Leviticus 10 14

Leviticus 10:14 kjv

And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.

Leviticus 10:14 nkjv

The breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering you shall eat in a clean place, you, your sons, and your daughters with you; for they are your due and your sons' due, which are given from the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.

Leviticus 10:14 niv

But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a ceremonially clean place; they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites' fellowship offerings.

Leviticus 10:14 esv

But the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed you shall eat in a clean place, you and your sons and your daughters with you, for they are given as your due and your sons' due from the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the people of Israel.

Leviticus 10:14 nlt

But the breast and thigh that were lifted up as a special offering may be eaten in any place that is ceremonially clean. These parts have been given to you and your descendants as your portion of the peace offerings presented by the people of Israel.

Leviticus 10 verses

Leviticus 10 14 Meaning

Leviticus 10:14 specifies the entitlement of the priests (Aaron and his surviving sons) to consume specific portions of the peace offerings: the breast, which was waved (tenuphah), and the thigh, which was heaved (terumah). These portions, previously presented to God, were then designated for the priestly family – the priests themselves, their sons, and their daughters. This consumption had to occur in a ritually clean place, signifying the sacred nature of the provision that came directly from the Lord's sacrifices. It underscores God's generous and distinct provision for those dedicated to His service at the altar, acknowledging their sole dependence on His provision.

Leviticus 10 14 Context

Leviticus chapter 10 begins dramatically with the immediate judgment of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's elder sons, who offered "unauthorized fire" before the Lord and died instantly. This severe event sets a solemn tone, underscoring the absolute necessity of meticulous obedience in approaching God in worship and service. Following this judgment, specific instructions are given to Aaron and his two surviving sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, regarding their ongoing priestly duties and conduct, particularly concerning holy things.

Verses 8-11 establish the prohibition of priests drinking wine or strong drink when performing sacred duties in the Tent of Meeting, linking ritual purity to sound judgment. Verses 12-13 detail how Aaron and his remaining sons are to eat the highly holy portion of the grain offering and sin offering, emphasizing that these must be consumed in a very holy place within the tabernacle court.

Leviticus 10:14 then shifts focus from the most holy offerings (sin/grain offerings) to the peace offerings. The previous instruction for the sin offering in 10:17 even stipulated consuming it in "a holy place," not the most holy. Verse 14 provides the instruction for the lesser holy offerings, the peace offerings, where the priests’ family, including daughters, could eat the breast and thigh in a "clean place," which implies a ritually pure area within the camp, possibly even within their own priestly dwellings, contrasting with the much stricter eating regulations for sin and grain offerings. The overarching context is a clear differentiation of holiness levels regarding the various sacrifices and the associated regulations for their consumption, all against the backdrop of recent divine judgment. This specific verse highlights God's continuing care and provision for His consecrated servants and their families despite recent failures.

Leviticus 10 14 Word Analysis

• But: (אַךְ - akh) Introduces a contrast or a limiting condition. Here, it contrasts with the more restrictive rules for eating the sin and grain offerings given to the priests just prior.
• the breast: (הֶחָזֶה - he-khāzeh) Refers to the brisket or breast portion of the sacrificial animal. In Hebrew sacrificial ritual, it specifically points to the "breast of the wave offering" (chazeh hat-tenuphah).
• that is waved: (הַתְּנוּפָה - hat-tenuphah) Refers to the "wave offering." This was a ceremonial motion where the offering was moved horizontally back and forth before the altar by the priest, signifying its presentation to God, and symbolically moved out of God's possession back into the priest's possession as a divine grant. It denotes God's ownership and His subsequent granting back to His servants.
• and the thigh: (וְשׁוֹק - wě-shōq) Refers to the leg or thigh portion, specifically the "thigh of the heave offering" (shōq hat-terumah). In many interpretations, the "right thigh" was significant, perhaps the stronger, more valuable portion.
• that is heaved: (הַתְּרוּמָה - hat-terumah) Refers to the "heave offering." This was a ceremonial motion where the offering was lifted upward and downward by the priest, signifying its dedication and elevation to God. It highlights God's portion, lifted up to Him, then "returned" to the priest.
• you may eat: (תֹּאכְלוּ - tō'khlū) Imperfect verb, signifying permission or injunction for continuous action. It grants permission to consume these portions.
• in a clean place: (בְּמָקוֹם טָהוֹר - bĕ-māqôm ṭāhôr) A location ritually free from defilement. Unlike the "holy place" or "most holy place" for other sacrifices (Lev 10:13, 17), "clean place" for peace offerings allowed for consumption by the priestly family, potentially within their homes or designated eating areas within the camp, as long as they remained ceremonially pure. This differentiation in locale highlights the varying degrees of holiness associated with different types of offerings and who may consume them.
• you: Refers to Aaron, the High Priest, as the primary addressee, extending also to his surviving sons.
• and your sons: Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's remaining priestly sons, who were consecrated to serve.
• and your daughters with you: Significantly, daughters of priestly lineage were also permitted to partake of these specific portions. This is distinct from other holy offerings where only the male priests were allowed to eat, indicating that the peace offering was also a family meal, symbolizing God's full provision for the priest's household.
• for they are assigned to you: (כִּי־לְךָ הָיוּ - kî-ləkhā hāyū) Literally "for to you they have been." Emphasizes these portions are divinely given to the priests as their due.
• and your sons: Reiteration, emphasizing that the sons also have a right to this portion.
• as your portion: (חֹק - ḥōq) A fixed, perpetual statute or due. It signifies a decreed allowance or right established by divine law, indicating this was a permanent and obligatory provision.
• from the sacrifices of peace offerings: (מִזִּבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵיכֶם - mi-zzivḥê shalmekhem) Specifies the source. The shelamim (peace offerings) were typically offerings of fellowship, thanksgiving, or a vow. Unlike sin or burnt offerings, the layperson who brought the peace offering would also eat a portion after the Lord's share (fat) and the priest's share were set aside. This made it unique as a communal meal between God, priest, and offerer.

Words-group analysis:

• "the breast that is waved and the thigh that is heaved": These phrases specify the exact portions of the peace offering designated for the priests. The ritual of waving (tenuphah) and heaving (terumah) signified presentation to God (acknowledging His ownership) and subsequent return for the sustenance of His servants. They represent an act of consecration followed by divine granting.
• "you and your sons and your daughters with you": This grouping highlights the familial aspect of priestly provision for peace offerings. Unlike the stricter rules for sin/grain offerings, this portion explicitly extended to the entire household of the priest, including female members. It underscores the scope of God's covenantal provision for the priestly family in its entirety, enabling their dedication to His service.
• "for they are assigned to you and your sons as your portion": This emphasizes the divine decree behind this provision. It's not merely a concession but a foundational aspect of the Levitical law, guaranteeing sustenance to those without tribal land inheritance, whose inheritance was the Lord Himself and His service (Num 18:20, Deut 10:9).

Leviticus 10 14 Bonus section

The portions assigned to the priests, particularly the breast and thigh from the peace offerings, were generally meaty and nourishing parts of the animal. This was practical and necessary, as the priests and their families dedicated their lives to temple service and had no tribal land inheritance or other means of conventional livelihood. Their sustenance was intrinsically linked to the sacrifices brought by the people of Israel to the Lord. This arrangement fostered mutual dependence within the community of Israel: the people depended on the priests for mediation and instruction in divine laws, and the priests depended on the people's faithful offerings for their sustenance. The "wave" and "heave" gestures were ancient ritual forms, found in various ancient Near Eastern cultures, but here recontextualized within Israel's covenant with Yahweh, symbolizing both presentation to God and the specific manner of God's giving back to His servants. These priestly shares were perpetual, emphasizing a permanent divine statute for their upkeep.

Leviticus 10 14 Commentary

Leviticus 10:14 serves as a poignant reminder of God's structured grace and meticulous provision amidst the stark backdrop of judgment that opens the chapter. Following the immediate and severe death of Nadab and Abihu for their disobedience, God immediately pivots to affirming the sacred duties and the divine sustenance for the obedient priests. This verse is not just a logistical detail but a theological statement about divine order, holiness, and sustenance.

The "breast of the wave offering" and "thigh of the heave offering" are crucial. These actions were symbolic: the waving acknowledged God as the ultimate owner, moving the offering horizontally before Him; the heaving lifted the offering vertically, signifying it as God's portion. Once these symbolic presentations were made, God graciously "returned" these parts to the priests as their due. This signifies that the priests lived directly from God's "table," embodying their complete dependence on Him and affirming His faithfulness in sustaining those dedicated to His service. This portion was distinct because the peace offering symbolized communion and fellowship; hence, it was a broader meal shared by the priestly family, unlike the highly restrictive consumption of other offerings.

The explicit mention of "your sons and your daughters" underscores the family's shared reliance on God's provision through the priesthood. It signifies a family "inheritance" in service to God, as they had no other tribal land inheritance in Israel. The "clean place" requirement further emphasizes ritual purity, though less restrictive than the "holy place" for other offerings, maintaining the distinction between the most holy and holy. This established framework was vital for maintaining the spiritual and physical well-being of the Levitical priesthood, enabling them to minister without worldly distraction. The New Testament echo in 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 affirms the continuing principle: those who serve the Lord's house should be supported by the offerings given to the Lord, acknowledging God's consistent provision for His ministers.