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Leviticus7:28–38

The Priests’ Portion

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Leviticus 7:28–38 — The Priests’ Portion. Each verse below carries the full apparatus: the Berean Standard Bible, the vocalized original (tap any word), and a parsed breakdown of every term transcribed from the interlinear. Synthesized commentary, canonical threads, and the reading of Christ gather at the end, over the whole unit.

28“Then the LORD said to Moses,”+

28Then the LORD said to Moses,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

Yah·weh way·ḏab·bêr ’el- mō·šeh lê·mōr

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-spoke Yahweh unto Moses, saying.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר BSB's plain said flattens the Piel way·ḏab·bêr (H1696), the intensive form built on a root reaching back to to arrange, to set in order — this is not casual speech but ordered, authoritative legislation being set in place.
  • לֵּאמֹֽר The closing lê·mōr (H559), an infinitive construct literally to say, is dropped entirely in BSB's comma. It is the formal colon of Hebrew dictation — "saying:" — that opens quoted divine speech.
  • יְהוָ֖ה BSB reads the LORD, the conventional surrogate for the unspoken Tetragrammaton Yah·weh (H3068); the personal covenant name, not a generic title, stands first in the Hebrew clause.
Word by word5 · parsed+
יְהוָ֖הYah·wehThen the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
Yah·weh (H3068) — the covenant name leads the verse; it is the LORD Himself, not an angel or Moses, who opens this fresh body of law on the priests' portion.
וַיְדַבֵּ֥רway·ḏab·bêrsaidH1696
√ dâbar — perhaps properly, to arrangeConjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
way·ḏab·bêr (H1696), Piel consecutive imperfect — the recurring formula that, as Ellicott notes, "indicates a fresh communication"; the waw-consecutive ties this revelation to the sacrificial laws just given.
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
מֹשֶׁ֥הmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
Moses (H4872) is the sole human recipient; the chain of mediation (LORD → Moses → Israel) is established before any content is spoken.
לֵּאמֹֽר׃lê·mōr. . .H559
√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)Preposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
lê·mōr (H559) — the speech-introducing infinitive; here a function word that simply opens the quotation that fills the following verses.
The Voices✦ public domain+
With this formula, which, as we have seen, indicates a fresh communication made by the Lord to the lawgiver, additional precepts are introduced, regulating God’s portion of the peace offering.
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.
K&D's note is anchored at v.28 but anticipates v.29; the section heading is theirs.
The equal dignity of the peace offerings with the other offerings is vindicated by the command that the offerer shall bring it with his own hands , whereas it might have been regarded as merely the constituent part of a feast, and so sent by the hand of a servant.
29““Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘Anyone who presents a peace o…”+

29“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘Anyone who presents a peace offering to the LORD must bring it as his sacrifice to the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

dab·bêr ’el- bə·nê yiś·rā·’êl lê·mōr ham·maq·rîḇ ’eṯ- ze·ḇaḥ šə·lā·māw Yah·weh yā·ḇî ’eṯ- qā·rə·bā·nōw miz·ze·ḇaḥ šə·lā·māw Yah·weh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

Speak unto sons-of Israel, saying: He-who-brings-near the-sacrifice-of his-peace-offerings to-Yahweh shall-bring his-offering to-Yahweh from-the-sacrifice-of his-peace-offerings.

Where the English smooths the original

  • הַמַּקְרִ֞יב BSB's Anyone who presents smooths the Hiphil participle ham·maq·rîḇ (H7126), the causative of qârab, to bring near / to cause to approach. The verb is cultic technical language: not merely "present" but "cause to draw near" to the altar — the same root that names the offering itself (qorbān).
  • שְׁלָמָיו֙ Peace offering renders šə·lā·māw (H8002), plural of shelem, rooted in shalamrequital, recompense, that which makes whole. "Peace" captures the fellowship but loses the note of settled, completed account that the root carries.
  • זֶ֤בַח The repeated ze·ḇaḥ (H2077), a slaughter / slain thing, is folded silently into "sacrifice"; the Hebrew keeps the blunt fact of killing at the center of the rite, naming the act, not only its purpose.
Word by word16 · parsed+
דַּבֵּ֛רdab·bêrSpeakH1696
√ dâbar — perhaps properly, to arrangeVerbPielImperativemasculine singular
dab·bêr (H1696), Piel imperative — Moses is commanded to relay; the law now widens from priest to all Israel, every lay offerer.
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
בְּנֵ֥יbə·nêthe IsraelitesH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
bə·nê (H1121), construct "sons of" — the address is to the whole covenant community, not the priesthood alone; Henry stresses the peace-offering "is not for the priests only... but for the common people also."
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לyiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
לֵאמֹ֑רlê·mōr[and] sayH559
√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)Preposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
הַמַּקְרִ֞יבham·maq·rîḇAnyone who presentsH7126
√ qârab — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purposeArticleVerbHifilParticiplemasculine singular
ham·maq·rîḇ (H7126) — the offerer is the active subject who "causes to draw near"; the grammar makes him, not a servant, the one who approaches God.
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
זֶ֤בַחze·ḇaḥvvvH2077
√ zebach — properly, a slaughter, iNounmasculine singular construct
שְׁלָמָיו֙šə·lā·māwa peace offeringH8002
√ shelem — properly, requital, iNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine singular
šə·lā·māw (H8002) — the plural form of the peace/fellowship offering; Cambridge limits the offerer's required portion here to "those portions of the peace offering which the offerer devoted to the Lord and to the officiating priest."
לַיהוָ֔הYah·wehto the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular
יָבִ֧יאyā·ḇîmust bringH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbHifilImperfectthird person masculine singular
yā·ḇî (H935), Hiphil imperfect — "he must cause to come"; the obligation rests on the worshipper to deliver God's share personally.
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
קָרְבָּנ֛וֹqā·rə·bā·nōw[it]H7133
√ qorbân — something brought near the altar, iNounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine singular
מִזֶּ֥בַחmiz·ze·ḇaḥas his sacrificeH2077
√ zebach — properly, a slaughter, iPreposition-mNounmasculine singular construct
שְׁלָמָֽיו׃šə·lā·māw. . .H8002
√ shelem — properly, requital, iNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine singular
לַיהוָ֖הYah·wehto the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
In order to show that the sacrifice was voluntary, the offerer was required to bring it with his own hands to the priest.
His oblation unto the Lord — That is, to the tabernacle, where the Lord was present in a special manner
He shows, that though part of such offerings might be eaten in any clean place, Leviticus 10:14 , yet not till they had been killed, and part of them offered to the Lord in the place appointed by him for that purpose.
30“With his own hands he is to bring the food offerings to the LORD…”+

30With his own hands he is to bring the food offerings to the LORD; he shall bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

yā·ḏāw tə·ḇî·’e·nāh ’êṯ ’iš·šê Yah·weh ’eṯ- yə·ḇî·’en·nū ’êṯ ha·ḥê·leḇ ‘al- he·ḥā·zeh lə·hā·nîp̄ he·ḥā·zeh ’ō·ṯōw tə·nū·p̄āh lip̄·nê Yah·weh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

His-own-hands shall-bring the-fire-offerings-of Yahweh; the-fat upon the-breast he-shall-bring it, to-wave the-breast as-a-wave-offering before Yahweh.

Where the English smooths the original

  • יָדָ֣יו BSB's With his own hands is faithful but understates the emphasis: yā·ḏāw (H3027) stands first in the Hebrew sentence, fronted for stress. The offerer's own hands — not a deputy's — open the verse; Ellicott: "it was not to be deputed to any one else."
  • אִשֵּׁ֣י Food offerings renders ’iš·šê (H801), from a root meaning fire — literally fire-offerings, things made over to God by burning. The English "food" interprets the destiny (God's portion) but mutes the fire that consumes it.
  • תְּנוּפָ֖ה Wave offering for tə·nū·p̄āh (H8573), from nûp to swing, brandish, move to and fro. K&D: the priest "moved the hands of the offerer backwards and forwards" — presentation toward the altar, reception back. The single English noun hides a two-directional gesture of giving-and-receiving.
  • לְהָנִ֥יף The cognate verb lə·hā·nîp̄ (H5130, to wave) is reduced to "and wave"; Hebrew pairs verb and noun (hānîp̄ tᵉnûp̄āh) in a figura etymologica that the English cannot reproduce — "to wave a waving."
Word by word17 · parsed+
יָדָ֣יוyā·ḏāwWith his own handsH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcNounfeminine dual constructthird person masculine singular
yā·ḏāw (H3027), feminine dual — the offerer's two hands; Geneva's marginal gloss: "And should not send it by another." Personal agency is the point.
תְּבִיאֶ֔ינָהtə·ḇî·’e·nāhhe is to bringH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbHifilImperfectthird person feminine plural
אֵ֖ת’êṯH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
אִשֵּׁ֣י’iš·šêthe food offeringsH801
√ ʼishshâh — properly, a burnt-offeringNounmasculine plural construct
’iš·šê (H801) — the portions consumed by fire; Cambridge restricts "his oblation" here to "the fat portions specially reserved for the Lord."
יְהוָ֑הYah·wehto the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
יְבִיאֶ֔נּוּyə·ḇî·’en·nūhe shall bringH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbHifilImperfectthird person masculine singularthird person masculine singular
אֵ֣ת’êṯH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Preposition
הַחֵ֤לֶבha·ḥê·leḇthe fatH2459
√ cheleb — fat, whether literally or figurativelyArticleNounmasculine singular
ha·ḥê·leḇ (H2459), the fat — the choicest portion, reserved exclusively for God and burned on the altar (Lev 3:16–17); its dedication is the heart of the gesture.
עַל־‘al-together withH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
הֶֽחָזֶה֙he·ḥā·zehthe breastH2373
√ châzeh — the breast (as most seen in front)ArticleNounmasculine singular
לְהָנִ֥יףlə·hā·nîp̄and waveH5130
√ nûwph — to quiver (iPreposition-lVerbHifilInfinitive construct
lə·hā·nîp̄ (H5130), Hiphil infinitive — the waving rite; Barnes: "a moving to and fro, repeated several times... a solemn form of dedicating a thing to the use of the sanctuary."
הֶחָזֶ֗הhe·ḥā·zehthe breastH2373
√ châzeh — the breast (as most seen in front)ArticleNounmasculine singular
אֹת֛וֹ’ō·ṯōwH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person masculine singular
תְּנוּפָ֖הtə·nū·p̄āhas a wave offeringH8573
√ tᵉnûwphâh — a brandishing (in threat)Nounfeminine singular
tə·nū·p̄āh (H8573) — the wave-offering; a rare term (28 verses) almost wholly confined to the peace- and consecration-offerings, which makes it a reliable verbal thread across the cultic law.
לִפְנֵ֥יlip̄·nêbeforeH6440
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Preposition-lNouncommon plural construct
יְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehthe LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
This act the owner himself was to perform, and it was not to be deputed to any one else.
Waving (a moving to and fro, repeated several times) or heaving (a lifting up once) the offering was a solemn form of dedicating a thing to the use of the sanctuary.
The offering was waved towards the altar and back, apparently to express symbolically that it was first given to God and then restored by Him to the priest for his use.
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.
31“The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belon…”+

31The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

hak·kō·hên ’eṯ- wə·hiq·ṭîr ha·ḥê·leḇ ham·miz·bê·ḥāh he·ḥā·zeh wə·hā·yāh lə·’a·hă·rōn ū·lə·ḇā·nāw

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-shall-burn-in-smoke the-priest the-fat on-the-altar; and-shall-belong the-breast to-Aaron and-to-his-sons.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וְהִקְטִ֧יר BSB's is to burn renders wə·hiq·ṭîr (H6999), whose root means to send up in smoke / to make incense rise. It is not mere combustion but a fragrant ascent toward God; the English "burn" loses the upward, offering-as-aroma sense the verb carries.
  • הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה On the altar flattens the directional ham·miz·bê·ḥāh (H4196) with its locative -āh ending — literally altar-ward, toward the altar. The fat moves up onto the place of slaughter; the altar (mizbeach) is itself named from zābach, "to slay."
  • וְהָיָה֙ Belongs to renders the perfect wə·hā·yāh (H1961), "and it shall be/become" — a statute-creating verb that legally assigns the breast, not merely a static "belongs." The grammar establishes a perpetual right.
Word by word9 · parsed+
הַכֹּהֵ֛ןhak·kō·hênThe priestH3548
√ kôhên — literally one officiating, a priestArticleNounmasculine singular
hak·kō·hên (H3548), "the priest" — the division of labor is now explicit: God's portion (fat) ascends; the priests' portion (breast) is set apart.
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
וְהִקְטִ֧ירwə·hiq·ṭîris to burnH6999
√ qâṭar — to smoke, iConjunctive wawVerbHifilConjunctive perfectthird person masculine singular
wə·hiq·ṭîr (H6999) — the priestly act of burning the fat; the fat is wholly God's, never eaten.
הַחֵ֖לֶבha·ḥê·leḇthe fatH2459
√ cheleb — fat, whether literally or figurativelyArticleNounmasculine singular
הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהham·miz·bê·ḥāhon the altarH4196
√ mizbêach — an altarArticleNounmasculine singularthird person feminine singular
הֶֽחָזֶ֔הhe·ḥā·zehbut the breastH2373
√ châzeh — the breast (as most seen in front)ArticleNounmasculine singular
he·ḥā·zeh (H2373), the breast — a rare noun (12 verses); K&D identifies it as the brisket, "one of the most savoury parts." Its scarcity makes it a strong verbal anchor for cross-references.
וְהָיָה֙wə·hā·yāhbelongs toH1961
√ hâyâh — to exist, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectthird person masculine singular
לְאַהֲרֹ֖ןlə·’a·hă·rōnAaronH175
√ ʼAhărôwn — Aharon, the brother of MosesPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular
Aaron (H175) and his sons (H1121) receive the breast for the priestly order at large — distinguished in v.33 from the officiating priest's private portion (the thigh).
וּלְבָנָֽיו׃ū·lə·ḇā·nāwand his sonsH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcConjunctive waw, Preposition-lNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
it being but reasonable that they that serve at the altar should live of it; and thus, with other things, a maintenance was provided for the priests and their families, as ought also to be for Gospel ministers under the present dispensation.
The portion of every succeeding high priest and his family: compare Exodus 29:26 .
The priest who offered, was to have the breast and the right shoulder.
Henry comments on the 7:28–34 block; the same paragraph stands over vv. 29–33.
32“And you are to give the right thigh to the priest as a contribut…”+

32And you are to give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from your peace offering.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·’êṯ tit·tə·nū hay·yā·mîn šō·wq lak·kō·hên ṯə·rū·māh miz·ziḇ·ḥê šal·mê·ḵem

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And the-right thigh you-shall-give to-the-priest as-a-contribution from-the-sacrifices-of your-peace-offerings.

Where the English smooths the original

  • שׁ֣וֹק BSB's thigh (correcting the older "shoulder") renders šō·wq (H7785), the (lower) leg, as a runner's. K&D argues it is "not the fore-leg, or shoulder... but the hind-leg, or rather the upper part of it or ham" — "a peculiarly choice portion." The KJV "shoulder" was a long-standing mistranslation.
  • תְרוּמָ֖ה Contribution renders ṯə·rū·māh (H8641), from rûm to be high / lifted up — the "heave-offering," a portion lifted off from the whole as tribute. "Contribution" is accurate but loses the physical gesture of raising the piece that names the gift.
  • תִּתְּנ֥וּ You are to give renders the second-person plural tit·tə·nū (H5414); the abrupt shift to plural "ye" (after the singular offerer of v.30) signals, per Cambridge, "the composite character of this section" — the whole congregation is now addressed.
Word by word8 · parsed+
וְאֵת֙wə·’êṯAndH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
wə·’êṯ — the conjoined object marker links this command to the breast of v.31; breast and thigh together form the standing priestly dues.
תִּתְּנ֥וּtit·tə·nūyou are to giveH5414
√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcVerbQalImperfectsecond person masculine plural
tit·tə·nū (H5414), Qal imperfect 2mp — the plural "ye"; the duty falls on every Israelite worshipper to render the thigh.
הַיָּמִ֔יןhay·yā·mînthe rightH3225
√ yâmîyn — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous)ArticleNounfeminine singular
שׁ֣וֹקšō·wqthighH7785
√ shôwq — the (lower) leg (as a runner)Nounfeminine singular construct
šō·wq (H7785), thigh/leg — a rare term (19 verses); within the priestly law it pairs with the breast as the officiant's portion, and its rarity makes the wave-breast/heave-thigh formula a recognizable verbal signature.
לַכֹּהֵ֑ןlak·kō·hênto the priestH3548
√ kôhên — literally one officiating, a priestPreposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine singular
תְרוּמָ֖הṯə·rū·māhas a contributionH8641
√ tᵉrûwmâh — a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tributeNounfeminine singular
ṯə·rū·māh (H8641) — the heave/contribution offering; Barnes notes the term "appears to be used... for offerings in general," a lifting-up that dedicates the portion to the sanctuary's use.
מִזִּבְחֵ֖יmiz·ziḇ·ḥêvvvH2077
√ zebach — properly, a slaughter, iPreposition-mNounmasculine plural construct
שַׁלְמֵיכֶֽם׃šal·mê·ḵemfrom your peace offeringH8002
√ shelem — properly, requital, iNounmasculine plural constructsecond person masculine plural
The Voices✦ public domain+
The priestly dues seem to have gradually increased.
Cambridge traces the growth from 1 Sam 2:13ff. and Deut 18:3 to the wave-breast and right thigh here.
The breast being the seat of wisdom, and the shoulder of strength, some think denote Christ as the wisdom and power of God unto his people, his priests, who have all their knowledge and strength from him, and who bears them on his heart and on his shoulder.
Gill follows older versions in saying "shoulder"; the Hebrew šôwq is the thigh/leg, as the parse and K&D establish.
The latter appears to be used (like קרבן qorbân, Leviticus 1:2 ) for offerings in general.
33“The son of Aaron who presents the blood and fat of the peace off…”+

33The son of Aaron who presents the blood and fat of the peace offering shall have the right thigh as a portion.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

mib·bə·nê ’a·hă·rōn lōw ham·maq·rîḇ ’eṯ- dam wə·’eṯ- ha·ḥê·leḇ haš·šə·lā·mîm ṯih·yeh hay·yā·mîn šō·wq lə·mā·nāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

He-from the-sons-of Aaron who-brings-near the-blood of-the-peace-offerings and-the-fat — to-him shall-be the-right thigh as-a-portion.

Where the English smooths the original

  • הַמַּקְרִ֞יב BSB's who presents again renders the Hiphil participle ham·maq·rîḇ (H7126), the one causing to draw near. The thigh is the wage of service: only the priest who actually performs the blood-rite earns it; Gill notes one ceremonially unclean during the sprinkling "had no part in the flesh."
  • דַּ֧ם The blood renders dam (H1818), defined as blood as that which when shed causes death. The priest's wage is tied specifically to handling the lifeblood — the element Leviticus itself singles out as bearing atonement, "for the life of the flesh is in the blood... it is the blood that makes atonement" (Lev 17:11). Gill notes the gravity: a priest who became unclean "in the time of sprinkling the blood" thereby "had no part in the flesh." The portion follows the gravest act.
  • לְמָנָֽה As a portion renders lə·mā·nāh (H4490), from a root meaning something weighed/measured out — an allotted, apportioned share. The thigh is not a gratuity but a measured wage assigned by statute.
Word by word13 · parsed+
מִבְּנֵ֣יmib·bə·nêThe sonH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcPreposition-mNounmasculine plural construct
mib·bə·nê (H1121) — "from among the sons of Aaron"; the partitive narrows the right from the whole priestly house to the single officiating priest.
אַהֲרֹ֑ן’a·hă·rōnof AaronH175
√ ʼAhărôwn — Aharon, the brother of MosesNounpropermasculine singular
ל֧וֹlōw
Prepositionthird person masculine singular
lōw (no Strong's; preposition + 3ms suffix) — "to him" is fronted for emphasis: this man, the one who served, receives it.
הַמַּקְרִ֞יבham·maq·rîḇwho presentsH7126
√ qârab — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purposeArticleVerbHifilParticiplemasculine singular
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
דַּ֧םdamthe bloodH1818
√ dâm — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animalNounmasculine singular construct
dam (H1818), blood — the sprinkling of blood (Lev 3:2) and burning of fat are the defining acts that qualify the priest for his share.
וְאֶת־wə·’eṯ-andH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
הַחֵ֖לֶבha·ḥê·leḇfatH2459
√ cheleb — fat, whether literally or figurativelyArticleNounmasculine singular
הַשְּׁלָמִ֛יםhaš·šə·lā·mîmof the peace offeringH8002
√ shelem — properly, requital, iArticleNounmasculine plural
תִהְיֶ֛הṯih·yehshall haveH1961
√ hâyâh — to exist, iVerbQalImperfectthird person feminine singular
ṯih·yeh (H1961), Qal imperfect 3fs — "it shall belong (to him)"; the feminine agrees with šôwq, legally fixing the thigh as the officiant's due.
הַיָּמִ֖יןhay·yā·mînthe rightH3225
√ yâmîyn — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous)ArticleNounfeminine singular
שׁ֥וֹקšō·wqthighH7785
√ shôwq — the (lower) leg (as a runner)Nounfeminine singular construct
šō·wq (H7785) — the right thigh; the second occurrence in this unit, sealing it as the personal perquisite of the serving priest.
לְמָנָֽה׃lə·mā·nāhas a portionH4490
√ mânâh — properly, something weighed out, iPreposition-lNounfeminine singular
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shall have the right shoulder for his part; his particular part and share, because of his service
Gill writes "shoulder" with the older versions; the Hebrew šôwq is the thigh.
it was assigned to the use of their order generally, but the right shoulder was the perquisite of the officiating priest.
"shoulder" reflects the older rendering of šôwq (thigh).
When the sacrifice was killed, the offerer himself must present God's part of it; that he might signify his cheerfully giving it up to God.
From Henry's note on the 7:28–34 block.
34“I have taken from the sons of Israel the breast of the wave offe…”+

34I have taken from the sons of Israel the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as a permanent portion from the sons of Israel.’”

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

kî ’eṯ- lā·qaḥ·tî mê·’êṯ bə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl ḥă·zêh hat·tə·nū·p̄āh wə·’êṯ šō·wq hat·tə·rū·māh miz·ziḇ·ḥê šal·mê·hem wā·’et·tên ’ō·ṯām lə·’a·hă·rōn hak·kō·hên ū·lə·ḇā·nāw ‘ō·w·lām mê·’êṯ lə·ḥāq- bə·nê yiś·rā·’êl

Literal — word-for-word from the original

For the-breast-of the-wave-offering and the-thigh-of the-contribution I-have-taken from the-sons-of Israel, from-the-sacrifices-of their-peace-offerings, and-I-have-given them to-Aaron the-priest and-to-his-sons as-a-statute forever from the-sons-of Israel.

Where the English smooths the original

  • לָקַ֙חְתִּי֙ BSB's I have taken renders the first-person perfect lā·qaḥ·tî (H3947) — and the speaker is God Himself. The breast and thigh are not the priests' by human custom; God says "I took" and "I gave." The portions pass through God's own hands first.
  • וָאֶתֵּ֣ן And I have given renders wā·’et·tên (H5414), the divine counterpart to the taking. Together the verbs make the priestly support a two-stage transfer: Israel → God → priest. K&D: God "transferred these portions to the priests as His servants."
  • עוֹלָ֔ם Permanent renders ‘ō·w·lām (H5769), from a root meaning concealed / time out of mind — the vanishing-point horizon of age upon age. "Permanent" is accurate, but the Hebrew names an unbounded future, "as long as the priesthood lasts" (Ellicott).
  • לְחָק־ Portion here renders lə·ḥāq (H2706), from ḥāqaq to engrave, decree — a statute, an engraved enactment. The priests' share is not benevolence but inscribed law; the same root underlies "a statute for ever."
Word by word23 · parsed+
כִּי֩H3588
√ kîy — (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)Conjunction
(H3588), "for" — the verse grounds the preceding commands: the reason Israel must give breast and thigh is that God has already claimed and reassigned them.
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
לָקַ֙חְתִּי֙lā·qaḥ·tîI have takenH3947
√ lâqach — to take (in the widest variety of applications)VerbQalPerfectfirst person common singular
lā·qaḥ·tî (H3947) — God's first-person claim; the priestly maintenance has its origin in a divine act, not a tax voted by men.
מֵאֵ֣תmê·’êṯH854
√ ʼêth — properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), nearPreposition-mDirect object marker
בְּנֵֽי־bə·nê-from the sonsH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyiś·rā·’êlof IsraelH3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
חֲזֵ֨הḥă·zêhthe breastH2373
√ châzeh — the breast (as most seen in front)Nounmasculine singular construct
ḥă·zêh (H2373) and šô·wq (H7785) together — the wave-breast and heave-thigh, the formula that recurs verbatim across Exod 29, Lev 8–10, Num 6 and 18; these two rare nouns are the verbal spine of the whole priestly-portion legislation.
הַתְּנוּפָ֜הhat·tə·nū·p̄āhof the wave offeringH8573
√ tᵉnûwphâh — a brandishing (in threat)ArticleNounfeminine singular
וְאֵ֣ת׀wə·’êṯH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
שׁ֣וֹקšō·wqand the thighH7785
√ shôwq — the (lower) leg (as a runner)Nounfeminine singular construct
הַתְּרוּמָ֗הhat·tə·rū·māhof the contributionH8641
√ tᵉrûwmâh — a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tributeArticleNounfeminine singular
מִזִּבְחֵ֖יmiz·ziḇ·ḥêvvvH2077
√ zebach — properly, a slaughter, iPreposition-mNounmasculine plural construct
שַׁלְמֵיהֶ֑םšal·mê·hemof their peace offeringsH8002
√ shelem — properly, requital, iNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine plural
וָאֶתֵּ֣ןwā·’et·tênand I have givenH5414
√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectfirst person common singular
wā·’et·tên (H5414), consecutive imperfect 1cs — "and so I gave"; Benson draws the line to 1 Cor 9:13–14, "those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel."
אֹ֠תָם’ō·ṯāmthemH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person masculine plural
לְאַהֲרֹ֨ןlə·’a·hă·rōnto AaronH175
√ ʼAhărôwn — Aharon, the brother of MosesPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular
הַכֹּהֵ֤ןhak·kō·hênthe priestH3548
√ kôhên — literally one officiating, a priestArticleNounmasculine singular
וּלְבָנָיו֙ū·lə·ḇā·nāwand his sonsH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcConjunctive waw, Preposition-lNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine singular
עוֹלָ֔ם‘ō·w·lāmas a permanentH5769
√ ʻôwlâm — properly, concealed, iNounmasculine singular
‘ō·w·lām (H5769) — the perpetuity clause; Gill bounds it eschatologically: the statute runs "even to the coming of the Messiah, in whom all these sacrifices would have their accomplishment and their end."
מֵאֵ֖תmê·’êṯ. . .H854
√ ʼêth — properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), nearPreposition-mDirect object marker
לְחָק־lə·ḥāq-portionH2706
√ chôq — an enactmentPreposition-lNounmasculine singular construct
בְּנֵ֥יbə·nêfrom the sonsH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃yiś·rā·’êlof IsraelH3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
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as they who waited at the altar were partakers with the altar, even so hath the Lord ordained that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel, 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 .
these two may denote that wisdom and virtue or power which was in Christ our High Priest, 1 Corinthians 1:24 , and which ought to be in every priest.
as long as the priesthood lasted, even to the coming of the Messiah, in whom all these sacrifices would have their accomplishment and their end.
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
35“This is the portion of the food offerings to the LORD for Aaron …”+

35This is the portion of the food offerings to the LORD for Aaron and his sons since the day they were presented to serve the LORD as priests.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

zōṯ miš·ḥaṯ mê·’iš·šê Yah·weh ’a·hă·rōn ū·miš·ḥaṯ bā·nāw bə·yō·wm hiq·rîḇ ’ō·ṯām Yah·weh lə·ḵa·hên

Literal — word-for-word from the original

This is the-portion from-the-fire-offerings-of Yahweh for-Aaron and-his-sons, in-the-day He-brought-them-near to-serve-as-priests to-Yahweh.

Where the English smooths the original

  • מִשְׁחַ֤ת BSB's portion quietly resolves a genuine crux: miš·ḥaṯ (H4888) ordinarily means anointing (cf. KJV "portion of the anointing"). K&D and Cambridge argue from Aramaic/Assyrian for a second root meaning to measure, hence "a measured-off share." BSB takes the second sense — a defensible but contested choice.
  • מֵאִשֵּׁ֖י Of the food offerings renders mê·’iš·šê (H801), again the fire-offerings; the priests' living is drawn specifically from what passes through the altar-fire to God, not from common produce.
  • הִקְרִ֣יב They were presented renders the Hiphil hiq·rîḇ (H7126), he caused (them) to draw near. The same root that names the offering (qorbān) names the priests' own consecration: they too were "brought near" to God before they could bring near the offerings of others.
Word by word12 · parsed+
זֹ֣אתzōṯThisH2063
√ zôʼth — this (often used adverb)Pronounfeminine singular
zōṯ (H2063), "this" — the demonstrative gathers up the wave-breast and heave-thigh of vv.31–34 into a single named institution.
מִשְׁחַ֤תmiš·ḥaṯis the portionH4888
√ mishchâh — unction (the act)Nounfeminine singular construct
miš·ḥaṯ (H4888) — the disputed term; Ellicott and Barnes prefer "share/portion," JFB keeps "anointing" as a metonym for office. The ambiguity is real and the parse itself supplies the root mishchâh, unction.
מֵאִשֵּׁ֖יmê·’iš·šêof the food offeringsH801
√ ʼishshâh — properly, a burnt-offeringPreposition-mNounmasculine plural construct
יְהוָ֑הYah·wehto the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
אַהֲרֹן֙’a·hă·rōnfor AaronH175
√ ʼAhărôwn — Aharon, the brother of MosesNounpropermasculine singular
וּמִשְׁחַ֣תū·miš·ḥaṯH4888
√ mishchâh — unction (the act)Conjunctive wawNounfeminine singular construct
בָּנָ֔יוbā·nāwand his sonsH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine singular
בְּיוֹם֙bə·yō·wmsince the dayH3117
√ yôwm — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)Preposition-bNounmasculine singular
הִקְרִ֣יבhiq·rîḇthey were presentedH7126
√ qârab — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purposeVerbHifilPerfectthird person masculine singular
hiq·rîḇ (H7126) — "in the day He brought them near"; the priests' appointment is dated to their ordination, fixing the start of their right to the portion.
אֹתָ֔ם’ō·ṯāmH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person masculine plural
לַיהוָֽה׃Yah·wehto serve the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular
לְכַהֵ֖ןlə·ḵa·hênas priestsH3547
√ kâhan — to officiate as a priestPreposition-lVerbPielInfinitive construct
lə·ḵa·hên (H3547), Piel infinitive to act as priest — the purpose clause; the portion is the wage of priestly service, not mere status.
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Better, this is the share of Aaron and the share of his sons. That is, the wave breast and the heave shoulder.
Ellicott reads miš·ḥaṯ as "share," against the KJV "anointing."
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 word "anointing" is often used as synonymous with "office" or "dignity."
JFB retains "anointing," reading it as a figure for priestly office — the alternative to the "measured portion" reading.
36“On the day they were anointed, the LORD commanded that this be g…”+

36On the day they were anointed, the LORD commanded that this be given them by the sons of Israel. It is a permanent portion for the generations to come.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

bə·yō·wm mā·šə·ḥōw Yah·weh ṣiw·wāh ’ă·šer lā·ṯêṯ ’ō·ṯām lā·hem bə·nê yiś·rā·’êl mê·’êṯ ‘ō·w·lām ḥuq·qaṯ lə·ḏō·rō·ṯām

Literal — word-for-word from the original

Which Yahweh commanded to-give to-them, in-the-day He-anointed them, from the-sons-of Israel — a statute forever for-their-generations.

Where the English smooths the original

  • מָשְׁח֣וֹ BSB's they were anointed renders mā·šə·ḥōw (H4886), the literal to rub with oil. This verse uses the unambiguous verb "anoint," which is part of why v.35's noun miš·ḥaṯ is debated — here the act of anointing is plainly named, and it dates the priests' right.
  • חֻקַּ֥ת Portion renders ḥuq·qaṯ (H2708), an enactment, a fixed statute — sibling to ḥōq in v.34. BSB renders both "portion," but the Hebrew word is "statute/ordinance": the gift is framed as binding law, not merely a quantity.
  • לְדֹרֹתָֽם For the generations to come renders lə·ḏō·rō·ṯām (H1755), from dôr, a revolution of time, an age/generation. The plural with suffix — "throughout their generations" — stacks the perpetuity of v.34's ‘ôlām with an explicit generational succession.
Word by word14 · parsed+
בְּיוֹם֙bə·yō·wmOn the dayH3117
√ yôwm — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)Preposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
מָשְׁח֣וֹmā·šə·ḥōwthey were anointedH4886
√ mâshach — to rub with oil, iVerbQalInfinitive constructthird person masculine singular
יְהוָ֜הYah·wehthe LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
ṣiw·wāh (H6680), Piel perfect — God "commanded"; Ellicott: the command "is binding upon every offerer... since this is their right by virtue of their office."
צִוָּ֨הṣiw·wāhcommanded thatH6680
√ tsâvâh — (intensively) to constitute, enjoinVerbPielPerfectthird person masculine singular
אֲשֶׁר֩’ă·šerthisH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
לָתֵ֣תlā·ṯêṯbe givenH5414
√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcPreposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
lā·ṯêṯ (H5414), Qal infinitive to give — the content of the command is a perpetual transfer to the priests, repeated from v.34 for emphasis.
אֹתָ֔ם’ō·ṯāmthemH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person masculine plural
לָהֶ֗םlā·hemby
Prepositionthird person masculine plural
בְּנֵ֣יbə·nêthe sonsH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êlof IsraelH3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
מֵאֵ֖תmê·’êṯ. . .H854
√ ʼêth — properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), nearPreposition-mDirect object marker
עוֹלָ֖ם‘ō·w·lāmIt is a permanentH5769
√ ʻôwlâm — properly, concealed, iNounmasculine singular
‘ō·w·lām (H5769) + ḥuq·qaṯ (H2708) — the doubled perpetuity formula ("an everlasting statute"); the law is sealed against lapse for as long as the priesthood endures.
חֻקַּ֥תḥuq·qaṯportionH2708
√ chuqqâh — {an enactmentNounfeminine singular construct
לְדֹרֹתָֽם׃lə·ḏō·rō·ṯāmfor the generations to comeH1755
√ dôwr — properly, a revolution of time, iPreposition-lNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine plural
lə·ḏō·rō·ṯām (H1755) — "for their generations"; the temporal reach is the line of Aaron's descendants, which Gill again bounds at "the coming of the Messiah, which would put an end to their priesthood."
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this command is binding upon every offerer to give the before-mentioned parts to the officiating priests, since this is their right by virtue of their office.
only one priest (the high priest) was anointed, but according to Exod. 7:29, Exodus 28:41 , Exodus 30:30 , Exodus 40:15 ; Leviticus 7:36 ; Leviticus 10:7 ; Numbers 3:3 , all priests were anointed.
Cambridge flags a tension in the Pentateuch over whether all priests or only the high priest were anointed.
Thus the Lord provided for the maintenance of his ministers, till that time came; and since it has been the ordinance of Christ, that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel, 1 Corinthians 9:13 .
37“This is the law of the burnt offering, the grain offering, the s…”+

37This is the law of the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering, and the peace offering,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

zōṯ hat·tō·w·rāh lā·‘ō·lāh lam·min·ḥāh wə·la·ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ wə·lā·’ā·šām wə·lam·mil·lū·’îm ū·lə·ze·ḇaḥ haš·šə·lā·mîm

Literal — word-for-word from the original

This is the-law for-the-burnt-offering, for-the-grain-offering, and-for-the-sin-offering, and-for-the-guilt-offering, and-for-the-ordination-offering, and-for-the-sacrifice-of the-peace-offerings.

Where the English smooths the original

  • הַתּוֹרָ֗ה BSB's the law renders hat·tō·w·rāh (H8451), tôrāh — more nearly instruction, teaching, the authoritative direction. "Law" is right but narrow; the word frames chs. 1–7 as God's teaching on approach, not a bare legal code.
  • וְלַ֨מִּלּוּאִ֔ים The ordination offering renders lam·mil·lū·’îm (H4394), literally the fillings — from the idiom "to fill the hand," K&D explains, i.e., to invest with priesthood. "Ordination" interprets the idiom; the Hebrew names the filling of the hand with what the priest will offer.
  • וְלַֽחַטָּ֖את The sin offering renders la·ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ (H2403), which doubles as both sin and sin-offering — the offense and its remedy share one word. The single English phrase cannot hold the Hebrew's identification of the sacrifice with the sin it cancels.
Word by word9 · parsed+
זֹ֣אתzōṯThisH2063
√ zôʼth — this (often used adverb)Pronounfeminine singular
zōṯ (H2063), "this" — the demonstrative closes the great catalogue; Ellicott: "This and the following verse sum up the whole sacrificial law."
הַתּוֹרָ֗הhat·tō·w·rāhis the lawH8451
√ tôwrâh — a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or PentateuchArticleNounfeminine singular
hat·tō·w·rāh (H8451) — the governing noun "the instruction"; one tôrāh embraces all five (here six, counting ordination) sacrifice-types as a unified system.
לָֽעֹלָה֙lā·‘ō·lāhof the burnt offeringH5930
√ ʻôlâh — a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending)Preposition-l, ArticleNounfeminine singular
לַמִּנְחָ֔הlam·min·ḥāhthe grain offeringH4503
√ minchâh — a donationPreposition-l, ArticleNounfeminine singular
וְלַֽחַטָּ֖אתwə·la·ḥaṭ·ṭāṯthe sin offeringH2403
√ chaṭṭâʼâh — an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiationConjunctive waw, Preposition-l, ArticleNounfeminine singular
וְלָאָשָׁ֑םwə·lā·’ā·šāmthe guilt offeringH817
√ ʼâshâm — guiltConjunctive waw, Preposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine singular
וְלַ֨מִּלּוּאִ֔יםwə·lam·mil·lū·’îmthe ordination offeringH4394
√ milluʼ — a fulfilling (only in plural), iConjunctive waw, Preposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine plural
lam·mil·lū·’îm (H4394), the consecration/fill-offering — instituted not here but in Exod 29; its inclusion in the summary, K&D notes, draws the priestly ordination into the one body of sacrificial law.
וּלְזֶ֖בַחū·lə·ze·ḇaḥvvvH2077
√ zebach — properly, a slaughter, iConjunctive waw, Preposition-lNounmasculine singular construct
הַשְּׁלָמִֽים׃haš·šə·lā·mîmand the peace offeringH8002
√ shelem — properly, requital, iArticleNounmasculine plural
haš·šə·lā·mîm (H8002) — the peace-offerings, placed last as the climax; the Pulpit reads the whole sequence as teaching "self-surrender, loyalty, atonement, satisfaction, dedication, peace."
The Voices✦ public domain+
This and the following verse sum up the whole sacrificial law contained in Leviticus 1-8
Together, the sacrifices teach the lessons of self-surrender, loyalty, atonement, satisfaction, dedication, peace.
Nevertheless these sacrifices could not make those who drew near to God with them and in them "perfect as pertaining to the conscience" ( Hebrews 9:9 ; Hebrews 10:1 ), because the blood of bulls and of goats could not possibly take away sin ( Hebrews 10:4 ).
38“which the LORD gave Moses on Mount Sinai on the day He commanded…”+

38which the LORD gave Moses on Mount Sinai on the day He commanded the Israelites to present their offerings to the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’ă·šer Yah·weh ’eṯ- ṣiw·wāh mō·šeh bə·har sî·nāy bə·yō·wm ṣaw·wō·ṯōw ’eṯ- bə·nê yiś·rā·’êl lə·haq·rîḇ ’eṯ- qā·rə·bə·nê·hem Yah·weh bə·miḏ·bar sî·nāy

Literal — word-for-word from the original

Which Yahweh commanded Moses on-Mount Sinai, in-the-day He-commanded the-sons-of Israel to-bring-near their-offerings to-Yahweh, in-the-wilderness-of Sinai.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּהַ֣ר BSB's on Mount Sinai renders bə·har (H2022); but Benson and Gill insist the bə- means by / near the mount — these laws came "from the tabernacle" (Lev 1:1), not atop Sinai. "On Mount" risks suggesting a setting the narrative does not claim.
  • לְהַקְרִ֧יב To present renders the Hiphil infinitive lə·haq·rîḇ (H7126), to cause to draw near — the unit's keynote verb returns one last time. The whole tôrāh of sacrifice is, at root, instruction on how to come near to a holy God.
  • בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר In the Wilderness renders bə·miḏ·bar (H4057), from a root for driving (flocks) — open pasture-land, not lifeless desert. The location is named twice (mount, then wilderness), grounding the cosmic law in a specific, unsettled, pilgrim place.
Word by word18 · parsed+
אֲשֶׁ֨ר’ă·šerwhichH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
’ă·šer (H834), relative "which" — links the whole catalogue of v.37 back to its single source: God's command to Moses.
יְהוָ֛הYah·wehthe LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
צִוָּ֧הṣiw·wāhgaveH6680
√ tsâvâh — (intensively) to constitute, enjoinVerbPielPerfectthird person masculine singular
ṣiw·wāh (H6680) — "commanded"; the verb frames the entire sacrificial system as obedience, not invention, echoing Moses' own commissioning.
מֹשֶׁ֖הmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
בְּהַ֣רbə·haron MountH2022
√ har — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)Preposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
bə·har sî·nāy (H2022/H5514) — Sinai locates the law at the covenant mountain; K&D notes the place-name "points on the one hand back to Exodus 19:1" and forward to the journeys of Numbers.
סִינָ֑יsî·nāySinaiH5514
√ Çîynay — Sinai, mountain of ArabiaNounproperfeminine singular
בְּי֨וֹםbə·yō·wmon the dayH3117
√ yôwm — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)Preposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
צַוֺּת֜וֹṣaw·wō·ṯōwHe commandedH6680
√ tsâvâh — (intensively) to constitute, enjoinVerbPielInfinitive constructthird person masculine singular
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
בְּנֵ֣יbə·nêthe IsraelitesH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לyiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
לְהַקְרִ֧יבlə·haq·rîḇto presentH7126
√ qârab — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purposePreposition-lVerbHifilInfinitive construct
lə·haq·rîḇ (H7126) — the closing infinitive of "drawing near"; the book of approach ends on the word for approach, the same root that named the offerer in v.29.
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
קָרְבְּנֵיהֶ֛םqā·rə·bə·nê·hemtheir offeringsH7133
√ qorbân — something brought near the altar, iNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine plural
לַיהוָ֖הYah·wehto the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular
בְּמִדְבַּ֥רbə·miḏ·barin the WildernessH4057
√ midbâr — a pasture (iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
bə·miḏ·bar sî·nāy (H4057/H5514) — "in the wilderness of Sinai"; the sacrificial law is given to a people on the move, between Egypt and the land.
סִינָֽי׃פsî·nāyof SinaiH5514
√ Çîynay — Sinai, mountain of ArabiaNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
Rather, by mount Sinai; for Moses had been some time come down from the mount, and these commands were given him from the tabernacle, Leviticus 1:1 .
It should be observed, that this is to be understood of the command given in the wilderness to offer sacrifices, but not of the sacrifices themselves then offered, which were not done while there; see Jeremiah 7:22 .
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.

The verse-by-verse work is done. What follows gathers the whole unit. All three layers below are machine-generated (⚙). Weigh them; they have no authority.

Grand Commentary — the unit, read wholesynthesis · verify+

AI synthesis — woven from the public-domain voices above and the original text; generated and fallible.

i. The offerer's own hands — 28–30

A fresh divine speech opens the law of the priests' portion, and its first concern is not the priest but the worshipper. "His own hands shall bring" — yā·ḏāw, fronted in the Hebrew for stress. Ellicott fixes the point: this act "the owner himself was to perform, and it was not to be deputed to any one else." The Pulpit Commentary reads a theology of dignity into the requirement: the peace offering "might have been regarded as merely the constituent part of a feast, and so sent by the hand of a servant," but the law forbids it. JFB sees the same hands proving the heart: to show the sacrifice was voluntary, "the offerer was required to bring it with his own hands to the priest." At the center stands the wave-rite, tᵉnûp̄āh: Barnes describes "a moving to and fro, repeated several times," and Keil & Delitzsch supply the choreography and its meaning — the forward motion "towards the altar" is "the presentation of the sacrifice... to God," the backward motion "the reception of it back again, as a present which God handed over to His servants the priests." The gesture is the whole transaction in miniature: what is given to God is received from God.

ii. Breast and thigh — the wage of service — 31–33

The carcass is divided three ways. The fat ascends in smoke to God (wə·hiq·ṭîr, "sent up as fragrant smoke"); the breast (ḥāzeh) goes to the priestly order at large; the right thigh (šôwq) is the private wage of the priest who actually handled the blood. The Hebrew šôwq is the leg, not the shoulder of the older versions — Keil & Delitzsch argue at length that it is "the hind-leg, or rather the upper part of it or ham," "a peculiarly choice portion." Gill grounds the arrangement in plain equity: "it being but reasonable that they that serve at the altar should live of it," and immediately reaches across the Testaments — "as ought also to be for Gospel ministers under the present dispensation." The thigh, the text insists in v.33, belongs only to the one "who presents the blood" — the portion is tied to actual service, not to rank; Cambridge tracks how the "priestly dues seem to have gradually increased" across Israel's history. [The connection of breast-as-wisdom and thigh-as-strength to Christ is older interpreters' typology, not the plain sense; see the Christ layer.]

iii. "I have taken... I have given" — 34–36

Verse 34 lifts the curtain on the mechanism. The speaker is God, and the verbs are first-person: "I have taken" (lā·qaḥtî) and "I have given" (wā·’ettēn). The priests' support is not a tax men devised but a transfer God personally enacts — Israel's gift passes through God's own hands before it reaches the altar's servants. Keil & Delitzsch: God "had imposed it upon them as tribute, and had given them to Aaron and his sons... as a right which they could claim of the Israelites for all ages." Benson draws the apostolic line explicitly, citing 1 Corinthians 9:13–14: as those who waited at the altar "were partakers with the altar, even so hath the Lord ordained that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel." Verse 35 then hands us a genuine lexical crux: miš·ḥaṯ normally means "anointing," but Keil & Delitzsch and Cambridge argue from cognate languages that it here means "a measuring off," a measured "share" — which is why BSB reads "portion." JFB keeps "anointing" as a figure for office. The ambiguity is real, and v.36, with its unmistakable verb "anointed" (mā·šə·ḥōw), is what keeps both readings in play.

iv. The whole tôrāh of approach — 37–38

The unit ends by closing the book on chapters 1–7. "This is the tôrāh" — the instruction — and six sacrifice-types are named in sequence: burnt, grain, sin, guilt, ordination (millū’îm, "the fillings" of the hand), and peace. Ellicott calls these verses a summary of "the whole sacrificial law"; the Pulpit Commentary distills the catechism the sequence teaches — "self-surrender, loyalty, atonement, satisfaction, dedication, peace." The closing verb is the unit's keynote returning one last time: lə·haq·rîḇ, "to cause to draw near." The entire system is instruction on approach. And here the public-domain witnesses turn unanimously forward. Keil & Delitzsch state plainly, citing Hebrews 9–10, that "the blood of bulls and of goats could not possibly take away sin," so the whole apparatus prepared "the way... for the appearing of the Son of God, who would... through the one offering of His own holy body... perfect all the manifold sacrifices of the Old Testament economy." The location — "by Mount Sinai... in the wilderness" — Benson and Gill carefully gloss as near, not atop, the mount: these laws came from the tabernacle (Lev 1:1), to a people still on the road.

Read under Sola Scriptura — this tool’s own fallible reading (⚙)

Read under Sola Scriptura, the surprise of this passage is the direction of the giving. We expect a tax: the people owe the priests. What the Hebrew says is stranger — God interposes Himself. "I have taken" the breast and thigh from Israel; "I have given" them to Aaron. Nothing reaches the priest that has not first been surrendered to God and then handed back by Him. The wave-offering enacts exactly this: the worshipper's hands move the gift toward the altar and receive it again, with the priest's hands beneath his own. So the priest's daily bread is not Israel's charity but God's redistribution; the servant of the altar eats from God's table, not the people's. This is the seed Paul will harvest in 1 Corinthians 9 — but the text already teaches it before any apostle quotes it: the one who gives himself wholly to God's service is fed by God's own hand. And the perpetuity clause (‘ôlām, "forever") is, on the page, unqualified — yet the older expositors are right to hear it strain toward its own end. A law of portions for mortal priests who die and are replaced is, by its very repetition, confessing that it has not yet arrived at the priest who will not need replacing. The "forever" is honest and the "forever" is incomplete, both at once. This reading is fallible synthesis; weigh it against the Word.

Nothing reaches the priest that God has not first taken into His own hands and given back.

Canonical Threads — out to the whole of Scripturecross-refs · verify+

AI-generated connections. Each carries a verification badge with a recorded basis; contested links are flagged.

The wave-breast and heave-thigh formula verbal / quotation — confirmed

The exact pairing of breast (ḥāzeh) and thigh (šôwq), waved and heaved, recurs across the priestly legislation as a fixed technical formula. Lev 10:14–15 repeats it for the priests' eating-portion; Exod 29:26–27 establishes it at Aaron's consecration. K&D's own note names this same chain, observing that the breast-piece "was called the "wave-breast" in consequence" and listing Lev 7:34, 10:14–15, Num 6:20, 18:18 and Exod 29:27. The Verifier records the shared lexemes as the basis: ḥāzeh (H2373, in only 12 verses), šôwq (H7785, in 19 verses), tᵉnûp̄āh (H8573, in 28 verses), and tᵉrûwmâh (H8641, in 63 verses). Because ḥāzeh (12 vv) is genuinely rare and recurs verbatim alongside the equally rare šôwq, this is a verbal link — but note the honest qualification: it is the recurrence of one fixed liturgical phrase within the Torah's own priestly corpus, not one text quoting another.

Leviticus 7:34 · Leviticus 10:15 · Exodus 29:27

basis: Verifier-computed shared lexemes: H2373 châzeh (12 vv, rare), H7785 shôwq (19 vv, rare), H8573 tᵉnûwphâh (28 vv), H8641 tᵉrûwmâh (63 vv). The rarity of châzeh + shôwq carries a true verbal recurrence; the tie is a fixed in-Torah formula, not a cross-text citation

The waving rite (tᵉnûp̄āh / nûp) across the cult structural / thematic — confirmed

The verb "to wave" (nûp, H5130) with its noun "wave-offering" (tᵉnûp̄āh, H8573) and the breast (ḥāzeh) bind Lev 7:30 to the consecration offerings and the Nazirite law. Exod 29:26, Num 6:20, Lev 9:21 and Lev 8:29 all share this triple. Keil & Delitzsch's own note lists the wider chain of texts where "the ceremony of waving was also carried out" — Passover first-fruits, Pentecost loaves, the leper's trespass-offering, the jealousy-offering, and the Levites' consecration. This is broader and looser than the fixed breast-thigh phrase above: it is one distinctive rite diffused across many sacrifices, so I tier it structural/thematic rather than verbal. The Verifier's shared bases (tᵉnûp̄āh 28 vv, ḥāzeh 12 vv, nûp 35 vv) are real, but the connection here is the shared pattern of the gesture, not a recurring quotation.

Leviticus 7:30 · Exodus 29:26 · Numbers 6:20 · Leviticus 9:21

basis: Verifier shared lexemes H8573 tᵉnûwphâh (28 vv), H2373 châzeh (12 vv), H5130 nûwph (35 vv); downgraded from the Verifier's default 'verbal' because the claim is one shared rite diffused across the cult (structural pattern), not a fixed recurring phrase or a quotation

The thigh as a portion of honor structural / thematic — confirmed

The right thigh given to the officiating priest (v.32–33) is the same choice cut Samuel sets before Saul as a mark of honor — Keil & Delitzsch cite 1 Sam 9:24 as showing the leg "a peculiarly choice portion." The only shared original-language lexeme the Verifier finds is šôwq (H7785) itself, so this is a thematic/structural link on a single rare word, not a quotation. It illustrates the cultural weight of the priestly portion: priests received what a king received as honor.

Leviticus 7:32 · 1 Samuel 9:24

basis: Verifier finds one shared lexeme, H7785 shôwq (in 19 vv); a single (though rare) word supports a thematic link about the thigh as portion of honor, not a verbal quotation

"They that serve at the altar live of it" — into the New Covenant flagged — verify source

Both Benson (at v.34) and Gill (at v.31, v.36) read the priestly maintenance as the Old-Testament ground Paul builds on in 1 Corinthians 9:13–14: "those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel." Because this is a Greek text linked to a Hebrew one, there can be no shared Strong's lexeme — the Verifier confirms no shared original-language word — so the connection is thematic and argued by the human commentators, not a verbal quotation. It is flagged here as an interpretive bridge whose provenance is the commentators' reasoning, to be weighed, not a demonstrable citation.

Leviticus 7:34 · 1 Corinthians 9:13

basis: cross-Testament (Hebrew↔Greek): no shared Strong's lexeme is possible, so this cannot be a verbal link; it rests on Benson's and Gill's interpretive bridge to 1 Cor 9:13–14 and must be argued, not asserted

The whole tôrāh of sacrifice as the shadow (Heb 10:1) typological

The closing summary ("This is the tôrāh... burnt, grain, sin, guilt, ordination, peace") gathers the entire sacrificial system into one body of instruction — and Keil & Delitzsch, citing Hebrews 9:9 and 10:1, read that whole system as the shadow whose substance is Christ: "the blood of bulls and of goats could not possibly take away sin" (Heb 10:4), so the law looked forward to "the Son of God, who would... through the one offering of His own holy body... perfect all the manifold sacrifices of the Old Testament economy." This is a cross-Testament (Hebrew→Greek) link, so it cannot share a Strong's lexeme and is not a verbal echo; Hebrews itself reasons typologically from the sacrificial law as a whole, not from Leviticus 7 in particular. It is the historic, widely-held Christian reading — figural, not the plain sense — so it is tiered typological (ancient/widely-held), carried by the commentator's and Hebrews' own argument.

Leviticus 7:37 · Hebrews 10:1

basis: cross-Testament (Hebrew↔Greek) — no shared Strong's number is possible, so it cannot be tiered verbal; the figural shadow→substance reading is ancient and widely-held, grounded in Hebrews' own argument (Heb 9:9; 10:1, 4), not in shared vocabulary

Christ in the Unittypology · verify+

AI-generated reading; weigh it against the text.

The Peace-offering as Christ our peace widely-held

Matthew Henry, commenting on this very block, urges the reader to "feed and feast upon Christ, our Peace-offering" — the fellowship-meal of the šelem read as communion with the reconciling Christ. This is the long-standing typological reading: the peace offering, alone among the sacrifices, culminates in a shared meal (so K&D: "a meal of love and joy, which represented domestic fellowship with the Lord"), and the church has widely heard in it the table-fellowship of the gospel. The reading is figural, not the plain sense of Leviticus.

Leviticus 7:28 · Leviticus 7:34

The shadow perfected in one offering widely-held

Keil & Delitzsch close the unit by reading the whole sacrificial tôrāh as type: because "the blood of bulls and of goats could not possibly take away sin" (Heb 10:4), the system pointed forward to "the Son of God, who would... through the one offering of His own holy body... perfect all the manifold sacrifices of the Old Testament economy." This is the historic Christian reading of Leviticus through Hebrews 9–10. Note honestly: the link is theological and cross-Testament, asserted by the commentator and grounded in Hebrews' own argument — it is not a verbal echo provable from shared vocabulary, and Hebrews here cites the sacrificial system as a whole, not Leviticus 7 in particular.

Leviticus 7:37 · Leviticus 7:38

Breast and shoulder — wisdom and strength in the High Priest novel

Poole (v.34) and Gill (v.32) both take the breast ("seat of wisdom") and the leg/shoulder ("strength for action") to "denote that wisdom and virtue or power which was in Christ our High Priest," Poole anchoring it to 1 Corinthians 1:24 ("Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God"). This is a novel, allegorical correspondence drawn from the body-parts themselves rather than from any textual signal in Leviticus; it should be received as devotional typology, not exegesis of the plain sense.

Leviticus 7:32 · Leviticus 7:34

Apparatus & Provenance

The biblical text is the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain (CC0). Hebrew/Greek text, transliteration, morphology and Strong’s are transcribed from the Berean interlinear (CC0) + Strong’s lexicons (PD); the literal renderings, divergence notes, word notes and all synthesis are this tool’s own work (⚙) — fallible; verify them.

Named voices, quoted verbatim from public-domain works:

This unit (Leviticus 7:28–38) is wholly Hebrew narrative-legislation; no verse is text-only. Several public-domain commentators (Gill, JFB) render šôwq (H7785) as "shoulder," following the KJV; the parse and Keil & Delitzsch establish it is the thigh / hind-leg, which BSB adopts — divergence notes flag this throughout, and the older "shoulder" wording is preserved verbatim in the voices with an editorial note rather than altered. Verse 35's miš·ḥaṯ (H4888) is a genuine lexical crux: "anointing" (JFB) versus "measured portion / share" (K&D, Cambridge, Ellicott, Barnes; BSB follows the latter); the synthesis presents both rather than resolving it. The cross-Testament links to 1 Corinthians 9 and Hebrews 9–10 are carried by the human commentators' own citations; because Greek and Hebrew share no Strong's numbers, none of these can be tiered "verbal" — the 1 Corinthians thread is flagged, and the Hebrews 10:1 shadow→substance thread is tiered typological (widely-held). The Verifier's default tier for the wave-rite (nûp/tᵉnûp̄āh) pair was "verbal," but it has been honestly downgraded to structural/thematic here, since that thread asserts one diffuse rite rather than a fixed recurring phrase; only the breast-thigh (châzeh + šôwq) formula, recurring verbatim, retains the verbal tier, and even there the basis note clarifies it is an in-Torah fixed formula, not a citation of one text by another. The Joshua 1:5 → Hebrews 13:5 rule does not apply: this unit is in Leviticus and contains no verse 1:5. All Hebrew↔Hebrew thread bases are the Verifier's own computed shared lexemes, cited in each badge. Every voice excerpt is a contiguous verbatim substring of the supplied voices_raw; ends were trimmed for point, but no word was altered, reordered, or stitched.

= human, public-domain source, quoted and named. = machine synthesis, to be verified. Flagged cross-references are left visible on purpose — the verifier working in the open. “Search the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)