Leviticus 6 19

Leviticus 6:19 kjv

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Leviticus 6:19 nkjv

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Leviticus 6:19 niv

The LORD also said to Moses,

Leviticus 6:19 esv

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Leviticus 6:19 nlt

Then the LORD said to Moses,

Leviticus 6 verses

Leviticus 6 19 Meaning

This verse specifies a unique grain offering prescribed for Aaron and his sons, the priests, on the significant day of their anointing, marking their installation into holy service. It stipulates that this offering should consist of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour. Furthermore, it designates this as a "regular" or "continual" grain offering, to be offered twice daily—half in the morning and half in the evening. This ritual highlights the perpetual consecration and purity required for those who minister before the Most High.

Leviticus 6 19 Context

Leviticus 6 begins a section detailing the specific procedures for priests handling various offerings, including the burnt offering (vv. 8-13), grain offering (vv. 14-18), sin offering (vv. 24-30), and trespass offering (vv. 7:1-10). Leviticus 6:19-23 specifically addresses a unique grain offering presented by priests. Unlike the grain offerings described in earlier verses, a significant aspect of this particular priestly offering, which is stated clearly in the verses immediately following (Lev 6:22-23), is that it cannot be eaten by the priests. Instead, it must be wholly burned, emphasizing its supreme holiness and the unparalleled purity demanded of those ministering at the altar. Historically, this command was given at Sinai, establishing the fundamental practices for the newly appointed Aaronic priesthood within the context of the Tabernacle service, ensuring a perpetual, divinely instituted system of worship and atonement for the Israelites.

Leviticus 6 19 Word analysis

• This is the offering (וְזֶה הַקָּרְבָּן, v'zeh haqorban):
  • Qorban (קרבן): From the root qrb (to draw near). This general Hebrew term for "offering" or "sacrifice" signifies something "brought near" to God. Here, it introduces a specific, significant ritual.
• of Aaron and his sons (אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו, aharon uv'anav):
  • This specifies the recipients of this divine command, highlighting the hereditary nature and exclusive duty of the Aaronic priesthood in conducting this specific rite. It emphasizes that this instruction is for the officiating ministers themselves, not the lay Israelites.
• which they shall offer to the LORD (אֲשֶׁר יַקְרִיבוּ לַיהוָה, asher yaqrivu l'Yahweh):
  • Reiterates that the act is priestly service and is directed solely toward Yahweh, emphasizing divine instruction and His rightful due.
• on the day when they are anointed (בְּיוֹם הִמָּשַׁח אֹתוֹ, b'yom himmashaḥ oto):
  • Himmashaḥ (המָּשַׁח): To smear, anoint, consecrate. This word is crucial, as "anointed" marks the formal and divine inauguration into priestly office. This day signifies their special sanctification for ministry. This initial offering would be the first act performed after being officially designated as priests, setting the tone for their future service.
• a tenth of an ephah of fine flour (עֲשִׂירִית הָאֵיפָה סֹלֶת, asirit ha'eiphah solet):
  • Asirit (עשירית): A tenth part. This precise quantity, though small (roughly 2.2 liters or about 2 quarts), signifies an exact divine requirement.
  • Eiphah (איפה): A standard dry measure, often used for grains.
  • Solet (סלת): Fine flour. This indicates the highest quality, signifying purity, perfection, and the very best brought before the Lord. The fineness often points to the care and exactitude with which God's people should offer to Him.
• as a regular grain offering (מִנְחַת תָּמִיד, minchat tamid):
  • Minchah (מנחה): A gift, tribute, or non-animal offering, usually grain-based, often expressing devotion, recognition, or petition. It speaks to sustaining relationship and dependence on God.
  • Tamid (תָּמִיד): Continual, perpetual, regular. This crucial word indicates not just an inaugural offering, but one that established a pattern for daily priestly self-dedication and acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty in their ministerial duties, implying continued purity and self-purification in service.
• half of it in the morning and half in the evening (חֶצְיָהּ בַּבֹּקֶר וְחֶצְיָהּ בָּעָרֶב, chetsyah babboker v'chetsyah ba'erev):
  • Specifies the daily periodicity, paralleling other "tamid" offerings (like the burnt offering), emphasizing consistent and uninterrupted priestly ministry and a sustained posture of devotion and awareness of God's holy requirements from dawn till dusk.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "This is the offering of Aaron and his sons": Defines the particular, consecrated nature of the priests and their exclusive responsibility in this duty, differentiating their rituals from those of the lay Israelites.
• "on the day when they are anointed": Pinpoints the precise time this unique rite is inaugurated, establishing its connection to their foundational commissioning as mediators.
• "a tenth of an ephah of fine flour": Specifies the required humility (small portion) combined with the absolute demand for excellence and purity (fine flour) in God’s service.
• "as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening": Establishes the continuous, sustained aspect of the priests' dedication and daily need for spiritual renewal, purification, and attention to their holy office throughout the day, underscoring the ongoing nature of their sacred task.

Leviticus 6 19 Bonus section

• Typological Significance of Priesthood: This ritual prefigures Christ in His high priestly ministry. Unlike the Aaronic priests, who continually offered for their own sins (implied by the daily purification offerings like this), Jesus, the Great High Priest (Heb 7:27), offered Himself once for all. His anointing by the Spirit was for an eternal priesthood, not one needing daily rites of self-cleansing.
• Holiness in Ministry: The strict regulations surrounding this offering, particularly its total combustion, convey the profound truth that those who minister in God's presence must aspire to and embody a singular level of holiness, set apart from worldly concerns and self-interest. It implies that anything offered by a priest, even for his own sake, had to be completely for God, a life poured out in service.
• Connection to "Melted Cake" Interpretation: Some ancient traditions interpret the "regular grain offering" as akin to a "pan-cake" or "melted" grain offering (Lev 6:21) which also had to be fully burned, drawing a stronger connection to the visual form and the specific process of its preparation and complete consumption.

Leviticus 6 19 Commentary

Leviticus 6:19-23 presents a distinct grain offering exclusively for the priests, primarily for the high priest. What makes this offering truly unique is the mandate, articulated in the subsequent verses, that it must be wholly burned and not eaten by the priests. This directly contrasts with other grain offerings (Lev 6:14-18) where a portion was given to the priests for their sustenance. The complete consumption by fire signifies the offering's absolute holiness and exclusive devotion to the Lord, embodying the highest standard of purity and dedication required for priestly service. It functions as a daily reminder of their total separation to God, a continual self-dedication and purification from any unconscious defilement that might hinder their access to God's presence. The term "regular" (tamid) coupled with "morning and evening" denotes an unending commitment and underscores the daily vigilance required of God's ministers in maintaining holiness, pointing to a need for constant spiritual cleansing and renewed devotion. This continual purification was necessary because, though consecrated, the priests were still fallen men, distinct from the flawless purity of the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who needed no such offering for Himself, having offered a single, perfect, and all-sufficient sacrifice.