The Hebrew word chodesh (חֹדֶשׁ) means 'new moon,' 'month,' or a festival observed at the new moon. It derives from the root chadash meaning 'new' or 'fresh.' The lunar cycle defined Israel's calendar and worship.
Chodesh shaped the sacred rhythm of Israel's life. The Hebrew calendar was lunar, and each new moon marked the beginning of a month. The New Moon festival (Numbers 28:11–15) was a day of rest, special offerings, and trumpet blasts — a monthly sabbath of sorts. Theologically, the moon's cycle proclaimed God's faithfulness: just as the moon reliably renews itself, so God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). The prophets speak of the New Moon feasts as an eschatological reality — in the new creation, every new moon will bring worship before God (Isaiah 66:23). Colossians 2:17 teaches that these festivals were shadows; the substance is Christ.