A "holy-day" in the biblical context refers to a day set apart for religious observance and worship, often marked by rest from regular work and dedicated to the Lord. The concept of holy-days is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where God instituted specific days for the Israelites to observe as sacred.

Sabbath

The most prominent holy-day in the Bible is the Sabbath, observed weekly. The Sabbath is introduced in Genesis 2:2-3, where God rested on the seventh day after creation, blessing and sanctifying it. The command to observe the Sabbath is reiterated in the Ten Commandments: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" (Exodus 20:8). The Sabbath served as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, a day of rest and spiritual renewal.

Feasts and Festivals

In addition to the weekly Sabbath, the Israelites were commanded to observe several annual feasts and festivals, each with its own significance and rituals. These holy-days are detailed in Leviticus 23 and include:

1. Passover (Pesach): Commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. It begins on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan) and is followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:5-6).

2. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost): Celebrated seven weeks after Passover, it marks the end of the grain harvest and the giving of the Law at Sinai (Leviticus 23:15-21).

3. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): A day of rest and trumpet blasts, marking the beginning of the civil year (Leviticus 23:23-25).

4. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): A solemn day of fasting and repentance, seeking atonement for sins (Leviticus 23:26-32).

5. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): A week-long celebration of the harvest and remembrance of the Israelites' wilderness journey (Leviticus 23:33-43).

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the concept of holy-days evolves with the coming of Christ. Jesus observed Jewish holy-days, as seen in His participation in Passover (Luke 22:15) and other festivals. However, the early church began to shift focus, emphasizing the resurrection of Christ as a pivotal event. This led to the observance of the Lord's Day (Sunday) as a weekly holy-day, celebrating Jesus' resurrection (Acts 20:7, Revelation 1:10).

The Apostle Paul addresses the observance of holy-days in his letters, emphasizing freedom in Christ. In Colossians 2:16-17, he writes, "Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ" . This suggests that while the observance of specific days is not mandatory, the spiritual truths they represent remain significant.

Christian Holy-days

Over time, the Christian church established its own holy-days, such as Easter and Christmas, to commemorate the resurrection and birth of Jesus Christ, respectively. These days, while not mandated by Scripture, serve as opportunities for worship, reflection, and celebration of key events in the Christian faith.

In summary, holy-days in the Bible are times set apart for worship, rest, and remembrance of God's acts in history. They serve as reminders of God's covenant, provision, and the redemptive work of Christ.1859. heorte -- a feast, a festival
... feast, holy day. Of uncertain affinity; a festival -- feast, holyday. (eorte) --
11 Occurrences. (eorten) -- 9 Occurrences. (eortes) -- 5 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1859.htm - 6k6944. qodesh -- apartness, sacredness
... things dedicated (1). consecrated thing, dedicated thing, hallowed thing,
holiness, most holy day, portion, thing, saint,. From qadash ...
/hebrew/6944.htm - 6k

Thou Shalt Sanctify the Holy Day. [Remember the Sabbath Day to ...
... Thou shalt sanctify the holy day. [Remember ... Accordingly, when asked, What is meant
by the commandment: Thou shalt sanctify the holy day? answer ...
/.../luther/the large catechism/thou shalt sanctify the holy.htm

From the Holy Day of the Resurrection of Christ Our God Until the ...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon LXVI. From the holy day of the
Resurrection of Christ our God until the next Lord's? From ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon lxvi from the holy.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Fight on Holy Days?
... But fighting on a holy day seems in itself to be an ill deed. Therefore no one should
fight on a holy day even through the need of avoiding temporal harm. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 4.htm

From the Second to the Fourth Commandment
... law. There must always be a good reason for working on a holy day. ... For example,
St. Patrick's Day is not a holy day of obligation. The ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 32 from the second.htm

The Morning Watch in the Life of Obedience.
... How wonderful and blessed is the divine appointment of the first day of
the week as a holy day of rest. Not, (as some think), that ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/iv the morning watch in.htm

On the First and Second Commandments of the Church
... 390 Q. Is it a mortal sin not to hear Mass on a Sunday or a holy day of
obligation? A. It is a mortal sin not to hear Mass on a ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 35 on the first.htm

John Chapter vii. 13-Jan
... They used on the holy day to make tabernacles, in likeness of the tabernacles in
which they dwelt while they sojourned in the wilderness, after being led out ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxviii john chapter vii.htm

A Work of Reform.
... If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy
day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /26 a work of reform.htm

A Work of Reform
... If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy
day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 26 a work of.htm

Psalm CXVIII.
... But that ye also may understand, "Declare a holy day in full assemblies, even unto
the horns of the altar;" that is, even unto the inner house of God, from ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxviii.htm

Holyday (2 Occurrences)
...HOLYDAY. ... the Revised Version (British and American) translates "feast day."
In the former instance "keeping holyday" renders choghegh. ...
/h/holyday.htm - 8k

Holy-day (2 Occurrences)
Holy-day. Holyday, Holy-day. Holy-everyone . Multi-Version Concordance
Holy-day (2 Occurrences). ... (WBS). Holyday, Holy-day. Holy-everyone . Reference
/h/holy-day.htm - 7k

Idle (33 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn back thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure
on my holyday, and call the sabbath a delight, the holyday of Jehovah ...
/i/idle.htm - 18k

Holy-everyone (1 Occurrence)
Holy-everyone. Holy-day, Holy-everyone. Holy-place . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Holy-day, Holy-everyone. Holy-place . Reference Bible.
/h/holy-everyone.htm - 6k

New-moon (4 Occurrences)
... Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect
of a holy-day, or or the new-moon, or of the sabbaths: (WBS). ...
/n/new-moon.htm - 7k

Untie (10 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the holyday for which I have given orders: to let loose
those who have wrongly been made prisoners, to undo the bands of the yoke, and ...
/u/untie.htm - 9k

Unholy (23 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 58:13 If you keep the Sabbath with care, not doing your business on my holy
day; and if the Sabbath seems to you a delight, and the new moon of the Lord ...
/u/unholy.htm - 13k

Wonted (3 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure
on my holyday; and call the sabbath a delight, and the holy of Jehovah ...
/w/wonted.htm - 7k

Well-pleasing (16 Occurrences)
... is it only a question of the bent head, of putting on haircloth, and being seated
in the dust? is this what seems to you a holyday, well-pleasing to the Lord? ...
/w/well-pleasing.htm - 11k

Wares (23 Occurrences)
... 31 and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to
sell, that we would not buy of them on the Sabbath, or on a holyday; and that ...
/w/wares.htm - 15k

What does it mean to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy? | GotQuestions.org

What are holy days? | GotQuestions.org

What is Holy Monday? | GotQuestions.org

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