Moses, mediating Yahweh's covenant instruction to Israel within the Torah.
The Guilt Offering, Priestly Portions, and Holy Fellowship
Holy fellowship with the Lord requires holy sacrifice, holy eating, holy boundaries, and faithful priestly provision.
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Holy fellowship with the Lord requires holy sacrifice, holy eating, holy boundaries, and faithful priestly provision.
Leviticus 7 completes the opening offering instructions by showing that sacrifice is not finished when the animal is slain. The offering must be handled, eaten, timed, distributed, and guarded according to holiness. The guilt offering remains most holy. The fellowship offering includes thanksgiving, vows, and freewill worship, yet joyful participation must obey God's limits.
The fat and blood belong to the Lord, and priestly portions are assigned by divine command. The chapter teaches that gratitude, fellowship, restitution, and priestly provision all remain under God's holy rule.
Israel's covenant community and the Aaronic priesthood, especially priests responsible for handling guilt offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings, and fellowship offerings, and worshipers who must understand holy eating, thanksgiving, vows, freewill offerings, and prohibitions concerning fat and blood.
Leviticus 7 completes the first major sacrificial instruction section of Leviticus. It continues priestly instruction begun in Leviticus 6 and concludes the regulations for guilt, fellowship, priestly portions, and holy participation in sacrificial meals.
Holy fellowship with the Lord requires holy sacrifice, holy eating, holy boundaries, and faithful priestly provision.
Moses, mediating Yahweh's covenant instruction to Israel within the Torah.
Israel's covenant community and the Aaronic priesthood, especially priests responsible for handling guilt offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings, and fellowship offerings, and worshipers who must understand holy eating, thanksgiving, vows, freewill offerings, and prohibitions concerning fat and blood.
Leviticus 7 completes the first major sacrificial instruction section of Leviticus. It continues priestly instruction begun in Leviticus 6 and concludes the regulations for guilt, fellowship, priestly portions, and holy participation in sacrificial meals.
- Israel must learn that worship involves more than bringing sacrifices. Offerings must be handled, eaten, distributed, and timed according to God's holiness. Gratitude, vows, and fellowship must not become careless celebration detached from purity, obedience, and reverence.
Sacred meals, priestly portions, and sacrificial distributions were known in the ancient world, but Leviticus orders them under Yahweh's covenant holiness. Israel's sacrificial meals are not common feasts or manipulative rituals; they are holy acts of worship governed by divine instruction.
After the exodus, Sinai covenant, and tabernacle completion, Leviticus 7 teaches Israel how sacrificial worship is completed through holy handling, priestly provision, fellowship meals, and strict boundaries concerning uncleanness, fat, and blood. The chapter closes the opening sacrificial manual before the narrative turns to priestly ordination.
The Lord completes the sacrificial instruction by regulating the guilt offering, priestly portions, fellowship offering meals, uncleanness boundaries, fat and blood prohibitions, and the assigned portions for Aaron and his sons.
Theological exposition and fulfillment
Leviticus 7 clarifies the gospel by showing that guilt, thanksgiving, fellowship, holy eating, priesthood, blood, and provision all require God's appointed mediation. Christ fulfills the guilt offering by bearing guilt, fulfills priestly mediation by His eternal priesthood, and fulfills fellowship with God by making peace through His blood. Believers now draw near through His finished sacrifice, not through repeated offerings, and they respond with holy thanksgiving and cleansed communion.
The guilt offering is most holy, handled like the sin offering in priestly portion, blood, fat, and altar rites.
The priest receives the hide of the burnt offering and specified grain offerings, while other grain offerings are shared among Aaron's sons.
Thanksgiving fellowship offerings are accompanied by bread and eaten on the same day.
Vow and freewill fellowship offerings may be eaten into the second day, but not the third.
Holy meat must not be contaminated, and unclean persons must not eat fellowship offering meat.
Israel must not consume fat belonging to the Lord or blood representing life.
The breast and right thigh are assigned to Aaron and his sons as priestly portions from fellowship offerings.
The sacrificial instructions are summarized as the law of the major offerings commanded by the Lord at Sinai.
- 7:1-10: The guilt offering is slaughtered, its blood and fat handled at the altar, and its priestly portions assigned according to holy instruction.
- 7:11-15: Thanksgiving offerings include bread and must be eaten the same day, guarding gratitude from decay, delay, and casual handling.
- 7:16-18: Vow and freewill offerings allow a second day of eating, but the third day is forbidden and brings guilt if violated.
- 7:19-21: Sacrificial meat must not be defiled, and unclean persons must not participate in holy fellowship meals.
- 7:22-27: Israel must not eat the fat reserved for the Lord or the blood that represents life.
- 7:28-36: The worshiper brings the offering, the Lord receives the fat, and the priests receive the breast and right thigh as their due.
- 7:37-38: The chapter summarizes the laws of the offerings commanded by the Lord to Moses at Sinai.
Pastoral Entry
תּוֹרָה (torah) can name instruction, a particular ruling, priestly teaching, the law associated with Moses, or the Torah as a recognized body of Scripture. Context determines the scope. The noun should not be defined only from a proposed connection with the verb 'to instruct' and then made to mean whatever a teacher prefers. In Deuteronomy, torah shapes Israel's covenant life.
Psalm 119 delights in God's instruction as trustworthy guidance. Isaiah envisions instruction going out from Zion, Ezra devotes himself to studying, practicing, and teaching the Torah, and Jeremiah 31 promises God's torah written within. These passages resist two opposite reductions. Torah is not a ladder by which sinners earn God's favor, but neither is it an obsolete burden with nothing to teach.
The New Testament presents Jesus as fulfilling the Law and Prophets and teaches believers to read Israel's Scriptures through His person and work. Responsible application distinguishes Israel's covenant setting, enduring revelation of God's character and purposes, and the commands' fulfillment in Christ rather than forcing every statute directly onto the church.
Sense instruction, law
Definition instruction, law
References 7:1, 7:7, 7:11, 7:37
Why it matters The chapter repeatedly gives the law or instruction concerning offerings, concluding with the law of the major sacrifices.
Pastoral Entry
The Hebrew *ʾāšām* carries a double weight that most English readers miss: it names both the subjective state of guilt and the specific sacrifice required to resolve it. This is not mere moral failure or regret — the term points to a legally constituted liability before God that requires concrete resolution in the sacrificial system. In the Levitical system (Lev 5–6), the *ʾāšām* offering was prescribed for violations involving the sacred domain — desecrating holy things, false oaths, and wrongs committed against a neighbor — where the offense created a measurable debt.
The offerer brought a ram without blemish (Lev 5:15), and restitution to the wronged party was required alongside the sacrifice (Num 5:7). This dual requirement, payment to God and to neighbor, is a distinctive feature of the guilt-offering legislation. It insists that guilt before God and damage to human community are not separable problems. The word reaches one of its most theologically significant registers in Isaiah 53:10, where the Servant's soul is made an *ʾāšām* for the people.
Major elements of guilt-offering theology, including the bearing of liability, the costliness of the remedy, and the restoration it accomplishes, converge in that verse and provide a canonical pathway toward later cross theology. The *ʾāšām* does not let the conscience rest until the debt is discharged. That is precisely its pastoral usefulness: it names the seriousness of sin with precision and points with equal precision to the one sufficient remedy.
Sense guilt offering, reparation offering
Definition guilt offering, reparation offering
References 7:1-2, 7:5-7, 7:37
Why it matters The guilt offering is called most holy and is handled with specific blood, fat, and priestly portion procedures.
Pastoral Entry
קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh) names holiness, sacredness, or something designated as holy. It can refer to holy ground, sanctuary space, offerings, garments, days, and the inscription 'Holy to the Lord.' The noun's range is learned from these uses, not from a claim that its root always means separation. Exodus 3 calls the ground holy because the Lord meets Moses there. Priestly texts mark people, places, and objects for service in God's presence.
Psalms speak of worship in holy splendor, and Isaiah 35 names a Way of Holiness within a promise of restoration. Zechariah 14 extends 'Holy to the Lord' beyond priestly equipment to ordinary objects, picturing a future in which all life belongs to God. Related adjective and verb forms also speak of God's own holiness and His people's calling, but they should not be collapsed into this noun.
Qodesh joins worship, consecration, moral obedience, mercy, and reverent access without making ritual status a tool for shame, exclusion, or control.
Sense holiness, holy thing
Definition holiness, holy thing
References 7:1, 7:6
Why it matters The guilt offering is most holy, requiring restricted handling and priestly consumption.
Pastoral Entry
מָקוֹם (maqom) is the ordinary Hebrew noun for a place, location, site, or position. It can name where waters gather, where a person stands, where an event occurs, where someone lives, or where an object belongs. Its basic sense is spatial; holiness or theological significance comes from the person, act, promise, or divine choice associated with a particular place.
Genesis 28:16 records Jacob's awakening confession that the Lord is in this place, and Exodus 3:5 calls the place where Moses stands holy ground. Neither text teaches that physical ground is independently divine. The place is significant because God reveals himself and addresses the person there. Genesis 22:14 likewise names the site in response to the Lord's provision within that narrative.
Deuteronomy repeatedly speaks of the place the Lord will choose for his name, and the temple prayer in 1 Kings 8 directs prayer toward that place while also confessing that heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain God. Biblical place theology can therefore hold chosen covenant location and divine transcendence together. Later Jewish use of HaMaqom, the Place, as a reverent divine designation should be identified as later reception rather than projected into every H4725 verse.
Sense place
Definition place
References 7:2
Why it matters The guilt offering is slaughtered in the same place as the burnt offering, showing ordered altar geography.
Sense to slaughter
Definition to slaughter
References 7:2
Why it matters The guilt offering is slaughtered at the appointed place before the Lord.
Pastoral Entry
עָלָה (ʿālāh) is a frequent Hebrew verb for going up, ascending, rising, or causing something to go up. Genesis 2:6 says moisture rose from the earth, Genesis 13:1 says Abram went up from Egypt, and Numbers 13:17 commands the spies to go up through the Negev. Geography and ordinary motion explain many occurrences. Upward movement is not automatically spiritual progress, moral superiority, or entry into God's presence.
The verb also marks significant journeys and worship. Moses goes up to God in Exodus 19:3 and ascends the mountain with Joshua in Exodus 24:13. First Samuel 1:3 says Elkanah went up yearly to worship and sacrifice, Psalm 24:3 asks who may ascend the Lord's hill, and Isaiah 2:3 pictures nations going up to the mountain of the Lord for instruction. These passages connect ascent with encounter and worship because of their destinations and purposes, not because higher elevation is inherently holier.
Causative uses include bringing Israel up from Egypt and offering sacrifice. Exodus 32:1 recalls Moses as the man who brought Israel up from Egypt, Genesis 8:20 says Noah offered burnt offerings, and Deuteronomy 12:13 restricts where burnt offerings may be offered. Second Kings 2:11 says Elijah went up in a whirlwind, a distinctive narrative event. Psalm 68:18's ascent language is later taken up in Ephesians 4:8, while Isaiah 40:31 pictures those waiting for the Lord rising on wings like eagles. These connections deserve close reading but do not make every H5927 ascent a prediction of Christ's ascension or a promise of constant emotional and physical elevation.
Sense burnt offering, ascent offering
Definition burnt offering, ascent offering
References 7:2, 7:8, 7:37
Why it matters The burnt offering appears as the point of comparison for the guilt offering's slaughter place and priestly portions.
Pastoral Entry
דָּם is the OT's word for blood in all its theological dimensions — life, death, covenant, and atonement. Lev 17:11 is the load-bearing verse: 'the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.' The logic is precise: because blood is life, the shedding of blood is the giving of life in substitution.
The animal's life is given in place of the worshiper's. This is why the prohibition on eating blood (Lev 17:14; Deut 12:23) is so strict — blood belongs to God because life belongs to God. The covenant-blood at Sinai (Exod 24:8, Moses sprinkling the people: 'Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you') shows the other dimension: דָּם does not only deal with sin, it seals relationship.
The same substance that atones also binds. This dual function explains the NT's use of Christ's blood: it is simultaneously the ransom that deals with sin (Heb 9:14) and the new covenant seal (Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25).
Sense blood
Definition blood
References 7:2, 7:14, 7:26-27, 7:33
Why it matters Blood is applied at the altar and forbidden for consumption, preserving the theology of life and atonement.
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Sense to splash, throw, sprinkle
Definition to splash, throw, sprinkle
References 7:2
Why it matters The guilt offering blood is splashed against the altar sides.
Cross-language bridge 1 link · View in lexicon
Pastoral Entry
מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach) is the common Hebrew noun for an altar. It is related to the verb H2076 זָבַח, to sacrifice or slaughter, but altar function depends on the passage. Scripture describes patriarchal altars, the bronze altar for offerings, the incense altar, restored or profaned altars, memorial settings, and illicit altars. The noun itself does not guarantee that an altar is authorized or that every altar has the same function.
Genesis 22:9 says that Abraham built an altar and placed Isaac on it before the Lord stopped him and a ram was offered instead. The narrative directly presents a substitute in place of Isaac and names the place through the Lord's provision. Hebrews 11:17-19 later emphasizes Abraham's faith that God could raise the dead. A connection with Christ's sacrifice can be made canonically, but the New Testament does not explicitly call Genesis 22 the most direct altar prophecy of the cross.
Exodus distinguishes an earth or uncut-stone altar in 20:24-26, the bronze altar of burnt offering in 27:1-8, and the incense altar in 30:1-10. Their different locations and uses must remain distinct. The uncut-stone command is a divine construction requirement; treating it as a complete doctrine against human achievement goes beyond what the verses explicitly say.
Isaiah 6:6 describes a seraph taking a coal from the altar to touch Isaiah's lips, after which guilt is removed and sin atoned for. The vision directly connects the altar coal with purification, but it does not explain which sacrifice supplied the coal or say that the fire would otherwise have destroyed Isaiah. Malachi 1 condemns priests who offer defiled food and unacceptable animals, grounding altar application in the covenant worship violations the oracle actually names.
Sense altar
Definition altar
References 7:2, 7:5, 7:31
Why it matters The altar receives the blood and the fat portions that belong to the Lord.
Sense fat, choicest part
Definition fat, choicest part
References 7:3-5, 7:23-25, 7:30-31, 7:33
Why it matters Fat portions are burned to the Lord and forbidden for Israelite consumption.
Sense fat tail
Definition fat tail
References 7:3
Why it matters The fat tail is included among the fat portions offered to the Lord.
Sense kidney
Definition kidney
References 7:4
Why it matters The kidneys are included among the internal fat portions burned to the Lord.
Sense liver
Definition liver
References 7:4
Why it matters The covering of the liver is removed with the kidneys and burned as part of the Lord's portion.
Sense to burn, make smoke ascend
Definition to burn, make smoke ascend
References 7:5, 7:31
Why it matters The priest burns the fat portions on the altar as the Lord's offering.
Pastoral Entry
אִשֶּׁה (isheh) is the Hebrew term for the fire-offering: any sacrifice that ascends to YHWH on the altar through fire. It is the broadest sacrificial category in Leviticus — the burnt offering, the grain offering, the peace offering, and the sin offering can all be described as isheh. The defining feature is the fire: the offering goes up (olah, from the same root as ascension) to YHWH through the medium of flame, and the result is the reach nichoach (pleasing/soothing aroma) that YHWH accepts.
Leviticus 1:9 gives isheh its paradigmatic form: 'and the priest shall wash its entrails and its legs with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering (olah), a fire-offering (isheh), a pleasing aroma (reach nichoach) to YHWH.' The three-term description — olah + isheh + reach nichoach — is the Levitical grammar of accepted sacrifice: the upward-going (olah), the fire-medium (isheh), and the divine reception (reach nichoach). All three together describe the complete act of sacrificial communion with YHWH.
Leviticus 9:24 gives isheh its YHWH-kindled form: 'And fire came out from before YHWH and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.' The fire for the first offering at the Tabernacle comes from YHWH himself: he lights the altar. Thereafter the priests are commanded to keep this fire burning continually (Lev 6:13: 'fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out'). The isheh at the altar is YHWH's own fire, maintained by the priests — the fire does not belong to the worshiper; it belongs to YHWH.
Numbers 28:3-4 gives isheh its daily-tamid form: 'This is the fire-offering (isheh) that you shall offer to YHWH: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a continual burnt offering (olat tamid). One lamb you shall offer in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight.' The tamid-isheh is the regular offering prescribed for Israel's continual worship: two lambs, every day, morning and evening, on YHWH's altar. It marks the ordered continuity of Israel's altar service: the commanded fire remains burning, and the prescribed offering recurs morning and evening.
Leviticus 10:1-2 gives isheh its judgment form: 'Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire (esh zarah, strange fire) before YHWH, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before YHWH and consumed them, and they died before YHWH.' The esh-zarah (H784+H2114) of Nadab and Abihu is the counter-isheh: fire offered to YHWH that YHWH did not authorize. The same fire that lit the altar in Leviticus 9:24 (divine acceptance) consumes the sons in Leviticus 10:2 (divine judgment). The isheh-fire is holy — approach it rightly, and it becomes reach nichoach; approach it wrongly, and it consumes.
For the preacher, אִשֶּׁה (isheh) gives the congregation the grammar of approach to a holy God: the isheh offerings locate acceptable approach within YHWH's prescribed altar and priestly order, including substitution where the offering is animal, and point forward to Christ's climactic offering.
Sense offering by fire, food offering
Definition offering by fire, food offering
References 7:5, 7:25, 7:30, 7:35
Why it matters The offering by fire language marks what is presented to the Lord on the altar.
Pastoral Entry
כֹּהֵן (kohen) is the Hebrew noun for a priest or someone serving in a priestly office. The local Hebrew artifact currently indexes about 750 H3548 occurrences. The term applies to Aaronic priests, high priests, Melchizedek, Jethro, Egyptian priests, and priests of other gods, so mediation between the Lord and Israel is an important function in selected covenant contexts rather than the noun's universal lexical definition.
Within Israel's Sinai covenant, Aaron and his sons are consecrated for priestly service. Their duties include presenting offerings, maintaining sanctuary service, distinguishing holy from common and clean from unclean, teaching instruction, blessing the people, and participating in judicial or diagnostic decisions. Levites have related sanctuary responsibilities but are not simply interchangeable with Aaronic priests.
Numbers 6:23-27 gives Aaron and his sons the words of the priestly blessing and says that God's name will be placed on Israel and that God will bless them. The priest speaks the given words; the Lord remains the source of blessing.
Leviticus 16 assigns the high priest a unique annual role in the Day of Atonement rites. The chapter's offerings address priest, household, sanctuary, and people within the covenant system. Later Hebrews interpretation should be drawn after the Levitical passage is heard on its own terms.
Malachi 2:7 describes the priest as guarding knowledge and people seeking instruction from his mouth because he is the Lord's messenger. The surrounding rebuke shows both the teaching responsibility and its corruption; it does not establish that priests are the only people authorized to teach Scripture.
Genesis 14:18 calls Melchizedek king of Salem and priest of God Most High. Psalm 110:4 later speaks of a priest forever according to Melchizedek's order, and Hebrews 5-7 builds a sustained argument about Jesus' priesthood from that psalm. Hebrews' typology does not make the Aaronic institution a divine mistake or erase the genuine covenant forgiveness associated with its rites.
Exodus 19:6 calls Israel a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. First Peter 2:9 reuses that language for its readers. These corporate vocations coexist with distinct offices in their respective covenants, but the texts themselves should not be used as a shortcut to settle every later debate about church leadership.
For the preacher, כֹּהֵן (kohen) opens sanctuary service, instruction, blessing, atonement, corruption, Melchizedek, and Hebrews' high-priest Christology. The immediate priestly subject and covenant setting must be identified before application.
Sense priest
Definition priest
References 7:6-8, 7:14, 7:31-35
Why it matters The priest receives assigned portions and mediates the offering according to the Lord's command.
Pastoral Entry
כָּפַר (kaphar) is a Hebrew verb whose dominant Piel use concerns making atonement, effecting ritual expiation, or purging within Israel's covenant worship. The local Hebrew index currently counts about 103 H3722 occurrences. It can take people, sins, the altar, sanctuary objects, or holy space in its scope, so atonement should not be reduced to an invisible covering placed only over an individual sinner.
Genesis 6:14 uses related sound and spelling in the command to coat the ark with pitch. Scholars debate how that physical use relates historically to the ritual verb. It is unsafe to make protective covering the controlling image for every Levitical occurrence. Usage in ritual contexts must lead.
Leviticus 4-5 repeatedly says that the priest makes atonement and that the worshiper will be forgiven. The prescribed rites address unintentional sins and impurity within a wider covenant system. The text attributes forgiveness to God's provision while still involving confession, offerings, priestly action, and differentiated cases.
Leviticus 16 applies the verb to the high priest, people, Most Holy Place, tent of meeting, and altar during the Day of Atonement. The chapter therefore includes purification of sanctuary space from Israel's uncleanness as well as rites concerning the people's sins.
Leviticus 17:11 says that God has given blood on the altar to make atonement for lives because the life is in the blood. The construction translated 'by the life' or 'by means of the life' has generated debate. The verse grounds blood's cultic role in God's gift without by itself supplying a complete penal, commercial, or biological theory.
Exodus 32:30 uses the verb when Moses hopes to make atonement after the golden calf, while Psalms and prophets use it in prayer, judgment, or purification settings outside the detailed sacrificial laws. These occurrences keep the semantic profile broader than one ritual formula.
Hebrews 9-10 interprets the Day of Atonement, priesthood, sanctuary, blood, and repeated offerings in relation to Christ's once-for-all self-offering. Romans 3:25 uses hilasterion, a term that can evoke the mercy seat or an atoning sacrifice. Those NT arguments draw on a network of Greek and Hebrew cultic vocabulary rather than functioning as simple dictionary fulfillments of H3722.
For the preacher, כָּפַר (kaphar) opens God's provision for forgiveness, ritual purification, sanctuary holiness, priestly service, and later Christological interpretation. Immediate ritual objects and subjects must remain visible before systematic atonement theories are applied.
Sense to make atonement, cover, purge
Definition to make atonement, cover, purge
References 7:7
Why it matters The priest who makes atonement receives the flesh of the sin or guilt offering.
Pastoral Entry
חַטָּאָה can name sin or offense and, in sacrificial contexts, the purification offering associated with sin. The local Old Testament index currently counts about 299 occurrences, so the word appears across narrative, law, poetry, and prophecy. Context must decide whether a passage concerns wrongdoing, liability, an entrenched pattern of sin, or the prescribed offering. The related verb חָטָא (H2398) describes sinning, going wrong, or failing in an obligation, but a simple English picture such as “missing the mark” does not exhaust either word.
Genesis 4:7 personifies חַטָּאָה as sin crouching at Cain’s door. Leviticus 4 repeatedly uses the noun for the purification offering required when sin has brought guilt, while Psalm 51 uses it for David’s acknowledged sin. Those contexts place moral offense and God’s appointed sacrificial provision within the same lexical field without making them identical in every occurrence. The offering sense belongs to the cultic context; it should not be imported automatically wherever the noun appears.
For teaching, חַטָּאָה helps a congregation name sin as objective guilt before God and attend to the remedy God appoints in the covenant. The Levitical pattern contributes to the wider canonical background for Christ’s atoning work, but the Hebrew noun itself does not directly predict a particular New Testament formula. Teachers should trace the connection through the sacrificial texts and the New Testament’s own claims rather than treating a lexical range as a complete doctrine of atonement.
Sense sin offering, purification offering
Definition sin offering, purification offering
References 7:7, 7:37
Why it matters The sin offering is paired with the guilt offering in priestly portion instruction.
Sense skin, hide
Definition skin, hide
References 7:8
Why it matters The hide of the burnt offering belongs to the priest who offers it.
Sense grain offering, tribute offering
Definition grain offering, tribute offering
References 7:9-10, 7:37
Why it matters The grain offering has priestly portion regulations depending on preparation.
Sense pan, griddle
Definition pan, griddle
References 7:9
Why it matters Prepared grain offerings in a pan belong to the priest who offers them.
Sense fellowship offering, peace offering
Definition fellowship offering, peace offering
References 7:11, 7:13-15, 7:18, 7:20-21, 7:29, 7:32-34, 7:37
Why it matters The fellowship offering is central to the chapter's meal, thanksgiving, vow, freewill, and priestly portion regulations.
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Sense thanksgiving, praise
Definition thanksgiving, praise
References 7:12-13, 7:15
Why it matters The thanksgiving fellowship offering expresses gratitude before the Lord and must be eaten the same day.
Sense unleavened bread
Definition unleavened bread
References 7:12
Why it matters Unleavened loaves and wafers accompany the thanksgiving fellowship offering.
Sense to mix
Definition to mix
References 7:12
Why it matters Unleavened loaves are mixed with oil as part of the thanksgiving offering.
Cross-language bridge 1 link · View in lexicon
Pastoral Entry
שֶׁמֶן (shemen) is the Hebrew noun for oil, especially olive oil, and can also contribute ideas of richness or fatness in context. Oil served as food, lamp fuel, an offering ingredient, a trade good, a grooming or perfuming substance, a treatment placed on wounds, and a material used in ritual and royal anointing. The ordinary substance and its specific use must be distinguished; oil is not inherently sacred, medicinal, royal, or symbolic in every occurrence.
Exodus prescribes oil for lamps, offerings, priestly consecration, and a specially compounded holy anointing oil whose common reproduction and use are prohibited. Historical narratives describe Saul, David, and Solomon being anointed with oil for kingship. In 1 Samuel 16, the Spirit comes upon David after Samuel anoints him, but the narrative does not make physical oil a controllable carrier of the Spirit. Other passages concern household scarcity, agriculture, cosmetics, commerce, wounds, excess, or neglect.
Psalm 45's oil of gladness receives a canonical application to the Son in Hebrews 1, and Isaiah 61 gives mourners oil of joy instead of mourning within a restoration oracle. Such imagery should not turn grief into a quick exchange or make contemporary anointing a guarantee of healing, office, power, prosperity, or divine approval. Physical oil may support a practice of prayer where a community's tradition permits it, while consent, allergies, medical care, and the limits of pastoral authority remain essential.
Sense oil
Definition oil
References 7:12
Why it matters Oil accompanies the bread offerings associated with thanksgiving.
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Sense thin wafer, cake
Definition thin wafer, cake
References 7:12
Why it matters Thin unleavened wafers are part of the thanksgiving bread offering.
Sense to mix, stir, soak
Definition to mix, stir, soak
References 7:12
Why it matters Fine flour cakes are mixed with oil as part of the thanksgiving offering.
Sense leavened, yeast-containing
Definition leavened, yeast-containing
References 7:13
Why it matters Leavened bread accompanies the thanksgiving fellowship offering, though leaven is excluded from altar-burning grain offerings in Leviticus 2.
Sense offering, something brought near
Definition offering, something brought near
References 7:13-14, 7:29, 7:38
Why it matters The offering is something brought near to the Lord in ordered sacrificial worship.
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Pastoral Entry
רוּם (rûm) means to be high, rise, or be exalted, and in other stems to lift, raise, present, exalt, or exalt oneself. Moses raises his hand, contributions are lifted or presented, high places stand above the landscape, a voice is raised in proclamation, and people or nations can be elevated in status. The stem, object, and setting decide whether the action is physical, ritual, social, rhetorical, or theological.
Scripture uses rûm both for God's incomparable height and for human pride that forgets or defies God. Isaiah sees the Lord high and exalted, while Isaiah 2 announces a day against human loftiness. Deuteronomy warns a king not to lift his heart above fellow Israelites. Praise can exalt God's name without making God greater than he is, and God can raise people from danger or humiliation without endorsing every ambition for prominence.
Isaiah 52:13 announces that the servant will be raised, lifted up, and highly exalted before the poem describes rejection and suffering. Later canonical interpretation connects the servant's humiliation and vindication to Jesus, but the H7311 verb alone does not establish every detail of that Christological reading. Biblical reversal should comfort people who are brought low and confront pride; it must not be used to keep abused or poor people compliant with promises that suffering automatically produces status.
Sense to lift up, contribute
Definition to lift up, contribute
References 7:14, 7:32, 7:34
Why it matters A contribution portion is lifted or set apart from the fellowship offering for the priest.
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Pastoral Entry
נְדָבָה (nedabah) names a freewill offering, voluntary gift, or willing response. Leviticus distinguishes a freewill sacrifice from a vow offering while regulating both, and Numbers places freewill offerings alongside vows and appointed offerings. Voluntary origin does not mean unregulated worship; the Torah still governs what may be brought and how it is handled.
Psalm 54:6 speaks of sacrificing a freewill offering in thanksgiving, and Ezra 3:5 lists freewill offerings among the restored community's worship. Deuteronomy 16:10 relates a freewill offering to the Feast of Weeks according to the blessing God has given. These settings join willingness with gratitude, covenant worship, and actual capacity rather than with competitive display.
Hosea 14:4 uses the noun's freely sense when God promises to love restored Israel freely, and Psalm 110:3 describes the king's people in willing array or as freewill offerings, depending on translation. Those poetic uses deepen the theme but should not erase textual difficulty or turn every H5071 occurrence into one eschatological offering theory.
Sense vow
Definition vow
References 7:16
Why it matters Some fellowship offerings are brought in connection with vows made to the Lord.
Sense freewill offering
Definition freewill offering
References 7:16
Why it matters A voluntary fellowship offering brought freely to the Lord, still governed by holy eating limits.
Sense to remain, be left over
Definition to remain, be left over
References 7:16-17
Why it matters What remains from fellowship offering meat is regulated by day and must be burned if left beyond the permitted time.
Pastoral Entry
שָׂרַף (saraph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to burn, burn up, consume by fire, or incinerate. Its objects vary widely: bricks are fired, Passover leftovers and sacrificial remains are burned, contaminated cloth is destroyed, an idol is burned and ground, cities and buildings are burned in war, a royal scroll is burned, bones are burned, and bodies are burned in episodes of law, violence, or burial. The verb identifies the burning action but does not make every fire sacrificial, purifying, divine, or morally approved.
Torah assigns particular burning procedures to particular covenant settings and also condemns burning children as an abominable practice. Prophets announce or narrate fires of judgment, while Jeremiah 36 portrays officials refusing to fear when the king cuts and burns the prophetic scroll. Historical conquest accounts contain destruction that belongs to Israel's narrated land and covenant setting. Psalm 46, by contrast, celebrates the ending of wars through the burning of military equipment.
H8313 does not occur in the fire that consumes the offering in Leviticus 9, the deaths in Leviticus 10, the wilderness fire of Numbers 11, or Isaiah's seraphim and altar-coal scene. Those passages use other words or the related noun H8314 and cannot define this verb's direct usage. No ancient burning command authorizes arson, destruction of another religion's property, book burning, cremation shaming, execution, self-harm, or violence against a person today.
Sense to burn
Definition to burn
References 7:17, 7:19
Why it matters Leftover or defiled sacrificial meat must be burned rather than eaten.
Pastoral Entry
אָכַל (akal) is the Hebrew verb for eating — one of the most theologically freighted acts in Scripture, appearing 815 times. The first prohibition in the Bible concerns akal (Gen 2:17: do not eat from that tree). The first sin in the Bible is akal (Gen 3:6: she took and ate). The covenant meals of the OT involve akal before YHWH. The fire that consumes sacrifices is akal. And the eschatological vision of Isaiah 25 is a great meal — akal at the table of YHWH on his holy mountain. In many of Scripture's theologically significant meals, eating is more than biological; it carries relational, moral, or covenantal weight.
Genesis 2:16-17 sets the akal frame for all of human history: 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat (akal tokhal), but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat (lo tokhal).' The permission is vast (every tree, freely); the prohibition is single and specific. Genesis 3:6 then gives the transgression: 'She took of its fruit and ate (vatokhal), and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate (vayokhal).' The entire fall narrative is concentrated in two instances of akal. What was eaten with permission (vayokhal, Gen 2:16) becomes the pattern for the one act of eating done without permission (vatokhal, Gen 3:6).
Deuteronomy 12 develops the theology of sacral akal — eating in the presence of YHWH at the chosen place: 'There you shall eat (akaltem) before YHWH your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households, in which YHWH your God has blessed you' (Deut 12:7). The meal at the sanctuary is the redemptive reversal of the meal in the garden: eating with YHWH in the right place, of the right food, with joy — a re-ordered akal in the presence of the one who set the original akal-boundaries.
Exodus 3:2 uses akal for the fire that consumes without destroying: the bush burned with fire but 'the bush was not consumed' (lo ukal). The same verb governs the fire of holiness that purifies rather than annihilates. The Levitical fire that akal the sacrifice (Lev 9:24, fire from before YHWH came out and consumed/akal the burnt offering) is the holy akal that transforms the offering into acceptable worship.
Isaiah 25:6-8 is the eschatological akal: 'On this mountain YHWH of hosts will make for all peoples a feast (mishteh) of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine.' The akal of the end is the meal that reverses all the wrong eating of history — communion with YHWH at his table, on his mountain, for all peoples.
For the preacher, אָכַל (akal) asks: what are you eating and with whom? Every akal in the OT maps onto the primal distinction between eating in the right place, of the right thing, before YHWH, and eating the forbidden thing apart from YHWH.
Sense to eat
Definition to eat
References 7:6, 7:15-21, 7:23-27
Why it matters Eating is a major concern in the chapter, regulated by offering type, time, cleanness, and prohibitions.
Cross-language bridge 1 link · View in lexicon
Pastoral Entry
רָצָה (rātsāh) means to be pleased with, accept, favor, delight in, or be satisfied. It can describe God's acceptance or rejection of offerings, God's favor toward people, human approval, satisfaction of an obligation, and the land enjoying missed sabbath rests. The verb concerns a favorable response or completed claim in different relational and legal settings; it is not a single technical term for salvation.
Leviticus asks whether offerings will be accepted within a specific sacrificial covenant. Prophets later say God will not accept worship joined to injustice, idolatry, corrupt offerings, or refusal to listen. This does not mean acceptance is earned through flawless performance. The texts expose attempts to use ritual to secure approval while resisting the God and neighbor whom worship should honor. Psalms also portray God favoring the people, receiving willing praise, and taking pleasure in those who fear him and hope in his covenant love.
Isaiah 40:2 uses the verb in announcing that Jerusalem's hard service is completed or satisfied and her iniquity dealt with. Leviticus 26 and 2 Chronicles 36 say the land enjoys or makes up its sabbath rests during desolation. These uses show why pleased does not fit every occurrence. Isaiah 61:2's year of favor uses the related H7522 noun, not H7521, so it may inform a word-family study but must not be presented as a direct occurrence of this verb.
Sense to accept, be pleased with
Definition to accept, be pleased with
References 7:18
Why it matters Improper eating on the third day makes the offering unacceptable.
Sense to reckon, account, count
Definition to reckon, account, count
References 7:18
Why it matters Improperly eaten offering meat will not be credited to the one who offered it.
Sense offensive thing, rejected sacrificial meat
Definition offensive thing, rejected sacrificial meat
References 7:18
Why it matters Meat eaten outside the appointed time becomes offensive and unacceptable.
Pastoral Entry
עָוֺן (ʿāwōn) is a Hebrew noun for iniquity, guilt, or the consequence and punishment attached to wrongdoing. Genesis 4:13 can be translated with Cain saying his punishment is greater than he can bear or his iniquity is too great to bear, illustrating how the word can hold deed, liability, and burden together. Genesis 15:16 speaks of Amorite iniquity not yet being complete, and First Samuel 3:13 names the iniquity of Eli's house in relation to tolerated abuse of priestly power.
Exodus 34:7 places ʿāwōn inside God's self-revelation: the Lord forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin, yet does not simply clear guilt and visits iniquity across generations. Exodus 20:5 qualifies its generational warning in relation to those who hate God, while Jeremiah 31:30 and Ezekiel 18 insist on personal accountability rather than a mechanical transfer of a parent's guilt to an innocent child. Harmful patterns and consequences can cross generations, but these texts do not authorize fatalism, inherited moral blame without personal action, or “generational curse” diagnoses detached from evidence.
Ritual, poetry, and prophecy address how iniquity is borne and forgiven. Leviticus 16:22 says the live goat bears Israel's iniquities to a remote land. Psalm 32:5 joins acknowledged iniquity to God's forgiveness, and Psalm 51:2 asks to be washed from iniquity. Isaiah 53:6 says the Lord causes the iniquity of all to meet upon the servant, and verse 11 says the righteous servant bears the iniquities of many. Micah 7:18 praises God for forgiving iniquity. These passages ground serious teaching about atonement and pardon, but the noun alone does not settle every atonement model or remove the need for repentance, justice, repair, and protection of victims.
Sense iniquity, guilt
Definition iniquity, guilt
References 7:18
Why it matters The one who eats improperly bears guilt.
Sense unclean
Definition unclean
References 7:19-21
Why it matters Uncleanness disqualifies a person from eating holy fellowship offering meat.
Cross-language bridge 2 links · View in lexicon
Sense clean, pure
Definition clean, pure
References 7:19
Why it matters Only the clean may eat the holy meat of the fellowship offering.
Pastoral Entry
כָּרַת (karat) is a Hebrew verb for cutting. Depending on context, it can describe cutting material, cutting something down, removing or destroying, or being cut off. It also appears in the frequent expression כָּרַת בְּרִית (karat berit), literally to cut a covenant. English versions normally render that idiom as making a covenant. The lexeme does not carry covenant meaning in every occurrence, so each passage must govern the sense.
Genesis 15:18 is a central covenant occurrence. After the divided-animal scene, the text says that the Lord cut a covenant with Abram. The unusual ceremony and the verb belong together in this passage, but the lexical evidence alone does not prove that every biblical covenant used the same rite or that animal cutting explains every later instance of the idiom.
Exodus 24:8 uses the same verb when Moses identifies the blood of the covenant that the Lord made with Israel. Jeremiah 31:31 also uses karat when the Lord promises a new covenant with the houses of Israel and Judah. These passages establish a real canonical line from covenant ratification at Sinai to Jeremiah's promised renewal. Later Christian interpretation may connect that line with Jesus' words over the cup, but that connection is a canonical reading rather than part of the verb's dictionary definition.
The verb's cut-off sense is equally important. Genesis 17:14 says that the uncircumcised male will be cut off from his people, and other Torah texts use the same verbal family for exclusion or judgment. Teachers should preserve the severity of those texts while allowing each context to define the agent, means, and consequence rather than turning every Niphal occurrence into one fixed penalty formula.
Sense to cut off
Definition to cut off
References 7:20-21, 7:25, 7:27
Why it matters The severe covenant consequence for eating holy meat while unclean or consuming prohibited fat or blood.
Pastoral Entry
עַם (ʿam) is a high-frequency Hebrew noun for a people, kinspeople, community, nation, congregation, or body of troops. Genesis 11:6 describes Babel's builders as one people with one language, and Genesis 17:14 speaks of a person cut off from kinspeople. The word treats persons collectively but does not define a people by biology alone. Shared ancestry, land, rule, worship, covenant, history, or circumstance can shape the group in a given passage.
Exodus turns people-language into a contested identity. Pharaoh calls Israel a numerous and powerful people in Exodus 1:9 as he prepares oppression. God calls them “my people” in Exodus 3:7, and Exodus 6:7 promises, “I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.” At Sinai, Israel is chosen from among all peoples for covenant vocation. This belonging is gracious and demanding: the golden-calf narrative can immediately describe the people as corrupted, and Torah commands truth, justice, holiness, and care within the community. Election is not proof of ethnic superiority or exemption from judgment.
Poetry and prophecy keep Israel's identity in relation to the peoples. Psalm 67 calls all peoples to praise God, while Psalm 100 names the worshipers God's people and sheep. Hosea 1:9 announces “not my people” as covenant judgment, and Hosea 2:23 promises renewed “my people” language. Isaiah 40:1 speaks comfort to “my people,” and Isaiah 51:16 renews the covenant declaration. Later Jewish and Christian readers receive these texts in complex discussions of Israel and the nations; H5971 alone does not authorize replacement theology, racial nationalism, or the erasure of Israel's historical covenant identity.
Sense people
Definition people
References 7:20-21, 7:25, 7:27, 7:38
Why it matters The offender may be cut off from the people, showing communal covenant consequence.
Cross-language bridge 1 link · View in lexicon
Sense animal, beast
Definition animal, beast
References 7:21, 7:26
Why it matters Animal uncleanness and animal blood are part of the chapter's holiness regulations.
Cross-language bridge 1 link · View in lexicon
Pastoral Entry
תּוֹעֵבָה (toevah) is a Hebrew noun for something regarded as detestable, taboo, abhorrent, or an abomination. Its force is strong, but its evaluator and domain vary. Egyptians regard eating with Hebrews and the occupation of shepherding as taboo; Torah applies the word to prohibited foods, idolatry, defective sacrifice, child sacrifice, sexual acts, false weights, and other practices; wisdom uses it for pride, lies, corrupt verdicts, wicked plans, and prayer separated from instruction; prophets use it across idolatry, exploitation, violence, and covenant breach.
Because one noun spans cultural aversion, ritual boundaries, and serious moral indictment, occurrences are not automatically equal in rationale, duration, audience, penalty, or present application. The word does not by itself tell a reader how a command relates to the church, civil law, medicine, gender, sexuality, dietary practice, or another culture. Those questions require the immediate passage, covenant setting, historical evidence, wider canon, and responsible theological judgment.
Toevah must never become a disgust label for a human being. Scripture's strong evaluation of acts provides no permission for slurs, bullying, outing, family rejection, conversion coercion, discriminatory denial of care or housing, or violence against LGBTQ people or anyone else. It also cannot be selectively narrowed to sexual texts while ignoring child sacrifice, exploitative worship, dishonest commerce, false testimony, pride, and unjust acquittal or condemnation. Pastoral speech should be precise, proportionate, humble about disputed applications, and unwavering about every person's dignity and safety.
Sense detestable thing
Definition detestable thing
References 7:21
Why it matters Contact with detestable or unclean things disqualifies participation in holy eating.
Sense bird
Definition bird
References 7:26
Why it matters The blood prohibition applies to birds as well as animals.
Sense dwelling, settlement
Definition dwelling, settlement
References 7:26
Why it matters The blood prohibition applies in all Israelite dwellings.
Sense wave offering
Definition wave offering
References 7:30, 7:34
Why it matters The breast of the fellowship offering is waved before the Lord and assigned to the priests.
Sense breast
Definition breast
References 7:30-31, 7:34
Why it matters The breast is waved before the Lord and given to Aaron and his sons.
Sense right side, right hand
Definition right side, right hand
References 7:32-33
Why it matters The right thigh is assigned as the priestly contribution from the fellowship offering.
Cross-language bridge 1 link · View in lexicon
Sense thigh, leg
Definition thigh, leg
References 7:32-34
Why it matters The right thigh is contributed to the officiating priest.
Sense anointing portion, allotted portion
Definition anointing portion, allotted portion
References 7:35
Why it matters The priestly portion is connected with the priests' anointing and installation.
Pastoral Entry
מָשַׁח (mashach) means to anoint, smear, or apply oil. In ritual and royal settings, anointing marks a person or object for an assigned office or sacred use. Priests are anointed in Exodus 28, the tabernacle and its furnishings are anointed in Exodus 30 and 40, and kings are anointed in Samuel and Kings. The verb also appears in less exalted acts of smearing, so consecration must be established by context.
First Samuel 16:13 closely joins Samuel's anointing of David with the Spirit of the Lord rushing upon him from that day. That passage supports a strong relationship between David's royal commissioning and divine empowerment. It does not prove that every occurrence of mashach automatically conveys the Spirit, since objects, priests, food offerings, and other persons can also be anointed in different settings.
Isaiah 61:1 presents a speaker who is anointed by the Lord to bring good news, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty. Luke 4 quotes this mission text and applies it to Jesus. This is a direct canonical reuse of Isaiah's anointing language in Greek translation, while Psalm 2:2 and Daniel 9:25 belong directly to the related H4899 noun rather than to H4886.
Sense to anoint
Definition to anoint
References 7:36
Why it matters The priestly portions are assigned from the day Aaron and his sons are anointed.
Cross-language bridge 1 link · View in lexicon
Sense ordination, installation
Definition ordination, installation
References 7:37
Why it matters The ordination offering is included in the concluding list of sacrificial laws.
Pastoral Entry
צָוָה (tsavah) means to command, charge, order, direct, or appoint. God commands the human in Genesis 2:16, directs Noah in Genesis 6:22, speaks through Moses, and charges Joshua. Yet human beings also command: Pharaoh orders violence in Exodus 1:22, Joseph directs household and medical work, rulers issue decrees, and Rechabite ancestors give family instructions. The verb reports an act of direction; it does not by itself prove that the speaker is righteous or that the order should be obeyed.
Torah repeatedly uses H6680 for specific covenant instructions. Deuteronomy forbids adding to or subtracting from what God commands, places the words on the heart, and joins obedience with covenant life. Leviticus 10:1 provides an essential boundary by describing worship the Lord had not commanded. The authority, recipient, content, covenant setting, and canonical context must all be identified before applying a command beyond its passage.
Poetry and prophecy widen the settings without erasing those distinctions. Psalm 33:9 describes creation responding to God's command, Psalm 91:11 speaks of angels charged concerning the protected person, and Jeremiah 7:23 recalls the covenant summons to hear God's voice. Jeremiah 14:14 says false prophets spoke what God had not commanded, while Amos 2:12 indicts people who commanded prophets not to prophesy. Command language can therefore expose both faithful authority and coercive suppression.
Sense to command
Definition to command
References 7:38
Why it matters The offering laws are rooted in the Lord's command to Moses at Sinai.
Sense Sinai
Definition Sinai
References 7:38
Why it matters The sacrificial laws are anchored in the Lord's covenant instruction at Mount Sinai.
Cross-language bridge 2 links · View in lexicon
Lexicon data: MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML (CC0) · Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0) · Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon (CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible Data (CC BY 4.0) · Full details
| v.10 | H1101בָּלַלQal · Participle passiveH1961הָיָהQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.11 | H7126קָרַבHiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.12 | H1101בָּלַלQal · Participle passiveH4886מָשַׁחQal · Participle passiveH7246רָבַךְHophal · Participle passiveH1101בָּלַלQal · Participle passive |
| v.13 | H7126קָרַבHiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.14 | H1961הָיָהQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.15 | H398אָכַלNiphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH3240יָנַחHiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.16 | H398אָכַלNiphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH398אָכַלNiphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.17 | H8313שָׂרַףNiphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.18 | H398אָכַלNiphal · Infinitive absoluteH398אָכַלNiphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH7521רָצָהNiphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH2803חָשַׁבNiphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH1961הָיָהQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH5375נָשָׂאQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.19 | H5060נָגַעQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH398אָכַלNiphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH8313שָׂרַףNiphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH398אָכַלQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.2 | H7819שָׁחַטQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH7819שָׁחַטQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH2236זָרַקQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.20 | H398אָכַלQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.21 | H5060נָגַעQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.23 | H1696דָבַרPiel · Imperative · ImperativeH398אָכַלQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.24 | H6213עָשָׂהNiphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.25 | H398אָכַלQal · ParticipleH7126קָרַבHiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.26 | H398אָכַלQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.27 | H398אָכַלQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.29 | H1696דָבַרPiel · Imperative · ImperativeH935בּוֹאHiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.3 | H7126קָרַבHiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.30 | H935בּוֹאHiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.32 | H5414נָתַןQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.33 | H1961הָיָהQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.34 | H3947לָקַחQal · Perfect · Indicative |
| v.35 | H7126קָרַבHiphil · Perfect · Indicative |
| v.36 | H6680צָוָהPiel · Perfect · Indicative |
| v.38 | H6680צָוָהPiel · Perfect · Indicative |
| v.6 | H398אָכַלNiphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.7 | H3722כָּפַרPiel · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH1961הָיָהQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.8 | H7126קָרַבHiphil · Perfect · IndicativeH1961הָיָהQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
| v.9 | H644אָפָהNiphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussiveH6213עָשָׂהNiphal · Perfect · IndicativeH1961הָיָהQal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive |
Aspect in Hebrew is grammatical form, not tense. Perfect = completed action; Imperfect = incomplete/ongoing. Stem modifies action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive).
Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)
Theological Argument
Leviticus 7 completes the opening offering instructions by showing that sacrifice is not finished when the animal is slain. The offering must be handled, eaten, timed, distributed, and guarded according to holiness. The guilt offering remains most holy. The fellowship offering includes thanksgiving, vows, and freewill worship, yet joyful participation must obey God's limits.
The fat and blood belong to the Lord, and priestly portions are assigned by divine command. The chapter teaches that gratitude, fellowship, restitution, and priestly provision all remain under God's holy rule.
From the most holy guilt offering to priestly portions, from fellowship meal categories to clean participation, from fat and blood prohibitions to the assigned breast and thigh, and finally to the summary of the sacrificial laws.
- 1.The guilt offering is most holy, showing that reparation-related sacrifice belongs fully to the sacred sphere.
- 2.The guilt offering shares priestly handling patterns with the sin offering, especially in blood, fat, and priestly eating.
- 3.Priests receive portions from offerings because God provides for those who serve at the altar.
- 4.Fellowship offerings express thanksgiving, vows, and freewill devotion, showing that peace with God includes grateful participation.
- 5.Holy meals are regulated by time because sacred food must not be treated like ordinary leftovers.
- 6.Eating fellowship meat while unclean profanes holy participation and brings covenant judgment.
- 7.Fat is prohibited because the richest sacrificial portions belong to the LORD.
- 8.Blood is prohibited because life belongs to God and is tied to atonement.
- 9.The worshiper personally brings the LORD's food offering, emphasizing active participation in worship.
- 10.The wave breast and right thigh are assigned portions, showing that priestly provision is not human generosity alone but divine ordinance.
- 11.The concluding summary binds the sacrificial system together as the LORD's commanded instruction at Sinai.
Theological Focus
- Guilt offering
- Most holy offerings
- Priestly portions
- Fellowship offering
- Thanksgiving
- Vows
- Freewill offerings
- Holy eating
- Clean and unclean
- Fat and blood prohibition
- Wave offering
- Priestly provision
- Sacred boundaries
- Sinai instruction
- Sacrifice Requires Holy Completion
- The Guilt Offering Is Most Holy
- Thanksgiving Is Holy Participation
- Fellowship Has Boundaries
- Life and the Best Portions Belong to God
- Priestly Provision Is Divinely Appointed
- Holy Things Must Not Be Treated as Common
- God's Worship Is Ordered by His Word
- Guilt
- Atonement
- Priesthood
- Holiness
- Fellowship With God
- Vows and Freewill Devotion
- Life Belongs to God
- Divine Ownership
- Christ Our Sacrifice
- Christ Our Priest
- New Covenant Communion
Theological Themes
The chapter shows that sacrifice is not merely the moment of slaughter. Handling, eating, timing, burning, distribution, and purity all matter before the Lord.
The offering associated with guilt, reparation, and atonement is treated with the same holy seriousness as the sin offering.
Thanksgiving offerings involve shared eating, but the meal remains governed by the Lord's holiness rather than human convenience.
Peace with God does not mean boundaryless access. Uncleanness, delay, fat, and blood are all regulated.
The fat and blood prohibitions reinforce that the Lord claims the richest portions and life itself.
The priests receive portions from offerings by the Lord's command, not by social preference or optional patronage.
Sacrificial meat, priestly portions, blood, fat, and holy meals must be handled according to sacred status.
The chapter concludes by identifying these laws as commanded by the Lord to Moses at Sinai, grounding all sacrificial practice in revelation.
Covenant Significance
Leviticus 7 closes the opening sacrificial instruction by showing how covenant worship is preserved through holy handling, holy eating, priestly provision, and reverent boundaries. The fellowship offering is joyful, but it is not casual. Priests are sustained, but their portions remain sacred. The people may participate in meals before the Lord, but only according to cleanness and divine command.
- The guilt offering confirms that wrongs requiring reparation are still handled within holy sacrificial worship.
- Priestly portions sustain the Aaronic ministry and teach that the Lord provides for His appointed servants.
- Fellowship offerings allow thanksgiving, vows, and freewill devotion to be expressed before the Lord.
- The timing rules protect sacrificial food from becoming common leftovers.
- Clean participation is required for holy eating within the covenant community.
- Being cut off from the people shows the seriousness of profaning holy participation.
- Fat and blood prohibitions preserve the Lord's claim over the richest portions and life itself.
- The wave offering and contribution establish formal priestly shares from the fellowship offering.
- The final summary links the offering laws to Sinai revelation and the Lord's command through Moses.
- Leviticus 3 gives the initial fellowship offering procedures whose meal and portion regulations are expanded here.
- Leviticus 5-6 introduce and continue the guilt offering, now completed through priestly regulations.
- Leviticus 17 explains the prohibition against blood by teaching that the life of the creature is in the blood and that God has given blood for atonement.
- Numbers 18 expands priestly portions and the Lord's provision for Aaron and his sons.
- Deuteronomy 12 later regulates sacrificial eating, blood prohibition, and worship in the land.
- Psalm 50 critiques sacrifices detached from true thanksgiving and obedience.
- Psalm 116 connects thanksgiving sacrifice, vows, and worship in the courts of the Lord.
Canonical Connections
Leviticus 3 introduced fellowship offering procedures, while Leviticus 7 expands the meal, timing, cleanness, and priestly portion regulations.
Leviticus 5-6 introduced guilt offering and restitution categories, and Leviticus 7 gives priestly procedure and portion rules.
Leviticus 17 explains the blood prohibition more fully by connecting blood with life and atonement.
Deuteronomy later regulates eating, sacrifice, and blood when Israel worships in the land.
Numbers develops the priestly portion system and the Lord's provision for Aaron and his descendants.
The Psalms connect thanksgiving sacrifice, vow fulfillment, and worship in the courts of the Lord.
The New Testament declares that Christ makes peace through His blood and grants access to the Father.
Paul uses sacrificial participation imagery when discussing communion in Christ, while grounding the Lord's Supper in the proclamation of Christ's death.
Hebrews explains that Christ fulfills and surpasses the repeated offering system summarized in Leviticus 7.
Cross References
Canon-Wide Connections
Cross-reference data: OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Leviticus 7 clarifies the gospel by showing that guilt, thanksgiving, fellowship, holy eating, priesthood, blood, and provision all require God's appointed mediation. Christ fulfills the guilt offering by bearing guilt, fulfills priestly mediation by His eternal priesthood, and fulfills fellowship with God by making peace through His blood. Believers now draw near through His finished sacrifice, not through repeated offerings, and they respond with holy thanksgiving and cleansed communion.
- The guilt offering shows that guilt must be dealt with before God.
- The priestly portions show that access and mediation are ordered by God's appointment.
- The fellowship offering shows that peace with God leads to grateful participation.
- Holy eating teaches that communion with God requires cleansing.
- The fat prohibition teaches that the best belongs to the Lord.
- The blood prohibition teaches that life belongs to God and is tied to atonement.
- Christ's blood fulfills the life-for-atonement trajectory of Leviticus.
- Christ's once-for-all offering ends the need for repeated sacrifices.
- New Covenant communion is grounded in Christ's body given and blood poured out, not in the continuation of Old Covenant animal offerings.
- Do not preach fellowship with God apart from sacrifice, cleansing, and mediation.
- Do not treat Old Covenant fellowship meals as interchangeable with the Lord's Supper, though they provide important background categories.
- Do not reduce fat and blood prohibitions to diet or health · preserve their theological meaning.
- Do not turn priestly portions into a crude funding principle detached from holiness and divine appointment.
- Do not imply that thanksgiving replaces atonement. Thanksgiving fellowship rests within the sacrificial system God provides.
- Do not revive Old Covenant sacrificial meals as Christian obligation. Christ fulfills the sacrificial order.
- Do not make holy participation morbidly fearful · in Christ, reverence and assurance belong together.
Primary Emphasis
Leviticus 7 prepares for Christ by completing the sacrificial grammar of guilt, priesthood, holy food, thanksgiving, fellowship, blood, and appointed portions. Christ fulfills the guilt offering by bearing guilt, fulfills priestly mediation by His once-for-all priesthood, fulfills fellowship with God by reconciling His people, and fulfills the blood theology by giving His own life for atonement.
Chapter Contribution
Leviticus 7 completes the opening offering instructions by showing that sacrifice is not finished when the animal is slain. The offering must be handled, eaten, timed, distributed, and guarded according to holiness. The guilt offering remains most holy. The fellowship offering includes thanksgiving, vows, and freewill worship, yet joyful participation must obey God's limits.
The fat and blood belong to the Lord, and priestly portions are assigned by divine command. The chapter teaches that gratitude, fellowship, restitution, and priestly provision all remain under God's holy rule.
Study holiness as divine character, covenant identity, and sanctified life across Scripture.
Study temple presence, worship, corruption, judgment, and renewal across Scripture.
Track judgment as covenant accountability, divine justice, and eschatological reckoning.
Trace servant identity, obedient mission, and suffering service across Scripture.
The guilt offering provides sacrificial mediation for covenant offenses requiring restitution.
Violations of sacred boundaries result in serious covenant consequences.
The fellowship offering expresses restored relationship between God and His people.
Israel's worship and daily life must conform to the commands established by the Lord.
Israel's worship is governed by ordered sacrificial regulations established by the Lord.
God provides for those who serve at the altar through designated portions of the offerings.
Participation in sacred meals requires ceremonial purity and reverence.
Sacrificial portions belong either to the Lord or to the priests and must be handled accordingly.
Certain portions of sacrificial animals belong exclusively to the Lord and must not be treated as ordinary food.
The sacred handling of the offering demonstrates the reverence required in approaching God.
The priesthood serves as the mediating body responsible for administering Israel's sacrificial worship.
God provides for those who serve in the sanctuary through portions of the offerings.
Blood represents life and functions as the means of atonement within the sacrificial system.
Communion with God occurs within the framework of sacrificial worship.
Gratitude toward God is a central expression of covenant devotion.
The guilt offering remains central to the chapter's opening section and is treated as most holy.
The guilt offering, sin offering, and priestly handling of blood reinforce atonement through God's appointed means.
The chapter assigns priestly responsibilities and portions from guilt, burnt, grain, and fellowship offerings.
Offerings, sacrificial meat, priestly portions, and holy participation are regulated by the Lord's holiness.
The fellowship offering displays peace and communion before the Lord through holy sacrificial participation.
Thanksgiving offerings show gratitude expressed through obedient worship.
The chapter regulates offerings connected with vows and voluntary devotion before the Lord.
The blood prohibition teaches that life belongs to the Lord and must not be consumed as common food.
The fat belongs to the Lord, and priestly portions are assigned by His command.
The completed offering system anticipates Christ's once-for-all sacrifice.
The priestly provisions and mediation anticipate Christ's greater and final priesthood.
The chapter's holy meal and fellowship categories provide background for understanding communion with God fulfilled through Christ, while the Lord's Supper remains grounded in Christ's direct institution.
Theological exposition and fulfillment
- Leviticus 7 clarifies the gospel by showing that guilt, thanksgiving, fellowship, holy eating, priesthood, blood, and provision all require God's appointed mediation. Christ fulfills the guilt offering by bearing guilt, fulfills priestly mediation by His eternal priesthood, and fulfills fellowship with God by making peace through His blood. Believers now draw near through His finished sacrifice, not through repeated offerings, and they respond with holy thanksgiving and cleansed communion.
The Lord's holiness governs guilt, priestly provision, thanksgiving, fellowship meals, clean participation, fat, blood, and the whole sacrificial order.
God's people must not turn joyful worship into careless familiarity or treat holy participation as common consumption.
Reverent joy, obedient thanksgiving, cleansed fellowship, and holy stewardship before God.
- Offer thanksgiving to God with obedience, not merely emotion.
- Approach fellowship with God through cleansing and reverence.
- Refuse to treat holy things, worship, ordinances, or ministry resources casually.
- Honor God's claim over the best portions of life.
- Remember that life belongs to God and that Christ's blood secures true access.
- Support ministry with holy integrity and gratitude.
- Practice self-examination and gospel confidence when participating in the Lord's Supper.
- The chapter warns that holy fellowship becomes profaned when holy things are eaten casually, while unclean, outside God's time limits, or in disregard of His claim over fat and blood. Joyful worship without holiness becomes guilt.
- The fellowship offering was just a religious meal. - The fellowship offering was a holy sacrifice and holy meal regulated by blood, fat, priestly portions, cleanness, and time limits.
- Thanksgiving offerings were casual celebrations. - Thanksgiving was joyful but carefully ordered. The meat had to be eaten the same day and handled according to holiness.
- The timing rules are arbitrary food-safety laws only. - The rules may have practical implications, but the text frames them as holy offering regulations concerning acceptability, guilt, and covenant participation.
- The prohibition against fat is merely dietary health advice. - The chapter grounds the prohibition in sacrificial theology. The fat of the offering belongs to the Lord.
- The prohibition against blood is merely cultural taboo. - Leviticus later explains blood in relation to life and atonement. The prohibition protects the Lord's claim over life.
- Priestly portions are merely payment for religious professionals. - Priestly portions are appointed by God from holy offerings and must be handled as sacred provision.
- Being cut off is a minor warning. - Being cut off from the people signals severe covenant consequence for profaning holy things.
- The Lord's Supper is simply a continuation of the fellowship offering. - The Lord's Supper has sacrificial and covenant-meal background, but it is instituted by Christ as New Covenant remembrance and proclamation of His death.
- Do I treat fellowship with God as holy communion or casual familiarity?
- Is my thanksgiving shaped by obedience, or only by emotion?
- Where am I tempted to handle holy things as common things?
- What does the fat prohibition teach me about giving the best to the Lord?
- What does the blood prohibition teach me about life belonging to God?
- Do I approach covenant participation with reverence and cleansing in Christ?
- How does Christ fulfill the fellowship and guilt offering categories?
- How should the church guard the Lord's Supper from both superstition and casualness?
- Teach thanksgiving as holy worship.
- Guard the holiness of fellowship.
- Disciple the church in holy participation.
- Handle the Lord's Supper carefully.
- Teach God's claim over life.
- Treat ministry provision as sacred stewardship.
- Reject delayed obedience disguised as devotion.
The chapter moves the worshiper from mere festive feeling to thanksgiving governed by God's holiness.
The unclean person must not eat holy meat, teaching that fellowship with God requires cleansing.
Sacrificial meat, fat, blood, breast, and thigh all have assigned holy meaning and cannot be treated as common food.
Priestly portions are given by divine command, shaping a theology of provision for ministry.
The holy meal and blood categories prepare the church to understand communion with God through Christ's once-for-all sacrifice.
The concluding summary gathers burnt, grain, sin, guilt, ordination, and fellowship offerings into one ordered system.
C.F. Keil & F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–91) — public domain
The Biblical World
Chapter At A Glance
The Lord completes the sacrificial instruction by regulating the guilt offering, priestly portions, fellowship offering meals, uncleanness boundaries, fat and blood prohibitions, and the assigned portions for Aaron and his sons.
Leviticus 7 closes the opening sacrificial instruction by showing how covenant worship is preserved through holy handling, holy eating, priestly provision, and reverent boundaries. The fellowship offering is joyful, but it is not casual. Priests are sustained, but their portions remain sacred. The people may participate in meals before the Lord, but only according to cleanness and divine command.
Leviticus 7 clarifies the gospel by showing that guilt, thanksgiving, fellowship, holy eating, priesthood, blood, and provision all require God's appointed mediation. Christ fulfills the guilt offering by bearing guilt, fulfills priestly mediation by His eternal priesthood, and fulfills fellowship with God by making peace through His blood. Believers now draw near through His finished sacrifice, not through repeated offerings, and they respond with holy thanksgiving and cleansed communion.
Reverent joy, obedient thanksgiving, cleansed fellowship, and holy stewardship before God.
Focus Points
- Guilt offering
- Most holy offerings
- Priestly portions
- Fellowship offering
- Thanksgiving
- Vows
- Freewill offerings
- Holy eating
- Clean and unclean
- Fat and blood prohibition
- Wave offering
- Priestly provision
- Sacred boundaries
- Sinai instruction
- Sacrifice Requires Holy Completion
- The Guilt Offering Is Most Holy
- Thanksgiving Is Holy Participation
- Fellowship Has Boundaries
- Life and the Best Portions Belong to God
- Priestly Provision Is Divinely Appointed
- Holy Things Must Not Be Treated as Common
- God's Worship Is Ordered by His Word
- Guilt
- Atonement
- Priesthood
- Holiness
- Fellowship With God
- Vows and Freewill Devotion
- Life Belongs to God
- Divine Ownership
- Christ Our Sacrifice
- Christ Our Priest
- New Covenant Communion
Cross References
Passages
Chapter opening: Leviticus 7:1-10
Lev 7:1 The Law of the Trespass-Offering embraces first of all the regulations as to the ceremonial connected with the presentation.
Lev 7:2 The slaughtering and sprinkling of the blood were the same as in the case of the burnt-offering (Lev 1:5); and therefore, no doubt, the signification was the same.
Lev 7:3-7 The fat portions only were to be burned upon the altar, viz. , the same as in the sin and peace-offerings (see Lev 4:8 and Lev 3:9); but the flesh was to be eaten by the priests, as in the sin-offering (Lev 6:22), inasmuch as there was the same law in this respect for both the sin-offering and trespass-offering; and these parts of the sacrificial service must therefore have had the same meaning, every trespass being a sin (see Lev 6:26).
- Certain analogous instructions respecting the burnt-offering and meat-offering are appended in Lev 7:8-10 by way of supplement, as they ought properly to have been given in ch. 6, in the laws relating to the sacrifices in question.
Lev 7:3-7 The fat portions only were to be burned upon the altar, viz. , the same as in the sin and peace-offerings (see Lev 4:8 and Lev 3:9); but the flesh was to be eaten by the priests, as in the sin-offering (Lev 6:22), inasmuch as there was the same law in this respect for both the sin-offering and trespass-offering; and these parts of the sacrificial service must therefore have had the same meaning, every trespass being a sin (see Lev 6:26).
- Certain analogous instructions respecting the burnt-offering and meat-offering are appended in Lev 7:8-10 by way of supplement, as they ought properly to have been given in ch. 6, in the laws relating to the sacrifices in question.
Lev 7:3-7 The fat portions only were to be burned upon the altar, viz. , the same as in the sin and peace-offerings (see Lev 4:8 and Lev 3:9); but the flesh was to be eaten by the priests, as in the sin-offering (Lev 6:22), inasmuch as there was the same law in this respect for both the sin-offering and trespass-offering; and these parts of the sacrificial service must therefore have had the same meaning, every trespass being a sin (see Lev 6:26).
- Certain analogous instructions respecting the burnt-offering and meat-offering are appended in Lev 7:8-10 by way of supplement, as they ought properly to have been given in ch. 6, in the laws relating to the sacrifices in question.
Lev 7:3-7 The fat portions only were to be burned upon the altar, viz. , the same as in the sin and peace-offerings (see Lev 4:8 and Lev 3:9); but the flesh was to be eaten by the priests, as in the sin-offering (Lev 6:22), inasmuch as there was the same law in this respect for both the sin-offering and trespass-offering; and these parts of the sacrificial service must therefore have had the same meaning, every trespass being a sin (see Lev 6:26).
- Certain analogous instructions respecting the burnt-offering and meat-offering are appended in Lev 7:8-10 by way of supplement, as they ought properly to have been given in ch. 6, in the laws relating to the sacrifices in question.
Lev 7:3-7 The fat portions only were to be burned upon the altar, viz. , the same as in the sin and peace-offerings (see Lev 4:8 and Lev 3:9); but the flesh was to be eaten by the priests, as in the sin-offering (Lev 6:22), inasmuch as there was the same law in this respect for both the sin-offering and trespass-offering; and these parts of the sacrificial service must therefore have had the same meaning, every trespass being a sin (see Lev 6:26).
- Certain analogous instructions respecting the burnt-offering and meat-offering are appended in Lev 7:8-10 by way of supplement, as they ought properly to have been given in ch. 6, in the laws relating to the sacrifices in question.
Lev 7:8-10 In the case of the burnt-offering, the skin of the animal was to fall to the lot of the officiating priest, viz. , as payment for his services. הכּהן is construed absolutely: “ as for the priest, who offereth - the skin of the burnt-offering which he offereth shall belong to the priest ” (for “ to him ”). This was probably the case also with the trespass-offerings and sin-offerings of the laity; whereas the skin of the peace-offerings belonged to the owner of the animal (see Mishnah, Sebach.
12, 3). - In Lev 7:9, Lev 7:10, the following law is laid down with reference to the meat-offering, that everything baked in the oven, and everything prepared in a pot or pan, was to belong to the priest, who burned a portion of it upon the altar; and that everything mixed with oil and everything dry was to belong to all the sons of Aaron, i. e. , to all the priests, to one as much as another, so that they were all to receive an equal share.
The reason for this distinction is not very clear. That all the meat-offerings described in ch. 2 should fall to the sons of Aaron (i. e. , to the priests), with the exception of that portion which was burned upon the altar as an azcarah, followed from the fact that they were most holy (see at Lev 2:3). As the meat-offerings, which consisted of pastry, and were offered in the form of prepared food (Lev 7:9), are the same as those described in Lev 2:4-8, it is evident that by those mentioned in Lev 2:10 we are to understand the kinds described in Lev 2:1-3 and Lev 2:14-16, and by the “dry,” primarily the קלוּי אביב, which consisted of dried grains, to which oil was to be added (נתן Lev 2:15), though not poured upon it, as in the case of the offering of flour (Lev 2:1), and probably also in that of the sin-offerings and jealousy-offerings (Lev 5:11, and Num 5:15), which consisted simply of flour (without oil).
The reason therefore why those which consisted of cake and pastry fell to the lot of the officiating priest, and those which consisted of flour mixed with oil, of dry corn, or of simple flour, were divided among all the priests, was probably simply this, that the former were for the most part offered only under special circumstances, and then merely in small quantities, whereas the latter were the ordinary forms in which the meat-offerings were presented, and amounted to more than the officiating priests could possibly consume, or dispose of by themselves.
Lev 7:8-10 In the case of the burnt-offering, the skin of the animal was to fall to the lot of the officiating priest, viz. , as payment for his services. הכּהן is construed absolutely: “ as for the priest, who offereth - the skin of the burnt-offering which he offereth shall belong to the priest ” (for “ to him ”). This was probably the case also with the trespass-offerings and sin-offerings of the laity; whereas the skin of the peace-offerings belonged to the owner of the animal (see Mishnah, Sebach.
12, 3). - In Lev 7:9, Lev 7:10, the following law is laid down with reference to the meat-offering, that everything baked in the oven, and everything prepared in a pot or pan, was to belong to the priest, who burned a portion of it upon the altar; and that everything mixed with oil and everything dry was to belong to all the sons of Aaron, i. e. , to all the priests, to one as much as another, so that they were all to receive an equal share.
The reason for this distinction is not very clear. That all the meat-offerings described in ch. 2 should fall to the sons of Aaron (i. e. , to the priests), with the exception of that portion which was burned upon the altar as an azcarah, followed from the fact that they were most holy (see at Lev 2:3). As the meat-offerings, which consisted of pastry, and were offered in the form of prepared food (Lev 7:9), are the same as those described in Lev 2:4-8, it is evident that by those mentioned in Lev 2:10 we are to understand the kinds described in Lev 2:1-3 and Lev 2:14-16, and by the “dry,” primarily the קלוּי אביב, which consisted of dried grains, to which oil was to be added (נתן Lev 2:15), though not poured upon it, as in the case of the offering of flour (Lev 2:1), and probably also in that of the sin-offerings and jealousy-offerings (Lev 5:11, and Num 5:15), which consisted simply of flour (without oil).
The reason therefore why those which consisted of cake and pastry fell to the lot of the officiating priest, and those which consisted of flour mixed with oil, of dry corn, or of simple flour, were divided among all the priests, was probably simply this, that the former were for the most part offered only under special circumstances, and then merely in small quantities, whereas the latter were the ordinary forms in which the meat-offerings were presented, and amounted to more than the officiating priests could possibly consume, or dispose of by themselves.
Lev 7:8-10 In the case of the burnt-offering, the skin of the animal was to fall to the lot of the officiating priest, viz. , as payment for his services. הכּהן is construed absolutely: “ as for the priest, who offereth - the skin of the burnt-offering which he offereth shall belong to the priest ” (for “ to him ”). This was probably the case also with the trespass-offerings and sin-offerings of the laity; whereas the skin of the peace-offerings belonged to the owner of the animal (see Mishnah, Sebach.
12, 3). - In Lev 7:9, Lev 7:10, the following law is laid down with reference to the meat-offering, that everything baked in the oven, and everything prepared in a pot or pan, was to belong to the priest, who burned a portion of it upon the altar; and that everything mixed with oil and everything dry was to belong to all the sons of Aaron, i. e. , to all the priests, to one as much as another, so that they were all to receive an equal share.
The reason for this distinction is not very clear. That all the meat-offerings described in ch. 2 should fall to the sons of Aaron (i. e. , to the priests), with the exception of that portion which was burned upon the altar as an azcarah, followed from the fact that they were most holy (see at Lev 2:3). As the meat-offerings, which consisted of pastry, and were offered in the form of prepared food (Lev 7:9), are the same as those described in Lev 2:4-8, it is evident that by those mentioned in Lev 2:10 we are to understand the kinds described in Lev 2:1-3 and Lev 2:14-16, and by the “dry,” primarily the קלוּי אביב, which consisted of dried grains, to which oil was to be added (נתן Lev 2:15), though not poured upon it, as in the case of the offering of flour (Lev 2:1), and probably also in that of the sin-offerings and jealousy-offerings (Lev 5:11, and Num 5:15), which consisted simply of flour (without oil).
The reason therefore why those which consisted of cake and pastry fell to the lot of the officiating priest, and those which consisted of flour mixed with oil, of dry corn, or of simple flour, were divided among all the priests, was probably simply this, that the former were for the most part offered only under special circumstances, and then merely in small quantities, whereas the latter were the ordinary forms in which the meat-offerings were presented, and amounted to more than the officiating priests could possibly consume, or dispose of by themselves.
Lev 7:11-12 The Law of the Peace-Offerings, “ which he shall offer to Jehovah ” (the subject is to be supplied from the verb), contains instructions, (1) as to the bloodless accompaniment to these sacrifices (Lev 7:12-14), (2) as to the eating of the flesh of the sacrifices (Lev 7:15-21), with the prohibition against eating fat and blood (Lev 7:22-27), and (3) as to Jehovah’s share of these sacrifices (Lev 7:28-36). - In Lev 7:12 and Lev 7:16 three classes of shelamim are mentioned, which differ according to their occasion and design, viz.
, whether they were brought על־תּודה, upon the ground of praise, i. e. , to praise God for blessings received or desired, or as vow-offerings, or thirdly, as freewill-offerings (Lev 7:16). To (lit. , upon, in addition to) the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Lev 7:12, “sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace-offerings,” Lev 7:13 and Lev 7:15) they were to present “ unleavened cakes kneaded with oil, and flat cakes anointed with oil (see at Lev 2:4), and roasted fine flour (see Lev 6:14) mixed as cakes with oil, ” i.
e. , cakes made of fine flour roasted with oil, and thoroughly kneaded with oil (on the construction, see Ges. §139, 2; Ewald §284 a ). This last kind of cakes kneaded with oil is also called oil-bread-cake (“a cake of oiled bread,” Lev 8:26; Exo 29:23), or “cake unleavened, kneaded with oil” (Exo 29:2), and probably differed from the former simply in the fact that it was more thoroughly saturated with oil, inasmuch as it was not only made of flour that had been mixed with oil in the kneading, but the flour itself was first of all roasted in oil, and then the dough was moistened still further with oil in the process of kneading.
Lev 7:11-12 The Law of the Peace-Offerings, “ which he shall offer to Jehovah ” (the subject is to be supplied from the verb), contains instructions, (1) as to the bloodless accompaniment to these sacrifices (Lev 7:12-14), (2) as to the eating of the flesh of the sacrifices (Lev 7:15-21), with the prohibition against eating fat and blood (Lev 7:22-27), and (3) as to Jehovah’s share of these sacrifices (Lev 7:28-36). - In Lev 7:12 and Lev 7:16 three classes of shelamim are mentioned, which differ according to their occasion and design, viz.
, whether they were brought על־תּודה, upon the ground of praise, i. e. , to praise God for blessings received or desired, or as vow-offerings, or thirdly, as freewill-offerings (Lev 7:16). To (lit. , upon, in addition to) the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Lev 7:12, “sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace-offerings,” Lev 7:13 and Lev 7:15) they were to present “ unleavened cakes kneaded with oil, and flat cakes anointed with oil (see at Lev 2:4), and roasted fine flour (see Lev 6:14) mixed as cakes with oil, ” i.
e. , cakes made of fine flour roasted with oil, and thoroughly kneaded with oil (on the construction, see Ges. §139, 2; Ewald §284 a ). This last kind of cakes kneaded with oil is also called oil-bread-cake (“a cake of oiled bread,” Lev 8:26; Exo 29:23), or “cake unleavened, kneaded with oil” (Exo 29:2), and probably differed from the former simply in the fact that it was more thoroughly saturated with oil, inasmuch as it was not only made of flour that had been mixed with oil in the kneading, but the flour itself was first of all roasted in oil, and then the dough was moistened still further with oil in the process of kneading.
Lev 7:13-14 This sacrificial gift the offerer was to present upon, or along with, cakes of leavened bread (round, leavened bread-cakes), and to offer “ thereof one out of the whole oblation, ” namely, one cake of each of the three kinds mentioned in Lev 7:12, as a heave-offering for Jehovah, which was to fall to the priest who sprinkled the blood of the peace-offering. According to Lev 2:9, an azcarah of the unleavened pastry was burned upon the altar, although this is not specially mentioned here any more than at Lev 7:9 and Lev 7:10; whereas none of the leavened bread-cake was placed upon the altar (Lev 2:12), but it was simply used as bread for the sacrificial meal.
There is nothing here to suggest an allusion to the custom of offering unleavened sacrificial cakes upon a plate of leavened dough, as J. D. Michaelis, Winer, and others suppose.
Lev 7:13-14 This sacrificial gift the offerer was to present upon, or along with, cakes of leavened bread (round, leavened bread-cakes), and to offer “ thereof one out of the whole oblation, ” namely, one cake of each of the three kinds mentioned in Lev 7:12, as a heave-offering for Jehovah, which was to fall to the priest who sprinkled the blood of the peace-offering. According to Lev 2:9, an azcarah of the unleavened pastry was burned upon the altar, although this is not specially mentioned here any more than at Lev 7:9 and Lev 7:10; whereas none of the leavened bread-cake was placed upon the altar (Lev 2:12), but it was simply used as bread for the sacrificial meal.
There is nothing here to suggest an allusion to the custom of offering unleavened sacrificial cakes upon a plate of leavened dough, as J. D. Michaelis, Winer, and others suppose.
Lev 7:15-18 The flesh of the praise-offering was to be eaten on the day of presentation, and none of it was to be left till the next morning (cf. Lev 22:29-30); but that of the vow and freewill-offerings might be eaten on both the first and second days. Whatever remained after that was to be burnt on the third day, i. e. , to be destroyed by burning. If any was eaten on the third day, it was not well-pleasing (ירצה “good pleasure,” see Lev 1:4), and was “ not reckoned to the offerer, ” sc.
, as a sacrifice well-pleasing to God; it was “ an abomination . ” פּגּוּל, an abomination, is only applied to the flesh of the sacrifices (Lev 19:7; Eze 4:14; Isa 65:4), and signifies properly a stench; - compare the talmudic word פּגּל faetidum reddere . Whoever ate thereof would bear his sin (see Lev 5:1). “ The soul that eateth ” is not to be restricted, as Knobel supposes, to the other participators in the sacrificial meal, but applies to the offerer also, in fact to every one who partook of such flesh.
The burning on the third day was commanded, not to compel the offerer to invite the poor to share in the meal ( Theodoret , Clericus , etc.) , but to guard against the danger of a desecration of the meal. The sacrificial flesh was holy (Exo 29:34); and in Lev 19:8, where this command is repeated, eating it on the third day is called a profanation of that which was holy to Jehovah, and ordered to be punished with extermination.
It became a desecration of what was holy, through the fact that in warm countries, if flesh is not most carefully preserved by artificial means, it begins to putrefy, or becomes offensive (פּגּוּל) on the third day. But to eat flesh that was putrid or stinking, would be like eating unclean carrion, or the נבלה with which putrid flesh is associated in Eze 4:14.
It was for this reason that burning was commanded, as Philo ( de vict. p. 842) and Maimonides ( More Neboch iii. 46) admit; though the former also associates with this the purpose mentioned above, which we decidedly reject (cf. Outram l. c. p. 185 seq. , and Bähr, ii. pp. 375-6).
Lev 7:15-18 The flesh of the praise-offering was to be eaten on the day of presentation, and none of it was to be left till the next morning (cf. Lev 22:29-30); but that of the vow and freewill-offerings might be eaten on both the first and second days. Whatever remained after that was to be burnt on the third day, i. e. , to be destroyed by burning. If any was eaten on the third day, it was not well-pleasing (ירצה “good pleasure,” see Lev 1:4), and was “ not reckoned to the offerer, ” sc.
, as a sacrifice well-pleasing to God; it was “ an abomination . ” פּגּוּל, an abomination, is only applied to the flesh of the sacrifices (Lev 19:7; Eze 4:14; Isa 65:4), and signifies properly a stench; - compare the talmudic word פּגּל faetidum reddere . Whoever ate thereof would bear his sin (see Lev 5:1). “ The soul that eateth ” is not to be restricted, as Knobel supposes, to the other participators in the sacrificial meal, but applies to the offerer also, in fact to every one who partook of such flesh.
The burning on the third day was commanded, not to compel the offerer to invite the poor to share in the meal ( Theodoret , Clericus , etc.) , but to guard against the danger of a desecration of the meal. The sacrificial flesh was holy (Exo 29:34); and in Lev 19:8, where this command is repeated, eating it on the third day is called a profanation of that which was holy to Jehovah, and ordered to be punished with extermination.
It became a desecration of what was holy, through the fact that in warm countries, if flesh is not most carefully preserved by artificial means, it begins to putrefy, or becomes offensive (פּגּוּל) on the third day. But to eat flesh that was putrid or stinking, would be like eating unclean carrion, or the נבלה with which putrid flesh is associated in Eze 4:14.
It was for this reason that burning was commanded, as Philo ( de vict. p. 842) and Maimonides ( More Neboch iii. 46) admit; though the former also associates with this the purpose mentioned above, which we decidedly reject (cf. Outram l. c. p. 185 seq. , and Bähr, ii. pp. 375-6).
Lev 7:15-18 The flesh of the praise-offering was to be eaten on the day of presentation, and none of it was to be left till the next morning (cf. Lev 22:29-30); but that of the vow and freewill-offerings might be eaten on both the first and second days. Whatever remained after that was to be burnt on the third day, i. e. , to be destroyed by burning. If any was eaten on the third day, it was not well-pleasing (ירצה “good pleasure,” see Lev 1:4), and was “ not reckoned to the offerer, ” sc.
, as a sacrifice well-pleasing to God; it was “ an abomination . ” פּגּוּל, an abomination, is only applied to the flesh of the sacrifices (Lev 19:7; Eze 4:14; Isa 65:4), and signifies properly a stench; - compare the talmudic word פּגּל faetidum reddere . Whoever ate thereof would bear his sin (see Lev 5:1). “ The soul that eateth ” is not to be restricted, as Knobel supposes, to the other participators in the sacrificial meal, but applies to the offerer also, in fact to every one who partook of such flesh.
The burning on the third day was commanded, not to compel the offerer to invite the poor to share in the meal ( Theodoret , Clericus , etc.) , but to guard against the danger of a desecration of the meal. The sacrificial flesh was holy (Exo 29:34); and in Lev 19:8, where this command is repeated, eating it on the third day is called a profanation of that which was holy to Jehovah, and ordered to be punished with extermination.
It became a desecration of what was holy, through the fact that in warm countries, if flesh is not most carefully preserved by artificial means, it begins to putrefy, or becomes offensive (פּגּוּל) on the third day. But to eat flesh that was putrid or stinking, would be like eating unclean carrion, or the נבלה with which putrid flesh is associated in Eze 4:14.
It was for this reason that burning was commanded, as Philo ( de vict. p. 842) and Maimonides ( More Neboch iii. 46) admit; though the former also associates with this the purpose mentioned above, which we decidedly reject (cf. Outram l. c. p. 185 seq. , and Bähr, ii. pp. 375-6).
Lev 7:15-18 The flesh of the praise-offering was to be eaten on the day of presentation, and none of it was to be left till the next morning (cf. Lev 22:29-30); but that of the vow and freewill-offerings might be eaten on both the first and second days. Whatever remained after that was to be burnt on the third day, i. e. , to be destroyed by burning. If any was eaten on the third day, it was not well-pleasing (ירצה “good pleasure,” see Lev 1:4), and was “ not reckoned to the offerer, ” sc.
, as a sacrifice well-pleasing to God; it was “ an abomination . ” פּגּוּל, an abomination, is only applied to the flesh of the sacrifices (Lev 19:7; Eze 4:14; Isa 65:4), and signifies properly a stench; - compare the talmudic word פּגּל faetidum reddere . Whoever ate thereof would bear his sin (see Lev 5:1). “ The soul that eateth ” is not to be restricted, as Knobel supposes, to the other participators in the sacrificial meal, but applies to the offerer also, in fact to every one who partook of such flesh.
The burning on the third day was commanded, not to compel the offerer to invite the poor to share in the meal ( Theodoret , Clericus , etc.) , but to guard against the danger of a desecration of the meal. The sacrificial flesh was holy (Exo 29:34); and in Lev 19:8, where this command is repeated, eating it on the third day is called a profanation of that which was holy to Jehovah, and ordered to be punished with extermination.
It became a desecration of what was holy, through the fact that in warm countries, if flesh is not most carefully preserved by artificial means, it begins to putrefy, or becomes offensive (פּגּוּל) on the third day. But to eat flesh that was putrid or stinking, would be like eating unclean carrion, or the נבלה with which putrid flesh is associated in Eze 4:14.
It was for this reason that burning was commanded, as Philo ( de vict. p. 842) and Maimonides ( More Neboch iii. 46) admit; though the former also associates with this the purpose mentioned above, which we decidedly reject (cf. Outram l. c. p. 185 seq. , and Bähr, ii. pp. 375-6).
Lev 7:19-21 In the same way all sacrificial flesh that had come into contact with what was unclean, and been defiled in consequence, was to be burned and not eaten. Lev 7:19, which is not found in the Septuagint and Vulgate, reads thus: “ and as for the flesh, every clean person shall eat flesh, ” i.e., take part in the sacrificial meal.
Lev 7:19-21 In the same way all sacrificial flesh that had come into contact with what was unclean, and been defiled in consequence, was to be burned and not eaten. Lev 7:19, which is not found in the Septuagint and Vulgate, reads thus: “ and as for the flesh, every clean person shall eat flesh, ” i.e., take part in the sacrificial meal.
Lev 7:19-21 In the same way all sacrificial flesh that had come into contact with what was unclean, and been defiled in consequence, was to be burned and not eaten. Lev 7:19, which is not found in the Septuagint and Vulgate, reads thus: “ and as for the flesh, every clean person shall eat flesh, ” i.e., take part in the sacrificial meal.
Lev 7:22-23 On the other hand, “ the soul which eats flesh of the peace-offering, and his uncleanness is upon him (for “whilst uncleanness is upon him;” the suffix is to be understood as referring to נפשׁ construed as a masculine, see Lev 2:1), “ shall be cut off ” (see Gen 17:14). This was to be done, whether the uncleanness arose from contact with an unclean object (any unclean thing), or from the uncleanness of man (cf.
ch. 12-15), or from an unclean beast (see at Lev 11:4-8), or from any other unclean abomination. שׁקץ, abomination, includes the unclean fishes, birds, and smaller animals, to which this expression is applied in Lev 11:10-42 (cf. Eze 8:10 and Isa 66:17). Moreover contact with animals that were pronounced unclean so far as eating was concerned, did not produce uncleanness so long as they were alive, or if they had been put to death by man; but contact with animals that had died a natural death, whether they belonged to the edible animals or not, that is to say, with carrion (see at Lev 11:8).
There is appended to these regulations, as being substantially connected with them, the prohibition of fat and blood as articles of food (Lev 7:22-27). By “ the fat of ox, or of sheep, or of goat, ” i. e. , the three kinds of animals used in sacrifice, or “ the fat of the beast of which men offer a firing to Jehovah ” (Lev 7:25), we are to understand only those portions of fat which are mentioned in Lev 3:3-4, Lev 3:9; not fat which grows in with the flesh, nor the fat portions of other animals, which were clean but not allowed as sacrifices, such as the stag, the antelope, and other kinds of game.
Lev 7:22-23 On the other hand, “ the soul which eats flesh of the peace-offering, and his uncleanness is upon him (for “whilst uncleanness is upon him;” the suffix is to be understood as referring to נפשׁ construed as a masculine, see Lev 2:1), “ shall be cut off ” (see Gen 17:14). This was to be done, whether the uncleanness arose from contact with an unclean object (any unclean thing), or from the uncleanness of man (cf.
ch. 12-15), or from an unclean beast (see at Lev 11:4-8), or from any other unclean abomination. שׁקץ, abomination, includes the unclean fishes, birds, and smaller animals, to which this expression is applied in Lev 11:10-42 (cf. Eze 8:10 and Isa 66:17). Moreover contact with animals that were pronounced unclean so far as eating was concerned, did not produce uncleanness so long as they were alive, or if they had been put to death by man; but contact with animals that had died a natural death, whether they belonged to the edible animals or not, that is to say, with carrion (see at Lev 11:8).
There is appended to these regulations, as being substantially connected with them, the prohibition of fat and blood as articles of food (Lev 7:22-27). By “ the fat of ox, or of sheep, or of goat, ” i. e. , the three kinds of animals used in sacrifice, or “ the fat of the beast of which men offer a firing to Jehovah ” (Lev 7:25), we are to understand only those portions of fat which are mentioned in Lev 3:3-4, Lev 3:9; not fat which grows in with the flesh, nor the fat portions of other animals, which were clean but not allowed as sacrifices, such as the stag, the antelope, and other kinds of game.
Lev 7:24-27 The fat of cattle that had fallen (נבלה), or been torn to pieces (viz. , by beasts of prey), was not to be eaten, because it was unclean and defiled the eater (Lev 17:15; Lev 22:8); but it might be applied “ to all kinds of uses, ” i. e. , to the common purposes of ordinary life. Knobel observes on this, that “in the case of oxen, sheep, and goats slain in the regular way, this was evidently not allowable.
But the law does not say what was to be done with the fat of these animals. ” Certainly it does not disertis verbis; but indirectly it does so clearly enough. According to Lev 17:3. , during the journey through the desert any one who wanted to slaughter an ox, sheep, or goat was to bring the animal to the tabernacle as a sacrificial gift, that the blood might be sprinkled against the altar, and the fat burned upon it.
By this regulation every ordinary slaughtering was raised into a sacrifice, and the law determined what was to be done with the fat. Now if afterwards, when the people dwelt in Canaan, cattle were allowed to be slaughtered in any place, and the only prohibition repeated was that against eating blood (Deu 12:15-16, Deu 12:21.) , whilst the law against eating fat was not renewed; it follows as a matter of course, that when the custom of slaughtering at the tabernacle was restricted to actual sacrifices, the prohibition against eating the fat portions came to an end, so far as those animals were concerned with were slain for consumption and not as sacrifices.
The reason for prohibiting fat from being eaten was simply this, that so long as every slaughtering was a sacrifice, the fat portions, which were to be handed over to Jehovah and burned upon the altar, were not to be devoted to earthly purposes, because they were gifts sanctified to God. The eating of the fat, therefore, was neither prohibited on sanitary or social grounds, viz.
, because fat was injurious to health, as Maimonides and other Rabbins maintain, nor for the purpose of promoting the cultivation of olives, as Michaelis supposes, nor to prevent its being put into the unclean mouth of man, as Knobel imagines; but as being an illegal appropriation of what was sanctified to God, a wicked invasion of the rights of Jehovah, which was to be punished with extermination according to the analogy of Num 15:30-31. The prohibition of blood in Lev 7:26, Lev 7:27, extends to birds and cattle; fishes not being mentioned, because the little blood which they possess is not generally eaten.
This prohibition Israel was to observe in all its dwelling-places (Exo 12:20, cf. Lev 17:10), not only so long as all the slaughterings had the character of sacrifices, but for all ages, because the blood was regarded as the soul of the animal, which God had sanctified as the medium of atonement for the soul of man (Lev 17:11), whereby the blood acquired a much higher degree of holiness than the fat.
Lev 7:24-27 The fat of cattle that had fallen (נבלה), or been torn to pieces (viz. , by beasts of prey), was not to be eaten, because it was unclean and defiled the eater (Lev 17:15; Lev 22:8); but it might be applied “ to all kinds of uses, ” i. e. , to the common purposes of ordinary life. Knobel observes on this, that “in the case of oxen, sheep, and goats slain in the regular way, this was evidently not allowable.
But the law does not say what was to be done with the fat of these animals. ” Certainly it does not disertis verbis; but indirectly it does so clearly enough. According to Lev 17:3. , during the journey through the desert any one who wanted to slaughter an ox, sheep, or goat was to bring the animal to the tabernacle as a sacrificial gift, that the blood might be sprinkled against the altar, and the fat burned upon it.
By this regulation every ordinary slaughtering was raised into a sacrifice, and the law determined what was to be done with the fat. Now if afterwards, when the people dwelt in Canaan, cattle were allowed to be slaughtered in any place, and the only prohibition repeated was that against eating blood (Deu 12:15-16, Deu 12:21.) , whilst the law against eating fat was not renewed; it follows as a matter of course, that when the custom of slaughtering at the tabernacle was restricted to actual sacrifices, the prohibition against eating the fat portions came to an end, so far as those animals were concerned with were slain for consumption and not as sacrifices.
The reason for prohibiting fat from being eaten was simply this, that so long as every slaughtering was a sacrifice, the fat portions, which were to be handed over to Jehovah and burned upon the altar, were not to be devoted to earthly purposes, because they were gifts sanctified to God. The eating of the fat, therefore, was neither prohibited on sanitary or social grounds, viz.
, because fat was injurious to health, as Maimonides and other Rabbins maintain, nor for the purpose of promoting the cultivation of olives, as Michaelis supposes, nor to prevent its being put into the unclean mouth of man, as Knobel imagines; but as being an illegal appropriation of what was sanctified to God, a wicked invasion of the rights of Jehovah, which was to be punished with extermination according to the analogy of Num 15:30-31. The prohibition of blood in Lev 7:26, Lev 7:27, extends to birds and cattle; fishes not being mentioned, because the little blood which they possess is not generally eaten.
This prohibition Israel was to observe in all its dwelling-places (Exo 12:20, cf. Lev 17:10), not only so long as all the slaughterings had the character of sacrifices, but for all ages, because the blood was regarded as the soul of the animal, which God had sanctified as the medium of atonement for the soul of man (Lev 17:11), whereby the blood acquired a much higher degree of holiness than the fat.
Lev 7:24-27 The fat of cattle that had fallen (נבלה), or been torn to pieces (viz. , by beasts of prey), was not to be eaten, because it was unclean and defiled the eater (Lev 17:15; Lev 22:8); but it might be applied “ to all kinds of uses, ” i. e. , to the common purposes of ordinary life. Knobel observes on this, that “in the case of oxen, sheep, and goats slain in the regular way, this was evidently not allowable.
But the law does not say what was to be done with the fat of these animals. ” Certainly it does not disertis verbis; but indirectly it does so clearly enough. According to Lev 17:3. , during the journey through the desert any one who wanted to slaughter an ox, sheep, or goat was to bring the animal to the tabernacle as a sacrificial gift, that the blood might be sprinkled against the altar, and the fat burned upon it.
By this regulation every ordinary slaughtering was raised into a sacrifice, and the law determined what was to be done with the fat. Now if afterwards, when the people dwelt in Canaan, cattle were allowed to be slaughtered in any place, and the only prohibition repeated was that against eating blood (Deu 12:15-16, Deu 12:21.) , whilst the law against eating fat was not renewed; it follows as a matter of course, that when the custom of slaughtering at the tabernacle was restricted to actual sacrifices, the prohibition against eating the fat portions came to an end, so far as those animals were concerned with were slain for consumption and not as sacrifices.
The reason for prohibiting fat from being eaten was simply this, that so long as every slaughtering was a sacrifice, the fat portions, which were to be handed over to Jehovah and burned upon the altar, were not to be devoted to earthly purposes, because they were gifts sanctified to God. The eating of the fat, therefore, was neither prohibited on sanitary or social grounds, viz.
, because fat was injurious to health, as Maimonides and other Rabbins maintain, nor for the purpose of promoting the cultivation of olives, as Michaelis supposes, nor to prevent its being put into the unclean mouth of man, as Knobel imagines; but as being an illegal appropriation of what was sanctified to God, a wicked invasion of the rights of Jehovah, which was to be punished with extermination according to the analogy of Num 15:30-31. The prohibition of blood in Lev 7:26, Lev 7:27, extends to birds and cattle; fishes not being mentioned, because the little blood which they possess is not generally eaten.
This prohibition Israel was to observe in all its dwelling-places (Exo 12:20, cf. Lev 17:10), not only so long as all the slaughterings had the character of sacrifices, but for all ages, because the blood was regarded as the soul of the animal, which God had sanctified as the medium of atonement for the soul of man (Lev 17:11), whereby the blood acquired a much higher degree of holiness than the fat.
Lev 7:24-27 The fat of cattle that had fallen (נבלה), or been torn to pieces (viz. , by beasts of prey), was not to be eaten, because it was unclean and defiled the eater (Lev 17:15; Lev 22:8); but it might be applied “ to all kinds of uses, ” i. e. , to the common purposes of ordinary life. Knobel observes on this, that “in the case of oxen, sheep, and goats slain in the regular way, this was evidently not allowable.
But the law does not say what was to be done with the fat of these animals. ” Certainly it does not disertis verbis; but indirectly it does so clearly enough. According to Lev 17:3. , during the journey through the desert any one who wanted to slaughter an ox, sheep, or goat was to bring the animal to the tabernacle as a sacrificial gift, that the blood might be sprinkled against the altar, and the fat burned upon it.
By this regulation every ordinary slaughtering was raised into a sacrifice, and the law determined what was to be done with the fat. Now if afterwards, when the people dwelt in Canaan, cattle were allowed to be slaughtered in any place, and the only prohibition repeated was that against eating blood (Deu 12:15-16, Deu 12:21.) , whilst the law against eating fat was not renewed; it follows as a matter of course, that when the custom of slaughtering at the tabernacle was restricted to actual sacrifices, the prohibition against eating the fat portions came to an end, so far as those animals were concerned with were slain for consumption and not as sacrifices.
The reason for prohibiting fat from being eaten was simply this, that so long as every slaughtering was a sacrifice, the fat portions, which were to be handed over to Jehovah and burned upon the altar, were not to be devoted to earthly purposes, because they were gifts sanctified to God. The eating of the fat, therefore, was neither prohibited on sanitary or social grounds, viz.
, because fat was injurious to health, as Maimonides and other Rabbins maintain, nor for the purpose of promoting the cultivation of olives, as Michaelis supposes, nor to prevent its being put into the unclean mouth of man, as Knobel imagines; but as being an illegal appropriation of what was sanctified to God, a wicked invasion of the rights of Jehovah, which was to be punished with extermination according to the analogy of Num 15:30-31. The prohibition of blood in Lev 7:26, Lev 7:27, extends to birds and cattle; fishes not being mentioned, because the little blood which they possess is not generally eaten.
This prohibition Israel was to observe in all its dwelling-places (Exo 12:20, cf. Lev 17:10), not only so long as all the slaughterings had the character of sacrifices, but for all ages, because the blood was regarded as the soul of the animal, which God had sanctified as the medium of atonement for the soul of man (Lev 17:11), whereby the blood acquired a much higher degree of holiness than the fat.
Lev 7:28-29 Jehovah’s share of the peace-offerings . - Lev 7:29. The offerer of the sacrifice was to bring his gift ( corban ) to Jehovah, i.e., to bring to the altar the portion which belonged to Jehovah.
Lev 7:28-29 Jehovah’s share of the peace-offerings . - Lev 7:29. The offerer of the sacrifice was to bring his gift ( corban ) to Jehovah, i.e., to bring to the altar the portion which belonged to Jehovah.
Lev 7:30-33 His hands were to bring the firings of Jehovah, i. e. , the portions to be burned upon the altar (Lev 1:9), viz. , “ the fat (the fat portions, Lev 3:3-4) with the breast, ” - the former to be burned upon the altar, the latter “ to wave as a wave-offering before Jehovah . ” חזה, τὸ στηθύνιον (lxx), i. e. , according to Pollux , τῶν στηθῶν τὸ μέσον, pectusculum or pectus ( Vulg .
cf. Lev 9:20-21; Lev 10:15), signifies the breast, the breast-piece of the sacrificial animals, the brisket, which consists for the most part of cartilaginous fat in the case of oxen, sheep, and goats, and is one of the most savoury parts; so that at the family festivities of the ancients, according to Athen. Deipnos . ii. 70, ix. 10, στηθύνια παχέων ἀρνίων were dainty bits.
The breast-piece was presented to the Lord as a wave-offering ( tenuphah ), and transferred by Him to Aaron and his sons (the priests). תּנוּפה, from נוּף, הניף, to swing, to move to and fro (see Exo 35:22), is the name applied to a ceremony peculiar to the peace-offerings and the consecration-offerings: the priest laid the object to be waved upon the hands of the offerer, and then placed his own hands underneath, and moved the hands of the offerer backwards and forwards in a horizontal direction, to indicate by the movement forwards, i.
e. , in the direction towards the altar, the presentation of the sacrifice, or the symbolical transference of it to God, and by the movement backwards, the reception of it back again, as a present which God handed over to His servants the priests. In the peace-offerings the waving was performed with the breast-piece, which was called the “ wave-breast ” in consequence (Lev 7:34; Lev 10:14-15; Num 6:20; Num 18:18; Exo 29:27).
At the consecration of the priests it was performed with the fat portions, the right leg, and with some cakes, as well as with the breast of the fill-offering (Lev 8:25-29; Exo 29:22-26). The ceremony of waving was also carried out with the sheaf of first-fruits at the feast of Passover; with the loaves of the first-fruits, and thank-offering lambs, at the feast of Pentecost (Lev 23:11, Lev 23:20); with the shoulder and meat-offering of the Nazarite (Num 6:20); with the trespass-offering of the leper (Lev 14:12, Lev 14:24); with the jealousy-offering (Num 5:25); and lastly with the Levites, at their consecration (Num 8:11.)
In the case of all these sacrifices, the object waved, after it had been offered symbolically to the Lord by means of the waving, became the property of the priests. But of the lambs, which were waved at the feast of Pentecost before they were slaughtered, and of the lamb which was brought as a trespass-offering by the leper, the blood and fat were given up to the altar-fire; of the jealousy-offering, only an azcarah ; and of the fill-offering, for special reasons, the fat portions and leg, as well as the cakes.
Even the Levites were given by Jehovah to the priests to be their own (Num 8:19). The waving, therefore, had nothing in common with the porricere of the Romans, as the portions of the sacrifices which were called porriciae were precisely those which were not only given up to the gods, but burned upon the altars. In addition to the wave-breast, which the Lord gave up to His servants as their share of the peace-offerings, the officiating priest was also to receive for his portion the right leg as a terumah , or heave-offering, or lifting off.
שׁוק is the thigh in the case of a man (Isa 47:2; Sol 5:15), and therefore in the case of an animal it is not the fore-leg, or shoulder (βραχηίων, armus ), which is called זרע, or the arm (Num 6:19; Deu 18:3), but the hind-leg, or rather the upper part of it or ham, which is mentioned in 1Sa 9:24 as a peculiarly choice portion ( Knobel ). As a portion lifted off from the sacrificial gifts, it is often called “the heave-leg ” (v.
34; Lev 10:14-15; Num 6:20; Exo 29:27), because it was lifted or heaved off from the sacrificial animal, as a gift of honour for the officiating priest, but without being waved like the breast-piece-though the more general phrase, “to wave a wave-offering before Jehovah” (Lev 10:15), includes the offering of the heave-leg (see my Archaeologie i. pp. 244-5).
Lev 7:30-33 His hands were to bring the firings of Jehovah, i. e. , the portions to be burned upon the altar (Lev 1:9), viz. , “ the fat (the fat portions, Lev 3:3-4) with the breast, ” - the former to be burned upon the altar, the latter “ to wave as a wave-offering before Jehovah . ” חזה, τὸ στηθύνιον (lxx), i. e. , according to Pollux , τῶν στηθῶν τὸ μέσον, pectusculum or pectus ( Vulg .
cf. Lev 9:20-21; Lev 10:15), signifies the breast, the breast-piece of the sacrificial animals, the brisket, which consists for the most part of cartilaginous fat in the case of oxen, sheep, and goats, and is one of the most savoury parts; so that at the family festivities of the ancients, according to Athen. Deipnos . ii. 70, ix. 10, στηθύνια παχέων ἀρνίων were dainty bits.
The breast-piece was presented to the Lord as a wave-offering ( tenuphah ), and transferred by Him to Aaron and his sons (the priests). תּנוּפה, from נוּף, הניף, to swing, to move to and fro (see Exo 35:22), is the name applied to a ceremony peculiar to the peace-offerings and the consecration-offerings: the priest laid the object to be waved upon the hands of the offerer, and then placed his own hands underneath, and moved the hands of the offerer backwards and forwards in a horizontal direction, to indicate by the movement forwards, i.
e. , in the direction towards the altar, the presentation of the sacrifice, or the symbolical transference of it to God, and by the movement backwards, the reception of it back again, as a present which God handed over to His servants the priests. In the peace-offerings the waving was performed with the breast-piece, which was called the “ wave-breast ” in consequence (Lev 7:34; Lev 10:14-15; Num 6:20; Num 18:18; Exo 29:27).
At the consecration of the priests it was performed with the fat portions, the right leg, and with some cakes, as well as with the breast of the fill-offering (Lev 8:25-29; Exo 29:22-26). The ceremony of waving was also carried out with the sheaf of first-fruits at the feast of Passover; with the loaves of the first-fruits, and thank-offering lambs, at the feast of Pentecost (Lev 23:11, Lev 23:20); with the shoulder and meat-offering of the Nazarite (Num 6:20); with the trespass-offering of the leper (Lev 14:12, Lev 14:24); with the jealousy-offering (Num 5:25); and lastly with the Levites, at their consecration (Num 8:11.)
In the case of all these sacrifices, the object waved, after it had been offered symbolically to the Lord by means of the waving, became the property of the priests. But of the lambs, which were waved at the feast of Pentecost before they were slaughtered, and of the lamb which was brought as a trespass-offering by the leper, the blood and fat were given up to the altar-fire; of the jealousy-offering, only an azcarah ; and of the fill-offering, for special reasons, the fat portions and leg, as well as the cakes.
Even the Levites were given by Jehovah to the priests to be their own (Num 8:19). The waving, therefore, had nothing in common with the porricere of the Romans, as the portions of the sacrifices which were called porriciae were precisely those which were not only given up to the gods, but burned upon the altars. In addition to the wave-breast, which the Lord gave up to His servants as their share of the peace-offerings, the officiating priest was also to receive for his portion the right leg as a terumah , or heave-offering, or lifting off.
שׁוק is the thigh in the case of a man (Isa 47:2; Sol 5:15), and therefore in the case of an animal it is not the fore-leg, or shoulder (βραχηίων, armus ), which is called זרע, or the arm (Num 6:19; Deu 18:3), but the hind-leg, or rather the upper part of it or ham, which is mentioned in 1Sa 9:24 as a peculiarly choice portion ( Knobel ). As a portion lifted off from the sacrificial gifts, it is often called “the heave-leg ” (v.
34; Lev 10:14-15; Num 6:20; Exo 29:27), because it was lifted or heaved off from the sacrificial animal, as a gift of honour for the officiating priest, but without being waved like the breast-piece-though the more general phrase, “to wave a wave-offering before Jehovah” (Lev 10:15), includes the offering of the heave-leg (see my Archaeologie i. pp. 244-5).
Lev 7:30-33 His hands were to bring the firings of Jehovah, i. e. , the portions to be burned upon the altar (Lev 1:9), viz. , “ the fat (the fat portions, Lev 3:3-4) with the breast, ” - the former to be burned upon the altar, the latter “ to wave as a wave-offering before Jehovah . ” חזה, τὸ στηθύνιον (lxx), i. e. , according to Pollux , τῶν στηθῶν τὸ μέσον, pectusculum or pectus ( Vulg .
cf. Lev 9:20-21; Lev 10:15), signifies the breast, the breast-piece of the sacrificial animals, the brisket, which consists for the most part of cartilaginous fat in the case of oxen, sheep, and goats, and is one of the most savoury parts; so that at the family festivities of the ancients, according to Athen. Deipnos . ii. 70, ix. 10, στηθύνια παχέων ἀρνίων were dainty bits.
The breast-piece was presented to the Lord as a wave-offering ( tenuphah ), and transferred by Him to Aaron and his sons (the priests). תּנוּפה, from נוּף, הניף, to swing, to move to and fro (see Exo 35:22), is the name applied to a ceremony peculiar to the peace-offerings and the consecration-offerings: the priest laid the object to be waved upon the hands of the offerer, and then placed his own hands underneath, and moved the hands of the offerer backwards and forwards in a horizontal direction, to indicate by the movement forwards, i.
e. , in the direction towards the altar, the presentation of the sacrifice, or the symbolical transference of it to God, and by the movement backwards, the reception of it back again, as a present which God handed over to His servants the priests. In the peace-offerings the waving was performed with the breast-piece, which was called the “ wave-breast ” in consequence (Lev 7:34; Lev 10:14-15; Num 6:20; Num 18:18; Exo 29:27).
At the consecration of the priests it was performed with the fat portions, the right leg, and with some cakes, as well as with the breast of the fill-offering (Lev 8:25-29; Exo 29:22-26). The ceremony of waving was also carried out with the sheaf of first-fruits at the feast of Passover; with the loaves of the first-fruits, and thank-offering lambs, at the feast of Pentecost (Lev 23:11, Lev 23:20); with the shoulder and meat-offering of the Nazarite (Num 6:20); with the trespass-offering of the leper (Lev 14:12, Lev 14:24); with the jealousy-offering (Num 5:25); and lastly with the Levites, at their consecration (Num 8:11.)
In the case of all these sacrifices, the object waved, after it had been offered symbolically to the Lord by means of the waving, became the property of the priests. But of the lambs, which were waved at the feast of Pentecost before they were slaughtered, and of the lamb which was brought as a trespass-offering by the leper, the blood and fat were given up to the altar-fire; of the jealousy-offering, only an azcarah ; and of the fill-offering, for special reasons, the fat portions and leg, as well as the cakes.
Even the Levites were given by Jehovah to the priests to be their own (Num 8:19). The waving, therefore, had nothing in common with the porricere of the Romans, as the portions of the sacrifices which were called porriciae were precisely those which were not only given up to the gods, but burned upon the altars. In addition to the wave-breast, which the Lord gave up to His servants as their share of the peace-offerings, the officiating priest was also to receive for his portion the right leg as a terumah , or heave-offering, or lifting off.
שׁוק is the thigh in the case of a man (Isa 47:2; Sol 5:15), and therefore in the case of an animal it is not the fore-leg, or shoulder (βραχηίων, armus ), which is called זרע, or the arm (Num 6:19; Deu 18:3), but the hind-leg, or rather the upper part of it or ham, which is mentioned in 1Sa 9:24 as a peculiarly choice portion ( Knobel ). As a portion lifted off from the sacrificial gifts, it is often called “the heave-leg ” (v.
34; Lev 10:14-15; Num 6:20; Exo 29:27), because it was lifted or heaved off from the sacrificial animal, as a gift of honour for the officiating priest, but without being waved like the breast-piece-though the more general phrase, “to wave a wave-offering before Jehovah” (Lev 10:15), includes the offering of the heave-leg (see my Archaeologie i. pp. 244-5).
Lev 7:30-33 His hands were to bring the firings of Jehovah, i. e. , the portions to be burned upon the altar (Lev 1:9), viz. , “ the fat (the fat portions, Lev 3:3-4) with the breast, ” - the former to be burned upon the altar, the latter “ to wave as a wave-offering before Jehovah . ” חזה, τὸ στηθύνιον (lxx), i. e. , according to Pollux , τῶν στηθῶν τὸ μέσον, pectusculum or pectus ( Vulg .
cf. Lev 9:20-21; Lev 10:15), signifies the breast, the breast-piece of the sacrificial animals, the brisket, which consists for the most part of cartilaginous fat in the case of oxen, sheep, and goats, and is one of the most savoury parts; so that at the family festivities of the ancients, according to Athen. Deipnos . ii. 70, ix. 10, στηθύνια παχέων ἀρνίων were dainty bits.
The breast-piece was presented to the Lord as a wave-offering ( tenuphah ), and transferred by Him to Aaron and his sons (the priests). תּנוּפה, from נוּף, הניף, to swing, to move to and fro (see Exo 35:22), is the name applied to a ceremony peculiar to the peace-offerings and the consecration-offerings: the priest laid the object to be waved upon the hands of the offerer, and then placed his own hands underneath, and moved the hands of the offerer backwards and forwards in a horizontal direction, to indicate by the movement forwards, i.
e. , in the direction towards the altar, the presentation of the sacrifice, or the symbolical transference of it to God, and by the movement backwards, the reception of it back again, as a present which God handed over to His servants the priests. In the peace-offerings the waving was performed with the breast-piece, which was called the “ wave-breast ” in consequence (Lev 7:34; Lev 10:14-15; Num 6:20; Num 18:18; Exo 29:27).
At the consecration of the priests it was performed with the fat portions, the right leg, and with some cakes, as well as with the breast of the fill-offering (Lev 8:25-29; Exo 29:22-26). The ceremony of waving was also carried out with the sheaf of first-fruits at the feast of Passover; with the loaves of the first-fruits, and thank-offering lambs, at the feast of Pentecost (Lev 23:11, Lev 23:20); with the shoulder and meat-offering of the Nazarite (Num 6:20); with the trespass-offering of the leper (Lev 14:12, Lev 14:24); with the jealousy-offering (Num 5:25); and lastly with the Levites, at their consecration (Num 8:11.)
In the case of all these sacrifices, the object waved, after it had been offered symbolically to the Lord by means of the waving, became the property of the priests. But of the lambs, which were waved at the feast of Pentecost before they were slaughtered, and of the lamb which was brought as a trespass-offering by the leper, the blood and fat were given up to the altar-fire; of the jealousy-offering, only an azcarah ; and of the fill-offering, for special reasons, the fat portions and leg, as well as the cakes.
Even the Levites were given by Jehovah to the priests to be their own (Num 8:19). The waving, therefore, had nothing in common with the porricere of the Romans, as the portions of the sacrifices which were called porriciae were precisely those which were not only given up to the gods, but burned upon the altars. In addition to the wave-breast, which the Lord gave up to His servants as their share of the peace-offerings, the officiating priest was also to receive for his portion the right leg as a terumah , or heave-offering, or lifting off.
שׁוק is the thigh in the case of a man (Isa 47:2; Sol 5:15), and therefore in the case of an animal it is not the fore-leg, or shoulder (βραχηίων, armus ), which is called זרע, or the arm (Num 6:19; Deu 18:3), but the hind-leg, or rather the upper part of it or ham, which is mentioned in 1Sa 9:24 as a peculiarly choice portion ( Knobel ). As a portion lifted off from the sacrificial gifts, it is often called “the heave-leg ” (v.
34; Lev 10:14-15; Num 6:20; Exo 29:27), because it was lifted or heaved off from the sacrificial animal, as a gift of honour for the officiating priest, but without being waved like the breast-piece-though the more general phrase, “to wave a wave-offering before Jehovah” (Lev 10:15), includes the offering of the heave-leg (see my Archaeologie i. pp. 244-5).
Lev 7:34-36 The wave-breast and heave-leg Jehovah had taken of the children of Israel, from off the sacrifices of their peace-offerings: i. e. , had imposed it upon them as tribute, and had given them to Aaron and his sons, i. e. , to the priests, “as a statute for ever,” - in other words, as a right which they could claim of the Israelites for all ages (cf.
Exo 27:21). - With Lev 7:35, Lev 7:36, the instructions concerning the peace-offerings are brought to a close. “ This (the wave-breast and heave-leg) is the share of Aaron and his sons from the firings of Jehovah in the day (i. e. , which Jehovah assigned to them in the day) when He caused them to draw near to become priests to Jehovah, ” i. e. , according to the explanation in Lev 7:36, “ in the day of their anointing.
” The word משׁחה in Lev 7:35, like משׁחה in Num 18:8, signifies not “ anointing ,” but share, portio , literally a measuring off, as in Aramaean and Arabic, from משׁח to stroke the hand over anything, to measure, or measure off. The fulness with which every point in the sacrificial meal is laid down, helps to confirm the significance of the peace-offerings, as already implied in the name זבח sacrificial slaughtering, slain-offering, viz.
, as indicating that they were intended for, and culminated in a liturgical meal. By placing his hand upon the head of the animal, which had been brought to the altar of Jehovah for the purpose, the offerer signified that with this gift, which served to nourish and strengthen his own life, he gave up the substance of his life to the Lord, that he might thereby be strengthened both body and soul for a holy walk and conversation.
To this end he slaughtered the victim and had the blood sprinkled by the priest against the altar, and the fat portions burned upon it, that in these altar-gifts his soul and his inner man might be grounded afresh in the gracious fellowship of the Lord. He then handed over the breast-piece by the process of waving, also the right leg, and a sacrificial cake of each kind, as a heave-offering from the whole to the Lord, who transferred these portions to the priests as His servants, that they might take part as His representatives in the sacrificial meal.
In consequence of this participation of the priests, the feast, which the offerer of the sacrifice prepared for himself and his family from the rest of the flesh, became a holy covenant meal, a meal of love and joy, which represented domestic fellowship with the Lord, and thus shadowed forth, on the one hand, rejoicing before the Lord (Deu 12:12, Deu 12:18), and on the other, the blessedness of eating and drinking in the kingdom of God (Luk 13:15; Luk 22:30). Through the fact that one portion was given up to the Lord, the earthly food was sanctified as a symbol of the true spiritual food, with which the Lord satisfies and refreshes the citizens of His kingdom.
This religious aspect of the sacrificial meal will explain the instructions given, viz. , that not only the flesh itself, but those who took part in the meal, were all to be clean, and that whatever remained of the flesh was to be burned, on the second or third day respectively, that it might not pass into a state of decomposition. The burning took place a day earlier in the case of the praise-offering than in that of the vow and freewill-offerings, of which the offerer was allowed a longer enjoyment, because they were the products of his own spontaneity, which covered any defect that might attach to the gift itself.
Lev 7:34-36 The wave-breast and heave-leg Jehovah had taken of the children of Israel, from off the sacrifices of their peace-offerings: i. e. , had imposed it upon them as tribute, and had given them to Aaron and his sons, i. e. , to the priests, “as a statute for ever,” - in other words, as a right which they could claim of the Israelites for all ages (cf.
Exo 27:21). - With Lev 7:35, Lev 7:36, the instructions concerning the peace-offerings are brought to a close. “ This (the wave-breast and heave-leg) is the share of Aaron and his sons from the firings of Jehovah in the day (i. e. , which Jehovah assigned to them in the day) when He caused them to draw near to become priests to Jehovah, ” i. e. , according to the explanation in Lev 7:36, “ in the day of their anointing.
” The word משׁחה in Lev 7:35, like משׁחה in Num 18:8, signifies not “ anointing ,” but share, portio , literally a measuring off, as in Aramaean and Arabic, from משׁח to stroke the hand over anything, to measure, or measure off. The fulness with which every point in the sacrificial meal is laid down, helps to confirm the significance of the peace-offerings, as already implied in the name זבח sacrificial slaughtering, slain-offering, viz.
, as indicating that they were intended for, and culminated in a liturgical meal. By placing his hand upon the head of the animal, which had been brought to the altar of Jehovah for the purpose, the offerer signified that with this gift, which served to nourish and strengthen his own life, he gave up the substance of his life to the Lord, that he might thereby be strengthened both body and soul for a holy walk and conversation.
To this end he slaughtered the victim and had the blood sprinkled by the priest against the altar, and the fat portions burned upon it, that in these altar-gifts his soul and his inner man might be grounded afresh in the gracious fellowship of the Lord. He then handed over the breast-piece by the process of waving, also the right leg, and a sacrificial cake of each kind, as a heave-offering from the whole to the Lord, who transferred these portions to the priests as His servants, that they might take part as His representatives in the sacrificial meal.
In consequence of this participation of the priests, the feast, which the offerer of the sacrifice prepared for himself and his family from the rest of the flesh, became a holy covenant meal, a meal of love and joy, which represented domestic fellowship with the Lord, and thus shadowed forth, on the one hand, rejoicing before the Lord (Deu 12:12, Deu 12:18), and on the other, the blessedness of eating and drinking in the kingdom of God (Luk 13:15; Luk 22:30). Through the fact that one portion was given up to the Lord, the earthly food was sanctified as a symbol of the true spiritual food, with which the Lord satisfies and refreshes the citizens of His kingdom.
This religious aspect of the sacrificial meal will explain the instructions given, viz. , that not only the flesh itself, but those who took part in the meal, were all to be clean, and that whatever remained of the flesh was to be burned, on the second or third day respectively, that it might not pass into a state of decomposition. The burning took place a day earlier in the case of the praise-offering than in that of the vow and freewill-offerings, of which the offerer was allowed a longer enjoyment, because they were the products of his own spontaneity, which covered any defect that might attach to the gift itself.
Lev 7:34-36 The wave-breast and heave-leg Jehovah had taken of the children of Israel, from off the sacrifices of their peace-offerings: i. e. , had imposed it upon them as tribute, and had given them to Aaron and his sons, i. e. , to the priests, “as a statute for ever,” - in other words, as a right which they could claim of the Israelites for all ages (cf.
Exo 27:21). - With Lev 7:35, Lev 7:36, the instructions concerning the peace-offerings are brought to a close. “ This (the wave-breast and heave-leg) is the share of Aaron and his sons from the firings of Jehovah in the day (i. e. , which Jehovah assigned to them in the day) when He caused them to draw near to become priests to Jehovah, ” i. e. , according to the explanation in Lev 7:36, “ in the day of their anointing.
” The word משׁחה in Lev 7:35, like משׁחה in Num 18:8, signifies not “ anointing ,” but share, portio , literally a measuring off, as in Aramaean and Arabic, from משׁח to stroke the hand over anything, to measure, or measure off. The fulness with which every point in the sacrificial meal is laid down, helps to confirm the significance of the peace-offerings, as already implied in the name זבח sacrificial slaughtering, slain-offering, viz.
, as indicating that they were intended for, and culminated in a liturgical meal. By placing his hand upon the head of the animal, which had been brought to the altar of Jehovah for the purpose, the offerer signified that with this gift, which served to nourish and strengthen his own life, he gave up the substance of his life to the Lord, that he might thereby be strengthened both body and soul for a holy walk and conversation.
To this end he slaughtered the victim and had the blood sprinkled by the priest against the altar, and the fat portions burned upon it, that in these altar-gifts his soul and his inner man might be grounded afresh in the gracious fellowship of the Lord. He then handed over the breast-piece by the process of waving, also the right leg, and a sacrificial cake of each kind, as a heave-offering from the whole to the Lord, who transferred these portions to the priests as His servants, that they might take part as His representatives in the sacrificial meal.
In consequence of this participation of the priests, the feast, which the offerer of the sacrifice prepared for himself and his family from the rest of the flesh, became a holy covenant meal, a meal of love and joy, which represented domestic fellowship with the Lord, and thus shadowed forth, on the one hand, rejoicing before the Lord (Deu 12:12, Deu 12:18), and on the other, the blessedness of eating and drinking in the kingdom of God (Luk 13:15; Luk 22:30). Through the fact that one portion was given up to the Lord, the earthly food was sanctified as a symbol of the true spiritual food, with which the Lord satisfies and refreshes the citizens of His kingdom.
This religious aspect of the sacrificial meal will explain the instructions given, viz. , that not only the flesh itself, but those who took part in the meal, were all to be clean, and that whatever remained of the flesh was to be burned, on the second or third day respectively, that it might not pass into a state of decomposition. The burning took place a day earlier in the case of the praise-offering than in that of the vow and freewill-offerings, of which the offerer was allowed a longer enjoyment, because they were the products of his own spontaneity, which covered any defect that might attach to the gift itself.
Lev 7:37-38 With Lev 7:37 and Lev 7:38 the whole of the sacrificial law (ch. 1-7) is brought to a close. Among the sacrifices appointed, the fill-offering (המּלּוּאים) is also mentioned here; though it is not first instituted in these chapters, but in Exo 29:19-20 (Exo 29:22, Exo 29:26, Exo 29:27, Exo 29:31). The name may be explained from the phrase to “ fill the hand ,” which is not used in the sense of installing a man, or giving him authority, like בּיד נתן “commit into his hand” in Isa 22:21 ( Knobel ), but was applied primarily to the ceremony of consecrating the priests, as described in Lev 8:25.
, and was restricted to the idea of investiture with the priesthood (cf. Lev 8:33; Lev 16:32; Exo 28:41; Exo 29:9, Exo 29:29, Exo 29:33, Exo 29:35; Num 3:3; Jdg 17:5, Jdg 17:12). This gave rise to the expression “to fill the hand for Jehovah,” i. e. , to provide something to offer to Jehovah (1Ch 29:5; 2Ch 29:31, cf. Exo 32:29). Hence מלּוּאים denotes the filling of the hand with sacrificial gifts to be offered to Jehovah, and as used primarily of the particular sacrifice through which the priests were symbolically invested at their consecration with the gifts they were to offer, and were empowered, by virtue of this investiture, to officiate at the sacrifices; and secondly , in a less restricted sense, of priestly consecration generally (Lev 8:33, “the days of your consecration”).
The allusion to the place in Lev 7:38, viz. , “ in the wilderness of Sinai, ” points on the one hand back to Exo 19:1, and on the other hand forward to Num 26:63-64, and Num 36:13, “ in the plains of Moab ” (cf. Num 1:1, Num 1:19, etc.) The sacrificial law, therefore, with the five species of sacrifices which it enjoins, embraces every aspect in which Israel was to manifest its true relation to the Lord its God.
Whilst the sanctification of the whole man in self-surrender to the Lord was shadowed forth in the burnt-offerings, the fruits of this sanctification in the meat-offerings, and the blessedness of the possession and enjoyment of saving grace in the peace-offerings, the expiatory sacrifices furnished the means of removing the barrier which sins and trespasses had set up between the sinner and the holy God, and procured the forgiveness of sin and guilt, so that the sinner could attain once more to the unrestricted enjoyment of the covenant grace. For, provided only that the people of God drew near to their God with sacrificial gifts, in obedience to His commandments and in firm reliance upon His word, which had connected the forgiveness of sin, strength for sanctification, and the peace of fellowship with Him, with these manifestations of their piety, the offerers would receive in truth the blessings promised them by the Lord.
Nevertheless these sacrifices could not make those who drew near to God with them and in them “perfect as pertaining to the conscience” (Heb 9:9; Heb 10:1), because the blood of bulls and of goats could not possibly take away sin (Heb 10:4). The forgiveness of sin which the atoning sacrifices procured, was only a πάρεσις of past sins through the forbearance of God (Rom 3:25-26), in anticipation of the true sacrifice of Christ, of which the animal sacrifices were only a type, and by which the justice of God is satisfied, and the way opened fore the full forgiveness of sin and complete reconciliation with God.
So also the sanctification and fellowship set forth by the burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, were simply a sanctification of the fellowship already established by the covenant of the law between Israel and its covenant God, which pointed forward to the true sanctification and blessedness that grow out of the righteousness of faith, and expand through the operation of the Holy Spirit into the true righteousness and blessedness of the divine peace of reconciliation. The effect of the sacrifices was in harmony with the nature of the old covenant.
The fellowship with God, established by this covenant, was simply a faint copy of that true and living fellowship with God, which consists in God’s dwelling in our hearts through His Spirit, transforming our spirit, soul, and body more and more into His own image and His divine nature, and making us partakers of the glory and blessedness of His divine life. However intimately the infinite and holy God connected Himself with His people in the earthly sanctuary of the tabernacle and the altar of burnt-offering, yet so long as this sanctuary stood, the God who was enthroned in the most holy place was separated by the veil from His people, who could only appear before Him in the fore-court, as a proof that the sin which separates unholy man from the holy God had not yet been taken out of the way.
Just as the old covenant generally was not intended to secure redemption from sin, but the law was designed to produce the knowledge of sin; so the desire for reconciliation with God was not to be truly satisfied by its sacrificial ordinances, but a desire was to be awakened for that true sacrifice which cleanses from all sins, and the way to be prepared for the appearing of the Son of God, who would exalt the shadows of the Mosaic sacrifices into a substantial reality by giving up His own life as a propitiation for the sins of the whole world, and thus through the one offering of His own holy body would perfect all the manifold sacrifices of the Old Testament economy. Induction of Aaron and His Sons into the Priestly Office - Leviticus 8-10 To the law of sacrifice there is appended first of all an account of the fulfilment of the divine command to sanctify Aaron and his sons as priests, which Moses had received upon the mount along with the laws concerning the erection of the sanctuary of the tabernacle (Ex 28 and 29).
This command could not properly be carried out till after the appointment and regulation of the institution of sacrifice, because most of the laws of sacrifice had some bearing upon this act. The sanctification of the persons, whom God had called to be His priests, consisted in a solemn consecration of these persons to their office by investiture, anointing, and sacrifice (ch.
8), - their solemn entrance upon their office by sacrifices for themselves and the people (ch. 9), - the sanctification of their priesthood by the judgment of God upon the eldest sons of Aaron, when about to offer strange, fire-and certain instructions, occasioned by this occurrence, concerning the conduct of the priests in the performance of their service (ch.
10). Consecration of the Priests and the Sanctuary (cf. Ex 29:1-37). - The consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests was carried out by Moses according to the instructions in Ex 29:1-36; Exo 40:12-15; and the anointing of the tabernacle, with the altar and its furniture, as prescribed in Exo 29:37; Exo 30:26-29, and Exo 40:9-11, was connected with it (Lev 8:10, Lev 8:11).