Leviticus 17 8

Leviticus 17:8 kjv

And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,

Leviticus 17:8 nkjv

"Also you shall say to them: 'Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice,

Leviticus 17:8 niv

"Say to them: 'Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice

Leviticus 17:8 esv

"And you shall say to them, Any one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice

Leviticus 17:8 nlt

"Give them this command as well. If any native Israelite or foreigner living among you offers a burnt offering or a sacrifice

Leviticus 17 verses

Leviticus 17 8 Meaning

Leviticus 17:8 conveys a divine decree through Moses: Any Israelite or stranger dwelling among them who intends to offer a burnt offering or any other type of sacrifice must bring it exclusively to the Tent of Meeting (Tabernacle). This mandate ensures centralized worship, preventing illicit sacrificial practices performed in "the open field" and reinforcing devotion solely to the LORD. It establishes a critical boundary for proper ritual.

Leviticus 17 8 Context

Leviticus chapter 17 marks a transition within the book. The preceding chapters (1-16) focus primarily on the intricate laws of sacrifices and the roles of the priests. Chapter 17, initiating the "Holiness Code" (Leviticus 17-26), shifts focus to laws designed to maintain the holiness of the Israelite community itself, preventing them from adopting Canaanite or other pagan practices. Specifically, verses 1-7 address the widespread issue of slaughtering animals outside the tabernacle and offering them to "goat-demons" (שְׂעִירִים - se'irim), a common practice in surrounding pagan cultures tied to fertility rites and idol worship. Leviticus 17:8 then broadens this prohibition: it's not just illicit sacrifices to demons that are forbidden outside the Tabernacle, but any burnt offering or sacrifice. This effectively centralizes all animal sacrificial worship to the one divinely appointed location, the Tent of Meeting, under priestly supervision. This strict control was a direct polemic against decentralized pagan cults that encouraged localized altars and diverse objects of worship, ensuring that all honor and ritual for YHWH adhered to His singular authority and holiness. The overall historical context involves newly freed Israelites navigating a land filled with polytheistic worship, requiring clear, strict boundaries to prevent syncretism.

Leviticus 17 8 Word analysis

• And thou shalt say unto them (וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם - ve'amarta aleihem):
  • This phrase indicates a direct divine command transmitted through Moses to the entire community. It emphasizes the authority behind the instruction.
  • It connects back to Moses' role in previous verses as the recipient and conveyor of God's word.
• Whatsoever man (אִישׁ אִישׁ - ish ish):
  • The repetition of ish (man/person) stresses universality. It means "any man whatsoever" or "every single man."
  • It ensures no one is exempt from the forthcoming command.
• there be of the house of Israel (מִבֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל - mibbêt yisra'el):
  • Refers to the entire Israelite community, descendants of Jacob/Israel, God's covenant people.
  • Signifies that the command applies to all native members of the chosen nation.
• or of the strangers (וּמִן־הַגֵּר - u’min haggar):
  • Ger (גֵר) denotes a resident alien, a sojourner who has left his own land to live among the Israelites. These were not temporary visitors but semi-permanent residents who had submitted to some aspects of Israelite law and community life.
  • This highlights the inclusivity of God's law regarding worship. All who dwell within the community's sphere are bound by its core religious requirements to maintain communal purity and exclusive worship of YHWH.
  • It implies that a `ger` shared in the theological obligations and protections of the community.
• which sojourn among you (הַגָּר בְּתוֹכָם - hagar betokham):
  • Reinforces the status of the "strangers" as those settled and living within the Israelite community, thereby subject to its laws and obligations.
• that offereth (יַעֲלֶה - ya'aleh):
  • From the root `alah` (to go up, ascend), here in the Hiphil form meaning "to bring up" or "to offer."
  • Specifically refers to the act of presenting an animal on an altar for sacrifice.
• a burnt offering (עֹלָה - olah):
  • An `olah` is an offering that is entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication and atonement for unintentional sins.
  • It is the foundational sacrificial type demonstrating total submission to God.
• or sacrifice (אוֹ־זָבַח - o zavach):
  • `Zavach` (זֶבַח) is a more general term for animal sacrifice, which includes peace offerings (zevach shlamim), where only parts are burned and the rest eaten by the offerer and priests.
  • This broadens the scope of the command to cover virtually all types of animal offerings that a person might bring.

• "house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you": This phrase emphasizes the universal application of God's worship law to all residents within the covenant community, regardless of birth. It ensures that the holy practices are maintained by everyone sharing in the nation's life, preventing pagan influences from within.
• "that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice": This phrase encompasses the two primary categories of voluntary animal sacrifices, indicating that the centralization requirement applied broadly to the people's direct acts of worship through sacrifice, not just specific, rare occasions.

Leviticus 17 8 Bonus section

This verse, in conjunction with the preceding verses in Leviticus 17, demonstrates a strong theological polemic not merely against the wrong object of worship (idols), but also against the wrong manner/place of worship. Decentralized worship, even if nominally intended for YHWH, posed an inherent risk because it could easily devolve into unauthorized practices or blend with local pagan customs. God's demand for centralization ensured uniformity, doctrinal purity, and proper priestly supervision, emphasizing that worship is not merely about an offering, but about absolute obedience to His revealed will. The sacredness of blood, deeply intertwined with atonement (as elaborated later in Lev 17), made its proper handling through supervised sacrificial rites absolutely critical to maintaining the nation's purity and communion with a holy God. Any breach of this, especially "in the open field" outside consecrated space, was seen as a direct affront and potential source of defilement.

Leviticus 17 8 Commentary

Leviticus 17:8 stands as a pivotal command in Israelite worship, firmly establishing the principle of centralized sacrifice. This mandate ensures that all voluntary animal offerings – whether burnt offerings symbolizing complete devotion or other sacrifices like peace offerings – must be presented at the Tabernacle's door. This seemingly logistical instruction carries profound theological weight. First, it was a direct counter to widespread pagan practices of offering sacrifices in various "high places" or "in the open field" to multiple deities or demonic entities, as referenced in the immediately preceding verses concerning "goat-demons" (se'irim). By centralizing worship, God actively guarded His people from syncretism and ensured exclusive devotion to Himself, as overseen by His designated priests according to His precise rituals. Second, it highlights the inclusivity of the divine law; not only native Israelites but also resident strangers (gerim) were bound by this sacred rule, underscoring that proper worship of the one true God extended to all who chose to live within the covenant community. Ultimately, this verse underscores the importance of worshipping God on His terms, in His appointed way, and in His chosen place, fostering a distinctive holy community separated from the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations. It laid foundational principles that later found their expression in the Temple and were ultimately fulfilled in Christ's one, perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice, which transformed worship from specific geographical locations to spirit and truth.