Leviticus 9 21

Leviticus 9:21 kjv

And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.

Leviticus 9:21 nkjv

but the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved as a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses had commanded.

Leviticus 9:21 niv

Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh before the LORD as a wave offering, as Moses commanded.

Leviticus 9:21 esv

but the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses commanded.

Leviticus 9:21 nlt

Aaron then lifted up the breasts and right thighs as a special offering to the LORD, just as Moses had commanded.

Leviticus 9 verses

Leviticus 9 21 Meaning

Leviticus 9:21 details the specific action taken by Aaron during the inaugural priestly offerings on the eighth day after his and his sons' consecration. It states that Aaron personally presented the breasts and the right shoulder of the various peace offerings and fellowship sacrifices by waving them before the LORD. This act symbolized a dedication and presentation to God, after which these portions were then allotted to the priests as their divine due, a direct command Moses had conveyed from God.

Leviticus 9 21 Context

Leviticus chapter 9 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's worship, immediately following the elaborate seven-day consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests (Leviticus 8). On this eighth day, often referred to as "the day of ordination," Aaron performed his very first acts as the newly appointed High Priest. He offered sacrifices first for his own sin and burnt offering, and then for the people's sin, burnt, grain, and peace offerings. This ceremonial culmination was crucial: it officially initiated the tabernacle worship, demonstrating its proper order, God's provision for dealing with sin, and the specific duties and portions designated for the priesthood. Leviticus 9:21 describes Aaron's personal engagement in the waving of the fellowship offering's prescribed portions, highlighting his active participation in the precise ritual actions commanded by God through Moses, leading to the divine glory appearing. The context underlines divine authority, priestly responsibility, and the sacred protocol of worship established at Sinai.

Leviticus 9 21 Word analysis

• And the breasts (וְאֵת הֶחָזֶה, vᵉ’ēt hechazeh):
  • chazeh refers specifically to the breast or chest. In sacrificial law, the breast of peace offerings (shalom offerings, for fellowship or thanksgiving) was designated as a wave offering and part of the priests' portion. This portion often signifies the heart or inner life, symbolizing that which comes from the affections. Its presentation to the LORD and then return to the priests underscored God's sovereignty and His gracious provision for those who serve Him.
• and the right shoulder (וְאֵת שׁוֹק הַיָּמִין, vᵉ’ēt shôq hayyāmîn):
  • shoq means leg or thigh. Specifically, the "right shoulder" (often rendered "right thigh" in some translations, from the Hebrew shoq as hind leg/thigh, but contextually refers to the shoulder of the animal due to how it's butchered for human consumption) was the other designated portion from the peace offering for the priests. The shoulder often represents strength, power, or support. Waving this part acknowledges God's strength and also represents the priest's dependence on divine sustenance. Together, the breast and shoulder were substantial and choicest parts, indicating God’s generosity and the importance of supporting His ministers.
• Aaron waved (הֵנִיף אַהֲרֹן, henîph ahăron):
  • henîph is the Hiphil imperfect of nûph (נוּף), meaning "to wave, brandish, swing, offer by waving." The "waving" motion involved moving the offering horizontally back and forth, signifying its presentation from the offerer and to the LORD, as if moving between two entities. This physical act publicly transferred the portion from common use to consecrated use, signifying dedication and acknowledgement of God's ownership, then symbolically given back to the priests by God as His appointed representatives.
• for a wave offering (תְּנוּפָה, tᵉnûphah):
  • tᵉnûphah is a noun derived from nûph, the same root as "waved." It denotes the offering itself which is waved. It is distinct from other offering types like burnt offerings or sin offerings and represents a specific type of presentation and priestly entitlement. Its significance lies in consecration, acknowledgement of God's proprietorship over all, and establishing the portion of the priests.
• before the LORD (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, liphney YHWH):
  • liphney means "before the face of." This phrase indicates that the ritual action was performed directly in the divine presence, in the sacred space of the tabernacle, with the intention of being seen and accepted by God. It emphasizes the spiritual nature and recipient of the offering, highlighting divine accessibility and authority. "LORD" (YHWH) signifies God's personal covenant name, emphasizing the unique relationship with Israel.
• as Moses commanded (כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה מֹשֶׁה, ka’ăšer tzivvah mōsheh):
  • tzivvah is the Piel perfect of tzavah (צָוָה), "to command, instruct, order." This phrase is critical, constantly appearing in Leviticus. It underscores the divine origin and mandatory nature of the entire worship system. Aaron’s actions were not arbitrary but strictly according to God's precise instructions mediated through Moses. This highlights the theme of obedience and the divine authority underpinning all Levitical practices.

Leviticus 9 21 Bonus section

• Polemics against contemporary beliefs: The detailed and specific nature of Israelite sacrificial laws, including the prescribed portions for priests and the exact rituals like the wave offering, stood in stark contrast to the often arbitrary and idolatrous practices of surrounding pagan cultures. These pagan rituals frequently involved self-mutilation, divination, or chaotic emotional expressions rather than an ordered, divinely ordained system. The fixed portions also differentiated Israel's priesthood from systems where priests might exploit worshippers.
• Connection to firstfruits: The concept of the wave offering, particularly for elements like grain or specific animal parts, resonated with the practice of offering firstfruits. Both signified presenting the 'best' or 'first' to God as an acknowledgment that all bounty comes from Him and dedicating it back to Him. The wave offering, when completed and a portion was given back to the priests, underscored God's reciprocal generosity in providing for His servants.
• Significance for Israelite identity: The communal act of bringing these offerings and the structured distribution of the consecrated portions fostered a sense of community, shared sacred duty, and reliance on God's provision. It also clearly delineated the roles of the laity, the priests, and God Himself in the worship system.

Leviticus 9 21 Commentary

Leviticus 9:21, though brief, encapsulates profound truths about ancient Israelite worship and the nature of God's covenant with His people. It describes Aaron, in his inaugural performance as High Priest, performing the specific ritual of waving the breasts and right shoulder of the peace offerings before the LORD. This action was not a casual gesture but a deeply symbolic act. The waving motion itself, common to terumah (heave offerings) and tenuphah (wave offerings), signifies presenting an object fully to God, recognizing His supreme ownership over all. Once waved, these particular parts were then assigned as sacred provisions for the priests, affirming God's divine care for those ministering in His name.

The very particularity of the portions (breast and right shoulder) underscores the meticulousness God demanded in worship. Nothing was left to human improvisation; every detail, "as Moses commanded," was divinely prescribed. This obedience, stemming from Moses' initial instructions, was paramount for divine approval and the manifestation of God's glory (as seen immediately following in verse 23). The passage reinforces the concept of a dedicated priesthood supported by the offerings of the people, a pattern echoed throughout the Old Testament and hinted at in the New Testament with instructions for supporting Christian ministers (1 Cor 9:13-14). Ultimately, these ceremonial rituals, including the wave offering, were "a shadow of the good things to come" (Heb 10:1), pointing forward to the perfect, once-for-all self-offering of Jesus Christ, who became our High Priest and the ultimate "wave offering" for all humanity, signifying complete dedication and providing eternal sustenance.