Exodus 23:17

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 23:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord Jehovah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord Jehovah.
Exodus 23:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord Jehovah.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord thy God.] In the city of Jerusalem, when they were come into the land of Canaan, and the temple was there built: here they were to show themselves before the Lord as being his, and devoted to his service; concerning which the Misnic doctors have the following canon f727, “all are bound to appear except a man deaf and dumb, a fool, a little one, one of neither sex, or of both sexes, women, servants not free, the lame, the blind, the sick, an old man, and he that cannot go on his feet.””
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“This is the first mention of the three great Yearly Festivals. The feast of Unleavened bread, in its connection with the Paschal Lamb, is spoken of in Exodus 12:0; Exodus 13:0: but the two others are here first named. The whole three are spoken of as if they were familiarly known to the people. The points that are especially enjoined are that every male Israelite should attend them at the sanctuary (compare Exodus 34:23), and that he should take with him an offering for Yahweh, presenting himself before his King with his tribute in his hand. That this condition belonged to all the feasts, though it is here stated only in regard to the Passover, cannot be doubted. See Deuteronomy 16:16.…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“All thy males - All that were of competent years, and health and strength, and at their own disposal. 'Tis probable, servants were exempt: for none was to appear without an offering: but most of these had nothing to offer. Exodus 23:19”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Exo 34:23; Deu 12:5, Deu 16:16, Deu 31:11; Psa 84:7; Luk 2:42 Exodus 23:18”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“"Three times in the year" (i.e., according to Exo 23:14 and Deu 16:16, at the three feasts just mentioned) "all thy males shall appear before the face of the Lord Jehovah." The command to appear, i.e., to make a pilgrimage to the sanctuary, was restricted to the male members of the nation, probably to those above 20 years of age, who had been included in the census ( Num 1:3). But this did not prohibit the inclusion of women and boys (cf. Sa1 1:3., and Luk 2:31.). Exodus 23:18”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification