Numbers 15 19

Numbers 15:19 kjv

Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the LORD.

Numbers 15:19 nkjv

then it will be, when you eat of the bread of the land, that you shall offer up a heave offering to the LORD.

Numbers 15:19 niv

and you eat the food of the land, present a portion as an offering to the LORD.

Numbers 15:19 esv

and when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall present a contribution to the LORD.

Numbers 15:19 nlt

and you eat the crops that grow there, you must set some aside as a sacred offering to the LORD.

Numbers 15 verses

Numbers 15 19 Meaning

Numbers 15:19 establishes a fundamental principle for the Israelites upon entering the Promised Land: when they eat of the produce cultivated from the land given to them, they are commanded to offer a portion of it to the Lord. This act signifies their acknowledgment of God as the true owner and ultimate provider of the land's bounty, demonstrating gratitude and dependence for their sustenance. It transforms a common, daily activity – eating – into an act of worship and consecration.

Numbers 15 19 Context

Numbers 15 outlines various laws related to offerings and worship for the Israelites after they have entered and settled in the land of Canaan. This chapter follows significant rebellion and punishment in Numbers 13-14 (the spies' report and the wilderness wandering decree). With this fresh start for the new generation, God is re-establishing the foundational principles of living in covenant with Him. The specific instructions here—covering grain, drink, and fellowship offerings for both Israelites and resident foreigners, as well as laws for unintentional sins and high-handed rebellion—underscore a life lived in sustained obedience and grateful acknowledgment of God's provisions within the promised inheritance. Verse 19 transitions from specific offering instructions to a general rule about all future produce, emphasizing that even daily food consumption should involve a conscious act of worship and dedication. Historically, this countered Canaanite polytheistic practices where local deities were worshipped for fertile harvests. By demanding an offering "to the LORD" from the land's yield, it affirmed YHWH as the sole Giver of bounty and dispelled any notion that agricultural success came from other gods or by human merit alone.

Numbers 15 19 Word analysis

• When you eat:
  • Signifies a regular, habitual action, connecting daily life to religious duty. It's not a one-time event but a continuous posture.
  • Highlights the expectation of Israel inhabiting and benefiting from the land's produce.
• of the bread:
  • Hebrew: lechem (לֶחֶם). While literally "bread," it is often used generically in the Bible to refer to food or provisions in general, derived from grains (staple diet).
  • Represents sustenance derived directly from agricultural activity, the primary means of provision in the land.
• of the land:
  • Hebrew: ha'arets (הָאָרֶץ). Refers specifically to the Promised Land, Canaan.
  • This phrase is crucial: it grounds the obligation in the fulfillment of God's covenant promise to give them a land flowing with milk and honey. The offerings are in direct response to inhabiting and cultivating His gift.
  • It differentiates this command from wilderness provisions (manna), which required no agricultural labor.
• you shall present:
  • Hebrew: tarimu (תָּרִימוּ), a form of the verb rum (רוּם), meaning "to lift up," "to raise," or "to exalt."
  • This is the technical term for "heave offering," indicating a specific type of sacred contribution that was physically lifted up as a symbolic gesture of setting apart to God. It implies effort and deliberate action.
• a contribution:
  • Hebrew: terumah (תְּרוּמָה), a noun derived from rum. This term refers to the "heave offering" itself, a consecrated gift set apart for the Lord, typically given to the priests or the tabernacle.
  • It underscores that this is a specific, required portion, not merely a voluntary donation, representing God's prior claim on all the land's produce.
• to the LORD:
  • Hebrew: le-YHWH (לַיהוָה). Clearly identifies the sole recipient and proprietor of the land and its bounty.
  • Reinforces monotheism and Israel's covenant relationship, ensuring that all praise and acknowledgment for provision goes to Him alone, in contrast to pagan fertility deities.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When you eat of the bread of the land": This phrase ties everyday sustenance and agricultural productivity directly to divine gifting. It teaches that one's daily nourishment is not obtained independently but comes from God through His provision of the land. It mandates that common life (eating) is intrinsically connected to the sacred.
• "you shall present a contribution to the LORD": This is the required response to God's provision. It establishes a fixed obligation, transforming gratefulness into a tangible act of worship. It's an affirmation of God's ownership and sovereignty over their entire existence and the resources He grants.

Numbers 15 19 Bonus section

The theological concept underlying Num 15:19, that the "first" or a portion of what is received should be offered back to God, is often referred to as the "firstfruits" principle. This is not merely an ancient Israelite custom but a timeless theological truth that recognizes God's preeminence and ownership of all things. It predates the Law, seen in Cain and Abel's offerings, and extends throughout Scripture, finding its ultimate fulfillment in Christ as the "firstfruits" of those who sleep (1 Cor 15:20) and in the Holy Spirit as the "firstfruits" of our inheritance (Rom 8:23). In an agrarian society, the "bread of the land" represented their entire economy and livelihood. Therefore, offering a "contribution" from it was not a minor detail but a significant act demonstrating faith, dependence, and the consecration of their economic life to the Lord. It served as a constant reminder that prosperity in the Promised Land was a divine gift, not a natural entitlement.

Numbers 15 19 Commentary

Numbers 15:19 distills a foundational principle of Old Covenant life into a concise command: acknowledging God as the Giver of all sustenance. It projects forward to a time when Israel would settle in Canaan, shift from receiving manna to cultivating their own food, and thus confront the temptation to take God's provision for granted or attribute success to other gods. The "contribution" (terumah) was a specific portion, typically given to the priests for their livelihood, signifying that part of Israel's blessing enabled the ongoing service and worship of God. This law reinforces that God's ownership extended not just over the land itself, but over its produce and the very act of living off it. It teaches that even common eating is a spiritual act, demanding gratitude and acknowledgment of divine sovereignty. It lays a groundwork for all of Israel's worship, implying that blessings from God necessitate a thankful response, with the first and best dedicated to Him.

Examples for practical usage (for Christians today):

• Giving a "firstfruits" offering from one's income, acknowledging God's blessing on one's work.
• Praying and giving thanks before meals, recognizing food as a gift from God.
• Using resources responsibly, remembering they are entrusted by God for His glory and purposes.