Counting the Omer

The period of time between Passover (Pesach) and Pentecost (Shavuot) is known as “The Counting Of The Omer”. It reminds us of the period of time when the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness after coming out of Egypt (after being saved by the blood of the lamb) until they arrived at Mount Sinai, when they received the Torah. It represents a time of reflection for us now…a time to search our hearts and allow God to draw us near to Him. And it is a picture of our future wandering in the wilderness. There is much to be learned during this time, from searching the scriptures and spending time with our Messiah Yeshua.

The counting of the omer is a period of 50 days…”7 complete Sabbaths” are counted and the next day is Shavuot. As we have studied before, the counting of the omer always begins on a Sunday (the day after the Shabbat during Pesach). The count therefore begins on the first day of the week, so 7 complete Sabbaths are easily counted. Shavuot is then always on a Sunday.

Lev 23:10-16

(10) Speak¹⁶⁹⁶ unto⁴¹³ the children¹¹²¹ of Israel,³⁴⁷⁸ and say⁵⁵⁹ unto⁴¹³ them, When³⁵⁸⁸ ye be come⁹³⁵ into⁴¹³ the land⁷⁷⁶ which⁸³⁴ I⁵⁸⁹ give⁵⁴¹⁴ unto you, and shall reap⁷¹¹⁴ ⁽⁸⁵³⁾ the harvest⁷¹⁰⁵ thereof, then ye shall bring⁹³⁵ ⁽⁸⁵³⁾ a sheaf⁶⁰¹⁶ of the firstfruits⁷²²⁵ of your harvest⁷¹⁰⁵ unto⁴¹³ the priest:³⁵⁴⁸

(11) And he shall wave⁵¹³⁰ ⁽⁸⁵³⁾ the sheaf⁶⁰¹⁶ before⁶⁴⁴⁰ the LORD,³⁰⁶⁸ to be accepted⁷⁵²² for you: on the morrow^{4480, 4283} after the sabbath⁷⁶⁷⁶ the priest³⁵⁴⁸ shall wave⁵¹³⁰ it.

(12) And ye shall offer⁶²¹³ that day³¹¹⁷ when ye wave⁵¹³⁰ ⁽⁸⁵³⁾ the sheaf⁶⁰¹⁶ a he lamb³⁵³² without blemish⁸⁵⁴⁹ of the first¹¹²¹ year⁸¹⁴¹ for a burnt offering⁵⁹³⁰ unto the LORD.³⁰⁶⁸

(13) And the meat offering⁴⁵⁰³ thereof shall be two⁸¹⁴⁷ tenth deals⁶²⁴¹ of fine flour⁵⁵⁶⁰ mingled¹¹⁰¹ with oil,⁸⁰⁸¹ an offering made by fire⁸⁰¹ unto the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ for a sweet⁵²⁰⁷ savor:⁷³⁸¹ and the drink offering⁵²⁶² thereof shall be of wine,³¹⁹⁶ the fourth⁷²⁴³ part of a hin.¹⁹⁶⁹

(14) And ye shall eat³⁹⁸ neither³⁸⁰⁸ bread,³⁸⁹⁹ nor parched corn,⁷⁰³⁹ nor green ears,³⁷⁵⁹ until⁵⁷⁰⁴ the selfsame^{2088, 6106} day³¹¹⁷ that⁵⁷⁰⁴ ye have brought⁹³⁵ ⁽⁸⁵³⁾ an offering⁷¹³³ unto your God:⁴³⁰ it shall be a statute²⁷⁰⁸ forever⁵⁷⁶⁹ throughout your generations¹⁷⁵⁵ in all³⁶⁰⁵ your dwellings.⁴¹⁸⁶

(15) And ye shall count⁵⁶⁰⁸ unto you from the morrow^{4480, 4283} after the sabbath,⁷⁶⁷⁶ from the day^4480,
3117 that ye brought⁹³⁵ ⁽⁸⁵³⁾ the sheaf⁶⁰¹⁶ of the wave offering;⁸⁵⁷³ seven⁷⁶⁵¹ sabbaths⁷⁶⁷⁶ shall be¹⁹⁶¹ complete:⁸⁵⁴⁹

(16) Even unto⁵⁷⁰⁴ the morrow^4480,
4283 after the seventh⁷⁶³⁷ sabbath⁷⁶⁷⁶ shall ye number⁵⁶⁰⁸ fifty²⁵⁷² days;³¹¹⁷ and ye shall offer⁷¹²⁶ a new²³¹⁹ meat offering⁴⁵⁰³ unto the LORD.³⁰⁶⁸

H6016 (translated as “sheaf” above)

עמר

‛o^mer

o'-mer

From H6014; properly a heap, that is, a sheaf; also an omer, as a dry measure: - omer, sheaf.

H6014

מרע

‛a^mar

aw-mar'

A primitive root; properly apparently to heap; figuratively to chastise (as if piling blows); specifically (as denominative from H6016) to gather grain: - bind sheaves, make merchandise of.

Mat 13:30 Let⁸⁶³ both²⁹⁷ grow together⁴⁸⁸⁵ until³³⁶⁰ the³⁵⁸⁸ harvest:²³²⁶ and²⁵³² in¹⁷²² the³⁵⁸⁸ time²⁵⁴⁰ of harvest²³²⁶ I will say²⁰⁴⁶ to the³⁵⁸⁸ reapers,²³²⁷ Gather ye together⁴⁸¹⁶ first⁴⁴¹² the³⁵⁸⁸ tares,²²¹⁵ and²⁵³² bind¹²¹⁰ them⁸⁴⁶ in¹⁵¹⁹ bundles¹¹⁹⁷ to burn²⁶¹⁸ them:⁸⁴⁶ but¹¹⁶¹ gather⁴⁸⁶³ the³⁵⁸⁸ wheat⁴⁶²¹ into¹⁵¹⁹ my³⁴⁵⁰ barn.⁵⁹⁶

Interestingly, the word for “speak” or “say” is a very similar word, although not noted as being related in the Strong’s:

H559

אמר

'a^mar

BDB Definition:

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one’s heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Part of Speech: verb

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root

Same Word by TWOT Number: 118

The “counting of the omer” is definitely a time when God speaks to us, if we will listen. In the future, it will be a time when God will command, call, gather, and test us:

Eze 20:34 And I will bring you out^{3318, (853)} from⁴⁴⁸⁰ the people,⁵⁹⁷¹ and will gather⁶⁹⁰⁸ you out of⁴⁴⁸⁰ the countries⁷⁷⁶ wherein⁸³⁴ ye are scattered,⁶³²⁷ with a mighty²³⁸⁹ hand,³⁰²⁷ and with a stretched out⁵¹⁸⁶ arm,²²²⁰ and with fury²⁵³⁴ poured out.⁸²¹⁰

Eze 20:35 And I will bring⁹³⁵ you into⁴¹³ the wilderness⁴⁰⁵⁷ of the people,⁵⁹⁷¹ and there⁸⁰³³ will I plead⁸¹⁹⁹ with⁸⁵⁴ you face⁶⁴⁴⁰ to⁴¹³ face.⁶⁴⁴⁰

Eze 20:36 Like as⁸³⁴ I pleaded⁸¹⁹⁹ with⁸⁵⁴ your fathers¹ in the wilderness⁴⁰⁵⁷ of the land⁷⁷⁶ of Egypt,⁴⁷¹⁴ so³⁶⁵¹ will I plead⁸¹⁹⁹ with⁸⁵⁴ you, saith⁵⁰⁰² the Lord¹³⁶ GOD.³⁰⁶⁹

Short outline of what the children of Israel experienced during their “counting of the omer”:

1Co 10:11

(11) Now¹¹⁶¹ all³⁹⁵⁶ these things⁵⁰²³ happened⁴⁸¹⁹ unto them¹⁵⁶⁵ for examples:⁵¹⁷⁹ and¹¹⁶¹ they are written¹¹²⁵ for⁴³¹⁴ our²²⁵⁷ admonition,³⁵⁵⁹ upon¹⁵¹⁹ whom³⁷³⁹ the³⁵⁸⁸ ends⁵⁰⁵⁶ of the³⁵⁸⁸ world¹⁶⁵ are come.²⁶⁵⁸

Think about whether there are any parallels between the children of Israel’s time of the “counting of the omer” and the events that will happen during the second exodus, or the tribulation.

Ex. Chapter 12

- Pesach, death of the firstborn, blood on the doorposts

(salvation through the blood of the lamb)

- Unleavened bread

- Leaving Egypt with the mixed multitude

- One law applies for the native born and the stranger

Ex. Chapter 13

- Consecration of the firstborn to God

- The children of Israel were not led the easy, short

way, but through the wilderness

- The pillar of cloud and pillar of fire followed them

Ex. Chapter 14

- Pharoah pursues the children of Israel

- The people grumble to Moses…”did you bring us into

the wilderness to kill us?”

- The red sea is parted and the children of Israel cross

on dry ground

- Pharoah and his armies are drowned

Ex. Chapter 15

- Moses sings his song of triumph, and Miriam and

others dance in praise

- The children of Israel travel from the Red Sea to Shur

in 3 days

- There is no water, and when they do find water it is bitter

- The people murmer and Moses casts the tree into the bitter waters at Marah

- God promises not to bring on them any of the diseases of the Egyptians if they will obey His commandments

Exodus Chapter 16

- The children of Israel murmer again

- God provides manna and quail to the people

- God tests them to see if they will obey His commandments

- An omer of manna is gathered and saved to be put into the ark of the covenant later

- It is specified that an omer is 1/10 of an ephah

Lam 3:22-24

(22) It is of the LORD's³⁰⁶⁸ mercies²⁶¹⁷ that³⁵⁸⁸ we are not³⁸⁰⁸ consumed,⁸⁵⁵² because³⁵⁸⁸ his compassions⁷³⁵⁶ fail³⁶¹⁵ not.³⁸⁰⁸

(23) They are new²³¹⁹ every morning:¹²⁴² great⁷²²⁷ is thy faithfulness.⁵³⁰

(24) The LORD³⁰⁶⁸ is my portion,²⁵⁰⁶ saith⁵⁵⁹ my soul;⁵³¹⁵ therefore^5921,
3651 will I hope³¹⁷⁶ in him.

(The childred of Israel gathered the manna new every morning. Manna is the bread of life. Yeshua is the bread of life. During this time of the counting of the omer, we should be trusting Yeshua as the bread of life freshly each day, and keeping Him stored in our heart as the manna was stored in the omer)

Exodus Chapter 17

- The children of Israel journeyed from Sin to Rephidim

- Again there is no water and the children of Israel chide with Moses

- Moses strikes the rock to get water

- The children of Israel battle Amelek, and Aaron and Hur hold his hands up for victory

Exodus Chapter 18

- Moses meets with Jethro, his father in law

- Moses judges the people, and Jethro suggests system of judges, which Moses institutes

Exodus Chapter 19

- The children of Israel arrive at Mount Sinai

- The Lord calls Moses from the mountain

Exo 19:3-8

(3) And Moses⁴⁸⁷² went up⁵⁹²⁷ unto⁴¹³ God,⁴³⁰ and the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ called⁷¹²¹ unto⁴¹³ him out of⁴⁴⁸⁰ the mountain,²⁰²² saying,⁵⁵⁹ Thus³⁵⁴¹ shalt thou say⁵⁵⁹ to the house¹⁰⁰⁴ of Jacob,³²⁹⁰ and tell⁵⁰⁴⁶ the children¹¹²¹ of Israel;³⁴⁷⁸

(4) Ye⁸⁵⁹ have seen⁷²⁰⁰ what⁸³⁴ I did⁶²¹³ unto the Egyptians,⁴⁷¹⁴ and how I bore⁵³⁷⁵ you on⁵⁹²¹ eagles'⁵⁴⁰⁴ wings,³⁶⁷¹ and brought⁹³⁵ you unto⁴¹³ myself.

(5) Now⁶²⁵⁸ therefore, if⁵¹⁸ ye will obey my voice indeed,^{8085, 8085, 6963} and keep⁸¹⁰⁴ ⁽⁸⁵³⁾ my covenant,¹²⁸⁵ then ye shall be¹⁹⁶¹ a peculiar treasure⁵⁴⁵⁹ unto me above all^{4480, 3605} people:⁵⁹⁷¹ for³⁵⁸⁸ all³⁶⁰⁵ the earth⁷⁷⁶ is mine:

(6) And ye⁸⁵⁹ shall be¹⁹⁶¹ unto me a kingdom⁴⁴⁶⁷ of priests,³⁵⁴⁸ and a holy⁶⁹¹⁸ nation.¹⁴⁷¹ These⁴²⁸ are the words¹⁶⁹⁷ which⁸³⁴ thou shalt speak¹⁶⁹⁶ unto⁴¹³ the children¹¹²¹ of Israel.³⁴⁷⁸

(7) And Moses⁴⁸⁷² came⁹³⁵ and called⁷¹²¹ for the elders²²⁰⁵ of the people,⁵⁹⁷¹ and laid⁷⁷⁶⁰ before their faces⁶⁴⁴⁰ ⁽⁸⁵³⁾ all³⁶⁰⁵ these⁴²⁸ words¹⁶⁹⁷ which⁸³⁴ the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ commanded⁶⁶⁸⁰ him.

(8) And all³⁶⁰⁵ the people⁵⁹⁷¹ answered⁶⁰³⁰ together,³¹⁶² and said,⁵⁵⁹ All³⁶⁰⁵ that⁸³⁴ the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ hath spoken¹⁶⁹⁶ we will do.⁶²¹³ And Moses⁴⁸⁷² returned⁷⁷²⁵ ⁽⁸⁵³⁾ the words¹⁶⁹⁷ of the people⁵⁹⁷¹ unto⁴¹³ the LORD.³⁰⁶⁸

- Moses ascends the mountain, and God tells him to go

back down to be sure the people don’t touch the

Mountain

Exodus Chapter 20

- God gives Moses the 10 commandments

- The people feared and moved away and wanted Moses to

speak to them instead of God

Exo 20:18-20

(18) And all³⁶⁰⁵ the people⁵⁹⁷¹ saw⁷²⁰⁰ ⁽⁸⁵³⁾ the thunderings,⁶⁹⁶³ and the lightnings,³⁹⁴⁰ and the noise⁶⁹⁶³ of the trumpet,⁷⁷⁸² and the mountain²⁰²² smoking:⁶²²⁶ and when the people⁵⁹⁷¹ saw⁷²⁰⁰ it, they removed,⁵¹²⁸ and stood⁵⁹⁷⁵ afar off.^4480,
7350

(19) And they said⁵⁵⁹ unto⁴¹³ Moses,⁴⁸⁷² Speak¹⁶⁹⁶ thou⁸⁵⁹ with⁵⁹⁷³ us, and we will hear:⁸⁰⁸⁵ but let not⁴⁰⁸ God⁴³⁰ speak¹⁶⁹⁶ with⁵⁹⁷³ us, lest⁶⁴³⁵ we die.⁴¹⁹¹

(20) And Moses⁴⁸⁷² said⁵⁵⁹ unto⁴¹³ the people,⁵⁹⁷¹ Fear³³⁷² not:⁴⁰⁸ for³⁵⁸⁸ God⁴³⁰ is come⁹³⁵ to⁵⁶⁶⁸ prove⁵²⁵⁴ you, and that⁵⁶⁶⁸ his fear³³⁷⁴ may be¹⁹⁶¹ before⁵⁹²¹ your faces,⁶⁴⁴⁰ that ye sin²³⁹⁸ not.¹¹¹⁵

Even the Jewish sages say that God wanted to put His Torah within the people’s hearts at this point. He wanted His commandments written on their hearts, not on tablets of stone. He wanted His people to be a peculiar people, and a kingdom of priests. He was calling them to be His bride, but they were not ready. Will we be ready when the time comes, when He is pleading with us face to face in the wilderness?

Psalm 67 is traditionally read every day during the counting of the omer.

I decided to study this Psalm, and see if there was any connection between it and the counting of the omer, and the picture of the wandering in the wilderness.

Psa 67:1-7

(1) To the chief Musician⁵³²⁹ on Neginoth,⁵⁰⁵⁸ A Psalm⁴²¹⁰ or Song.⁷⁸⁹² God⁴³⁰ be merciful²⁶⁰³ unto us, and bless¹²⁸⁸ us; and cause his face⁶⁴⁴⁰ to shine²¹⁵ upon⁸⁵⁴ us; Selah.⁵⁵⁴²

(2) That thy way¹⁸⁷⁰ may be known³⁰⁴⁵ upon earth,⁷⁷⁶ thy saving health³⁴⁴⁴ among all³⁶⁰⁵ nations.¹⁴⁷¹

(3) Let the people⁵⁹⁷¹ praise³⁰³⁴ thee, O God;⁴³⁰ let all³⁶⁰⁵ the people⁵⁹⁷¹ praise³⁰³⁴ thee.

(4) O let the nations³⁸¹⁶ be glad⁸⁰⁵⁵ and sing for joy:⁷⁴⁴² for³⁵⁸⁸ thou shalt judge⁸¹⁹⁹ the people⁵⁹⁷¹ righteously,⁴³³⁴ and govern⁵¹⁴⁸ the nations³⁸¹⁶ upon earth.⁷⁷⁶ Selah.⁵⁵⁴²

(5) Let the people⁵⁹⁷¹ praise³⁰³⁴ thee, O God;⁴³⁰ let all³⁶⁰⁵ the people⁵⁹⁷¹ praise³⁰³⁴ thee.

(6) Then shall the earth⁷⁷⁶ yield⁵⁴¹⁴ her increase;²⁹⁸¹ and God,⁴³⁰ even our own God,⁴³⁰ shall bless¹²⁸⁸ us.

(7) God⁴³⁰ shall bless¹²⁸⁸ us; and all³⁶⁰⁵ the ends⁶⁵⁷ of the earth⁷⁷⁶ shall fear³³⁷² him.

I specifically studied all the words marked in red, by looking up the words in the Strong’s and BDB, and looking at the word pictures.

I found several pictures referring to “fish”. Fish represents believers. As we have studied, the phrase “sons of the living God” in Hosea 1:10 has a gematria of 153. After Yeshua told the disciples to let their net down in the water, they caught exactly 153 fish. Yeshua said they would be fishers of men.

The following are just a few of the words:

Musician

H5329

נצח

na^tsach

BDB Definition:

1) to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring

1a) (Niphal) enduring (participle)

1b) (Piel) to act as overseer or superintendent or director or chief

Part of Speech: verb

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root

Nun = Fish, Quickening, Life

Tzadik = Hook, Desire, Catch, Need

Chet = Fence, Enclosure, Private, To Enclose

Word picture = catching the fish in the enclosure (net)

God

H430

אלהים

'ĕlo^hi^ym

BDB Definition:

1) (plural)

1a) rulers, judges

1b) divine ones

1c) angels

1d) gods

2) (plural intensive - singular meaning)

2a) god, goddess

2b) godlike one

2c) works or special possessions of God

2d) the (true) God

2e) God

Part of Speech: noun masculine plural

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: plural of H433

Trace H433 to 410 to 352 to 193 (the root word)

H193

אוּל

'u^l

BDB Definition:

1) prominence

1a) body, belly (contemptuous)

1b) nobles, wealthy men

Part of Speech: noun masculine

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from an unused root meaning to twist, i.e. (by implication) be strong

Alef = Ox, strength, leader, first

Vav = Nail, attaching, securing

Lamed = Staff, leader, shepherd

Strong first leader (shepherd, Yeshua) is secured (securing ) with nails

Shine

H215

אור

'o^r

BDB Definition:

1) to be or become light, shine

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to become light (day)

1a2) to shine (of the sun)

1a3) to become bright

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be illuminated

1b2) to become lighted up

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to give light, shine (of sun, moon, and stars)

1c2) to illumine, light up, cause to shine, shine

1c3) to kindle, light (candle, wood)

1c4) lighten (of the eyes, his law, etc)

1c5) to make shine (of the face)

Part of Speech: verb

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root

Same Word by TWOT Number: 52

Alef = Ox, strength, leader, first

Vav = Nail or peg, attaching, securing

Resh = Head or first, person, highest

The strong first leader is attached with nails

Saving Health

H3444

ישׁוּעה

yeshu^‛a^h

BDB Definition:

1) salvation, deliverance

1a) welfare, prosperity

1b) deliverance

1c) salvation (by God)

1d) victory

Part of Speech: noun feminine

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: passive participle of H3467

H3467

ישׁע

ya^sha‛

BDB Definition:

1) to save, be saved, be delivered

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to be liberated, be saved, be delivered

1a2) to be saved (in battle), be victorious

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to save, deliver

1b2) to save from moral troubles

1b3) to give victory to

Part of Speech: verb

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root

Yod = Hand, work, deed, make

Sheen = Teeth, destroy, consume

Ayin = Eye, to see, knowledge

Seeing and knowing Yeshua’s work destroys the enemy (sin)

Nations

H3816

לאום / לאם

le'o^m

BDB Definition:

1) a people, nation

Part of Speech: noun masculine

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from an unused root meaning to gather

Lamed = Staff or goad, leader, shepherd

Alef = Ox, strength, leader, first

Mem = Water, chaos, liquid

Strong leader is goading (shepherding) the waters (peoples, nations)

I took all the word pictures for all the root words in Psalm 67.

After putting the word pictures together for each of the root words, I decided to see if they would string together into a paragraph, and whether it would make any sense. I found not only did it make sense, but it is a picture of a body of believers struggling against the enemy, as God is drawing them to Himself. Here is what came together from Psalm 67:

The fish are being caught in a net. The fish are coming to life. A strong person with a dagger is moving among the people (waters, nations). The highest destroyer is attaching with nails (the enemy thought Yeshua’s death was his victory).

The Messiah is secured with nails. The fence is enclosing the live fish (fish symbolize believers). The Head of the household is covering His children with His hand. His words are revealing life. The Messiah is attached with nails. Behold the Messiah is giving life.

Behold the Shepherd is supporting His children. The Messiah is opening the door revealing the path. The open door is leading to the Father. The eye (seeing the Messiah) and His hand lead you through the door. The Messiah’s desire is to catch His fish (believers). Seeing the work of the Messiah destroys the enemy.

The Messiah has his palms open, leading us to Him. Behold the Messiah is lifted up. See the chaos in the nations (peoples, waters). Hands lifted up in praise open the door to God. The Messiah is shepherding the people. The fence of the destroyer is enclosing the people, but the Messiah is bringing life. The destroyer is surrounding them speaking, but the work of the Messiah destroys the enemy.

The life of the Messiah revealed is our enclosure, our protection. The life is in the covenant sign. The hand of Yeshua creates his family. The supported leader (Messiah) speaks wisdom. The work of the Messiah prevails.