Leviticus 22:10-16

Who belongs to the household that may share these offerings?

Berean Standard Bible

10 No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offering, nor may the guest of a priest or his hired hand eat it. 11 But if a priest buys a slave with his own money, or if a slave is born in his household, that slave may eat his food. 12 If the priest’s daughter is married to a man other than a priest, she is not to eat of the sacred contributions. 13 But if a priest’s daughter with no children becomes widowed or divorced and returns to her father’s house, she may share her father’s food as in her youth. But no outsider may share it. 14 If anyone eats a sacred offering in error, he must add a fifth to its value and give the sacred offering to the priest. 15 The priests must not profane the sacred offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD 16 by allowing the people to eat the sacred offerings and thus to bear the punishment for guilt. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.”

What is the context?

The sacred food is reserved for the priestly household rather than every guest or hired worker. The instruction includes a slave purchased by the priest or born in his household. A priest’s daughter who marries outside the priestly family no longer shares the food, while a childless widow or divorced daughter who returns home may do so.

An accidental eater must restore the value with an added fifth. The priests remain responsible for preventing the offerings from being profaned. These are rules for a particular sacred provision, rather than a statement that ordinary hospitality to outsiders is wrong.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley explains outsider in terms of not belonging to the priestly family. The USCCB notes likewise distinguish household members from temporary residents or hired workers, and connect the daughter’s access with her place in her father’s household. The text describes an ancient household that includes enslaved people; that description alone does not commend slavery as an arrangement for the church.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

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