Leviticus 22:1 kjv
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 22:1 nkjv
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Leviticus 22:1 niv
The LORD said to Moses,
Leviticus 22:1 esv
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Leviticus 22:1 nlt
The LORD said to Moses,
Leviticus 22 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:1 | Now the Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” | God's direct revelation initiates covenant. |
| Exod 3:4 | When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” | God speaks directly to Moses at the bush. |
| Exod 6:1 | Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh..." | Divine initiative in Israel's redemption. |
| Exod 19:3 | Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob..." | God calls Moses to deliver covenant terms. |
| Num 7:1 | The Lord said to Moses, “The people are to observe my commands, my decrees and my laws carefully..." | Divine commands require careful observance. |
| Deut 5:2-3 | The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. It was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. | Emphasizes the covenant given to that generation. |
| Deut 6:1 | These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe... | Moses as God's channel for the law. |
| 1 Sam 3:21 | The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. | God reveals Himself through His word. |
| Isa 1:2 | Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth; For the Lord has spoken! | Prophets declare divine speech with authority. |
| Jer 1:7 | But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you." | God commissions prophets and gives words. |
| Zech 1:1 | In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah... | "Word of the Lord came to" a prophet formula. |
| Luke 1:70 | ...just as he said through his holy prophets of long ago. | God's word revealed through prophets. |
| Acts 7:38 | He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us. | Moses received living words to transmit. |
| Rom 3:2 | Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. | Jews as custodians of God's oracles. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... | God's revelation culminates in Jesus. |
| Heb 3:5 | Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. | Moses faithful in delivering God's revelation. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. | The power and nature of God's Word. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. | All Scripture is divinely inspired. |
| 2 Pet 1:21 | For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. | Human authors moved by the Holy Spirit. |
| Rev 1:1 | The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John... | New Testament revelation through an intermediary. |
Leviticus 22 verses
Leviticus 22 1 Meaning
Leviticus 22:1 serves as a declarative introductory formula, asserting that the instructions which follow originate directly from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It states unequivocally that the Divine Word was communicated to Moses, who functioned as God's chosen mediator for delivering these laws and precepts to the people, particularly concerning the sacred responsibilities and purity requirements for the Aaronic priesthood and their handling of holy things. This verse establishes the divine authority and sacred nature of the subsequent commands.
Leviticus 22 1 Context
Leviticus chapter 22 focuses on the regulations governing the priests (Aaron and his sons) in handling the holy gifts and offerings made to the Lord. These laws are critical for maintaining the sanctity of the Tabernacle and the offerings, ensuring that those serving the Lord are ritually clean and reverent. Verse 1 initiates this specific section of divine instruction.
Prior to this chapter, Leviticus 21 outlined the specific requirements for priestly holiness and who was eligible to serve as a priest. Leviticus 20 provided a stern warning against various detestable practices that defile the land and people, emphasizing God's call to holiness. Thus, Leviticus 22:1 introduces the divine decree for the practical application of holiness requirements, specifically concerning the priests' interaction with the most sacred elements of Israelite worship, highlighting the strict separation required for holy things to avoid profanation, as seen in the consequences outlined in the subsequent verses of chapter 22.
Leviticus 22 1 Word analysis
- And (וַיְדַבֵּר - vay'dabber): This conjunction serves to connect the upcoming divine pronouncements with the preceding context. It signifies a continuation of the flow of divine revelation and commandment. It's a common way to link segments of Mosaic Law, suggesting a unified body of instruction.
- the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the unique, personal covenant name of God, often rendered "LORD" in English Bibles. Its use here emphasizes that the commands which follow are not human constructs but originate from the sovereign and relational God who entered into a covenant with Israel. It denotes God's active involvement in the daily lives and religious practices of His people. This divine name carries immense theological weight, pointing to God's self-existence, faithfulness, and powerful presence. The phrase YHWH dibber ("YHWH spoke") affirms direct divine communication, establishing irrefutable authority for the instructions.
- spoke (דִּבֵּר - dibber): This is the Piel stem of the verb "to speak," which often denotes deliberate, purposeful, and emphatic speech. It implies clear and articulate communication, not merely a thought or impression. It underlines the verbal nature of God's revelation to Moses, ensuring the precision of the forthcoming laws. The consistent use of this verb throughout the Pentateuch highlights that the Torah is God's directly revealed word, making obedience a non-negotiable response to divine command.
- to Moses (אֶל-מֹשֶׁה - 'el Moshe): This phrase specifies the human recipient of the divine message. Moses serves as the divinely appointed mediator, chosen by God to receive His laws and convey them to the people of Israel. This designation highlights Moses' unique role and intimate relationship with God ("the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend," Exod 33:11). The laws in Leviticus, therefore, are presented not as Moses' own ideas but as God's explicit instructions transmitted through him.
- saying (לֵּאמֹר - lemor): This infinitive construct typically introduces the content of the speech. It signifies that what follows is the direct utterance or command from God through Moses. It functions as an indicator that the subsequent verses are the actual words spoken by the Lord, not a summary or paraphrase. This further emphasizes the authoritative and divinely originated nature of the following commandments regarding the purity of priests and holy things.
- "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying": This is a standard and frequently recurring formula throughout the Pentateuch, especially in Leviticus and Numbers. Its repeated usage strongly reinforces the divine authorship and authority of the laws and ordinances given to Israel. It acts as a divine timestamp and an unchallengeable preamble, asserting that every subsequent detail carries the full weight of God's direct command. This repetitive phrase was vital for the original audience to understand the foundational basis of their law code, distinguishing it from human legislation. It implicitly serves as a polemic against any notion that these laws were human inventions or merely wise counsel, instead affirming their transcendental and authoritative source.
Leviticus 22 1 Bonus section
The formula "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying..." appears over 100 times in the Pentateuch, acting as a recurring literary device that grounds every law and instruction in divine revelation. This consistent reiteration served several crucial purposes:
- Reinforcement of Authority: It constantly reminded the Israelites that their entire legal and religious system was not based on human wisdom or custom but on the direct command of God.
- Uniqueness of Mosaic Covenant: It underscored Moses' unique and unparalleled role as the primary human agent through whom God delivered His covenant and laws. No other prophet in the Old Testament enjoyed such frequent and direct verbal communication.
- Holiness of the Law: By emphasizing the divine source, it elevated the status of the laws, decrees, and ordinances, imbuing them with intrinsic holiness and requiring absolute obedience. To transgress them was not just breaking a rule, but defying God Himself.
- Literary Framing: It structures the legal sections of the Pentateuch, marking distinct units of divine discourse and signaling new or related sets of commandments.
- Polemics against Idolatry: In a world filled with humanly crafted religious systems, this consistent attribution of divine speech firmly asserted the distinctiveness of Israel's faith as revealed by the one true God, contrasting with the often arbitrary or self-serving dictates of pagan deities or rulers. The focus on YHWH speaking distinguishes their God from the mute idols.
Leviticus 22 1 Commentary
Leviticus 22:1, though simple in its wording, is foundational for understanding the nature of the entire book of Leviticus and indeed the entire Torah. It's a formulaic pronouncement ("And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying...") that establishes the absolute divine authority behind all the subsequent commands regarding priestly conduct and handling of holy items. This isn't merely religious guidance; it is direct revelation from Yahweh. The strict regulations that follow in Leviticus 22 concerning priests avoiding defilement and handling sacred things correctly (e.g., disqualified from eating holy food if unclean, Lev 22:2-3; regulations for blemishes, Lev 22:18-20) are thus not suggestions but divine imperatives. This introduction highlights God's active role in sanctifying His people and ensuring the integrity of their worship. It underlines the fact that holy worship is not humanly devised but God-ordained. The specific target audience of the message that follows is Aaron and his sons, further highlighting the specific priestly focus of the commands within the chapter. This divine origin necessitates complete adherence and warns against casual disregard, underscoring that dealing with God's holy things requires the utmost care and purity, as their sanctity reflects His own character.