Leviticus 7:35 kjv
This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest's office;
Leviticus 7:35 nkjv
This is the consecrated portion for Aaron and his sons, from the offerings made by fire to the LORD, on the day when Moses presented them to minister to the LORD as priests.
Leviticus 7:35 niv
This is the portion of the food offerings presented to the LORD that were allotted to Aaron and his sons on the day they were presented to serve the LORD as priests.
Leviticus 7:35 esv
This is the portion of Aaron and of his sons from the LORD's food offerings, from the day they were presented to serve as priests of the LORD.
Leviticus 7:35 nlt
This is their rightful share. The special gifts presented to the LORD have been reserved for Aaron and his descendants from the time they were set apart to serve the LORD as priests.
Leviticus 7 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 6:14-18 | This is the law of the grain offering... what is left of it Aaron and his sons shall eat... | Priestly share of grain offerings |
| Lev 6:26 | The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it... | Priestly share of sin offerings |
| Num 18:8 | Then the LORD said to Aaron, "Behold, I have given you charge of my offerings... as your portion." | Divine decree for priestly provision |
| Num 18:11 | "...their heave offering of all the waves offerings of the people of Israel." | Priestly portions from various offerings |
| Num 18:20 | "I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel." | God is the priests' ultimate inheritance |
| Deut 18:1-2 | The Levitical priests... shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the LORD's offerings... | Priestly dependence on offerings for livelihood |
| Exod 29:9 | "So you shall ordain Aaron and his sons... theirs shall be a priesthood by a statute forever." | Priestly office is a perpetual ordinance |
| Exod 29:28 | "This shall be for Aaron and his sons a perpetual due from the people of Israel..." | Perpetual due for priests from consecration offering |
| Lev 8:29-30 | Moses took some of the anointing oil and of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled it... | Confirmation of anointing ritual |
| 1 Sam 2:28 | "Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar..." | Priestly selection and role |
| Neh 10:37 | "...the portions of the Levites, for the Levites are to collect the tithes..." | Post-exilic recognition of priestly portions |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the full tithes into the storehouse... that there may be food in my house..." | Implicit support for temple/priestly sustenance |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple... so also the Lord commanded... | NT principle of supporting ministers |
| 1 Tim 5:18 | For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages." | NT principle of fair provision for ministry |
| Heb 5:1-4 | For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God... | Christ as the ultimate High Priest |
| Heb 7:12 | For when there is a change in the priesthood, there must also be a change in the law. | Priesthood tied to the Mosaic Law, later fulfilled by Christ |
| Col 2:16-17 | Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink... a shadow of what is to come. | Ritual laws and offerings as shadows of Christ |
| Heb 9:9-10 | ...which is symbolic for the present age, in which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience... | Old Covenant sacrifices' limitations |
| Heb 10:1-4 | For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities... | Law as shadow, sacrifices' insufficiency |
| Gal 6:6 | Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. | Broader NT principle of reciprocal support for teaching/ministry |
| Lev 10:14-15 | The breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed you shall eat in a clean place... | Specific instructions for priest's portions from peace offerings |
| Ezek 44:28 | This shall be their inheritance: I am their inheritance: and you shall give them no possession in Israel... | God as ultimate inheritance; priestly livelihood via divine provision |
Leviticus 7 verses
Leviticus 7 35 Meaning
This verse establishes the divine provision for Aaron and his sons, the priests, stipulating that a specific share of the food offerings made by fire to the LORD belongs to them. This portion is a perpetual right, affirmed from the very day they were presented and anointed for service, indicating their sustenance is directly linked to their sacred function in the tabernacle worship, as ordained by God through Moses.
Leviticus 7 35 Context
Leviticus Chapter 7 concludes the detailed laws concerning the offerings previously introduced in chapters 1-6, specifically the guilt offering (Lev 7:1-10) and the peace offering (Lev 7:11-21), as well as prohibitions regarding fat and blood (Lev 7:22-27). It reiterates the specific portions designated for the priests from these offerings, like the breast and the thigh from the peace offering (Lev 7:28-34). Verse 35 serves as a summation, providing an overarching statement about the origin and legitimacy of these priestly entitlements. This divine ordinance underscores God's meticulous care for those who serve Him, ensuring their sustenance and distinction within the Israelite community, thereby maintaining the sanctity of their office and the purity of worship at the tabernacle. The historical context is the period immediately following the Exodus, during Israel's time at Sinai, establishing the fundamental structures of worship and societal order for the newly formed nation under God's covenant.
Leviticus 7 35 Word analysis
- This is (כָּזֹאת - ka-zot): Literally "like this" or "such is". It points back to the preceding instructions, confirming and summarizing them. It indicates an established order.
- the portion (מִשְׁחַת - mishchat): Derived from the root מָשַׁח (mashach), meaning "to anoint." This term implies an "anointed portion" or a "prescribed share," emphasizing that these entitlements are intrinsically linked to the priestly anointing and installation. It signifies a divine appointment and a dedicated allotment for their specific sacred function.
- of Aaron (אַהֲרֹן - Aharon): Refers to Aaron, the first High Priest, representing the entire priestly line.
- and the portion of his sons (וּמִשְׁחַת בָּנָיו - u-mishchat banav): Includes the subsequent generations of priests, emphasizing that this divine provision is perpetual for the priesthood.
- from the food offerings of the LORD (מֵאִשֵּׁי יְהוָה - me'ishshei Yahweh): While often translated "food offerings," אִשֶּׁה (ishsheh) specifically means "offering made by fire." These are sacrifices completely or partially consumed by fire on the altar, showing that the priests' share comes from what is devoted to God.
- which he presented them (אֲשֶׁר הִקְרִיב אֹתָם - asher hiqriv otam): "He" refers to Moses, the mediator of the covenant and the one who consecrated the priests. "Presented them" (from qarab) means "brought near" or "offered," referring to their consecration and formal appointment into service.
- on the day he anointed them (בְּיוֹם הִמְשַׁח אֹתָם - b'yom himshach otam): Reinforces that their entitlement to these portions was established and took effect from the moment of their ordination through anointing, which set them apart for sacred service.
- to minister to the LORD (לְכַהֵן לַיהוָה - l'khahen laYHWH): To perform the duties of a priest (from kahan). This phrase clearly links the portions received to the function of priestly service rendered to God, not to people.
- in the priesthood (implied): The phrase l'khahen "to act as priest" carries the meaning of ministering in the priestly office, underscoring the nature of their ongoing divine vocation.
Words-group analysis:
- "This is the portion of Aaron and the portion of his sons": This phrase serves as a foundational declaration of divine endowment for the hereditary priesthood, guaranteeing their sustenance as a non-landowning tribe, making their provision directly from God's altar offerings.
- "from the food offerings of the LORD, from the offerings made by fire to the LORD": Specifies the source of their income, emphasizing that it comes from what is sanctified and offered to God, not from general taxation or secular labor. It also highlights God's ownership and allocation.
- "on the day when Moses presented them to minister to the LORD in the priesthood": Links the legitimacy and perpetuity of their portion directly to their official inauguration and anointing. It confirms that their provision is not based on temporary circumstances but on their permanent, divinely-instituted role. This divine "employment contract" ensures their ability to focus on spiritual duties without earthly distractions.
Leviticus 7 35 Bonus section
The term "portion" (mishchah) carries a richer meaning than a simple allocation of food. Its root mashach (to anoint) strongly connects their livelihood to their consecrated status, differentiating their provision from general sustenance. This divinely-appointed share reinforced the idea that their office was not a human institution but a direct command from God, endowing them with distinct authority and responsibility within Israelite society. The priests were, in essence, paid by God from His "house." This practice was also an indirect polemic against pagan cults, where priests often relied on capricious offerings or extorted their followers, demonstrating the LORD's orderly and abundant provision for His chosen servants through established law.
Leviticus 7 35 Commentary
Leviticus 7:35 encapsulates a core theological principle: God’s direct and meticulous provision for His consecrated servants. By specifying that the priests' portions derive from the sacrifices presented to the LORD, the verse underscores their utter dependence on divine ordination and the offerings themselves, rather than any worldly source of income. The explicit mention of the "day he anointed them" establishes a covenantal guarantee: their sustenance is a perpetual right tied directly to their initial call and anointing, signifying that sacred service demands and receives divine support. This principle ensured that the priests, having no land inheritance, could devote themselves fully to their demanding ceremonial duties, maintaining the sanctity of the sanctuary and the purity of Israel’s worship. It served as a safeguard against clerical corruption and secularization of their sacred calling. In broader application, this reflects God's care for those dedicated to His work, a theme that carries through to the New Testament's command for believers to support those who minister the Gospel (1 Cor 9:13-14).