Leviticus 2 14

Leviticus 2:14 kjv

And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.

Leviticus 2:14 nkjv

'If you offer a grain offering of your firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits green heads of grain roasted on the fire, grain beaten from full heads.

Leviticus 2:14 niv

"?'If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, offer crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire.

Leviticus 2:14 esv

"If you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain.

Leviticus 2:14 nlt

"If you present a grain offering to the LORD from the first portion of your harvest, bring fresh grain that is coarsely ground and roasted on a fire.

Leviticus 2 verses

Leviticus 2 14 Meaning

Leviticus 2:14 details a specific type of grain offering (minchah) presented as "firstfruits" (bikkurim). This offering consisted of early, unripened grain that was parched by fire and then coarsely ground or "beaten out." It emphasizes the act of dedicating the very first and best produce of the harvest to the LORD, even before it was fully ripe or underwent extensive processing. This signified grateful acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over the land and its yield, expressing complete dependence on His provision and recognizing Him as the source of all abundance.

Leviticus 2 14 Context

Leviticus Chapter 2 lays out the regulations for the minchah, or Grain Offering, a fundamental, non-blood offering in ancient Israelite worship. These offerings typically symbolized thanksgiving, devotion, or served as a humble act of propitiation, often accompanying burnt offerings. Verse 14 introduces a specialized form of this offering: the "Minchat Bikkurim," or Grain Offering of Firstfruits. This specific instruction emphasizes presenting the earliest and freshest produce of the harvest to Yahweh, before the full crop is gathered. Historically, the act of dedicating firstfruits was an annual obligation (Exod 23:16) tied to the agricultural cycle and a core expression of Israel's covenant relationship with God. It reinforced the theological truth that all productivity and blessings derived from God's gracious hand, highlighting dependence and trust. This particular form of the grain offering also pre-dates the full processing of the grain into flour, underscoring its natural and new state.

Leviticus 2 14 Word analysis

• And if thou offer: Hebrew: וְאִם תַּקְרִיב (Ve'im Taqriv). "And if you shall bring near/offer." The phrase introduces a conditional instruction, signifying this as a specific, possibly voluntary, instance of offering. The verb qarab (קרב) is crucial for all sacrifices, emphasizing the act of drawing something (the offering) near to God, into His holy presence.
• a meat offering: Hebrew: מִנְחַת (Minchat), the construct form of minchah (מנחה). In KJV, "meat offering" referred to any food offering, specifically this grain offering. The minchah was distinct from animal sacrifices (blood offerings), focusing on dedication, tribute, and sustenance. It served as a representation of one's produce and labor dedicated to God.
• of thy firstfruits: Hebrew: בִּכּוּרִים (Bikkurim). This is a foundational theological concept meaning the earliest, choicest, and best of a crop, yield, or even living beings (e.g., firstborn). Offering bikkurim demonstrated acknowledgement of God's supreme ownership and control over the land, its bounty, and all life. It expressed gratitude and dependence.
• unto the LORD: Hebrew: לַיהוָה (LaYHWH). Designates Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, as the sole recipient of the offering, emphasizing His uniqueness and supreme worthiness of worship.
• thou shalt offer for thy meat offering: Hebrew: תַּקְרִיב... מִנְחַת (Taqriv... minchat). This repetition reinforces the preceding general statement about "meat offerings" of firstfruits and introduces the precise specification for how this specific offering must be prepared.
• green ears of corn dried by the fire: Hebrew: אֲבִיב קָלוּי בָּאֵשׁ (Aviv qaluy ba'esh).
  • Aviv (אֲבִיב): Refers to unripe, yet plump and edible, ears of grain, typically barley, harvested at the beginning of the ripening season. It signifies "newly ripened" grain that is still "green" and tender, underscoring the "first" aspect of the firstfruits.
  • Qaluy (קָלוּי): "Parched" or "roasted." This ancient method involved exposing the newly harvested grain to fire to dry it out, making it edible. It implies simple, essential processing rather than elaborate refinement.
  • Ba'esh (בָּאֵשׁ): "By fire" or "in the fire." The use of fire is a recurrent motif in offerings, symbolizing purification, transformation, or direct divine acceptance.
  This entire phrase specifies the unprocessed state of the bikkurim, highlighting their freshness and prompt dedication.
• even corn beaten out of full ears: Hebrew: גֶרֶשׂ כַּרְמֶל (Geres Karmel).
  • Geres (גֶרֶשׂ): Refers to crushed or coarsely ground grain, often called "groats." It signifies minimal processing, not finely ground flour. This maintains the "raw" and simple nature of the early harvest.
  • Karmel (כַּרְמֶל): In this specific context, refers to plump, fresh, newly ripened kernels of grain from a fruitful field, not the geographical place Mount Carmel. It signifies the fresh, quality produce from a flourishing crop. The KJV's "full ears" captures this essence of quality and maturity within the newly ripe grain.
  The phrase geres karmel emphasizes that even though it is the first of the harvest and only lightly processed, it must be of the highest quality—plump and rich kernels, crushed for the offering.

Leviticus 2 14 Bonus section

• The emphasis on "firstfruits" establishes a theological pattern found throughout Scripture, where the dedication of the "first" (whether produce, children, or wealth) sanctifies the whole (Rom 11:16). It represents acknowledging God as the prime giver and owner of everything.
• The "firstfruits" were often harvested during the spring festival of Passover/Unleavened Bread (Barley harvest) or Pentecost (Wheat harvest), making this a highly timely and seasonally significant offering that linked agricultural cycles directly to worship.
• The absence of leaven (Lev 2:11) for this particular dry grain offering implicitly reinforces its directness and speed – there's no time for fermentation as it's the very first yield. The only grain offerings with leaven were those brought as firstfruits baked bread during Pentecost (Lev 23:17), which are distinct in form and purpose.
• The New Testament powerfully reinterprets and fulfills the concept of firstfruits in Christ's resurrection. He is the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Cor 15:20), guaranteeing the resurrection of all believers. Similarly, believers themselves are described as "a kind of firstfruits of his creatures" (James 1:18), signifying their new birth and sanctified status through the Gospel.

Leviticus 2 14 Commentary

Leviticus 2:14 describes a highly specific Grain Offering of Firstfruits (Minchat Bikkurim), demanding the earliest and finest produce of the harvest. The particular instruction for "green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears" (Aviv Qaluy Ba'esh Geres Karmel) illustrates that this offering was made with raw, fresh, and minimally processed grain from the nascent harvest. This distinguishes it from standard grain offerings of fine flour. The theological weight is immense: it mandates immediate devotion and gratitude, offering God the very first of what His provision yields, rather than waiting for the entire harvest to be complete and fully refined. This practice embodies unwavering trust in God for the remainder of the crop, acknowledges His ownership, and sets a precedent for dedicating the "first and best" of one's blessings back to the Divine Source. It teaches prompt obedience and dependence on God's sustaining hand.