Leviticus 8 26

Leviticus 8:26 kjv

And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:

Leviticus 8:26 nkjv

and from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the LORD he took one unleavened cake, a cake of bread anointed with oil, and one wafer, and put them on the fat and on the right thigh;

Leviticus 8:26 niv

And from the basket of bread made without yeast, which was before the LORD, he took one thick loaf, one thick loaf with olive oil mixed in, and one thin loaf, and he put these on the fat portions and on the right thigh.

Leviticus 8:26 esv

and out of the basket of unleavened bread that was before the LORD he took one unleavened loaf and one loaf of bread with oil and one wafer and placed them on the pieces of fat and on the right thigh.

Leviticus 8:26 nlt

On top of these he placed a thin cake of bread made without yeast, a cake of bread mixed with olive oil, and a wafer spread with olive oil. All these were taken from the basket of bread made without yeast that was placed in the LORD's presence.

Leviticus 8 verses

Leviticus 8 26 Meaning

Leviticus 8:26 describes Moses' specific actions during the consecration ceremony of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood. From a designated basket of unleavened bread, Moses took a plain unleavened cake, a cake mixed with oil, and a thin wafer. These items, representing aspects of grain offerings, were placed upon the fat portions of the ram of consecration, and upon Aaron’s right shoulder. This action symbolically connected the sustenance of service, purity, and the Spirit-enabled offering with the consecrated priest, preparing for their presentation before the Lord.

Leviticus 8 26 Context

Leviticus 8 details the seven-day consecration ceremony of Aaron and his sons as priests, as explicitly commanded by God in Ex 29. Moses, acting as God's representative, meticulously performs each step, sanctifying the Tabernacle, the altar, and the priests themselves. This particular verse (v. 26) describes part of the "ram of consecration" (Hebrew: ’ēl hammillūʾim) offering. This ram was crucial because it provided elements that physically linked the priests-to-be with the sacrificial system they were to administer. The placing of bread on the fat and right shoulder (parts of the offering) was a symbolic preparation for the "waving" ceremony, signifying Aaron's full identification with, reliance on, and active participation in the divine provision and service before the Lord. This elaborate ritual established the Old Covenant priesthood as mediators between God and Israel, ensuring holiness in worship.

Leviticus 8 26 Word analysis

• And out of the basket (מִסַּל - mis-sal):

  • מִ (min): "from, out of." Indicates source.
  • סַּל (sal): "basket." Specifically refers to the basket of consecration offerings, already mentioned in Lev 8:2 and Ex 29:3. It's not just any container, but one set aside for holy use.

• of unleavened bread (מַצּוֹת - matzot):

  • מַצּוֹת (matzot): "unleavened bread." This is crucial. Unleavened bread symbolizes purity, sincerity, haste, and freedom from corruption (leaven often represents sin or decay in the Bible, e.g., 1 Cor 5:7-8). It's connected to Passover and God's deliverance (Ex 12:15, 20). Its use here highlights the purity required for those consecrated to God.

• that was before the Lord (אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - asher lifnei YHWH):

  • אֲשֶׁר (asher): "which, that."
  • לִפְנֵי (lifnei): "before the face of, in the presence of." Denotes being directly in God's sight, highlighting divine oversight and approval. These offerings and actions are presented directly to God.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal involvement and authority in the consecration.

• he took (וַיִּקַּח - vayyiqqaḥ):

  • וַיִּקַּח (vayyiqqaḥ): "and he took." This is Moses, the officiant acting by divine command. The action is deliberate and divinely ordained.

• one unleavened cake (חַלַּת מַצָּה אַחַת - hallat matzah ahath):

  • חַלַּת (hallat): "cake, pierced cake." A flat, round cake, perhaps perforated, from "חָלַל" (to pierce, to profane). Here referring to a holy cake for consecration.
  • מַצָּה (matzah): "unleavened bread."
  • אַחַת (ahath): "one." Specificity shows careful adherence to instructions.

• and a cake of oiled bread (וְחַלַּת לֶחֶם שָׁמֶן - w'hallat leḥem shamen):

  • וְחַלַּת (w'hallat): "and a cake."
  • לֶחֶם (leḥem): "bread."
  • שָׁמֶן (shamen): "oil, fat." The bread is "oiled," signifying richness, perhaps anointing, or special preparation. Oil is often a biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit (e.g., in anointing for service) or divine favor and blessing.

• and one wafer (וְרָקִיק אֶחָד - w'raqiq eḥad):

  • וְרָקִיק (w'raqiq): "and a wafer, a thin cake." From "רָקַק" (to make thin). This implies a very thin, delicate cracker-like bread.
  • אֶחָד (eḥad): "one."

• and put them on the fat (וַיָּשֶׂם עַל הַחֵלֶב - wayyaśem ʿal haḥelev):

  • וַיָּשֶׂם (wayyaśem): "and he placed, laid." Another deliberate action.
  • עַל (ʿal): "upon."
  • הַחֵלֶב (haḥelev): "the fat." This is the best, choicest part of the sacrificial animal, specifically reserved for the Lord as it produces a "pleasing aroma" when burned (Lev 3:16, 4:31). Placing the bread on the fat connects the priest’s sustenance with God’s portion of the offering.

• and upon the right shoulder (וְעַל הַכָּתֵף הַיְמָנִית - w'ʿal ha-katef ha-yemanith):

  • וְעַל (w'ʿal): "and upon."
  • הַכָּתֵף (ha-katef): "the shoulder." Specifically, the upper foreleg part. The "right shoulder" was a significant portion often reserved for the priests (Deut 18:3). It symbolizes strength, action, and carrying burdens or responsibilities.
  • הַיְמָנִית (ha-yemanith): "the right (side/hand)." The right side often represents power, authority, favor, and prime position (Ps 110:1, Ex 15:6). Placing these elements on Aaron's right shoulder further signifies the strength and authority by which he would serve the Lord, reliant on divine provision.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "basket of unleavened bread, that was before the Lord": This phrase emphasizes that all elements for the consecration are pre-ordained, prepared, pure, and consecrated for use directly in God's presence, highlighting the holiness and specific divine provision for the priesthood.
  • "one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer": These represent a complete variety of bread offerings typically used in grain offerings (Lev 2). Their inclusion signifies that the priests, once consecrated, would be nourished by God and empowered to offer holistic spiritual sustenance. The unleavened nature signifies purity, while the oil signifies the enabling and anointing of the Holy Spirit for service.
  • "put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder": This physical act symbolizes the intimate connection between the priest, the offering, and God's acceptance. The "fat" (God's portion) represents total dedication to the divine, and the "right shoulder" signifies the priest's strength, authority, and responsibility derived from God for service. The items placed here also anticipate their symbolic "waving" as an act of presentation to the Lord (Lev 8:27).

Leviticus 8 26 Bonus section

The items listed in Leviticus 8:26 (unleavened cake, oiled bread, wafer) are the precise components of the grain offering (minḥah) when baked in an oven (Lev 2:4). Their inclusion in the consecration ceremony highlights that the sustenance of the priesthood and the very food they handled in service (both physical bread for their portion and the bread offerings for God) must embody purity and God-ordained blessing. The act performed by Moses served as a physical anointing of provision and strength upon Aaron, empowering him for his mediatorial role. It was a tangible lesson to Aaron, demonstrating that his livelihood and effectiveness in ministry would stem directly from his service to YHWH and from the sacrificial system he would administer.

Leviticus 8 26 Commentary

Leviticus 8:26 is a precise snapshot within the elaborate seven-day consecration of Aaron and his sons, highlighting the meticulous detail required by God for sacred service. Moses' action of selecting specific bread elements from the basket—plain unleavened, oiled, and wafer—is significant. These various bread types underscore the different facets of grain offerings (minḥah) that would later be central to the priests’ duties. The unleavened quality universally signifies purity and dedication, paramount for those approaching a holy God. The oil in one cake likely points to divine anointing or the indwelling of the Spirit, essential for all true ministry.

Placing these food items on the fat of the ram of consecration, which was destined entirely for the Lord, and upon Aaron's right shoulder, symbolically integrates the priests' physical sustenance and functional strength with God's ultimate portion of the offering. It demonstrated that their sustenance and ability to serve came from God and was interwoven with their sacrificial duties. The "right shoulder" implies authority, capacity, and the direction of their efforts, signifying strength applied for divine purpose. This moment anticipates the "waving" (Lev 8:27), an act of presentation and dedication, illustrating that the very being and work of the priest were dedicated to God, wholly relying on divine provision and empowered by divine anointing for acceptable worship. The entire sequence underscored holiness, dependence, and the sacred calling of the Aaronic priesthood.