The Feast of Shavuot (Sha-voo-ote) is Hebrew, also known as Pentecost. The fourth of the spring feast days are also named the Feast of Law and the Holy Spirit. This Feast is also known as the Feast of weeks, the Feast of Harvest, or the Latter First fruits. This day came to fulfillment by that which was spoken by the prophet Yo’el. (Joel 2:28-32) Pentecost is a Greek word for the fiftieth. In Hebrew, it is also called the counting of the Omer. Forty-nine days plus one from the resurrection of Messiah to the Feast Shavuot. Messiah instructed His disciples to wait for the promise of the Father, as this day would mark the outpouring of the Spirit of Yahweh that descended on the Jewish Believers. (Acts 1:4-8) This empowerment gave the disciples the unction and power to proclaim the Gospel of the Messiah. This Feast also parallels when Yahweh made His presence known to the Israelites at Mount Sinai and gave the tablets written by His finger, known as ‘Matan Torah’ (giving of the Law). Today, through the infilling of the Holy Spirit, His laws are written on the tablets of our hearts. The degree of obedience to His commandments varies among believers as they learn the truth of His Word or reject it and choose to fall away.
This event, Pentecost, fulfills numerous passages in the Bible. (Ezekiel 11:19-20 and 36:25-27) Pentecost is recorded in the Brit Hadashah in Acts chapter two. An expected latter rain outpouring of Yahweh’s Spirit continues today upon the Jewish Nation and accelerates before Messiah’s return. Non-Jews (Gentiles) received the first infilling of the Holy Spirit, recorded in Acts chapter ten. The festival’s name is derived from the Hebrew word shavuah, meaning week. Shavuot (weeks) is the plural form. Shavuot marks the end of the seven-week period, called Sefirat HaOmer (Counting of the Omer), which began at Passover. Leviticus 23:15, From the day after the Sabbath, when you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks [Shavuot].
Shavuot is such a multi-faceted Feast that it is also known by other Biblical and traditional names besides Shavuot and Pentecost. Here’s a review.
Yom HaBikurim (Day of the First Fruits) in Numbers 28:26
(Not the Festival of First Fruits in Leviticus 23:9–12)
Chag HaKatzir (Festival of Reaping) in Exodus 23:16
Bikkurei Ketzir Chittim (The First Fruits of the Wheat Harvest) in Exodus 34:22
Z’man Mattan Torateinu (Season of the Giving of the Torah), which is a name arising from Jewish tradition, says the Israelites received the Torah on this Day of First Fruits.
Shavuot is significant because it marks two of the greatest gifts Yahweh has given man. The Torah, the instructions and teachings of the Creator. Also, the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit. The new covenant between Yahweh and Israel was initiated on Shavuot, fifty days after the death and resurrection of our Messiah, Yahushua.