Leviticus 2 7

Leviticus 2:7 kjv

And if thy oblation be a meat offering baked in the frying pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.

Leviticus 2:7 nkjv

'If your offering is a grain offering baked in a covered pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.

Leviticus 2:7 niv

If your grain offering is cooked in a pan, it is to be made of the finest flour and some olive oil.

Leviticus 2:7 esv

And if your offering is a grain offering cooked in a pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.

Leviticus 2:7 nlt

If your grain offering is prepared in a pan, it must be made of choice flour and olive oil.

Leviticus 2 verses

Leviticus 2 7 Meaning

Leviticus 2:7 specifies one particular method of preparing a grain offering: if it is to be presented as something baked in a shallow pan or griddle, it must consist of fine flour mixed with oil. This instruction details the proper ingredients and preparation for a particular subset of the "minchah," or grain offering, highlighting the variety of forms acceptable to God while maintaining strict adherence to foundational requirements for quality and composition. It underscores the divine expectation for the best and proper handling of all things dedicated to Him.

Leviticus 2 7 Context

Leviticus chapter 2 provides detailed instructions regarding the grain offering (Hebrew: minchah), a voluntary bloodless sacrifice. This chapter follows the instructions for burnt offerings in chapter 1, transitioning from atonement and devotion symbolized by blood sacrifices to aspects of devotion, worship, thanksgiving, and dedication expressed through produce. The grain offering often accompanied burnt offerings and peace offerings. Leviticus 2:7 specifically addresses one of the three primary preparation methods for cooked grain offerings, following instructions for offerings baked in an oven (2:4) and on a griddle (2:5-6). Historically, these types of offerings were common in agricultural societies where grains were staple foods, reflecting the Israelites' dependence on God for their sustenance and prosperity in the land. The strictures on preparation and ingredients highlighted the sacredness of the offering and the precise demands of worship for a holy God, subtly contrasting with any lax practices in pagan worship that did not require such purity or quality.

Leviticus 2 7 Word analysis

• And if: Hebrew W'im (וְאִם). This conditional conjunction indicates a specific variation among different grain offering preparations, showing the divine inclusion of diverse methods. It establishes a clause dependent on the type of offering brought by the worshiper.

• your offering: Hebrew qorbaneka (קָרְבָּנְךָ). Derived from the root qarab (to draw near), qorban signifies anything "brought near" to God. It underscores the act of presentation and intimate connection between the offerer and the divine. The suffix -ka emphasizes it as your personal act of dedication.

• is a grain offering: Hebrew minchah (מִנְחָה). This term specifically refers to a gift or tribute, usually non-animal, often flour-based. In ritual contexts, it denotes a bloodless sacrifice, often expressive of thanksgiving, devotion, or acknowledging dependence on God for daily sustenance and blessing. It contrasts with olah (burnt offering) and zevah (peace/fellowship offering) that often involved animals.

• baked: Hebrew ma'afeh (מַאֲפֵה). This participle denotes something that has been subjected to baking, from the root 'afah (to bake). It indicates that the grain was processed by heat prior to being offered, showing specific pre-preparation.

• in a pan: Hebrew machavath (מַחֲבַת). This term specifically refers to a flat griddle or shallow baking pan. This detail is crucial for distinguishing it from offerings baked in a conventional oven (tannur, Lev 2:4) or a deep, covered dish (marchesheth, Lev 2:5), signifying distinct culinary approaches and offering forms. Its use suggests a more compact and flattened result.

• it shall be: Hebrew ti'hiyeh (תִּהְיֶה). A simple verb form indicating "it shall exist" or "it will be," prescribing the required characteristics of this specific offering. This declarative verb signifies divine mandate.

• of fine flour: Hebrew soleth (סֹלֶת). This signifies flour of the highest quality, made from choice kernels of wheat or barley, finely sifted to remove bran and impurities. Its use for offerings emphasizes giving God the best, signifying perfection, purity, and excellence. It represents dedication without compromise.

• with oil: Hebrew v'shemen (וְשֶׁמֶן). Specifically olive oil, a staple and precious commodity in the ancient Near East. In offerings, oil acts as a binder, enriches the mixture, and helps in the burning process. Symbolically, oil can represent prosperity, blessing, anointing, and purity. In broader biblical theology, it can prefigure the anointing of the Holy Spirit (though not its direct theological meaning in this cultic context).

• "your offering...in a pan": This phrase highlights the personal responsibility and initiative of the individual bringing the offering, allowing for various expressions of devotion through different cooking methods. The distinct methods (oven, griddle, pan) are not arbitrary but reflect various household capabilities and potentially nuanced forms of personal expression in worship, while all adhering to fundamental divine standards.

• "of fine flour with oil": This combination forms the essential foundation of almost all grain offerings. "Fine flour" (purity, best quality) coupled "with oil" (enrichment, anointing, a divine element) emphasizes that regardless of the preparation method, the core components must reflect excellence and sacred consecration, vital for approaching a holy God. This reiterates that basic integrity and quality cannot be compromised, even in varied forms.

Leviticus 2 7 Bonus section

The distinction between the machavath (pan/griddle) in verse 7 and the marchesheth (deep pan/griddle, "griddle" in some translations, but implies a deeper dish for thicker cakes) in verse 5 is subtle but important. The machavath would yield flatter, thinner cakes, possibly akin to pancakes or tortillas, cooked quickly. The marchesheth suggests something more akin to thicker bread, perhaps almost deep-fried, showing even minor culinary differences had specific spiritual protocols. This detail speaks to the comprehensiveness of the divine law, covering every minute aspect of approaching God, even down to the cooking utensils. These grain offerings were symbolic of sustaining life (flour being food) and God's blessings (oil). By prescribing such precise methods and ingredients, the Lord ensured that the Israelites' understanding of sacred space and time extended to even the seemingly mundane aspects of their lives, teaching them the profound truth that every aspect of existence, especially that dedicated to Him, must be consecrated.

Leviticus 2 7 Commentary

Leviticus 2:7 presents the third variant of cooked grain offerings, specifically one baked in a machavath, a flat griddle or shallow pan. This particularity, like the previous two (oven-baked and griddle-cooked), underscores God's meticulous instruction regarding sacred worship. Each specific instruction serves to elevate the offering from a common meal to a consecrated gift, reflecting the offerer's intent to give their very best in an appointed way. The consistent demand for "fine flour with oil" across all cooked grain offerings reinforces the unchanging principles of quality, purity, and spiritual anointing that underlie acceptable worship. This seemingly small detail conveys immense theological weight: worship is not casual; it demands precision, intentionality, and the choicest resources, all given according to divine prescription, thereby transforming everyday ingredients into instruments of holy communion. The specific method of baking, while practically differing in texture and form, ultimately submits to the overarching demand for quality ingredients, illustrating that while diverse expressions of devotion are welcome, their fundamental composition must always align with divine standards.