Leviticus 2 8

Leviticus 2:8 kjv

And thou shalt bring the meat offering that is made of these things unto the LORD: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar.

Leviticus 2:8 nkjv

You shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the LORD. And when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar.

Leviticus 2:8 niv

Bring the grain offering made of these things to the LORD; present it to the priest, who shall take it to the altar.

Leviticus 2:8 esv

And you shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the LORD, and when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar.

Leviticus 2:8 nlt

"No matter how a grain offering for the LORD has been prepared, bring it to the priest, who will present it at the altar.

Leviticus 2 verses

Leviticus 2 8 Meaning

Leviticus 2:8 outlines the prescribed method for delivering the prepared grain offering (minchah). The worshiper, having diligently prepared the offering according to specific divine instructions, is commanded to bring it to the sacred area of the Tabernacle. From there, it must be presented by the worshiper to an officiating priest. It is then the sole responsibility of this priest, acting as God's designated mediator, to take the offering and bring it to the altar. This sequence emphasizes the sanctity of the offering process, the necessity of adherence to divine protocol, and the indispensable role of the priesthood in facilitating acceptable worship before a holy God.

Leviticus 2 8 Context

Leviticus chapter 2 comprehensively details the instructions for the Minchah, or grain offering, an important component of the sacrificial system established for Israel. Unlike the blood offerings, which focused on atonement for sin, the grain offering typically represented thanksgiving for divine provision, a recognition of God's sustenance, and dedication of one's labors to Him. The preceding verses (Lev 2:1-7) outline the permissible ingredients and various forms of preparation for this offering, including fine flour, oil, and frankincense, noting strict prohibitions against leaven and honey. Verse 8 marks a procedural transition, describing how the physically prepared offering, the product of human effort and adherence to divine instruction, is to be presented. It highlights the indispensable involvement of the priestly system and the holy altar, signifying that approach to a holy God, even with a gift of thanksgiving, required specific, divinely mandated mediation and order within the Mosaic covenant framework. This orderly approach to worship was a clear distinction from the arbitrary or chaotic pagan worship practices of the surrounding cultures.

Leviticus 2 8 Word analysis

• And thou shalt bring (וְהֵבֵאתָ - vehevetah): A strong, directive verb in Hebrew, emphasizing the worshiper's personal responsibility to initiate the offering by physically transporting it to the tabernacle courtyard.
• the meat offering (מִנְחָה - minchah): Commonly translated as "grain offering" or "meal offering," minchah signifies a non-bloody sacrifice, usually of agricultural produce. It broadly means "gift" or "tribute," reflecting an act of homage from an inferior to a superior, thus indicating its direction towards the Most High God.
• that is made of these things: This refers to the specific forms of the grain offering meticulously described in Leviticus 2:1-7 (fine flour, baked in oven, griddle, or pan, or as firstfruits), underscoring that the instructions apply to all valid preparations of the minchah.
• unto the LORD (לַיהוָה - la-YHWH): This phrase consistently identifies the divine recipient, YHWH (the personal name of God), confirming that all offerings are fundamentally consecrated to God alone, affirming His supreme sovereignty and sanctity.
• and thou shalt present it (וְהִגַּשְׁתָּ - ve-higgash-ta): This verb denotes the act of "causing to approach" or "bringing forward," signifying the physical handover of the prepared offering from the worshiper to the priest, thereby transferring it into the sacred ceremonial domain.
• unto the priest (אֶל-הַכֹּהֵן - el ha-kohen): Designates the required sacred intermediary, the kohen. The priest was the divinely ordained and consecrated agent authorized to handle sacred objects and mediate between God and the people in the cultic system.
• and he shall bring it (וְהִקְרִיבוֹ - ve-hiqrivo): This clause shifts agency to the priest, using a verb related to the first "bring," but specifically denoting the priestly act of "causing to draw near" or "offering up" the gift onto the altar itself. This final act ensures the offering's proper sacred placement and completion.
• unto the altar (אֶל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - el ha-mizbeach): The altar was the divinely consecrated place within the Tabernacle and Temple where sacrifices were consumed by fire, symbolizing acceptance by God, atonement, or communion. It was the physical destination for all valid offerings.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And thou shalt bring the meat offering...unto the LORD": This initial clause emphasizes the worshiper's proactive role and personal responsibility in providing the offering, while firmly establishing that the ultimate purpose and recipient of the sacrifice is YHWH. It is a direct act of devotion and acknowledgment directed towards God.
• "and thou shalt present it unto the priest": This phase highlights the crucial and mandated intermediation in Old Covenant worship. The worshiper cannot directly complete the offering at the altar; instead, they must formally surrender it to the priest. This step underlines the hierarchical and divinely structured system for approaching God, requiring an authorized handler.
• "and he shall bring it unto the altar": This concluding phrase describes the priestly function of completing the physical presentation of the offering. It signifies the transfer of the offering to its consecrated space – the altar – where the "memorial portion" would be offered by fire, making it holy to the LORD. This segment ensures ritual purity and proper adherence to divine instruction by the authorized clergy.

Leviticus 2 8 Bonus section

The grain offering stands apart from sin offerings as a voluntary, non-blood sacrifice, symbolizing consecration of daily life and thanksgiving for God's bounty. The specific materials of the grain offering – fine flour (Christ's sinless humanity), oil (Holy Spirit's anointing), and frankincense (sweet fragrance of Christ's life and prayer) – all foreshadow aspects of Christ and His work. The absence of leaven (Lev 2:11) represents purity and lack of corruption, aligning with Christ's sinlessness (2 Cor 5:21). The mandatory salt (Lev 2:13) signifies the enduring, incorruptible nature of God's covenant with His people (Num 18:19). The Minchah being "most holy" (Lev 2:10) indicates its sacredness and the precise handling it required, mirroring the absolute holiness required for God’s dwelling. The portion that was burned on the altar was called the "memorial portion" (azkarah), a sweet aroma to the LORD, serving as a reminder of the offerer before God. The remainder was for the priests' sustenance, illustrating God's provision for His ministers. This structured liturgical offering also provided an indirect polemic against surrounding pagan cults, which often involved fertility rituals with leavened bread or honey and lacked the precise, ethical, and monotheistic framework found in Levitical law. It systematically distinguished true worship of YHWH from idolatrous practices.

Leviticus 2 8 Commentary

Leviticus 2:8 concisely encapsulates a vital procedural step in the presentation of the grain offering, underlining key theological principles. The verse details a sequence that starts with the individual worshiper's action: first, bringing their meticulously prepared offering to the sacred precinct. This signifies the voluntary and personal commitment inherent in giving to God. However, personal devotion is immediately bounded by divine order: the worshiper must then present their offering to the priest. This is not a casual transfer but a sacred act, recognizing the priest as God’s appointed mediator. Finally, the priest takes over, completing the process by bringing the offering to the altar. This precise, tripartite sequence underscores that acceptable worship under the Old Covenant was not a direct, individual endeavor alone but required both the worshiper's sincerity and the formal, ritualistic mediation of God's appointed priesthood at the consecrated altar. This ensured purity, order, and respect for God’s holiness. In the New Covenant, this elaborate system finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is both the perfect, sinless offering (foreshadowed by the unleavened grain) and our Great High Priest (Heb 4:14), through whom we can now boldly approach God directly, offering our "spiritual sacrifices" (1 Pet 2:5).

Examples:

• Heart and Action: It illustrates that genuine worship involves both internal disposition (preparing the offering) and external adherence to God's revealed will (following prescribed procedures).
• Divine Order: Emphasizes that God dictates the terms of approach, not humanity.
• Mediation: The priest's role highlights the Old Covenant need for mediation, a need fully and eternally met in Christ for New Covenant believers.