Numbers 15 20

Numbers 15:20 kjv

Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.

Numbers 15:20 nkjv

You shall offer up a cake of the first of your ground meal as a heave offering; as a heave offering of the threshing floor, so shall you offer it up.

Numbers 15:20 niv

Present a loaf from the first of your ground meal and present it as an offering from the threshing floor.

Numbers 15:20 esv

Of the first of your dough you shall present a loaf as a contribution; like a contribution from the threshing floor, so shall you present it.

Numbers 15:20 nlt

Present a cake from the first of the flour you grind, and set it aside as a sacred offering, as you do with the first grain from the threshing floor.

Numbers 15 verses

Numbers 15 20 Meaning

Numbers 15:20 establishes a divine requirement for the Israelites to offer a portion of their dough as a "heave offering" to the Lord, to be given to the priests. This command was to be observed once they entered and began to live in the Promised Land. The act was to be performed in a manner consistent with the existing practice of offering a heave offering from the grain of the threshing floor, signifying a dedicated portion from their daily sustenance.

Numbers 15 20 Context

Numbers chapter 15 records various laws given to Israel primarily for their life after entering the Promised Land. This chapter details regulations for offerings, covering both unintentional sins committed by individuals and the entire community, as well as the dire consequences for defiant, intentional sin. Importantly, these laws of offering, including the "challot" or dough offering (verses 17-21), are given before any of the nation has entered the land. This indicates God's proactive provision of worship guidelines for their settled life. Specifically, verses 17-21 lay down the commandment to present an offering from their "first dough," demonstrating God's claim on their daily food sustenance derived from the agricultural blessings of the land. It directly follows commands regarding food and drink offerings with burnt offerings and peace offerings (vv. 1-16) and precedes the laws for unintentional sin and the law of the fringes (tzitzit). This sequence emphasizes that faithful worship and adherence to God's ways are foundational to their relationship with Him in the new land.

Numbers 15 20 Word analysis

• Of the first (מֵרֵאשִׁית - merē’šît): This adverbial phrase means "from the beginning," "at the first," or "the choicest/best part." It highlights the principle of firstfruits, designating priority and supremacy to God. This isn't just any portion, but the initial and best.
• your dough (עֲרִיסֹתֵכֶם - ‘ărîsōṯêḵem): Refers to the kneaded mass, the mixture of flour and water prepared for baking into bread. This is significant because it's not the raw grain (like at the threshing floor) but the prepared, processed food, connecting divine commands to daily, domestic acts of cooking.
• a cake (חַלָּה - ḥallāh): Specifically, a loaf or ring-shaped bread. This term became eponymous with this offering, known as the "challah offering." It distinguishes the form of the offering from merely a portion of flour or grain. It symbolizes the staple food of Israelite daily life.
• ye shall offer/heave (תָּרִימוּ - tārimū): From the verb רוּם (rûm), meaning "to lift," "raise," or "set apart." This action signifies dedication and setting apart for God. The physical act of "heaving" (lifting up) the offering demonstrated it was for God, who is "lifted up" in praise and worship.
• an heave offering (תְרוּמָה - tᵉrûmāh): This noun, also from rûm, refers to a raised or set-apart contribution or gift to God. These offerings were typically assigned to the priests for their sustenance. It signifies a distinct category of sacred donation, given freely but commanded.
• as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor (כִּתְרוּמַת גֹּרֶן - kitᵉrûmaṯ gōren): The preposition ki- means "like" or "as." gōren is the "threshing floor," where harvested grain was beaten to separate it from chaff. This phrase provides a standard for the dough offering. It means the manner, the proportion, or perhaps even the specific legal weight of this offering should align with the established practice for grain offerings. This implies a continuity in principles of giving, from raw agricultural product to processed food.
• so shall ye heave it (כֵּן תָּרִימוּ אֹתָהּ׃ - kēn tārimū ’ôṯāh): "Even so you shall lift it." This confirms that the previous standard applies directly to the challah offering. The repeated use of tarimu emphasizes the specific action required, reinforcing its significance and procedural correctness.

Words-group analysis:

• "Merē’šît ‘ărîsōṯêḵem ḥallāh" (From the first of your dough, a cake): This phrase specifies both the source ("the first of your dough") and the object ("a cake"). It extends the concept of firstfruits from raw harvest to prepared food, implying God's claim on their daily sustenance. By offering the first cake, the entire subsequent batch and, by extension, all daily bread, was consecrated.
• "Tārimū tᵉrûmāh" (Ye shall heave a heave offering): This emphasizes the sacred action and classification. It’s not just a gift, but a consecrated contribution, separated specifically for God and His representatives. This specific verb and noun combination highlights the nature of the priestly portion.
• "Kitᵉrûmaṯ gōren kēn tārimū ’ôṯāh" (As the heave offering of the threshing floor, so shall you heave it): This comparison is crucial for understanding the continuity and standard of giving. The offering from the finished product (dough) should be patterned after the offering from the raw product (grain from the threshing floor). This indicates that the Israelites already had a clear understanding of the quantity (typically 1/50 or 1/60 for general heave offerings) and the sanctity involved. This ensures that their reverence for God's provision spans from the harvest field to their dinner table.

Numbers 15 20 Bonus section

The "challot" (plural of challah) offering became a unique practice predominantly associated with Israelite women, who were typically responsible for baking in the household. This placed a sacred obligation within the domestic sphere, elevating the ordinary task of baking bread into a direct act of worship and priestly support. It's noteworthy that Paul, in Romans 11:16, draws directly upon the principle of the "challah" offering ("if the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy") to explain the concept of Israel's spiritual holiness and future salvation. Just as the dedication of a small piece of dough could consecrate the entire batch, the calling and election of the patriarchs made the whole nation of Israel set apart and destined for God's purposes. This spiritual application demonstrates the profound theological depth contained within this seemingly simple Mosaic law, showing how an agricultural commandment can teach profound truths about corporate identity, dedication, and God's plan of redemption.

Numbers 15 20 Commentary

Numbers 15:20 introduces the "challah" offering, a fundamental ordinance for the Israelites' settled life in Canaan. It builds upon the foundational principle of "firstfruits," extending God's claim beyond the raw harvest (grain, wine, oil) to the first preparation of their daily bread. This signifies that every meal and daily sustenance ultimately derives from God's gracious provision, requiring a regular act of acknowledgment and dedication.

The command serves several crucial purposes: It establishes continuous worship, weaving a reminder of God's sovereignty into the very fabric of daily life. By offering the first portion of dough, the entire remaining batch and subsequent meals were deemed permissible and consecrated for use, emphasizing the pervasive holiness that God desires in the lives of His people. The dedication of this portion also provided a vital means of support for the Levitical priesthood, who, having no tribal land inheritance, relied on these offerings for their livelihood. This highlighted the people's responsibility to sustain those consecrated for service to the Lord.

Comparing the "challah" offering to the "threshing floor" offering indicates that this new ordinance was to be performed with the same diligence, reverence, and proportionality as already established agricultural offerings. It taught the Israelites consistency in their obedience and recognition of God's bounty, transforming mundane domestic chores into acts of sacred worship and remembrance of their divine Provider. The enduring legacy of the challah offering, particularly in Jewish tradition, underscores the depth of its message: daily life, even in its most common aspects, can be consecrated to God.