Exodus 29:28 kjv

And it shall be Aaron's and his sons' by a statute for ever from the children of Israel: for it is an heave offering: and it shall be an heave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifice of their peace offerings, even their heave offering unto the LORD.

Exodus 29:28 nkjv

It shall be from the children of Israel for Aaron and his sons by a statute forever. For it is a heave offering; it shall be a heave offering from the children of Israel from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, that is, their heave offering to the LORD.

Exodus 29:28 niv

This is always to be the perpetual share from the Israelites for Aaron and his sons. It is the contribution the Israelites are to make to the LORD from their fellowship offerings.

Exodus 29:28 esv

It shall be for Aaron and his sons as a perpetual due from the people of Israel, for it is a contribution. It shall be a contribution from the people of Israel from their peace offerings, their contribution to the LORD.

Exodus 29:28 nlt

In the future, whenever the people of Israel lift up a peace offering, a portion of it must be set aside for Aaron and his descendants. This is their permanent right, and it is a sacred offering from the Israelites to the LORD.

Exodus 29 verses

Exodus 29 28 Meaning

Exodus 29:28 establishes a divine ordinance ensuring the perpetual financial support of Aaron and his priestly descendants. It designates specific portions of the Israelites' peace offerings as a "heave offering" (terumah), which is a dedicated contribution lifted up to the Lord but given to the priests for their sustenance. This provision underscores their sacred role and permits them to serve without being burdened by secular concerns for livelihood.

Exodus 29 28 Context

Exodus chapter 29 details the elaborate and specific instructions for the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests, establishing the foundational ritual for their consecration to the Lord's service. The preceding verses in this chapter describe the precise sacrifices, vestments, and anointing rituals necessary to set apart the priests. Verse 28 specifically addresses a crucial aspect of the newly consecrated priesthood: their perpetual sustenance. Following their dedication to God's tabernacle service, this verse ensures their material needs are met through divinely ordained provisions from the communal sacrifices. Historically, priestly classes in many ancient cultures received support from the populace; however, here, Yahweh precisely stipulates the source and nature of this support directly from the offerings, emphasizing His ownership and provision, and reinforcing the covenantal relationship between God, the priests, and the Israelite community. This provision counters any potential for the priests to become economically dependent on non-sacred means or to neglect their duties due to lack of provision.

Exodus 29 28 Word analysis

• And it shall be Aaron's and his sons': This phrase immediately establishes the recipients of the designated portion: Aaron, the first High Priest, and his direct descendants. This indicates a hereditary right to the priestly provisions, tying it directly to the established Aaronic line. It emphasizes the continuity of the priestly office and its accompanying rights and responsibilities.
• as a perpetual due:
  • Hebrew: חֹק עוֹלָם (choq 'olam).
  • Choq (חֹק): A statute, ordinance, fixed portion, or prescribed limit. It denotes a binding divine decree.
  • Olam (עוֹלָם): Perpetual, everlasting, forever, for all time, of old.
  • Significance: This phrase underlines the enduring nature of this provision. It's not a temporary arrangement but an eternal, unchanging ordinance from God, mirroring the enduring nature of the covenant and the priesthood itself. It signifies divine institution for all generations of Israel.
• from the children of Israel: This specifies the source of the provision—the worshipping community. It underscores the people's responsibility and their part in supporting those who serve God, a communal act of faith and obedience. This act of giving connects the people directly to the holy service and its divine sustainment.
• for it is a heave offering:
  • Hebrew: כִּי תְרוּמָה הִיא (ki terumah hi).
  • Terumah (תְרוּמָה): A contribution, an offering lifted up or set apart from the general mass. It refers to something sacred separated from common use. Unlike burnt offerings wholly consumed, terumah was given to the priests for their sustenance, yet it was still consecrated to God.
  • Significance: Labeling it a terumah emphasizes that this is a portion presented to God, set apart as holy, and then designated by Him for His ministers. It indicates divine ownership and divine distribution, rather than simply being a human contribution or tax. It transforms the provision into a sacred act of dedication.
• and it shall be a heave offering from the children of Israel: This repetition emphasizes the designation of the priests' portion specifically as a terumah and reaffirms the source. It provides clarity and underscores the divine authority behind this economic model for the priesthood.
• of their sacrifices of peace offerings:
  • Hebrew: זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים (zivchey sh'lamim).
  • Zevach (זֶבַח): A sacrifice.
  • Shelem (שֶׁלֶם): Peace, wholeness, welfare, fellowship. From the root shalom (peace).
  • Significance: Peace offerings were distinct sacrifices focused on fellowship, thanksgiving, or a vow, expressing the worshipper's complete well-being and communion with God. Unlike other offerings primarily for atonement, portions of peace offerings were shared between the worshipper, God (burned on altar), and the priest. Granting the priests a portion from shalom offerings meant they participated in this intimate communion, symbolizing their integral role in facilitating reconciliation and fellowship between God and His people. It was a share in the sacred meal.
• to the Lord: This final phrase reiterates that even though the priests consume these portions, they are ultimately offerings given "to the Lord." It ensures the act is viewed as sacred devotion and not merely a payment or stipend. It reminds all parties that the system is consecrated and dedicated to God’s glory and purpose.

Exodus 29 28 Bonus Section

• Symbolic Significance of the Portion: The portions mentioned in related verses (e.g., the wave breast and heave thigh) from the peace offering were considered particularly choice cuts. Receiving these not only provided sustenance but also conferred honor upon the priests, symbolizing their esteemed position in God's covenant arrangement.
• Pagan Contrast: Unlike many contemporary pagan systems where priests might derive wealth from less regulated or even exploitative practices (e.g., selling religious artifacts, demanding arbitrary payments), the God of Israel provided a clear, defined, and holy method for the sustenance of His priests, rooted in communal offerings made for reconciliation and worship. This regulated provision maintained purity within the sacred system.
• Theological Continuity (Old to New Testament): The Old Testament provision for the Levites and priests, as outlined in this verse, sets a precedent for the New Testament principle of supporting those who labor in word and doctrine (1 Cor 9, Gal 6). The mechanism changed from sacrifices to gospel offerings, but the core principle of God providing for His servants through His people remains.
• The "Salt Covenant": In Numbers 18:19, this perpetual due is explicitly called "a perpetual covenant of salt," emphasizing its enduring, incorruptible, and binding nature, as salt was a preservative and a symbol of loyalty and lasting agreements.

Exodus 29 28 Commentary

Exodus 29:28 solidifies the economic foundation for the Aaronic priesthood's ongoing ministry within Israel. By designating specific parts of the communal peace offerings as a "perpetual due" and "heave offering" from the people "to the Lord," God ensures His chosen ministers' material needs are met through sacred, divinely ordained means. This prevents priests from being encumbered by secular concerns, enabling them to devote themselves entirely to tabernacle service and intercession. The fact that the provision comes from "peace offerings" highlights their participation in the very acts that symbolize fellowship and reconciliation between God and His people. It is a divine instruction fostering an interdependent relationship where the people's obedience in giving supports those consecrated for the Lord's service, recognizing the sacred nature of priestly sustenance and demonstrating God's provision for His kingdom work through His people.