Leviticus 7 34

Leviticus 7:34 kjv

For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.

Leviticus 7:34 nkjv

For the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering I have taken from the children of Israel, from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons from the children of Israel by a statute forever.' "

Leviticus 7:34 niv

From the fellowship offerings of the Israelites, I have taken the breast that is waved and the thigh that is presented and have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as their perpetual share from the Israelites.'?"

Leviticus 7:34 esv

For the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed I have taken from the people of Israel, out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons, as a perpetual due from the people of Israel.

Leviticus 7:34 nlt

For I have reserved the breast of the special offering and the right thigh of the sacred offering for the priests. It is the permanent right of Aaron and his descendants to share in the peace offerings brought by the people of Israel.

Leviticus 7 verses

Leviticus 7 34 Meaning

Leviticus 7:34 stipulates God's perpetual ordinance regarding the distribution of specific portions from the Israelites' peace offerings. It mandates that the "breast that is waved" (ḥāzeh hattěnûpâ) and the "thigh that is contributed" (šôq hattěrûmâ) are to be set aside from the sacrifices and irrevocably given by God's decree to Aaron and his descendants, the Levitical priests. This divine provision ensured the sustenance and honored status of those serving in the tabernacle, establishing their sacred portion as a lasting due from generation to generation within the covenant community of Israel.

Leviticus 7 34 Context

Leviticus 7 is an integral part of the Mosaic Law, detailing the statutes concerning various offerings after the initial descriptions of the sacrifices themselves in Chapters 1-6. Verses 11-36 focus specifically on the peace offering (shelamim), delineating its three forms (thanksgiving, votive, freewill) and outlining the portions to be consumed by the offerer, sacrificed to the Lord, and, importantly for verse 34, allotted to the priests. This chapter defines the distinct roles and benefits for priests in handling sacrifices, ensuring their consecrated lifestyle and allowing them to perform their sacred duties. Historically and culturally, this meticulous legislation provided the framework for Israelite worship at the Tabernacle, ensuring order, holiness, and the perpetual sustenance of the dedicated priestly tribe (Levites, specifically the line of Aaron). This divine provision for their sustenance stood in stark contrast to many contemporary pagan practices where priests often subsisted on scraps or were dependent on irregular charity; God meticulously designated honorable, choice portions for His servants, reflecting His care and the dignity of the priestly office.

Leviticus 7 34 Word analysis

• For the breast (וְאֵת חֲזֵה, ḥāzeh): "Chest" or "breast." A choice and substantial cut of meat, emphasizing the high value and honor bestowed upon the priests.
• that is waved (הַתְּנוּפָה, hattěnûpâ): "Wave offering." The ritual involved moving the offering horizontally back and forth, signifying its presentation to God and subsequent symbolic reception back by the priest. This acknowledges divine ownership before designation for human use and highlights the consecration of the portion.
• and the thigh (וְאֵת שׁוֹק, šôq): "Thigh" or "upper leg." Another desirable and substantial portion of the animal, alongside the breast, to ensure significant sustenance.
• that is contributed (הַתְּרוּמָה, hattěrûmâ): "Heave offering." The ritual involved lifting the offering upwards, symbolizing its elevation and dedication to the Lord. It signifies a special contribution set apart from the general offering for sacred use.
• I have taken (לָקַחְתִּי, lāqaḥtî): "I have taken." Emphasizes God's sovereign initiative. This provision is not a human decision or charitable act but a divine mandate and prerogative.
• from the people of Israel (מֵאֵת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, mē’ēth bnê yiśrā’ēl): "From the sons of Israel." Specifies the origin of the offerings, underscoring the communal responsibility of the Israelite worshipers to provide for the priesthood as part of their commanded worship.
• from the sacrifices of their peace offerings (מִזִּבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵיהֶם, mizbaḥê šalmayhām): "From their sacrifices of peace offerings." The shelamim were offerings of well-being, fellowship, and communion, characterized by a shared meal. This specifies that these priestly portions originated from offerings designed for peace and communal joy.
• and have given them (וָאֶתֵּן אֹתָם, wā’ēttēn ‘ōtām): "And I have given them." Reiterates the divine agency; God is the one providing these specific portions to His chosen servants.
• to Aaron the priest and to his sons (לְאַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן וּלְבָנָיו, lĕ’aharon hakkōhēn wĕlibnāw): Specifies the recipients – Aaron, the High Priest, and his descendants. This highlights the hereditary nature of the priesthood and the permanence of this divine provision for their line.
• as a perpetual due (חָק עוֹלָם, ḥōq ‘ôlām): "A statute forever," "an eternal decree," or "a perpetual due/portion." This emphasizes the enduring and unchangeable nature of this divine provision, signifying that it was binding for all generations of Israelites.
• from the people of Israel (מֵאֵת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, mē’ēth bnê yiśrā’ēl): A repeated phrase, further underscoring that the ongoing responsibility for this permanent support of the priesthood rested on the entire Israelite community.

Leviticus 7 34 Bonus section

• The wave offering (tĕnûpâ) ritual for the breast may have symbolized presenting the whole life of the worshiper, represented by the chest area (seat of emotion/breath), to the Lord, then receiving it back as a sanctified gift to be shared.
• The heave offering (tĕrûmâ) for the thigh, being a substantial limb, often symbolized strength or support. Lifting it heavenward represented dedicating strength back to God from which the priest would derive his own strength to serve.
• The designated portions for the priests were to be eaten by them and their families (including servants), but only those who were ceremonially clean could partake (Lev 22:3-7), reinforcing the need for ritual purity within the priestly household.
• This structured system of provision eliminated potential avenues for corruption or dependency on congregational charity alone, ensuring the priests' livelihoods were divinely ordained and consistently maintained through the very acts of worship they facilitated.

Leviticus 7 34 Commentary

Leviticus 7:34 sets forth a fundamental aspect of Israelite worship: the divine mandate for the provision and sustenance of the priesthood. God explicitly takes and designates the choice portions – the wave breast and the heave thigh – from the communal peace offerings, ensuring they are perpetually given to Aaron and his descendants. This directive signifies several key theological truths. First, it underscores God's ultimate ownership and sovereignty over all offerings. Second, it highlights His personal care and honor for those dedicated to His service, providing them not with meager scraps but with prime cuts of meat. The ritual acts of "waving" and "heaving" prior to their designation for the priests further consecrated these portions, affirming their divine purpose. Third, the declaration of this as a "perpetual due" emphasizes the lasting nature of God's covenant with His chosen priests and the ongoing obligation of the Israelite community to support the spiritual leaders who mediated their relationship with God. This divine ordering secured the stability of the tabernacle worship system and provided practical means for the priests to remain consecrated for their sacred duties without daily temporal concerns. While the specific animal sacrifices are fulfilled in Christ, the principle of supporting those who minister the Gospel remains a vital spiritual practice (1 Cor 9:14, Gal 6:6).