Help QuickNav Adv. Options
KJV

KJV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Cite Print
The Blue Letter Bible
← Back to ESV Global Study Bible

ESV Global Study Bible :: The Hebrew Calendar

Choose a new font size and typeface

Click here to view listing below for Exo 19:1

The Hebrew Calendar

The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel's exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.

Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
First Month:
Abib (Preexile)
Nisan (Postexile)
March-April
Ex. 13:4; 23:15; 34:18; Deut. 16:1; Neh. 2:1; Est. 3:7 (compare Gen. 8:13; Ex. 12:2; 18; 40:2; 17; Lev. 23:5; Num. 9:1; 20:1; 28:16; 33:3; Josh. 4:19; 1 Chron. 12:15; 27:2; 3; 2 Chron. 29:3; 17; 35:1; Ezra 6:19; 7:9; 8:31; 10:17; Est. 3:7, 12; Ezek. 29:17; 30:20; 45:18; 21; Dan. 10:4)
Festivals:
14th/15th: Passover (Ex. 12:18; Lev. 23:5)
15th-21st: Unleavened Bread (Ex. 12:14-20; Lev. 23:6)
16th: First Fruits (Lev. 23:9-11)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Second Month:
Ziv (Preexile)
Iyyar (Postexile)
April-May
1 Kings 6:1, 37 (compare Gen. 7:11; 8:14; Ex. 16:1; Num. 1:1; 18; 9:11; 10:11; 1 Chron. 27:4; 2 Chron. 3:2; 30:2; 13; 15; Ezra 3:8)
Festival:
14th: Later Passover (Num. 9:10-11)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Third Month: Sivan
May-June
Est. 8:9 (compare Ex. 19:1; 1 Chron. 27:5; 2 Chron. 15:10; 31:7; Ezek. 31:1)
Festivals:
4th: Pentecost [Feast of Weeks] (Lev. 23:15-16)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Fourth Month: Tammuz
June-July
Ezek. 8:14 (compare 2 Kings 25:3; 1 Chron. 27:7; Jer. 39:2; 52:6; Ezek. 1:1; Zech. 8:19)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Fifth Month: Ab
July-August
Not mentioned by name in the Bible (compare Num. 33:38; 2 Kings 25:8; 1 Chron. 27:8; Ezra 7:8, 9; Jer. 1:3; 28:1; 52:12; Ezek. 20:1; Zech. 7:3; 5; 8:19)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Sixth Month: Elul
August-September
Neh. 6:15 (compare 1 Chron. 27:9; Ezek. 8:1; Hag. 1:1, 15)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Seventh Month:
Ethanim (Preexile)
Tishri (Postexile)
September-October
1 Kings 8:2 (compare Gen. 8:4; Lev. 16:29; 23:24; 27; 34; 39; 41; 25:9; Num. 29:1, 7, 12; 2 Kings 25:25; 1 Chron. 27:10; 2 Chron. 5:3; 7:10; 31:7; Ezra 3:1, 6; Neh. 7:73; 8:2; 14; Jer. 28:17; 41:1; Ezek. 45:25; Hag. 2:1; Zech. 7:5; 8:19)
Festivals:
1st: Trumpets (Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1)
10th: Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29-34; 23:27-32)
15th-21st: Booths (Lev. 23:34-40)
22nd: Solemn assembly (Lev. 23:36)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Eighth Month:
Bul (Preexile)
Marchesvan (Postexile)
October-November
1 Kings 6:38 (compare 1 Kings 12:32, 33; 1 Chron. 27:11; Zech. 1:1)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Ninth Month: Chislev (Kislev)
November-December
Neh. 1:1; Zech. 7:1 (compare 1 Chron. 27:12; Ezra 10:9; Jer. 36:9, 22; Hag. 2:10, 18)
Festival:
25th: Dedication (John 10:22)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Tenth Month: Tebeth
December-January
Est. 2:16 (compare Gen. 8:5; 2 Kings 25:1; 1 Chron. 27:13; Ezra 10:16; Jer. 39:1; 52:4; Ezek. 24:1; 29:1; 33:21; Zech. 8:19)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Eleventh Month: Shebat
January-February
Zech. 1:7 (compare Deut. 1:3; 1 Chron. 27:14)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Twelfth Month: Adar*
February-March
Ezra 6:15; Est. 3:7; 13; 8:12; 9:1; 15; 17; 19; 21 (compare 2 Kings 25:27; 1 Chron. 27:15; Jer. 52:31; Ezek. 32:1; 32:17)

*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.

ESV

The ESV Global Study Bible
Copyright © 2012 by Crossway.
All rights reserved.
Used by permission.

BLB Searches
Search the Bible
KJV
  [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
KJV
Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.