Exodus 29:26 kjv

And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration, and wave it for a wave offering before the LORD: and it shall be thy part.

Exodus 29:26 nkjv

"Then you shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration and wave it as a wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be your portion.

Exodus 29:26 niv

After you take the breast of the ram for Aaron's ordination, wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your share.

Exodus 29:26 esv

"You shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron's ordination and wave it for a wave offering before the LORD, and it shall be your portion.

Exodus 29:26 nlt

Then take the breast of Aaron's ordination ram, and lift it up in the LORD's presence as a special offering to him. Then keep it as your own portion.

Exodus 29 verses

Exodus 29 26 Meaning

Exodus 29:26 outlines a specific ritual act during the ordination of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. Moses is commanded to take the breast portion from the ram designated for the priests' ordination and present it before the Lord by performing the ritual of waving. This act dedicates the portion to the Lord, after which it becomes a holy portion designated for Aaron as the high priest, signifying his right and provision from the Lord's table. It represents his consecrated sustenance for divine service.

Exodus 29 26 Context

Exodus chapter 29 details the elaborate ritual for consecrating Aaron and his sons to serve as priests, establishing the foundational structure for worship in ancient Israel. This chapter sets forth the meticulous procedures involving washes, priestly garments, anointing with oil, and specific sacrifices. Verse 26 occurs as part of the third sacrifice during this seven-day ordination ceremony—the ram of ordination. After the sin offering and burnt offering, the ram of ordination is offered, which specifically consecrated the priests and provided them with portions for sustenance, indicating their exclusive right to consume what God had consecrated for them. This verse, therefore, highlights a pivotal moment where the divine command for priestly sustenance through offerings is instituted through a distinct ritual known as the "wave offering," performed "before the Lord," emphasizing its sacred nature and direct presentation to God. The historical context is Israel at Mount Sinai, where the Mosaic covenant is being established, setting up the Levitical priesthood as central mediators between God and His people, distinguishing them through specific duties and provisions.

Exodus 29 26 Word analysis

• You shall take (וְלָקַחְתָּ - ve’laqachta): A direct command given by God to Moses, indicating the mandatory nature of this action. It implies a specific, deliberate acquisition for a sacred purpose, not a casual taking.
• the breast (אֶת־הֶחָזֶה - et-hechazeh): Refers to the chest or breast portion of the animal. In sacrificial law, the breast, especially from peace offerings, was typically designated for the priest (Lev 7:31). It's a choice cut, signifying value and the priest's honorable provision.
• from the ram of ordination (מֵאֵיל הַמִּלֻּאִים - mei'eil hammillu'im): Lit. "ram of the fillings." This specific ram is used in the unique "filling of the hand" ceremony, signifying the installation and empowering of the priests for service. It's the consecration sacrifice, not a regular offering.
• and wave it (וְהֵנַפְתָּ - ve'henafta): Refers to the ritual act of tenuphah (wave offering). The offering was moved back and forth horizontally, symbolically presenting it to God and then receiving it back from Him, highlighting His ownership and the priest's right to receive from His portion. It also represented the movement between the people (givers) and God (recipient).
• as a wave offering (תְּנוּפָה - tenuphah): The noun for the ritual act, emphasizing its distinct category among offerings. It denotes presentation, dedication, and sometimes a symbolic transfer of ownership to God before a portion is returned to the priest.
• before the Lord (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - lifnei YHWH): Signifies that the act is performed in God's immediate presence, in the sacred space (likely the entrance of the Tabernacle), affirming divine oversight and acceptance. It makes the act divinely validated.
• it shall be (וְהָיָה - ve'hayah): Indicates a permanent outcome or status resulting from the action.
• a holy portion (קֹדֶשׁ - qodesh): Declares its sacred status, meaning "set apart." It's consecrated for God's specific use and then assigned to the priest, becoming holy by dedication and appropriation. This distinguishes it from common food.

• "You shall take...and wave it": This phrase encapsulates the central action – a divine command dictating the specific ritual gesture for dedication. The 'taking' indicates selection and ownership for a sacred purpose, while 'waving' symbolizes presentation and transfer of consecration.
• "the breast from the ram of ordination...as a wave offering": This grouping identifies the precise offering (breast), its unique source (consecration ram), and the prescribed ritual action (wave offering). It links the animal sacrifice directly to the priestly inauguration, signifying that the priest's sustenance and authority are rooted in this foundational consecration act. The breast often represented the heart or vitality, a vital portion.
• "before the Lord, a holy portion": These terms establish the divine recipient, the sacred location, and the ultimate status of the offering. Performing it "before the Lord" underscores accountability and acceptance by God. Its designation as "a holy portion" confirms its divine ownership and its separation for sacred consumption by the priest, thereby signifying the priest’s living dependence upon God’s provision through sacrifice. This also polemically asserts Yahweh's claim over priestly sustenance, contrasting with other religions where priests might rely solely on human generosity or idol offerings.

Exodus 29 26 Bonus section

The distinction between the "wave offering" (תְּנוּפָה tenuphah) and the "heave offering" (תְּרוּמָה terumah) is crucial in Levitical law, though sometimes the terms overlap conceptually in common parlance. While tenuphah (waving back and forth) symbolized presenting to God and receiving back for the priest, terumah (lifting up, setting apart) often implied taking a portion from a larger quantity and setting it aside for the sacred. In many instances, the wave offering's portion eventually became a heave offering for the priests, solidifying their right to it. The ram of ordination's breast became Aaron's exclusive right as a holy portion, ensuring his spiritual and physical sustenance derived directly from his dedicated service and God's provision. This was part of a larger system that demonstrated God's careful arrangement for all aspects of worship and service, ensuring His chosen mediators were properly sustained and distinguished.

Exodus 29 26 Commentary

Exodus 29:26 is foundational for understanding the unique position and provision of the Aaronic priesthood. The ritual of waving the ram's breast signifies more than a mere physical act; it is a profound declaration of divine ownership and provision. By being waved "before the Lord," the portion is ritually consecrated to God, after which He then designates it for Aaron, transforming it into "a holy portion" for the high priest. This act of "filling the hands" with portions of the sacrifices directly correlates the priest's sustenance to their sacred duty, underscoring that their livelihood is inextricably linked to their service and the altar. It highlights the divine establishment of the priestly role and their reliance solely on God's gifts, setting them apart from the common Israelites and emphasizing their unique covenant relationship. This provision allowed them to devote themselves entirely to their service without seeking other forms of livelihood, illustrating a model of dedicated service supported directly by the worship system they ministered within.