Exodus 29:23 kjv

And one loaf of bread, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the LORD:

Exodus 29:23 nkjv

one loaf of bread, one cake made with oil, and one wafer from the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the LORD;

Exodus 29:23 niv

From the basket of bread made without yeast, which is before the LORD, take one round loaf, one thick loaf with olive oil mixed in, and one thin loaf.

Exodus 29:23 esv

and one loaf of bread and one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before the LORD.

Exodus 29:23 nlt

Then take one round loaf of bread, one thin cake mixed with olive oil, and one wafer from the basket of bread without yeast that was placed in the LORD's presence.

Exodus 29 verses

Exodus 29 23 Meaning

Exodus 29:23 details the precise components of a cereal offering that are to be taken from a specific "basket of unleavened bread" during the ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons. These elements – one round loaf of bread, one cake saturated with oil, and one thin wafer – are meticulously prescribed by God to symbolize provision, purity, and divine consecration necessary for those set apart for sacred service. The offering is designated to be placed "before the LORD," signifying its presentation to Him for acceptance and sanctification, making the priests ritually clean and fit for their holy duties in the Tabernacle.

Exodus 29 23 Context

Exodus chapter 29 outlines the intricate and solemn seven-day consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons to formally install them as priests for Israel. This specific chapter immediately follows the detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings, emphasizing that the holy place requires holy servants. Verse 23 is a meticulous instruction for a specific component of the grain offering (a minchah offering), which is part of a larger set of sacrifices, including a sin offering and a burnt offering (verses 10-22), for the purification and dedication of the priests. The precise items, their preparation, and their presentation "before the LORD" underline the gravity and divine appointment of the priestly office. The historical and cultural context reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of dedicating religious functionaries, but unlike surrounding pagan cults, Israel's consecration rituals were singular in their emphasis on YHWH's explicit command, moral purity, and meticulous adherence to divine law rather than human innovation or magical practices.

Exodus 29 23 Word analysis

• וְכִכַּר (ve-kikkar): "And a loaf/round cake."

  • Literally "and a circle" or "disk," hence a round loaf of bread.
  • Significance: Denotes a common, substantial piece of bread, yet specifically shaped. Represents general provision or sustenance.

• לֶחֶם (lechem): "Bread."

  • Fundamental staple of life, essential sustenance.
  • Symbolizes life, nourishment, and God's faithful provision for His people, anticipating Christ as the Bread of Life (Jn 6:35).

• אֶחַת (echat): "One" (feminine singular).

  • Emphasizes singularity and precision in divine instructions. Each item is distinctly prescribed.

• וְחַלַּת (ve-challah): "And a pierced/perforated cake" or "ring-shaped cake."

  • Indicates a specific type of bread or cake, possibly having holes or a particular preparation for offerings. Distinct from a common loaf, signifying its ritualistic purpose.

• לֶחֶם שֶׁמֶן (lechem shemen): "Bread of oil" or "cake with oil."

  • Significance of shemen (oil): Anointing, consecration, setting apart for holy use. In the Old Testament, it often symbolized joy, prosperity, and later, the Holy Spirit (as seen in Christ's anointing). This item is permeated with oil, suggesting deep dedication and spiritual enablement.

• וְרָקִיק (ve-raqiq): "And a wafer."

  • A very thin, unleavened cake.
  • Significance: Often associated with speed and purity due to its unleavened nature, as seen in Passover. It speaks of a purified, uncorrupted offering.

• אֶחָד (echad): "One" (masculine singular).

  • Similar emphasis as echat, affirming precise divine instruction.

• מִסַּל (mi-sal): "From the basket of."

  • Indicates the immediate source. The basket (sal) holds the pre-prepared offering, signifying readiness and completeness of the priestly sustenance for dedication.

• הַמַּצּוֹת (ha-matzot): "The unleavened breads/cakes."

  • Refers collectively to matzah, bread made without yeast.
  • Central symbolic meaning: Purity, haste (as in the Exodus from Egypt, Exo 12:34), freedom from corruption. In New Testament theology, "leaven" often represents sin (1 Cor 5:6-8), making unleavened bread a symbol of Christ's sinlessness and the purity required for worship.

• אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי יְהוָה (asher lifnei YHWH): "Which is before the LORD."

  • Crucial liturgical phrase meaning "in the presence of YHWH."
  • Significance: This phrase elevates the mundane to the sacred. The offering is presented directly to God, implying His direct receipt, acceptance, and the sanctification that occurs in His holy presence. It signifies the solemnity and divine direction of the priestly ritual.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "one loaf of bread, and one cake of bread with oil, and one wafer": This tripartite offering represents distinct yet unified aspects of dedication. Each item's unique composition (round loaf, oil-infused cake, thin wafer) conveys varied facets of purity, provision, and divine endowment required for priestly service, highlighting God's meticulous nature.
  • "out of the basket of unleavened bread": This phrase pinpoints the origin of these specific items, not as raw ingredients but as pre-prepared, ritualistically clean (unleavened) components from a complete collection. The "basket" suggests a full and perfect offering ready for presentation.
  • "that is before the LORD": This ultimate qualifier specifies the divine recipient and the sacred space for the ritual. It indicates the profound holiness and divine acceptance of the priestly consecration, where the priests are set apart directly in God's presence, highlighting His ownership and design for worship.

Exodus 29 23 Bonus section

The consistent use of the number "one" for each type of bread emphasizes individuality and specific attention to detail in God's instructions. This reflects His comprehensive and exhaustive nature when establishing covenants and sacred rites. Nothing in His design for worship is arbitrary or left to human discretion. The threefold division of the bread (loaf, cake with oil, wafer) could also implicitly signify completeness or wholeness in dedication, representing different aspects of the offering. Moreover, the entire process in Exodus 29, including this verse, underscores the principle that human beings cannot approach a holy God on their own terms, but only according to His divine revelation and provision for purification. These shadow pictures were essential until the reality came in Christ, the ultimate priest, sacrifice, and perfect fulfillment of all such Old Covenant types.

Exodus 29 23 Commentary

Exodus 29:23 provides intricate details of the cereal offering crucial for the ordination of the Levitical priesthood. The precise enumeration and description of the "one loaf," "one cake with oil," and "one wafer," all from a "basket of unleavened bread," highlight the divine meticulousness in matters of sacred service. Each element carried significant symbolism: the bread for sustenance and life, the oil for divine anointing and the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the unleavened nature for purity, uncorrupted by sin or corruption. These offerings were not merely symbolic acts but physical expressions of total dedication to YHWH, whose holiness demanded perfect adherence to His instructions. The explicit mention of being "before the LORD" reinforces the idea that the priestly office was God-ordained and centered on worship and service in His direct presence, serving as mediators for the covenant community. This precise preparation and presentation were crucial for God's acceptance and the effective sanctification of Aaron and his sons, foreshadowing the perfect, singular offering and Spirit-anointed Priesthood of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself as the pure, unblemished Lamb.