Jewish 101: Counting of the Omer

What Is the Counting of the Omer?

The counting of the Omer, in Hebrew Sefirat HaOmer, is a biblical commandment that spans the seven weeks between Passover (Pesach) and Shavuot. It begins on the second night of Pesach and continues for forty-nine days, leading up to the fiftieth day, the Feast of Weeks, which celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

The Commandment

The practice comes from Leviticus 23:15–16, where the Israelites are told to count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, beginning with the offering of the Omer, a sheaf of barley brought to the temple as the first of the harvest.

Each evening, a blessing is recited, followed by the declaration of the day's count.

A Season of Preparation

In ancient times, this period marked the transition from the barley harvest to the wheat harvest, a season of anticipation and dependence on God's provision. Spiritually, it became a time of inner preparation, between the physical redemption from Egypt and the receiving of divine instruction at Sinai.

Today, Sefirat HaOmer is observed through daily counting and sometimes through acts of reflection or study. In many Jewish communities, certain celebrations, such as weddings or music, are limited during this period, recalling times of mourning in Jewish history that also fell during these weeks.

The Omer in the New Testament

In the New Testament, the timeline of the Omer connects directly to the resurrection of Yeshua. According to the Gospels, he rose during this period and appeared to his disciples over forty days, leading up to Shavuot, or Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out in Jerusalem.

The counting of the Omer links the journey from physical deliverance to spiritual revelation, marking time with purpose and anticipation.