Leviticus 22 29

Leviticus 22:29 kjv

And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.

Leviticus 22:29 nkjv

And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free will.

Leviticus 22:29 niv

"When you sacrifice a thank offering to the LORD, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf.

Leviticus 22:29 esv

And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted.

Leviticus 22:29 nlt

When you bring a thanksgiving offering to the LORD, sacrifice it properly so you will be accepted.

Leviticus 22 verses

Leviticus 22 29 Meaning

Leviticus 22:29 outlines the specific condition under which a thank offering, also known as a thanksgiving sacrifice, must be presented to the Lord. It mandates that when such a sacrifice is offered, it must be presented in a way that ensures it will be accepted by God. The emphasis is not merely on the act of giving but on the offering being rendered properly to gain divine approval and bring spiritual benefit to the offerer.

Leviticus 22 29 Context

Leviticus chapter 22 outlines strict requirements for the priests, their households, and the offerings brought to the tabernacle. The overarching theme is the necessity of holiness and purity in handling sacred things and approaching God. The verses immediately preceding (22:17-25) detail rules for acceptable sacrificial animals, explicitly forbidding those with defects or blemishes, regardless of the type of offering (burnt, peace, vow, freewill). Verses 26-28 further specify age requirements for sacrificial animals. Within this meticulous framework of proper presentation, verse 29 introduces a similar mandate for the "sacrifice of thanksgiving," emphasizing that even a voluntary offering given in gratitude must adhere to divine standards to be acceptable. Historically, this aligns with ancient Near Eastern practices of offering to deities, yet it distinctly elevates Yahweh's demands for perfection and sincerity, implicitly challenging the pragmatic and often less scrupulous practices of pagan cults by demanding a particular way of offering for divine acceptance.

Leviticus 22 29 Word analysis

• And when ye will offer (וְכִֽי־תִזְבְּח֖וּ - vekhi tizb'ḥu): "And when you sacrifice." The verb implies choice and future action ("when you will offer"). However, in the covenant context, while "thanksgiving offerings" (Todah) were voluntary in occasion, their offering itself carried the weight of divine expectation once decided. The context of Leviticus, though full of commands, often uses such phrasing for voluntary actions that still fall under specific regulations.
• a sacrifice of thanksgiving (זֶֽבַח־תּוֹדָ֖ה - zevach-todah): This refers to a specific type of zevach (sacrifice, animal slaughter for offering), which is a todah (thanksgiving/praise) offering. It was a peace offering (shelamim, Lev. 7:11-15) distinguished by its primary purpose of expressing gratitude for a deliverance or blessing, often involving a communal meal with unleavened and leavened bread. Unlike other sacrifices for atonement or vow fulfillment, the todah was specifically prompted by a heart of grateful praise to God.
• unto the Lord (לַיהוָֽה - laYahweh): Designates the exclusive recipient of the sacrifice: Yahweh, the God of Israel. This underscores the monotheistic focus of Israelite worship, sharply differentiating it from surrounding polytheistic practices. The offering's direction is singular and personal, emphasizing God's unique identity.
• offer it (תִּזְבָּֽחוּ - tizb'ḥu): Repeats the verb "you shall sacrifice/offer," reinforcing the direct command and necessity of the action.
• at your own will (לִרְצֹֽנְכֶ֖ם - lirtsonchem): This phrase is critical and often misinterpreted by older translations (like KJV "at your own will"). The Hebrew preposition le with the noun ratson (will, favor, acceptance, delight) and the suffix -khem (your) more accurately means "for your acceptance" or "so that it may be accepted on your behalf." It conveys the purpose and desired outcome: the offering must be made in such a manner that it gains God's favorable reception and consequently secures a blessing or acceptance for the offerer. It is not about human preference but divine approval.

Words-group analysis:

• "And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, offer it": This sets up the context for a voluntary act of worship—a "sacrifice of thanksgiving" (Zevach Todah). It acknowledges the worshiper's initiative to express gratitude. However, the subsequent instruction transforms a mere intention into a stringent requirement for proper execution, reminding that divine worship, even when voluntary, must adhere to divine standards.
• "offer it at your own will" (more accurately "so that it may be accepted on your behalf"): This concluding phrase acts as the core instruction of the verse. It encapsulates the vital principle that the offering's value is not solely in the act itself or the material gift, but in its acceptability to God. This acceptability is contingent upon factors like the offering's purity (as per prior verses), the offerer's ritual cleanliness, and implicit in broader scripture, the offerer's heart and sincerity (Ps. 50:14; Isa. 1:11-17). The worshiper brings the offering for their own acceptance, highlighting the reciprocal nature of worship where the blessing flows back to the offerer when God is pleased.

Leviticus 22 29 Bonus section

The "lirtsonchem" (לִרְצֹנְכֶם) phrasing echoes earlier parts of Leviticus and other Pentateuchal books (e.g., Ex. 28:38, Lev. 1:3, 19:5), signifying God's desired pleasure or favorable reception. It emphasizes divine agency in accepting the offering. An offering wasn't inherently accepted simply because it was presented; rather, God chose to accept it when certain conditions were met. This subtly reinforces God's sovereignty over human efforts at worship. The Thanksgiving Offering, in particular, was one of the shelamim or peace offerings (Lev. 7). A unique feature of the Todah offering was that it had to be eaten the same day it was offered (Lev. 7:15). This temporal limitation likely underscored the urgency of joy and prompt gratitude, preventing it from becoming stale or defiled, further tying into the idea of proper and accepted offering. This specific deadline further points to the need for offerings to be in strict accordance with divine regulations to truly be "lirtsonchem".

Leviticus 22 29 Commentary

Leviticus 22:29, though brief, encapsulates a profound theological truth about Israel's worship and God's nature. It establishes that while the motivation for a thanksgiving sacrifice is one of joyous gratitude, its execution cannot be arbitrary. The phrase "lirtsonchem" ("for your acceptance" or "so that it may be accepted on your behalf") shifts the focus from human intent alone to divine satisfaction. This means that for a worshiper to receive the full spiritual benefit or the divine acknowledgment of their offering, it must be presented according to God's precise standards. This demand for proper procedure and a pure, unblemished offering foreshadows the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Christ (Heb. 9:11-14; 10:1-10) through whom believers can now offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and good works that are truly acceptable to God (Heb. 13:15-16; 1 Pet. 2:5). It highlights that true worship is not about simply performing a ritual, but engaging with God in a way that aligns with His holiness and pleases Him.

Examples:

• Biblical Example: Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:3-7) illustrate this principle: Abel's offering was accepted, Cain's was not. The underlying reason often points to the heart or adherence to unrevealed standards, even beyond the offering itself.
• Practical Usage: For believers today, while the sacrificial system has ceased with Christ's ultimate offering, the principle of offering "acceptable" worship remains. This applies to prayer, praise, service, and acts of love, which must come from a pure heart and align with God's Word to be truly pleasing to Him (Rom. 12:1-2; Heb. 12:28).