Leviticus 22 7

Leviticus 22:7 kjv

And when the sun is down, he shall be clean, and shall afterward eat of the holy things; because it is his food.

Leviticus 22:7 nkjv

And when the sun goes down he shall be clean; and afterward he may eat the holy offerings, because it is his food.

Leviticus 22:7 niv

When the sun goes down, he will be clean, and after that he may eat the sacred offerings, for they are his food.

Leviticus 22:7 esv

When the sun goes down he shall be clean, and afterward he may eat of the holy things, because they are his food.

Leviticus 22:7 nlt

When the sun goes down, he will be ceremonially clean again and may eat from the sacred offerings, for this is his food.

Leviticus 22 verses

Leviticus 22 7 Meaning

Leviticus 22:7 clarifies a critical point in the ritual purification process for Israelite priests. After a priest has become ceremonially unclean due to contact with specified defiling objects or conditions and has subsequently performed the prescribed purification rite, he must then wait until "when the sun goes down." This sunset signifies the completion and official close of the day's defilement period. Only after this time does he regain his state of ritual cleanness, thereby permitting him to once again partake in the holy offerings and sacred foods that are divinely designated as his sustenance and privilege as a priest.

Leviticus 22 7 Context

Leviticus chapter 22 meticulously outlines the qualifications and restrictions for priests regarding their access to and consumption of the holy things, which were offerings made to God. This chapter serves to underscore the profound holiness required of those who served in the Tabernacle. Verses 1-7 specifically address the state of ritual purity (or impurity) that would prevent a priest from partaking in these sacred meals. Verse 7 concludes the sequence, detailing the final step in a purification process where a priest, after being defiled and undergoing necessary washing (as alluded to in verse 6), must wait until sunset to fully regain his clean status and resume eating of the holy things. Historically, these detailed regulations highlighted God’s absolute holiness and the importance of distinction between the clean and the unclean, the holy and the common, which was a fundamental concept in Israelite worship and a sharp contrast to the lax practices often found in surrounding pagan cults.

Leviticus 22 7 Word analysis

• And (וְ): Connects this verse directly to the preceding one (Lev 22:6), which discusses the priest needing to wash himself after touching something unclean. This signifies a sequence of actions required for purification.
• when the sun (לַשֶּׁמֶשׁ - lash-shemesh): Refers to the sun, indicating the end of the day. The Hebrew construct is idiomatic for "when the sun goes down." In ancient Israel, a new day began at sunset. This timing element is crucial in many purification rituals throughout the Torah.
• goes down (בּוֹא - bo'): The verb literally means "to come" or "to enter." In this context, it describes the sun entering the horizon or setting. This act marks a clear temporal boundary, signifying the completion of a full day and the transition into a new ritual period. Its significance lies in God establishing a specific timeframe for the uncleanness to run its course.
• he shall be clean (וְטָהֵר - ve-taher): From the root טָהַר (tahar), meaning to be clean or pure. This refers to ritual purity, a ceremonial state fit for worship and participation in sacred acts, rather than moral blamelessness. The cleansing assumed by this phrase includes the required washing with water (as stated in Lev 22:6).
• and afterward (וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן - ve-acharei-chen): This conjunction denotes a sequential action. It emphasizes that eating of the holy things is permissible only after the state of cleanness is fully restored following the sunset.
• he may eat (יֹאכַל - yochal): A straightforward verb for "eat." The emphasis here is on the restored privilege and permission to consume.
• of the holy things (מִן הַקָּדָשִׁים - min ha-qodashim): Refers to the sacred offerings, portions of sacrifices that were specifically allotted for the priests as their sustenance. These include grain offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, and peace offerings. Their consumption was highly regulated due to their consecrated nature.
• because (כִּי - ki): Introduces the reason or justification for the command.
• it is his food (לַחְמוֹ הוּא - lachmo hu): Literally "it is his bread." The word לֶחֶם (lechem, bread) often signifies food or sustenance in general in the Hebrew Bible. This phrase underscores that the holy offerings were the designated and divinely provided sustenance for the priests and their households. It highlights their unique dependence on God's provisions through the sanctuary system.

• Words-group: "when the sun goes down, he shall be clean": This phrase highlights the critical time element in priestly purification. The waiting period until sunset was a non-negotiable part of various purification rites, ensuring a full ritual day's separation and the completion of the cleansing process according to divine decree. This distinct temporal marker reinforced the absolute boundaries God placed on holiness and impurity.
• Words-group: "he may eat of the holy things, because it is his food": This connection stresses the inseparable link between priestly ritual purity and their sacred livelihood. Access to their divinely ordained sustenance (the holy offerings) was directly contingent upon maintaining or re-establishing their state of ritual cleanness, demonstrating that their service and well-being were entirely bound by God's holy requirements.

Leviticus 22 7 Bonus section

The timing of "when the sun goes down" is more than a mere convenience; it marks the division between days in the Israelite calendar. The ending of the day at sunset, rather than at midnight, meant that a purification period lasting "until evening" effectively implied a full day's cycle (from the time of defilement until the completion of that ritual day) had passed. This strict temporal demarcation emphasized the completeness of the purification process and the divinely ordained order. The Levitical system, with its detailed laws on clean and unclean, meticulously cultivated a profound sense of distinction and holiness among the Israelites, especially their priests. This was not merely about hygiene but primarily about maintaining the sacred boundaries required for fellowship with a Holy God.

Leviticus 22 7 Commentary

Leviticus 22:7 concludes the instructions for a priest's temporary exclusion from sacred activities due to ritual impurity. It demonstrates the meticulous detail God required regarding purity for those serving Him directly. The "sunset" stipulation emphasizes the completion of a full period of defilement and purification, not just the act of washing itself, thereby reinforcing the seriousness of uncleanness and the comprehensive nature of the required cleansing process. This verse underscores that a priest's privilege to eat from the holy things, which sustained him and his family, was contingent upon his ritual status. This dependency ensured adherence to God's standards and constantly reminded the priesthood of His absolute holiness. While seemingly a minor detail, it exemplifies how every aspect of priestly life and function was integrated into God's holy system, preventing casual or defiled approaches to sacred duties and provisions. This emphasis on strict adherence taught reverence for God's holiness and foreshadowed the need for perfect purity (achieved through Christ) for access to God's presence and provisions.