WHEN WAS THE NEW YEAR CHANGED: A HEBREW PERSPECTIVE

Exodus chapter 12













Today we are walking in: When Was the New Year Changed? A Hebrew Perspective




Job 21:14




Therefore they say unto El, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways. IYOV (JOB) 21:14 את CEPHER










KNOWLEDGE







Today we look to the word-KNOWLEDGE- H847 da'ath--knowledge, perception, skill, discernment













The Torah testifies.....................




Genesis 2:9




And out of the ground made Yahuah Elohiym to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. BERE'SHIYTH (GENESIS) 2:9 את CEPHER







Genesis 2:17




But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die. BERE'SHIYTH (GENESIS) 2:17 את CEPHER







Exodus 31:3




And I have filled him with the Ruach Elohiym, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 31:3 את CEPHER




Exodus 35:31




And he has filled him with the Ruach Elohiym, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 35:31 את CEPHER




Leviticus 4:23




Or if his sin, wherein he has sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: VAYIQRA (LEVITICUS) 4:23 את CEPHER




Leviticus 4:28




Or if his sin, which he has sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has sinned. VAYIQRA (LEVITICUS) 4:28 את CEPHER




Numbers 15:24




Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the assembly, that all the assembly shall offer one young bullock for an ascending smoke offering, for a sweet savor unto Yahuah, with his oblation, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering. BEMIDBAR (NUMBERS) 15:24 את CEPHER




Numbers 24:16




He has said, which heard the words of El, and knew the knowledge of El Elyon, which saw the vision of El Shaddai, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: BEMIDBAR (NUMBERS) 24:16 את CEPHER




Deuteronomy 1:39




Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. DEVARIYM (DEUTERONOMY) 1:39 את CEPHER































The prophets proclaim..................




1 Samuel 2:3




Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for Yahuah is an Elohiym of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. SHEMU'EL RI'SHON (1 SAMUEL) 2:3 את CEPHER




1 Samuel 23:23




See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Yahudah. SHEMU'EL RI'SHON (1 SAMUEL) 23:23 את CEPHER
















Nehemiah 10:28

And the rest of the people, the priests, the Leviyiym, the porters, the singers, the Nathiyn, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the Torah of Elohiym, their women, their sons, and their daughters, everyone having knowledge, and having understanding; EZRA V'NECHEMYAHU (NEHEMIAH) 10:28 את CEPHER




Isaiah 8:4




For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Shomeron shall be taken away before the king of Ashshur. YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 8:4 את CEPHER




Isaiah 11:9




They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Yahuah, as the waters cover the sea. YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 11:9 את CEPHER




Isaiah 28:9




Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 28:9 את CEPHER




Isaiah 32:4




The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 32:4 את CEPHER







Isaiah 33:6




And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of your times, and strength of yeshu`ah: the fear of Yahuah is his treasure. YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 33:6 את CEPHER




Isaiah 40:14




With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding? YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 40:14 את CEPHER









Jeremiah 3:15




And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. YIRMEYAHU (JEREMIAH) 3:15 את CEPHER
















The writings bear witness.............



1 Kings 9:27




And Chiyram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Shalomah. MELEKIYM RI'SHON (1 KINGS) 9:27 את CEPHER




2 Chronicles 1:10




Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this your people, that is so great? DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 1:10 את CEPHER




2 Chronicles 1:11




And Elohiym said to Shalomah, Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor את the life of your enemies, neither yet have asked long life; but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king: DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 1:11 את CEPHER




2 Chronicles 1:12




Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto you; and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you, neither shall there any after you have the like. DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 1:12 את CEPHER




2 Chronicles 8:18




And Churam sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Shalomah to Ophiyr, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to King Shalomah. DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 8:18 את CEPHER




2 Chronicles 30:22




And Yechizqiyahu spoke comfortably unto all the Leviyiym that taught the good knowledge of Yahuah: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to Yahuah Elohiym of their fathers. DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 30:22 את CEPHER




Ruth 2:10




Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in your eyes, that you should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? RUTH (RUTH) 2:10 את CEPHER




Ruth 2:19




And her mother in law said unto her, Where have you gleaned today? and where wrought you? blessed be he that did take knowledge of you. And she showed her mother in law את with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought today is Bo'az. RUTH (RUTH) 2:19 את CEPHER













Job 34:2




Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. IYOV (JOB) 34:2 את CEPHER




Psalm 119:66




Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed your commandments. TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 119:66 את CEPHER




Proverbs 1:7




The fear of Yahuah is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. MISHLEI (PROVERBS) 1:7 את CEPHER























Teaching: When Was the New Year Changed? A Hebrew Perspective




1. Introduction: A Question of Time

• Most of the world celebrates the New Year on January 1.

• However, Scripture presents a different starting point for the year.

• Understanding biblical time requires looking at Hebrew calendar principles, not Roman tradition.




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2. Yah Establishes the Biblical New Year (Nisan / Aviv)




Key Scripture:




“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.”

— Exodus 12:2




• Yah spoke this to Israel in Egypt, just before Passover.

• The month is called Aviv (later known as Nisan).

• Aviv means “ripening”—specifically barley coming to maturity.

• This places the Biblical New Year in spring (March–April).




Hebrew Insight:

• The year begins with life, renewal, and redemption, not winter.

• Israel’s calendar begins with deliverance, not darkness.




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3. The Hebrew Calendar Has Two “Heads” of the Year




The Bible recognizes two important calendar markers, not one.




A. Nisan (Aviv) – Religious / Redemptive New Year

• Begins the cycle of feasts:

• Passover

• Unleavened Bread

• Firstfruits

• Shavuot (Pentecost)

• Focus: Redemption, covenant, freedom




B. Tishrei – Civil / Agricultural Cycle

• Occurs in the fall (Sept–Oct)

• Includes:

• Yom Teruah (Trumpets)

• Yom Kippur (Atonement)

• Sukkot (Tabernacles)

• Used for:

• Kingship

• Land cycles

• Sabbatical years




Important:

👉 Neither of these begins in January




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4. Where Did January 1 Come From?




January New Year does not come from Scripture.




Roman Origins

• Early Roman calendar began in March

• January was later added and dedicated to Janus, a pagan god of beginnings

• Janus had two faces—looking forward and backward




Political Shift

• In 153 BC, Rome officially moved the New Year to January for political convenience

• This was later reinforced by Julius Caesar (Julian Calendar)




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5. The Church’s Adoption of January

• As Christianity spread through the Roman Empire:

• Roman calendars were retained

• Biblical timekeeping was gradually disconnected

• The Gregorian Calendar (1582) finalized January 1 globally

• Over time, believers began celebrating Roman time rather than Biblical time




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6. Hebrew Understanding of Time




Biblical time is:

• Cyclical, not linear

• Based on the moon, harvests, and Yah’s acts

• Rooted in obedience and remembrance, not convenience




“He appointed the moon for seasons.”

— Psalm 104:19




• Months begin with the new moon

• Years begin with observable agricultural signs

• Time itself is sanctified by Yah




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7. Spiritual Implications of the Change




When the New Year moved from spring to winter:

• Renewal shifted to cold and death

• Redemption was replaced with resolutions

• Yah’s calendar was replaced with man’s system




Hebrew thought:

👉 Time is a tool for covenant, not control




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8. Restoring a Biblical Perspective




This does not mean rejecting modern calendars for daily life.

It means:

• Recognizing Yah’s appointed times

• Teaching our families where time truly begins

• Aligning spiritually with His calendar




“These are the feasts of the LORD… which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.”

— Leviticus 23:4




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9. Conclusion

• The Biblical New Year begins in Nisan (spring)

• January 1 is a Roman political date

• Understanding Hebrew time restores:

• Identity

• Redemption

• Alignment with Yah’s design




Final Thought:




Yah begins His year with deliverance, not resolutions




Through all your getting get an UNDERSTANDING! Do not conform to this world BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND!! ALL PRAISES TO THE MOST HIGH YAH!!!!!!