Leviticus 6 22

Leviticus 6:22 kjv

And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute for ever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly burnt.

Leviticus 6:22 nkjv

The priest from among his sons, who is anointed in his place, shall offer it. It is a statute forever to the LORD. It shall be wholly burned.

Leviticus 6:22 niv

The son who is to succeed him as anointed priest shall prepare it. It is the LORD's perpetual share and is to be burned completely.

Leviticus 6:22 esv

The priest from among Aaron's sons, who is anointed to succeed him, shall offer it to the LORD as decreed forever. The whole of it shall be burned.

Leviticus 6:22 nlt

In each generation, the high priest who succeeds Aaron must prepare this same offering. It belongs to the LORD and must be burned up completely. This is a permanent law.

Leviticus 6 verses

Leviticus 6 22 Meaning

Leviticus 6:22 specifies that the grain offering brought by the high priest (or the priest who is anointed to succeed him) must be entirely consumed by fire on the altar; no portion of it is to be eaten by the priests, unlike other grain offerings. This command is established as a perpetual decree, emphasizing its enduring significance under the Mosaic Covenant and the high standard of dedication required of God's chief representative.

Leviticus 6 22 Context

Leviticus 6 details the "Laws of the Offerings," providing further instructions to the priests beyond the general definitions in Chapters 1-5. Specifically, verses 14-23 elaborate on the grain offering (Minchah). While ordinary grain offerings, especially those of Aaron and his sons, provided a portion for the priests to eat (Lev 6:16), this verse presents a striking exception. It refers to the special daily grain offering of the anointed priest—the High Priest—both at his consecration (Lev 6:20) and thereafter. Historically, this emphasizes the unparalleled sanctity and unique role of the High Priest as God's primary mediator for Israel under the Mosaic Covenant. The act of offering signifies complete devotion and acknowledges that the priest, as God's supreme representative, cannot benefit materially from his personal offering meant entirely for God's glory.

Leviticus 6 22 Word analysis

• And the priest: Refers to the office of the High Priest. The kohen, the singular priestly figure who stands at the apex of the Israelite worship system.
• that is anointed: Hebrew ha'mashiaḥ (הַמָּשִׁיחַ). This specific designation, literally "the anointed one," marks him as the consecrated High Priest, set apart by the sacred anointing oil (Ex 29:7, Lev 8:12). This term directly points to the Messiah, Christ (from Greek Christos, "anointed one"), who is the ultimate Anointed High Priest.
• in his stead: Hebrew taḥtāv (תַּחְתָּיו). Means "in his place" or "under him." This refers to the succession in the high priesthood, meaning the son or chosen successor who takes over the role upon the death or retirement of the previous High Priest. It underscores the ongoing nature of the High Priestly office, passed from one generation to the next.
• shall offer it: Hebrew yaqriv (יַקְרִיב), "he shall bring near" or "present." This signifies the act of presenting the offering to God on the altar, a core function of the priesthood.
• it is a statute: Hebrew ḥuqqat (חֻקַּת). A fixed decree, ordinance, or statute. It signifies a non-negotiable, established law from God.
• for ever: Hebrew 'olam (עוֹלָם). Refers to perpetuity, an enduring ordinance. In the context of the Old Covenant, it indicates a lasting command for the duration of that covenant, often finding its ultimate spiritual fulfillment in the New Covenant through Christ.
• unto the Lord: The ultimate recipient of the offering, emphasizing its sacred purpose and the holiness of God.
• it shall be wholly burnt: Hebrew kalil (כָּלִיל). This is the critical distinction. Kalil means "complete," "entire," or "all burnt." It specifies that not a single part of this grain offering is to be consumed by the priests or anyone else. This term is more commonly associated with the burnt offering ('olah), which was entirely consumed by fire as a symbol of complete dedication to God (Lev 1). For a grain offering, this is unique.

Words-group Analysis

• the priest that is anointed in his stead: This phrase specifically identifies the recipient of this unique command—the High Priest, or any successor to that office. It highlights the hereditary and successive nature of the Aaronic high priesthood and its continuous sacred duties. The continuity implies an unbroken chain of representation for the people before God, until fulfilled in the single, unchangeable priesthood of Christ.
• a statute for ever unto the Lord: This underscores the divine origin and perpetual nature of the command under the Old Covenant. It means this particular law was not temporary or situational, but was fundamental to the ongoing service of the High Priest, ensuring a consistent form of worship and dedication throughout the generations of Israel.
• it shall be wholly burnt: This is the defining characteristic of the offering. Unlike all other grain offerings (portions of which fed the priests, representing God's provision and the priest's right to eat of the sacrifices), the High Priest's own daily offering could not benefit him in any material way. This signified complete, unreserved dedication to God, and perhaps a recognition that even the high priest, as a representative of humanity, must not derive personal gain from his service meant purely for God. It stresses utter purity and devotion required from the one closest to God in the Tabernacle.

Leviticus 6 22 Bonus section

The concept of kalil for a grain offering is exceptional. Ordinarily, kalil is reserved for the burnt offering ('olah), which symbolized atonement for sin and complete devotion through total consumption by fire. Its application to the High Priest's grain offering (which was typically a token of appreciation and service) elevates its spiritual significance for the priestly office. It teaches that for those called to be spiritual leaders or high representatives before God, the standard of complete self-offering is paramount. This mirrors the biblical principle that spiritual leadership often entails a greater measure of sacrifice and purity (cf. Jas 3:1).

Leviticus 6 22 Commentary

Leviticus 6:22 encapsulates a profound principle within the sacrificial system. While other grain offerings symbolized sustenance and provision, with a portion serving as the priests' livelihood, the High Priest's personal grain offering was commanded to be entirely consumed by fire. This singular directive elevates this particular offering beyond mere ritual sustenance to a powerful demonstration of total dedication.

The High Priest, uniquely consecrated through anointing, served as the chief representative and mediator between God and the Israelite community. His own offering, by being "wholly burnt" (kalil), signified that his life, his sustenance, and his very service were entirely dedicated to the Lord, with no personal gain or shared consumption from that specific act of worship. It underscored the absolute purity and unblemished commitment required of the one who stood in such a close relationship to a holy God. He offered himself, in a symbolic sense, fully and completely, not seeking personal benefit from the offering, but offering it as pure devotion.

This concept resonates deeply with the character and sacrifice of Christ, our ultimate High Priest. Unlike the Aaronic priests, whose priesthood was passed on due to death, Christ holds an unchangeable priesthood (Heb 7:24). He needed no personal daily offering because He was sinless (Heb 7:27). His offering of Himself, once for all, was the perfect kalil sacrifice, utterly consumed not by fire on an altar but by divine will, providing a complete atonement that leaves nothing left to be offered. Just as the Levitical High Priest's offering typified a life entirely devoted to God's service, Christ's life and sacrifice represent the ultimate act of complete surrender and unreserved obedience, resulting in eternal redemption. This verse, therefore, quietly prefigures the perfection of Christ's Person and His perfectly consummated redemptive work, wherein the ultimate Anointed One offered Himself wholly, needing no successor because His work was eternally complete.