Lexical Summary heorté: Feast, Festival Original Word: ἑορτή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance feast, holy day. Of uncertain affinity; a festival -- feast, holyday. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a feast, a festival NASB Translation feast (23), festival (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1859: ἑορτήἑορτή, ἑορτῆς, ἡ, the Sept. for חָג; Greek writings from Homer down; in Herodotus ὁρτή; a feast day, festival: Luke 2:42; John 5:1; John 6:4; John 7:2, 37; Colossians 2:16; ἡ ἑορτή τοῦ πάσχα: Luke 2:41 (Winers Grammar, 215 (202); Buttmann, 186 (161)); John 13:1; equivalent to ἡ ἑορτή τῶν ἀζύμων, Luke 22:1; ἐν τῇ ἑορτή, during the feast, Matthew 26:5; Mark 14:2; John 4:45; John 7:11; John 12:20; εἶναι ἐν τῇ ἑορτή, to be engaged in celebrating the feast, John 2:23, cf. Baumg.-Crusius and Meyer at the passage; εἰς τήν ἑορτήν, for the feast, John 13:29; ἀναβαίνειν (to Jerusalem) εἰς τήν ἑορτήν, John 7:8, 10; ἔρχεσθαι εἰς τήν ἑορτήν, John 4:45; John 11:56; John 12:12; τῆς ἑορτῆς μεσούσης, in the midst of the feast, John 7:14; κατά ἑορτήν, at every feast (see κατά, II. 3 a. β.), Matthew 25:2, 15; Mark 15:6; Luke 23:17 (Rec.); τήν ἑορτήν ποιεῖν to keep, celebrate, the feast, Acts 18:21 (Rec.); κατά τό ἔθος τῆς ἑορτῆς, after the custom of the feast, Luke 2:42. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope The term speaks of a divinely appointed festival, a sacred occasion marked by joyful assembly, sacrifice, and remembrance. In the Gospels and Acts it most often points to Israel’s great pilgrimage feasts—Passover, Unleavened Bread, Weeks (Pentecost), and Tabernacles—while in Colossians it becomes representative of all Mosaic holy days. Old Testament Foundations 1. Instituted by the LORD (Leviticus 23), the feasts were memorials of redemption (Passover), provision (Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits), covenant revelation (Weeks), and eschatological rest (Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles). Festivals in the Gospel Narrative • Passover and Unleavened Bread dominate. Jesus’ parents “went up to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover” (Luke 2:41-42). This lifelong observance underscores His perfect obedience to the Law. Historical and Cultural Insight Pilgrimage feasts transformed Jerusalem into a crossroads of the Mediterranean world. John 12:20 notes “some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the feast,” illustrating how the festivals facilitated Gentile exposure to Israel’s God and prepared the ground for the Gospel’s global advance (Acts 2). Roman authorities recognized the crowds—hence the leaders’ fear: “Not during the feast,” they said, “lest there be a riot among the people” (Matthew 26:5; Mark 14:2). Pilate’s custom of releasing a prisoner “at the feast” (Matthew 27:15; Mark 15:6; Luke 23:17) shows how political concessions were tied to these days. Theological Themes 1. Fulfillment in Christ: Every festival finds its telos in Him—Passover in His atoning death, Firstfruits in His resurrection, Pentecost in the outpoured Spirit, Tabernacles in the promised ingathering. Pauline Reflection Colossians 2:16 cautions believers not to be judged “with regard to a festival or a New Moon or a Sabbath.” The feasts are shadows; Christ is the substance. Yet Acts 18:21 records Paul’s desire to keep a feast in Jerusalem, showing Christian liberty to observe them when oriented to Christ, not to legalism. Practical Implications for Ministry Today • Preaching Calendar: The redemptive logic of the feasts supplies a Christ-centered yearly rhythm useful for teaching the whole counsel of God. Eschatological Prospect Zechariah foresees a day when “all the nations…will go up year after year to worship the King…to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16). The New Testament echoes this universal pilgrimage, culminating in the new heaven and earth where festal joy is unbroken. Summary Across twenty-seven New Testament occurrences, the word for “feast” signals divinely orchestrated moments that frame salvation history, spotlight Christ’s person and work, and shape covenant community life—from Israel’s exodus to the church’s eternal celebration. Forms and Transliterations εορταί εορταίς εορτάς εορτη εορτή ἑορτὴ ἑορτῇ εορτην εορτήν ἑορτήν ἑορτὴν ΕΟΡΤΗΣ εορτής ἑορτῆς εορτών eorte eortē eorten eortēn EORTeS EORTĒS heorte heortē heortḕ heortêi heortē̂i heorten heortēn heortḗn heortḕn heortes heortês heortēs heortē̂sLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 26:5 N-DFSGRK: ἐν τῇ ἑορτῇ ἵνα μὴ NAS: Not during the festival, otherwise KJV: Not on the feast [day], lest there be INT: during the feast that not Matthew 27:15 N-AFS Mark 14:2 N-DFS Mark 15:6 N-AFS Luke 2:41 N-DFS Luke 2:42 N-GFS Luke 22:1 N-NFS Luke 23:17 Noun-AFS John 2:23 N-DFS John 4:45 N-DFS John 4:45 N-AFS John 5:1 N-NFS John 6:4 N-NFS John 7:2 N-NFS John 7:8 N-AFS John 7:8 N-AFS John 7:10 N-AFS John 7:11 N-DFS John 7:14 N-GFS John 7:37 N-GFS John 11:56 N-AFS John 12:12 N-AFS John 12:20 N-DFS John 13:1 N-GFS John 13:29 N-AFS Strong's Greek 1859 |
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