Leviticus 7:28-36

Why must the worshiper personally bring the priests’ portions?

Berean Standard Bible

28 Then the LORD said to Moses, 29 “Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘Anyone who presents a peace offering to the LORD must bring it as his sacrifice to the LORD. 30 With his own hands he is to bring the food offerings to the LORD; he shall bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD. 31 The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. 32 And you are to give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from your peace offering. 33 The son of Aaron who presents the blood and fat of the peace offering shall have the right thigh as a portion. 34 I have taken from the sons of Israel the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as a permanent portion from the sons of Israel.’” 35 This is the portion of the food offerings to the LORD for Aaron and his sons since the day they were presented to serve the LORD as priests. 36 On the day they were anointed, the LORD commanded that this be given them by the sons of Israel. It is a permanent portion for the generations to come.

What is the context?

The person presenting a peace offering brings the food portions with his own hands. The breast is presented before the Lord, the fat is burned, and the breast and right thigh are assigned to Aaron and his sons as specified.

The portion for the serving priest and the provision for the priestly family are grounded in God’s command. The paragraph explains how the people’s offerings support the ministry at the sanctuary, while keeping the altar’s portion distinct.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley describes the presentation as a waving action performed with priestly assistance. The USCCB notes describe an elevated presentation. Those explanations differ over the movement; both understand the action as dedicating the portions before God. The BSB’s wave-offering wording remains the text printed above.

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.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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