The Grain Offering—Priests’ Portion
Leviticus 6:14-23
Lev.6.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- על: PREP
- מחבת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בשמן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תעשה: VERB,qal,imf,2,m,sg
- מרבכת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תביאנה: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- תפיני: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- מנחת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- פתים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- תקריב: VERB,qal,imf,2,m,sg
- ריח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ניחח: ADJ,m,sg
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Lev.2.4-7 (verbal): Prescribes the same pan‑baked cake with oil as a grain offering and uses similar language (pan, oil, sweet aroma to the LORD).
- Num.28.5-7 (thematic): Daily grain offering described as fine flour mixed with oil presented as a pleasing aroma alongside the burnt offering—parallels the ritual elements and purpose of Lev.6:14.
- Exod.29.2-3 (thematic): Priestly consecration includes unleavened cakes/loaves of fine flour and oil; shares vocabulary and cultic function (food/offerings prepared with oil for the LORD).
- Lev.6.15 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same statute: distribution of the pan‑cake offering to Aaron and his sons and the perpetual nature of this minchah, showing the ritual and legal context of Lev.6:14.
Alternative generated candidates
- On a griddle it shall be made with oil; well mixed you shall bring it; you shall present it baked, a grain offering of pieces, as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
- On a griddle with oil it shall be made; well-mixed you shall bring it; baked pieces, a grain offering, you shall present as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Lev.6.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והכהן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- המשיח: NOUN,m,sg,def
- תחתיו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- מבניו: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons+PRON,3,m,sg
- יעשה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- חק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- כליל: ADV
- תקטר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Leviticus 6:9–13 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same chapter prescribing the priest's ongoing duty to keep the fire and perform the offerings; repeats the idea of a perpetual statute and the priestly responsibility.
- Exodus 29:38–42 (verbal): Prescribes a continual burnt offering 'morning and evening' as an ordinance forever for Israel, using similar language about perpetual/everlasting cultic prescriptions for the priestly service.
- Numbers 18:1–7 (thematic): Assigns the priests (Aaron and his sons) their duties and responsibility for the sanctuary service, emphasizing the hereditary, ongoing nature of priestly obligations.
- Psalm 110:4 (verbal): Declares 'You are a priest forever' (olam), echoing the idea of an enduring/priestly office and the term 'forever' used of priesthood in the OT.
- Hebrews 7:23–25 (allusion): New Testament reflection on permanent priesthood (Christ's eternal priesthood) that engages the OT theme of a priestly office enduring 'forever,' contrasting/transcending the Aaronic model described in Leviticus.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the anointed priest who succeeds him from among his sons shall perform it; a perpetual statute for the LORD: it shall be burned whole.
- And the anointed priest in his place from among his sons shall make it; a perpetual statute to the LORD: wholly it shall be turned into smoke.
Lev.6.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- מנחת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- כהן: NOUN,m,sg,const
- כליל: ADV
- תהיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,f,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- תאכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Leviticus 2:3 (verbal): Regulation for the grain (meal) offering: the priest is to burn part of the cereal offering on the altar as a pleasing aroma — connects verbally and thematically with instructions about what portions of meal-offerings are to be burned rather than eaten.
- Leviticus 7:11-15 (structural): Lays out which portions of peace/meat offerings are for the priests to eat and which are to be burned; provides the structural contrast within Levitical law between offerings that priests may consume and those that are not to be eaten (as in Lev. 6:16).
- Numbers 18:11 (thematic): Part of the priestly entitlement laws that distinguish offerings reserved for the altar from those given to the priests — thematically highlights the distribution of sacrificial portions and the special status of offerings 'not to be eaten.'
- Deuteronomy 18:3 (thematic): Summarizes the priests' due from sacrifices (parts allowed to be eaten by the priest); useful as a contrast to Lev.6:16, which specifies a class of meal-offering that is not for consumption.
- Ezekiel 44:31 (allusion): Later priestly legislation stressing that certain holy things must not be profaned by common use; alludes to the enduring principle that some offerings are to be reserved for God (burned) rather than consumed by humans.
Alternative generated candidates
- And every grain offering of a priest shall be wholly burned; it shall not be eaten.
- And every grain offering of a priest shall be wholly burned; it shall not be eaten.
Lev.6.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Lev.1.1 (verbal): Identical opening formula ('וידבר יהוה אל־משה לאמר') introducing the laws on offerings—same structural device of God speaking to Moses to convey cultic regulations.
- Lev.4.1 (verbal): Same formulaic introduction to the section on the sin offering; shows repeated use of 'וידבר יהוה אל־משה לאמר' to frame priestly legislation.
- Exod.25.1 (structural): Uses the same divine-to-Moses speech formula to introduce instructions for contributions and the tabernacle—parallels the communicative pattern of command and legislation.
- Num.28.1 (structural): God speaks to Moses with the same introductory formula to give commands about daily and festival sacrifices, underlining the continuity of cultic instruction through Moses.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
- And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Lev.6.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- בניו: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- תורת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- החטאת: NOUN,f,sg,def
- במקום: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- תשחט: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- העלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,def
- תשחט: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- החטאת: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לפני: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- קדש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- קדשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Leviticus 1:11 (verbal): Uses the same cultic formula of killing the burnt offering “before the LORD” and specifies the place of slaughter — parallels the instruction that the sin‑offering be slain where the burnt offering is killed.
- Leviticus 4:4 (verbal): In the sin‑offering ritual the animal is brought and laid before the LORD and then slaughtered; echoes the procedural language and placement of the sin‑offering in Lev 6:18.
- Leviticus 6:19 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same chapter that continues treatment of the sin‑offering, stating sacrificial regulations about priests eating it and repeating that it is “most holy” — echoes the phrase קדש קדשים.
- Leviticus 7:1 (thematic): Declares the law of the trespass/guilt offerings and likewise emphasizes their sanctity (“it is most holy”), linking to the broader theme of proper place and handling of holy offerings.
Alternative generated candidates
- Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying: This is the instruction for the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered the sin offering shall be slaughtered before the LORD; it is most holy.
- Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying: This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered shall the sin offering be slaughtered before the LORD; it is most holy.
Lev.6.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- המחטא: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- יאכלנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- במקום: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קדש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תאכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- בחצר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אהל: NOUN,m,sg,construct
- מועד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 29:33-34 (verbal): Speaks of priests eating portions of consecration 'at the doorway of the tent of meeting' — closely parallels the requirement that the priest eats the sacred portion in the holy place/at the tent of meeting.
- Leviticus 7:6-7 (thematic): Regulates who may eat parts of offerings (priests) and that these portions are to be eaten in a holy place, echoing the rule that the priest who makes atonement shall eat them in the sanctuary.
- Numbers 18:9-11 (thematic): Declares that sin and guilt offerings are 'most holy' and belong to Aaron and his sons, linking the priestly right/duty to consume certain sacrificial portions described in Lev 6:19.
- Leviticus 10:12-15 (structural): Moses' instruction that any remaining grain offering be eaten by Aaron's surviving sons 'unleavened beside the altar' (because it is most holy) parallels the rule that sacred portions are to be consumed by priests in the sacred precinct.
Alternative generated candidates
- The priest who makes atonement with it shall eat it; in a holy place it shall be eaten; in the court of the tent of meeting it shall be eaten.
- The priest who offers it as a sin offering shall eat it; in a holy place it shall be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.
Lev.6.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כל: DET
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יגע: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בבשרה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יקדש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ואשר: CONJ+PRON,rel
- יזה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מדמה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
- על: PREP
- הבגד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יזה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עליה: PREP,3,f,sg
- תכבס: VERB,nifal,impf,3,f,sg
- במקום: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קדש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Leviticus 6:25 (verbal): Same chapter's regulation linking contact with sacrificial flesh (or consumption) to required holiness for priests — repeats the formula that one who touches/eats must be holy.
- Leviticus 22:4-7 (thematic): Priestly purity rules: a priest who becomes unclean by contact (e.g., with a corpse) is barred from eating holy things until purified — parallels concern for holiness after contact with potentially contaminating substances.
- Numbers 19:11-19 (verbal): The laws of purification after touching a corpse include sprinkling and washing clothes/bodies on specified days — closely parallels the instruction to wash garments sprinkled with sacrificial blood in a holy place.
- Leviticus 15:4-5 (thematic): Laws about bodily discharges require washing clothes and bathing after contact with contaminated beds or persons — similar concern for washing garments after contact with ritual blood/contaminants.
- Leviticus 14:8-9 (thematic): Ritual cleansing of a person healed of skin disease requires washing garments and bathing as part of purification — another instance of garment-washing as part of restoring ritual purity.
Alternative generated candidates
- Whatever touches its flesh shall become holy; and when any of its blood is sprinkled on a garment, the garment on which it is sprinkled you shall wash in a holy place.
- Whatever touches its flesh shall become holy; and when any of its blood is sprinkled on a garment, that on which it is sprinkled shall be washed in a holy place.
Lev.6.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וכלי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- חרש: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- תבשל: VERB,qal,imprf,2,ms,sg
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ישבר: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,sg
- ואם: CONJ
- בכלי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נחשת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בשלה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ומרק: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ושטף: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- במים: PREP
Parallels
- Leviticus 6:20-23 (verbal): Immediate context/parallel within the same section repeating and elaborating the rule about breaking earthen vessels and scouring brazen ones that have been used with sacrificial meat.
- Leviticus 11:32-33 (verbal): Prescribes that earthen vessels which become contaminated by carcasses must be broken, while other vessels are to be cleansed—very close verbal and ritual parallel about handling contaminated utensils.
- Numbers 19:11-13 (thematic): Addresses ritual impurity from contact with the dead and the required purification of persons and vessels, connecting to the broader concern for how objects are treated after contamination.
- Leviticus 10:10-11 (thematic): Commands priests to distinguish between holy and unholy, clean and unclean so they may teach Israel the laws—provides theological rationale for detailed rules about breaking or cleansing vessels.
Alternative generated candidates
- And an earthen vessel in which it is cooked shall be broken; but if it has been cooked in a bronze vessel, it shall be scoured and rinsed in water.
- And an earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken; but if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, it shall be scoured and rinsed in water.
Lev.6.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כל: DET
- זכר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בכהנים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- יאכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- קדש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- קדשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Leviticus 22:10 (verbal): Same concern with who may eat 'holy things'—only those ritually fit and the priests are permitted to eat sacred portions (language and restriction parallel).
- Numbers 18:9-11 (structural): Allocates the LORD's holy portions to Aaron and his sons/Levites and describes their entitlement to eat certain offerings, paralleling the priestly share regulation.
- Deuteronomy 18:3-5 (thematic): Specifies the priests' portions from sacrifices (shoulder, breast, heave offering) and the principle that priests/Levites have no land inheritance but eat the holy gifts—same theological rationale.
- Ezekiel 44:30-31 (allusion): Later priestly legislation that priests are to eat sin, guilt and other offerings and are set apart to receive devoted things—echoes the exclusive right of priests to consume sacred food.
Alternative generated candidates
- Every male among the priests may eat it; it is most holy.
- Every male among the priests may eat it; it is most holy.
Lev.6.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- חטאת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יובא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מדמה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
- אל: NEG
- אהל: NOUN,m,sg,construct
- מועד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לכפר: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- בקדש: PREP
- לא: PART_NEG
- תאכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תשרף: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Leviticus 5:11 (verbal): Prescribes that a bird offered as a sin offering is to be burned up in the fire outside the camp—echoing the Leviticus 6:23 injunction that sin offerings brought to the tent of meeting are not to be eaten but burned.
- Leviticus 16:27 (verbal): On the Day of Atonement the animals whose blood was brought into the sanctuary are carried outside the camp and burned—another specific rule that atoning/sin-related sacrifices are to be burned rather than eaten.
- Leviticus 7:6–7 (cf. 7:15–18) (structural): Describes which portions of peace/thank offerings the priests may eat in the holy place; serves as a structural contrast to Lev 6:23, which forbids eating sin offerings brought for atonement.
- Hebrews 13:11–12 (allusion): Refers to the Levitical practice of burning carcasses outside the camp and applies it typologically to Christ’s suffering outside the gate—an explicit New Testament allusion to the ritual disposal of atoning offerings mentioned in Lev 6:23.
Alternative generated candidates
- And any sin offering whose blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the sanctuary shall not be eaten; it shall be burned in fire.
- And any sin offering whose blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the sanctuary shall not be eaten; it shall be burned with fire.
On a griddle it shall be made with oil; well mixed you shall bring it. Baked pieces you shall present as a grain offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. And the anointed priest who succeeds him from among his sons shall perform it; a statute forever to the LORD: it shall be turned to smoke in its entirety. And every grain offering of a priest shall be wholly burned; it shall not be eaten. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying: This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered the sin offering shall be slaughtered before the LORD; it is most holy.
The priest who offers it as a sin offering shall eat it; in a holy place it shall be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.
Whatever touches its flesh shall become holy; and when any of its blood is spattered on a garment, that on which it is spattered you shall wash in a holy place. And an earthenware vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken; but if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, it shall be scoured and rinsed in water.
Every male among the priests may eat it; it is most holy. But any sin offering from which blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the sanctuary shall not be eaten; it shall be burned with fire.