast of First Fruits which fell on the first of seven weekly Shabbaths leading up to Pentecost Leviticus 23:15. The 13th, 14th, 15th three days. The 14th, 15th, 16th three nights. It is that simple.

    In 2023 the days of the week for pasha, on the Hebrew calendar, will line up just like it did when HE was crucified.

    • A minor point: In Hebrew the word for Passover is Pesach. In Greek, it’s pasha. Those of us who are returning to the Hebrew roots of our faith prefer to use the Hebrew over the Greek, since that is the language Yeshua and his disciples spoke.

      Next. Where does Scripture speak of a second seder the following night? You lost me on that one. It does not. This is a rabbinical Jewish concept, not a biblical one. Let’s not add to the Word of Elohim. The rabbinics introduced the concept of a second seder for the diaspora because they could not spot the new moon in Jerusalem and get the word out to the scattered Jews. Thus they did a seder for two nights just to cover their bases figuring that one of those days was likely the real Passover. To say that there is a second seder for us now simply muddies the waters and is a tradition of man; therefore, this idea must be rejected as unbiblical.

      Next. Yeshua died on the 13th???? The Torah tells us that Passover is on the 14th, not the 13th. Yeshua died on the 14th thus fulfilling the prophetic act of the Israelite’s sacrificing the Passover lamb on the same day.

      Next. Another high sabbath? The Torah does not call Passover on the 14th a high sabbath. It is not a Sabbath/Shabbat. It is a moed or divine appointment, but not a Shabbat—a day of rest or a miqra kodesh—a holy commanded assembly. Rather, it was a work or preparation day for the high Sabbath on the 15th, which was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag haMatzot).

      I guess we will have to agree to disagree on these points. After about 40 years of research on this subject, teaching and writing about it and doing Passover for more than 50 years, I fail to see what you’re talking about based on the Written Word of Elohim.

      Even then, blessings to you in your search for the Truth and desire to serve and obey our great YHVH Elohim and Yeshua the Messiah.

      In the mean time, I invite you to read a couple of teaching articles that I wrote years ago on the timing of the Passover and how Yeshua perfectly fulfilled all points pertaining thereto. See

    • https://www.hoshanarabbah.org/pdfs/psvr_dy.pdf
    • and

    • https://www.hoshanarabbah.org/pdfs/lamb.pdf
    • .

      • First sedher means order, meaning that there are the two orders or appointed times, first pasha/Passover and the second order of unleavened bread. Second if those that wish to believe that the Messiah was crucified on the 14th and not the 13th the day of preparation, then WE will have to change some scripture in the Gospels. The Governor always released a prisoner prior to the pasha/Passover so they released Barabbas on the morning of the 13th and chose to crucify the Messiah that same day. In John’s Gospel Yeshua was led away from the high priest Kaiaphas in to the hall of judgement while it was still very early in the morning on the 13th. The priest did NOT go into the judgement hall unless they themselves be defiled and not able to eat the pasha/Passover feast. Third and most important was at the last supper, the evening of the 13th, Yeshua broke bread and shared with HIS disciples, the Bread/artos was leavened, not unleavened bread/azumos. As you know during the pasha there was to be NO leavened bread to be found anywhere, WE could give you scripture, but WE will let you research that on your own.

        Shalom Sukkot

      • You made the comment that the Rabbi’s introduced the concept of the second seder because they could not spot the “new moon”, so to cover their bases, figuring that one of those days was the real Passover. That statement alone makes US question as to whether or not you know what you are talking about. The Rabbi’s had trouble with the “new moon” when it came to the seventh month Tishrei for Rosh Hashanah. The pasha/Passover feast beginning in the evening of the 14th of Abib ALWAYS is a Full Moon, so it is not hard to determine which day that is.

        Next point concerning the time of three days and three nights. First the Jews consider any part of a day whether it it be a few hours or dawn to dusk as a day. So the 13th (day of preparation) would have been part of the first day from the ninth hour on.

        In Exodus 12:6 “And you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill {it in/beyn #996} the evening/’ereb #6153.” …………. The word ‘beyn’ in Hebrew means “between”. The word ” ‘ereb” means sunset, darkness, and another word for night/layil. They killed the lambs between sunset on the 13th day of Nisan and the sunset beginning the 14th day of Aviv. They roasted the lambs beginning at sunset of the 14th and ate the lambs all night long. Nothing remained by morning, that which remained was burned by fire. Yeshua fulfilled G-D’s Feast to the letter being crucified on the 13th day of preparation giving up the Ghost on the ninth hour.

      • On your comment that Passover is always on a full moon: Where in Scripture does it say that Passover exactly false on the full moon? It does not. So your statement is incorrect. After nearly 60 years of watching the full moon with regard to observing the biblical feasts, I can tell you that sometimes the pilgrimage feasts will fall a day before or after the fool moon. Why is this? Because the lunar month is 29.5 days long. Therefore, the day on which the feast falls may either be on the 29th or the 30th day of the month or slightly before or after the exact time of the full moon. This is one reason why the Jews in the diaspora kept two days.

        Contrary to your false assumption, I have done my research on this subject and have written and published several articles on the subject. If you believe otherwise, provide documentation, and we will all learn and grow together in our understanding of the truth. But I advise you in the future to refrain from throwing out baseless accusations against me without providing either scriptural truth or documentation from well-respected scholarly sources.

        As to three days and three nights. I really don’t care what the Jews think or say. Again what does Scripture say? Yeshua clearly said that he would be in the grave for three days and three nights. That is 72 hours. To believe the Jews or Christianity that he was in the grave for parts of three days and three nights is to make Yeshua a liar. This is blasphemy. End of discussion. If you want to believe this, then this is your choice. Yeshua will be your judge, not me.

        As to the timing of Passover, I have written my understanding on this at

      • https://www.hoshanarabbah.org/pdfs/psvr_dy.pdf
      • . Beyond this, I have nothing further to add or comment on the issue. End of discussion.

        Be blessed.

  5. Some use this “Mia Ton Sabbaton” to justify that Jesus Christ change the 7th Sabbath to first day Sabbath. Christ resurrection day they called it Lord’s day. any thought?

    • To use this arguemwnr is to cherry pick one verse out of the whole Bible to make a point and then to ignore all the others that say the opposite. Much of Christian theology is based on such an approach, and therefore I reject it. We must rightly divide the word of Elohim and rely on the whole counsel of Elohim’s Word and not use one verse to disprove a hundred or a thousand other verses on the same subject that say the opposite. To do so is wickedness and deceit, and the leaders who are have been doing this and continue to propagate these lies and traditions of men that make of none effect the Word of Elohim will pay a dear price at the Judgment Seat if they refuse to recognize their error and repent before it’s too late. That’s all.

    • Read Hebrews 4:1-11 esp. verses 8 & 9 nullifies the change some believe that Yeshua changed the Shabbat.

  6. In Hebrew is Sabbaton is seventh day Sabbath? If so, why in Greek Sabbaton is the translation for weeks ?

    • I can’t go into a study of the lexicology of those words here. I suggest that you study out each of the words and see how they are used in Scripture. A good Bible concordance and or a lexicon will be of immense value in this. Study to show yourself approved. Blessings.

  7. I have an article regarding the issues discussed here. Here’s the link:

    [The rules of this blog (you can read them on the home page) do not allow others to post links or articles without first having them approved by the owner and host of this blog, which is me——Nathan Lawrence. If you have some that you think our readers may be interested in, privately email me first. Thank you for respecting.]

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