Before the omer meal offering was sacrificed on the altar, a priest would wave the offering in the air. The Sages explain the symbolism of this waving: It served as an acknowledgment of the kingdom of God, who rules over the entire world, and it served as a request that the Jewish people’s produce will be blessed and protected from blight.

Rabbi Yehuda said in the name of Rabbi Akiva: For what reason did the Torah say: Bring the omer offering on the second day of Passover? It is because Passover is the beginning of the grain harvest season. Therefore, the Holy One, blessed be He, said: Bring the omer offering before Me on Passover so that the grain in the fields will be blessed for you. “He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord” (Leviticus 23:11). How would he wave it? Rabbi Hama son of Rabbi Ukva said in the name of Rabbi Yosei son of Rabbi Hanina: He moves it back and forth and he raises and lowers it. He moves it back and forth in order to eliminate harmful winds, he raises and lowers it in order to eliminate harmful dews. Rabbi Shimon said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: He moves it back and forth to dedicate it to He to whom the entire world all four directions belongs. He raises and lowers them to He to whom the entire world all four directions belongs. (Rosh HaShana 16a; Vayikra Rabba, 28)