Leviticus 10 15

Leviticus 10:15 kjv

The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be thine, and thy sons' with thee, by a statute for ever; as the LORD hath commanded.

Leviticus 10:15 nkjv

The thigh of the heave offering and the breast of the wave offering they shall bring with the offerings of fat made by fire, to offer as a wave offering before the LORD. And it shall be yours and your sons' with you, by a statute forever, as the LORD has commanded."

Leviticus 10:15 niv

The thigh that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the food offerings, to be waved before the LORD as a wave offering. This will be the perpetual share for you and your children, as the LORD has commanded."

Leviticus 10:15 esv

The thigh that is contributed and the breast that is waved they shall bring with the food offerings of the fat pieces to wave for a wave offering before the LORD, and it shall be yours and your sons' with you as a due forever, as the LORD has commanded."

Leviticus 10:15 nlt

You must lift up the thigh and breast as a special offering to the LORD, along with the fat of the special gifts. These parts will belong to you and your descendants as your permanent right, just as the LORD has commanded."

Leviticus 10 verses

Leviticus 10 15 Meaning

Leviticus 10:15 describes the divinely ordained provision for Aaron and his sons, the priests, stipulating that the thigh of the heave offering and the breast of the wave offering, presented with the fat portions consumed by fire, are to be formally waved before the Lord. These portions are designated as a permanent, enduring right for the priests and their descendants, serving as their sacred due for their service in the tabernacle.

Leviticus 10 15 Context

Leviticus chapter 10 immediately follows the tragic deaths of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, who offered "unauthorized fire before the Lord" (Lev 10:1). This event profoundly underscores the critical importance of adhering precisely to divine commands regarding worship and priestly duties. Despite their loss, Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, are commanded to continue their priestly functions according to God's exact stipulations.

Verse 15 clarifies specific details regarding the priests' sacred portions from the peace offerings, reiterating a divine ordinance first detailed in Leviticus 7:30-34 and elaborated in Exodus 29:27-28. This verse reinforces that even amidst tragedy and mourning, the proper order of divine service and the ordained provisions for God's consecrated servants must be meticulously upheld. It serves as a reminder that their livelihood is intrinsically linked to their faithful performance of their sacred office, thereby maintaining the sanctity of the Tabernacle service. This precise instruction highlights the enduring nature of the priestly covenant and the orderly provision for those consecrated to serve the Holy God, differentiating sacred from profane and commanded from unauthorized.

Leviticus 10 15 Word analysis

• The thigh of the heave offering:
  • Thigh (שֹׁוק - shoq): Refers specifically to the right thigh. In ancient cultures, this was often considered a prime cut or significant portion, signifying honor. It was called a "heave offering" because it was literally "lifted up" or "set apart" as a contribution for God, and by extension, for His priests.
  • Heave offering (תְּרוּמָה - terumah): Derived from the verb rum (to lift up, to set apart). It signifies a portion designated for the priests, specifically "lifted up" or separated from the main sacrifice by the offerer and then given to the priest. This act recognized God's ownership and provision for His ministers.
• and the breast of the wave offering:
  • Breast (חָזֶה - chazeh): This specific part of the animal was distinct from the thigh.
  • Wave offering (תְּנוּפָה - tenuphah): Derived from the verb nuph (to wave, to sway back and forth). The priest would literally wave this portion before the Lord as an act of presentation, symbolizing the consecration of the offering to God and acknowledging that all comes from Him. After this symbolic presentation, it was given to the priest. It signified that this portion was given by God Himself to the priests, as if He were handing it back to them.
• they shall bring: This implies a ritual action performed by those responsible for the sacrifice (likely the offerer in conjunction with the priest). It underscores the required performance of this ritual act.
• with the offerings of fat by fire:
  • Offerings of fat (חֵלֶב - chelev): The fat, particularly the entrails and internal fat, was consistently specified as God's portion and was to be entirely consumed on the altar by fire (ishsheh).
  • By fire (אִשֶּׁה - ishsheh): Literally "a food offering made by fire." This term denotes a sacrifice that is burnt on the altar, consumed by fire. By associating the priests' portions "with" (or "alongside") these offerings, it emphasizes that the priests' portion is a distinct part, yet fundamentally connected to the overall offering made to God.
• to wave as a wave offering: This repetition of the verb nuph and noun tenuphah emphasizes the specific ritual of "waving" and ensures there is no ambiguity about the required action. It highlights the formal and symbolic nature of dedicating this part to God before it became the priests' sustenance.
• before the Lord: (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - lifney Yahweh): This phrase indicates that the act is done in God's presence, signifying its sacredness, acceptance, and approval. It implies a direct interaction and acknowledgment between the worshipper/priest and God Himself, making the offering divinely ratified.
• and it shall be yours and your sons' with you: This explicitly designates the beneficiaries: Aaron (representing the High Priest and, by extension, all priests) and his sons, extending the right to the priestly lineage. It personalizes the divine provision.
• as a perpetual due: (חֹק עוֹלָם - choq ‘olam):
  • Perpetual (עוֹלָם - ‘olam): Refers to something everlasting, unending, or belonging to a specific era without termination within that era. It signifies permanence and enduring validity through generations.
  • Due (חֹק - choq): Signifies a statute, ordinance, or an appointed portion. It is a legal and binding right or entitlement. Thus, choq ‘olam denotes an everlasting statute or an eternal ordinance, meaning it is a divinely established and permanent entitlement for the Aaronic priesthood as long as the covenant and tabernacle/temple service were in effect.

Leviticus 10 15 Bonus section

The meticulous detail regarding the priestly portions in Leviticus 10:15 highlights the interwoven nature of divine command, priestly duty, and divine provision. The emphasis on "perpetual due" reinforces the stability of God's covenant with the Levites (e.g., Num 25:13), signifying an enduring order for His worship and ministry. This detailed prescription serves not only as a means of sustenance for the priests but also as a constant reminder of the sanctity of their office and the precise nature of God's expectations for worship. It foreshadows the principle, extended in the New Testament, that those dedicated to sacred service should be sustained by the community for whom they minister, enabling them to devote themselves fully to their calling (e.g., 1 Tim 5:17-18). The distinction between God's portion (fat by fire) and the priests' portion ensures that while priests partake of the offering, they never usurp what belongs solely to God, thus preserving the absolute holiness and priority of the divine.

Leviticus 10 15 Commentary

Leviticus 10:15 provides specific instructions concerning the rightful portions for the priesthood from the peace offerings. Coming right after the catastrophic deaths of Nadab and Abihu, this detailed directive underscores God's unwavering commitment to an ordered, holy, and sustainable priesthood, despite human failures. The "thigh of the heave offering" and "breast of the wave offering" were not arbitrary cuts; their specific rituals of "lifting up" and "waving" symbolized consecration to God before their return as sustenance for His servants. The fat portions, burned by fire, were God's exclusive "food," establishing a clear demarcation between God's consecrated portion and the priests' due. The phrase "before the Lord" signifies that this act was divinely observed and accepted, thereby legitimatizing the priests' livelihood.

The declaration that these portions would be for Aaron and his sons "as a perpetual due" (Hebrew ḥoḳ ‘olam) signifies a binding, permanent ordinance. This wasn't merely a temporary stipend but a divinely guaranteed entitlement across generations, designed to sustain them in their dedicated service without requiring them to engage in secular labor. It reflects the theological principle that "those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel" (1 Cor 9:14), establishing a divine precedent for supporting those who minister in God's house. This provision underscores the holiness of the priests' office and God's faithfulness to provide for those consecrated to Him, while also demanding their meticulous adherence to His holy commands.