The word Shavuot means "weeks." It marks the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot.
The word Shavuot means "weeks." It marks the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot. Shavuot, also called the Festival of Weeks and Pentecost is the second of the three major festivals i.e. the Passover and Sukkoth. "And you shall count unto you from the morrow of the day of rest ('Shabbat'), from the day that you brought the sheaf ('omer') of the waving; there shall be seven complete weeks" (Leviticus 23:15).
Seven weeks are counted from 6th Sivan, the day after the high Sabbath when the first sheaf of the harvest was taken to the high priest. It falls on Sivan 6, the time when Elohim descended on Mt Sinai and gave his Torah to the Children of Israel. The giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai is taken to be an act of betrothal extended by God to Israelites, so that they could become his own children. Ordinary work is not permitted during Shavuot. The holiday of Shavuot is a one-day holiday, beginning at sundown of the 5th of "Sivan"and lasting until nightfall of the 6th of Sivan
In 1 Cor. 15:20 we read: "But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." When Yahshua died and rose from the dead, the harvest started! He was the first of many to follow, who would resurrect from the dead to inherit his kingdom!
The period from Passover to Shavuot is a time of great anticipation. We count each of the days from the second day of Passover (6th Sivan) to the day before Shavuot, 49 days or 7 full weeks, hence the name of the festival. Shavuot is also Pentecost, because it falls on the 50th day.
The counting reminds us of the important connection between Passover and Shavuot: Passover symbolized the physical liberation of Israelites from bondage in Egypt, just like we have been redeemed from the bondage of sins. There is a connection between Shavuot and Passover because, after a person is washed by the blood of the lamb, he is expected to live holy life, free from leaven, so that the Spirit of God may dwell in him and that he will partake in the first resurrection of the saints and enter into the kingdom of our God and the Messiah.
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