Leviticus 17:2 kjv
Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying,
Leviticus 17:2 nkjv
"Speak to Aaron, to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, 'This is the thing which the LORD has commanded, saying:
Leviticus 17:2 niv
"Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: 'This is what the LORD has commanded:
Leviticus 17:2 esv
"Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the people of Israel and say to them, This is the thing that the LORD has commanded.
Leviticus 17:2 nlt
"Give the following instructions to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel. This is what the LORD has commanded.
Leviticus 17 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 12:1 | The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt... | God's commands often through Moses to Aaron. |
| Ex 35:1 | Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel... | Laws communicated to the entire community. |
| Lev 1:1 | The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting... | How God communicates with Moses. |
| Lev 10:11 | and that you may teach the sons of Israel all the statutes... | Priests' role in teaching God's laws. |
| Num 1:1 | The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting | Establishing location of divine command. |
| Deut 12:5-7 | you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose... | Centralized worship in a chosen place. |
| Deut 12:13-14 | Be careful not to offer your burnt offerings in every place... | Prohibition against unauthorized sacrifices. |
| 1 Sam 7:5-6 | Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray... | Importance of communal assembly and leaders. |
| Mal 2:7 | For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge... | Priest's duty to convey divine instruction. |
| Matt 28:19 | Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... | Universal reach of God's new covenant. |
| Luke 10:16 | The one who hears you hears Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me... | Importance of messengers relaying divine word. |
| Acts 2:37 | Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart... | Impact of the divine message on the people. |
| Rom 15:15-16 | ...to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering... | Spread of God's message beyond Israel. |
| Heb 4:14-16 | Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus... | Christ as the ultimate High Priest. |
| Heb 8:1 | Now the main point in what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest... | Emphasis on Christ's priesthood. |
| Heb 9:11-12 | But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things... | Christ's singular, effective sacrifice. |
| Heb 10:19-22 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places... | Direct access to God through Christ. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation... | Believers as a spiritual priesthood. |
| Rev 1:6 | and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father... | New Testament believers as priests. |
Leviticus 17 verses
Leviticus 17 2 Meaning
Leviticus 17:2 communicates a divine command from Yahweh, given through Moses, specifically directed to the high priest Aaron, his sons who serve as priests, and by extension, to all the Israelites. This instruction, part of the covenant laws given at Mount Sinai, emphasizes the solemn nature of the laws regarding sacrifices and worship, underscoring their universal application to the entire community of Israel and the pivotal role of the priesthood in mediating God's instructions. It sets the stage for the specific regulations that follow, particularly concerning the centralized and legitimate location for offering sacrifices to Yahweh.
Leviticus 17 2 Context
Leviticus chapter 17 is crucial as it transitions from laws governing personal and ceremonial purity (chapters 11-16) to laws concerning the proper offering of sacrifices, food consumption, and blood purity. It primarily addresses the necessity of centralizing all animal sacrifices at the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple), thereby prohibiting offerings made "in the open field" (Lev 17:3, 5). This mandate served to prevent idolatry, ritual impurity, and the syncretistic practices common among surrounding nations, such as sacrificing to "goat demons" (Lev 17:7). By establishing one legitimate place for atonement and fellowship with Yahweh, the chapter reinforces the covenant's singularity and Israel's unique relationship with their one true God.
Leviticus 17 2 Word analysis
- Speak (דַבֵּר - dabbēr): An imperative verb, signaling a direct and authoritative divine command. It conveys that these are not mere suggestions but binding stipulations from God. The form indicates that Moses is commanded to deliver this message clearly and without alteration, acting as God's precise mouthpiece.
- to Aaron (אֶל-אַהֲרֹן - ’el-’ahărōn): Refers to Aaron, the appointed High Priest, who serves as the head of the priestly lineage and the chief mediator between God and the people. His unique position makes him the primary recipient and communicator of priestly duties.
- and to his sons (וְאֶל-בָּנָיו - wə’el-bānāyw): This refers to the male descendants of Aaron who are designated as priests (kohanim). They are an essential part of the priestly hierarchy, responsible for assisting Aaron and carrying out various sacrificial and Tabernacle duties. Their inclusion ensures the continuation and proper execution of the priestly service.
- and to all the sons of Israel (וְאֶל-כָּל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - wə’el-kāl-bənē yiśrā’ēl): Encompasses the entire community of the covenant. While the instruction is first given to the priestly leaders, it underscores that the law applies to every Israelite, emphasizing communal responsibility, adherence to God's standards, and their collective identity as God's chosen people.
- and say to them (וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם - wə’āmārətā ’ălēhem): A reinforcing phrase. Dabber (speak) conveys the initial command to deliver the message, while we’amarta (and say) emphasizes the precise articulation of the specific statutes that follow, ensuring that the exact words of the divine law are transmitted to both priests and people. This indicates the precise nature and divine origin of the forthcoming instructions regarding proper worship.
Leviticus 17 2 Bonus section
This verse's emphasis on directed and centralized communication highlights a recurring biblical principle: God reveals His will through specific channels and for a specific people. Just as Moses, Aaron, and the priests were God's spokespersons and intermediaries in the Old Covenant, so too did God speak through prophets, and ultimately, fully in His Son, Jesus Christ (Heb 1:1-2). In the New Covenant, the emphasis shifts from a physical tabernacle/temple and an earthly priesthood to Christ as the ultimate High Priest and the Church as His body. All believers now have direct access to God through Christ (Heb 10:19-22) and collectively form a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9), called to proclaim God's excellencies. The structure of Leviticus 17:2, though ancient, sets a pattern for divine revelation: a divine initiator (Yahweh), a human channel (Moses), specific intermediaries (priesthood), and a commanded audience (all Israel), leading to the specific revelation (the statutes themselves).
Leviticus 17 2 Commentary
Leviticus 17:2 serves as the divine preamble to the regulations on centralized sacrifice, crucial for maintaining Israel's covenant purity and exclusive devotion to Yahweh. By addressing Aaron and his sons first, God underlines the indispensable role of the priesthood as both guardians and conduits of divine law. They are responsible for understanding, upholding, and teaching these holy statutes. Their duty is to ensure the people offer sacrifices correctly, preventing straying into pagan practices where offerings might be made anywhere and to any deity. Including "all the sons of Israel" means the law's stipulations were binding on every member of the community, underscoring that their corporate identity and blessedness depended on collective obedience to God's specific commands regarding proper worship and holiness. This centralized system served as a safeguard against spiritual adultery and ritual chaos, channeling all legitimate worship through the divinely appointed Tabernacle, symbolizing God's presence among them and providing a singular pathway for atonement and fellowship. It implicitly stands as a strong polemic against the scattered, idolatrous, and often abominable sacrificial rites of the Canaanites.