Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to Yahweh shall bring his offering to Yahweh out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. With his own hands he shall bring the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before Yahweh. The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. The right thigh you shall give to the priest for a heave offering out of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. He among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right thigh for a portion. For the waved breast and the heaved thigh I have taken from the children of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel.’ ”
Parallel Translations
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Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to Yahweh shall bring his offering to Yahweh out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
With his own hands he shall bring the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before Yahweh.
The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.
The right thigh you shall give to the priest for a heave offering out of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.
He among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right thigh for a portion.
For the waved breast and the heaved thigh I have taken from the children of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel.’ ”
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And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD.
And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.
And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.
He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part.
For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.
Show all 3 translations
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And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: He that offereth his sacrifice of peace-offerings unto the LORD shall bring his offering unto the LORD out of his sacrifice of peace-offerings.
His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire: the fat with the breast shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave-offering before the LORD.
And the priest shall make the fat smoke upon the altar; but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'.
And the right thigh shall ye give unto the priest for a heave-offering out of your sacrifices of peace-offerings.
He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace-offerings, and the fat, shall have the right thigh for a portion.
For the breast of waving and the thigh of heaving have I taken of the children of Israel out of their sacrifices of peace-offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons as a due for ever from the children of Israel.
Cross-references (40)
- Leviticus 7:34 (vv31–32) For the waved breast and the heaved thigh I have taken from the children of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have…
- Leviticus 9:21 (vv30, 32) Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh for a wave offering before Yahweh, as Moses commanded.
- Numbers 6:20 (vv30, 32) and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before Yahweh. They are holy for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and…
- Numbers 18:18-19 (vv32, 34) Their meat shall be yours, as the wave offering breast and as the right thigh, it shall be yours. All the wave offerings of the holy things…
- Deuteronomy 18:3 (vv32, 34) This shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give to the…
Show all 35 cross-references
- Leviticus 3:3-4 (v30) He shall offer of the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh. The fat that covers the innards, and all the fat…
- Leviticus 3:5 (v31) Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of…
- Leviticus 3:9 (v30) He shall offer from the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh; its fat, the entire tail fat, he shall take away…
- Leviticus 3:11 (v31) The priest shall burn it on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire to Yahweh.
- Leviticus 3:14 (v30) He shall offer from it as his offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the…
- Leviticus 3:16 (v31) The priest shall burn them on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma; all the fat is Yahweh’s.
- Leviticus 10:14 (v32) The waved breast and the heaved thigh you shall eat in a clean place, you, and your sons, and your daughters with you: for they are given…
- Leviticus 10:14-15 (v34) The waved breast and the heaved thigh you shall eat in a clean place, you, and your sons, and your daughters with you: for they are given…
- 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 (v32) Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their…
- Exodus 29:9 (v34) You shall clothe them with belts, Aaron and his sons, and bind headbands on them. They shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute.…
- Exodus 29:24-28 (v30) You shall put all of this in Aaron’s hands, and in his sons’ hands, and shall wave them for a wave offering before Yahweh. You shall take…
- Exodus 29:27-28 (v34) You shall sanctify the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the wave offering, which is waved, and which is raised up, of the ram…
- Leviticus 3:1-17 (v29) “ ‘If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he offers it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without…
- Leviticus 3:17 (v34) “ ‘It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you shall eat neither fat nor blood.’ ”
- Leviticus 5:13 (v31) The priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned in any of these things, and he will be forgiven; and the rest…
- Leviticus 6:1-30 (v33) Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “If anyone sins, and commits a trespass against Yahweh, and deals falsely with his neighbor in a matter of…
- Leviticus 6:16 (v31) That which is left of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten without yeast in a holy place. They shall eat it in the court of…
- Leviticus 6:26 (v31) The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. It shall be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the Tent of Meeting.
- Leviticus 7:30-32 (v34) With his own hands he shall bring the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be…
- Leviticus 8:25-26 (v32) He took the fat, the fat tail, all the fat that was on the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys and their fat, and the right…
- Leviticus 8:27 (v30) He put all these in Aaron’s hands and in his sons’ hands, and waved them for a wave offering before Yahweh.
- Leviticus 8:29 (v31) Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before Yahweh. It was Moses’ portion of the ram of consecration, as Yahweh…
- Leviticus 26:1-46 (v33) “ ‘You shall make for yourselves no idols, and you shall not raise up a carved image or a pillar, and you shall not place any figured stone…
- Numbers 18:18 (v31) Their meat shall be yours, as the wave offering breast and as the right thigh, it shall be yours.
- Psalms 110:3 (v30) Your people offer themselves willingly in the day of your power, in holy array. Out of the womb of the morning, you have the dew of your…
- John 10:18 (v30) No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this…
- 2 Corinthians 8:12 (v30) For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.
- Colossians 1:20 (v29) and through him to reconcile all things to himself by him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through…
- 1 John 1:7 (v29) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses…
- Leviticus 7:3 (v33) He shall offer all of its fat: the fat tail, and the fat that covers the innards,
35 distinct cross-references across this passage (40 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (18 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v30 And should not send it by another.
And should not send it by another.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv29–34 Lev 7:29 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying,…
Lev 7:29 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
Ver. 29. Unto the Lord.] Not kill it in the camp, though there they might eat it.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv29, 30, 31, 34 Not by another, but by himself, as it is…
Not by another, but by himself, as it is explained Lev 7:30. His oblation, i.e. those parts of the peace-offering which are in a special manner offered to God, to wit, the fat, and breast, and shoulder, as it follows. Unto the Lord, i.e. to the tabernacle, where the Lord was present in a special manner. He shows, that though part of such offerings might be eaten in any clean place, Lev 10:14, yet not till they had been killed, and part of them offered to the Lord in the place appointed by him for that purpose.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv28–34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying,.... Giving them…
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying,.... Giving them the further instructions concerning their peace offerings:
he that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the Lord; whether it he for thanksgiving, or as a vow, or a voluntary oblation, and whether it be of the herd or of the flock, an ox or a cow, a lamb or a goat:
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shall bring his oblation unto the Lord of the sacrifice of his peace offerings; that is, the unleavened cakes, wafers, and fried cakes, and unleavened bread, which are called the whole oblation, Lev 7:10.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv29, 30, 31, 34 Shall bring - Not by another, but by himself,…
Shall bring - Not by another, but by himself, that is, those parts of the peace-offering, which are in a special manner offered to God. His oblation unto the Lord - That is, to the tabernacle, where the Lord was present in a special manner. Though part of such offerings might be eaten in any clean place, chap. x, 14, yet not till they had been killed, and part of them offered to the Lord in the place appointed by him for that purpose.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv29, 30, 32 Verse 29. Shall bring his oblation] Meaning those things…
Verse 29. Shall bring his oblation] Meaning those things which were given out of the peace-offerings to the Lord and to the priest. - Ainsworth.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv29, 34 Lev 7:29-30. Shall bring — Not by another, but…
Lev 7:29-30. Shall bring — Not by another, but by himself, that is, those parts of the peace-offering which are in a special manner offered to God. His oblation unto the Lord — That is, to the tabernacle, where the Lord was present in a special manner His own hands — After the beast was killed, and the parts of it divided, the priest was to put the parts mentioned into the hands of the offerer. Offerings made by fire — So called, not strictly, as burnt-offerings are, because some parts of these were left for the priests, but more largely, because even these peace-offerings were in part, though not wholly, burned. Waved — To and fro, by his hands, which were supported and directed by the hands of the priest.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v30 Wave-offering ... heave-offering - The latter appears to be…
Wave-offering ... heave-offering - The latter appears to be used (like קרבן qorbân, Lev 1:2) for offerings in general. Waving (a moving to and fro, repeated several times) or heaving (a lifting up once) the offering was a solemn form of dedicating a thing to the use of the sanctuary.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv29, 30, 31, 34 Sacrifice....Libations, flour, wine, and oil. (Lyranus)
Sacrifice....Libations, flour, wine, and oil. (Lyranus)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v29 THE PRIESTS' PORTION. (Lev 7:28-38)
THE PRIESTS' PORTION. (Lev 7:28-38)
He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the Lord--In order to show that the sacrifice was voluntary, the offerer was required to bring it with his own hands to the priest. The breast having been waved to and fro in a solemn manner as devoted to God, was given to the priests; it was assigned to the use of their order generally, but the right shoulder was the perquisite of the officiating priest.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv30, 33 30. A wave offering — The rabbies say that…
30. A wave offering — The rabbies say that the offering was laid upon the hands of the offerer. The priest, putting his hands beneath, moves the offering to and fro horizontally. But it is not certain from Exo_29:26-27 whether the waving was done by the offerer alone or by the help of the priest. The significance of this peculiar motion is doubtful. The rabbies say that it symbolically teaches that Jehovah is present in every quarter of the earth. The breast thus waved was eaten by the priest and his family.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv29, 30, 32 Priestly Portions of the Peace-Offering (28–34)
Priestly Portions of the Peace-Offering (28–34)
29. his oblation] The word does not refer to the whole sacrifice as in other places, but to that portion which was offered by fire, i.e. the fat portions specially reserved for the Lord as (Lev_7:30) ‘the offerings of the Lord made by fire’ (described in Lev_3:3-5; Lev_3:9-10; Lev_3:14-15), together with the breast to be waved as a Wave-Offering before the Lord, which is not burned with the fat (i.e. the fat portions of Lev_3:3-5, etc.) but reserved as a portion for ‘Aaron and his sons.’
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv28, 29, 30, 34 (28) And the Lord spake unto Moses.—With this formula,…
(28) And the Lord spake unto Moses.—With this formula, which, as we have seen, indicates a fresh communication made by the Lord to the lawgiver, additional precepts are introduced, regulating God’s portion of the peace offering.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv28, 29, 34 Vers. 28-34. Continuation of the ritual of the peace…
Vers. 28-34. Continuation of the ritual of the peace offerings. (see note on Lev_3:1) The equal dignity of the peace offerings with the other offerings is vindicated by the command that the offerer shall bring it with his own hands, whereas it might have been regarded as merely the constituent part of a feast, and so sent by the hand of a servant. The breast and the right shoulder were to be waved and heaved (for "heaved" does not merely mean" taken off," as some have said). The waving consisted of the priest placing his hands beneath those of the offerer who held the piece to be waved, and moving them slowly backwards and forwards before the Lord, to and from the altar; the heaving was performed by slowly lifting the pieces heaved upwards and downwards. The movements were made to show that the pieces, though not burnt on the altar, were yet in a special manner consecrated to God"s service. The right shoulder was most probably the hind leg, perhaps the haunch. The Hebrew word is generally translated "leg". (Deu_28:35 Psa_147:10) This part was the perquisite of the officiating priest; the waved breast was given to the priests" common stock. Afterwards an addition was made to the priests" portion. (Deu_18:3; see 1Co_9:13)
Vers. 28-38. The service of the oblation.
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In the service of the oblation of the peace offering there are two actors, viz. the offerer and the priest. These had their respective duties, which are severally brought under our notice in the text. We have
I THE DUTY OF THE OFFERER.
1. He had to bring his oblation unto the Lord.
(1) The "oblation" here is not the "sacrifice," but "of the sacrifice" (verses 28-30). It was that portion of the sacrifice which, more especially, was claimed by God, viz. the fat prescribed to be burnt upon the altar. It included also the breast and right shoulder.
(2) This he was to bring in person. "His own hands shall bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire," etc. This requisition is so express that even women, who under other circumstances never entered the court of the priests, did so when they had offerings to bring. The Hebrew name for oblation (brq, korban) is derived from a root (brq, koreb) which signifies to approach or draw near. By the introduction of our Great High Priest, we personally, under the gospel, "approach" or "draw nigh" unto God. (see Heb_7:19 Heb_10:21, Heb_10:22) We cannot save our souls by proxy. We cannot acceptably serve God by proxy.
2. He had to bring the fat laid upon the breast.
(1) What our version construes "the fat with the breast" (verse 30), may be better rendered, as it is by the learned Julius Bate, "the fat upon the breast," i.e. , laid upon the breast. (comp. Lev_8:26, Lev_8:27) The breast was that appointed to be waved before the Lord; and it would appear that it was waved with the fat laid upon it. The breast was the natural symbol of heartiness and willingness. This action would, therefore, express the cheerful and grateful willingness of the offerer, and his earnest desire that his offering might be graciously accepted. What we devote to God should be heartily given. (2Co_9:7)
(2) The "heave shoulder" was also brought. This was the right shoulder. It had its name from the ceremony in which it was moved tip and down before the Lord. As the "breast" symbolized affection, so the "shoulder" expressed action, and the "right" shoulder, action of the most efficient kind. Love expresses itself in deeds. (Mat_22:37-40 Luk_6:46 Rom_13:9 Gal_5:14 Jam_2:8)
II THE DUTY OF THE PRIEST.
1. He had to offer up the oblation.
(1) The Mishna says this was done by the priest placing his hands under those of the offerer, upon which the wave breast was laid, and then moving them to and fro. The priest certainly had a hand in the ceremony of waving the breast. (see Num_6:20) And if we regard him as a type of Christ in this, then the teaching appears to be that we should look to Jesus to sustain the fervency of our love in the offering of our oblations of prayer and praise and service.
(2) The priest in the next place, it appears, offered up the fat in the fire of the altar (verse 31). Then the right shoulder was "given to the priest for a heave offering" (verse 32). This, we are told, was moved up and down. Thus these motions of the wave breast and heave shoulder were at right angles, and so they formed the figure of a cross. Houbigant thinks that by this "was adumbrated the cross upon which that Peace Offering of the human race was lifted up, which was prefigured by all the ancient victims". (comp. Joh_21:18, 19 2Pe_1:14; together with the historical tradition concerning the crucifixion of Peter)
2. The breast and shoulder were then claimed by the priest.
(1) They had these by a Divine ordinance (verses 31-34). They were first given to God, and now became God"s gift to his ministers. What is given to sustain the ministry should not be regarded by the giver as a gratuity, but as a service loyally and faithfully rendered to God. (see Num_18:20-24) Ministers should receive their support as from the hand of God. (see 2Co_9:11 Php_4:18)
(2) They had it by a birthright. It was given to "Aaron and his sons." Those who were not sons of Aaron had no part nor lot in the matter. And true ministers of the gospel must be sons of Jesus; they must be spiritually born, or they are intruders into sacred functions. (see Psa_1:1 Act_1:25 Rom_1:5 1Ti_1:12 2Ti_4:5)
(3) They had it also by consecration. The sons of Aaron, though as their birthright were served from the altar, had no title to serve the altar until anointed for that service. So the birth of the Spirit, by which we become sons of Jesus, does not alone constitute ministers. For the ministry they must have a special vocation. Note: "Aaron presented his sons to minister unto the Lord," in which he acted as the type of Christ, who calls and qualifies those he sends. If the harvest be plenteous and the labourers few, the more urgently should we "pray the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers. J.A.M.
Vers. 28-38. The wave breast and the heave shoulder
given to the priests. God"s share and his ministers" share must be both fully given and carefully set aside and publicly offered up. Generous support of the sanctuary.
I SERVICE OF GOD"S HOUSE REQUIRES SPECIAL OFFERINGS; which should be:
1. Large and freely bestowed. Reciprocal blessings; those that give receive, and as they give, they receive.
2. The ministry should be so provided for that the service rendered be joyful and unrestrained.
3. The subordinate arrangements of the sanctuary should partake of the cheerfulness which flows from abundance. A festival of worship.
II SANCTIFICATION OF GIFTS. Both by personal preparation and by systematic beneficence. Lay aside for God as we are prospered. God"s claims should precede all others. The blessing of the sanctuary overflows into common life.
III PUBLICITY A POWERFUL STIMULUS AND A BINDING PLEDGE. Waving, and heaving represented extent and elevation, Much in example. Our gifts should not be ostentatiously published, but yet, if held up to God, and so presented as to set forth the universality of our consecration to him, they will both glorify his Name and incite others to his service. R
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v29 The believers peace and portion
Lev_7:29-34
Peace-offerings.
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The believers peace and portion
I. To have God is to have peace: for He is the God of peace; especially as revealed and given us in Christ. But what is given may be enjoyed, as what is offered may be received. Then let the gift be accepted, and the peace you desire will keep your, heart and mind, and this in all circumstances. The winds of adversity may smite you, and the waters of affliction overwhelm you; but as God is greater than these, He keeps in the perfectness of peace the minds that are stayed upon Him.
II. Such peace is found is Christ alone; not in anything done by Him, or given by Him, but in His personal indwelling. He is our peace? The knowledge of Him will illuminate, and the faith of Him will impart security; but you must have Himself to have the portion that will satisfy, and the peace you need.
III. But not only is Christ our peace, but from being the atoner, our peace-offering, He gives Himself to God an offering and a sweet-smelling savour, and then to us who trust in Him for deliverance and satisfaction. The ancient Jewish sacrifice of the peace-offering illustrates this--
1. The material of which it consisted was either a bullock, heifer, lamb, or goat; but in all cases it was to be without blemish. God is entitled to the best, and will receive nothing less. Yet how often is less than what He asks offered Him! That they who so act by Him should have few answers to their prayers, and little satisfaction in their religion, can be wondered at by no one.
2. Peace-offerings were offered by persons who, having obtained forgiveness of sins, and given themselves to God, were at peace with Him. Friendship with God was the principal idea represented therein.
3. Only a part of the peace-offering was given to God; but that was the best, the part to which He was entitled, and which He claimed. And it was accepted, as was shown by its consumption by fire. Offer Him your best, and, though in itself small and poor, He will receive it, and make liberal acknowledgment of His approval of it.
4. The Israelite was not at liberty to lay the fat of his offering at random, any way, or anywhere, on the altar. He had to lay it upon the sacrifice that was upon the wood on the altar fire. But that sacrifice was the lamb of the daily offering, which typified atonement in its fulness. There, Gods portion of the peace-offering was laid, and accepted according to the value of that on which it was offered.
5. Apart from Christ nothing is acceptable to Him. What you bring to Him may be your best, that which He asks for, and what is in itself valuable; but unless offered on the ground of atonement it is not received by Him.
6. But that is the ground within every ones reach, and on which everything that is offered to God may be presented. There is no one by whom the name of Jesus may not be used as a plea, and His sacrifice urged as a reason for acceptance.
IV. The peace-offering expressed the thought of communion and satisfaction. It supplied God with a portion, and man also. It furnished a table at which both met, and where they had fellowship with one another. God fed on the fat, and man on the shoulder and breast (Lev_7:31); and both were satisfied.
1. But we have Christ here; and we know what the Father ever found in Him; with what pleasure He ever regarded Him, in His righteousness of walk, perfection of obedience, and beauty of character. God was supremely pleased with all that Jesus was and did, as the representative of Himself to men, and the ideal man to the world, the indicator of holiness and the honourer of the law. Christ was, and is still, His well-beloved and His joy.
2. But not God alone fed on the peace-offering, man did that also; he ate of the breast and the shoulder. In the antitype these typified love and strength. These, believer, are your portion in Christ. You have His heart of love and His shoulder of might--His unchanging affection and His all-sustaining power. Enfolded in His embrace and enthroned on His shoulder of strength, you occupy a position where evil cannot harm you, nor want remain unmet.
V. No Israelite who was ceremonially unclean was permitted to partake of the peace-offering, or share with God in the provision it supplied. And without holiness no man is now allowed to see God. But provision is made both for mans expiation and for his sanctifying from all impurity. The Cross that separates from the guilt of sin also separates from its defilement. Christ is thus Sanctifier as well as Justifier. He gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people (Tit_2:14). Thus beautified with His salvation, you will find a place in His banqueting-house of love, a guest at the Lords table, and satisfied with the food of which you partake (Joh_6:57; Joh_6:55; Joh_6:35). Are you satisfied with Christ? Does He appease all your yearnings, fulfil your every desire, give you rest, and prove your peace? My beloved is mine, and I am His (Son_2:16). His resources are inexhaustible, His communications are continuous, and His glory is Divine. (James Fleming, D. D.)
The peace-offerings
In regard to the peace-offerings, the waving was peculiarly connected with the breast, which is thence called the wave-breast; and the heaving with the shoulder, for this reason called the heave-shoulder. When those parts were thus presented to God and set apart to the priesthood, the rest of the flesh was given up to the offerer to be partaken of by himself and those he might call to share and rejoice with him. Among these he was instructed to invite, beside his own friends, the Levite, the widow, and the fatherless. This participation by the offerer and his friends, this family feast upon the sacrifice, may be regarded as the most distinctive characteristic of the peace-offerings. It denoted that the offerer was admitted to a state of near fellowship and enjoyment with God, shared part and part with Jehovah and His priests, had a standing in His house, and a seat at His table. It was therefore the symbol of established friendship with God, and near communion with Him in the blessings of His kingdom; and was associated in the minds of the worshippers with feelings of peculiar joy and gladness--but these always of a sacred character. And in the way by which the worshipper attained to a fitness for enjoying these privileges--viz., through the life-blood of atonement--how impressive a testimony was borne to the necessity of seeking the road to all dignity and blessing in the kingdom of God through faith in a crucified Redeemer. (P. Fairbairn, D. D.)
No offering by proxy
The worshipper could not do the work by proxy. The man had to go for himself, and present the sacrifice himself, and lay his hand upon its head, and confess, and eat, all for himself. There can be no transfer of religious obligations--no substitution in the performance of religious duties. Of all things, piety is one of the most intensely personal. It is the intercourse of the individual soul with its Maker; just as much as if there were no other beings in existence. As each must eat, and die, and be judged for him or herself, so each must repent, and believe, and be religious for him or herself. I do not depreciate the importance of social relations, compacts and organisations. I believe that religion is very greatly dependent upon them. Had we never been placed in a Christian land, or been related to Christian parents and friends, or been brought into contact with the Christian Church, we never could have become Christians. But when it comes to the real activities and experiences of piety, they relate as directly to ourselves as individuals as if we alone existed. It is a great thing to have pious friends. The prayers of a godly mother are like soft silken cords around the heart of her son, which draw upon and check him in his wildest wanderings and his maddest passion. The rude sailor on the deck, or the hardened culprit in his cell, is melted and subdued at the mere remembrance of a sainted mother. But, though that mother be as good as the Virgin Mother of our Lord--though she nightly bathe her pillow with tears of supplication for her boy--it shall avail nothing to the salvation of her erring child, unless he himself shall move to turn from his follies, to bend in penitence, and to submit himself to God. True religion demands ones personal and individual action--the putting forth of ones own hand. No man or angel can do it for us. Preachers and pious friends may prompt, direct, encourage, and pray for us, but that is all. They can do nothing more. We must individually and for ourselves believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, or be lost. There is no other alternative. A very expressive gesture was required of the Jew to signify all this. He had to put his hand upon the head of his sacrifice when he presented it. He thereby acknowledged his sin, and expressed his personal dependence upon that sacrifice. The Hebrew word is still more suggestive. He shall lean his hand upon the head of the offering. It is the same word used by the Psalmist, where he says, Thy wrath leaneth hard upon me. Sin is a burden. It is ready to crush him upon whom it is. And with this burden the sinner is to lean upon his sacrifice for ease. He could not lean with another mans hand; he must use his own hand. The ceremonial worshipper used the outward hand; we are to use the hand of the soul, which is faith. (J. A. Seiss, D. D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v28 The Portion of Jehovah
The Portion of Jehovah
v. 28. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
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v. 29. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, he that offereth the sacrifice of his peace-offerings unto the Lord shall bring his oblation unto the Lord of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings, that special gift which belonged to the Lord and was intended to establish the fellowship between Him and the worshiper.
v. 30. His own hands shall bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the parts consecrated to Jehovah, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, in person, not by the hands of a servant or messenger, that the breast may be waved for a wave-offering before the Lord. This part of the animal is now known as the brisket, and it was offered to the Lord by moving the hands back and forth in a motion of weaving.
v. 31. And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar; but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’, the common property of the priestly order.
v. 32. And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest, the officiating priest alone, for an heave-offering of the sacrifices of your peace-offerings. The ceremony of offering here consisted in a simple lifting up of the gift on high.
v. 33. He among the sons of Aaron that offereth the blood of the peace-offerings and the fat shall have the right shoulder for his part.
v. 34. For the wave-breast and the heave-shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace-offerings, and have given them unto Aaron, the priest, and unto his sons by a statute forever from among the children of Israel. As long as the Aaronic priesthood was to endure, so long were the Israelites to make their payment of fees to the priests as here set forth.
v. 35. This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron and of the anointing of his sons, these are the parts of the animals which were set aside for their emoluments, out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the Lord in the priest’s office, these were their fees beginning with the day that Moses inducted them into office;
v. 36. which the Lord commanded to be given them of the children of Israel in the day that he (Moses)anointed them, by a statute forever throughout their generations.
v. 37. This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat-offering, and of the sin-offering, and of the trespass-offering, and of the consecrations, of the fillings of the hands which characterized the priest’s work, Exo 29:19-28; Lev 6:20, and of the sacrifice of the peace-offerings, the whole law of sacrifice having been given in the preceding Chapters;
v. 38. which the Lord commanded Moses in Mount Sinai, in the day that He commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations, both their voluntary gifts and their stated sacrifices, unto the Lord, in the Wilderness of Sinai. All the sacrificial meals of the Old Testament were but weak types of the intimate fellowship with God which we, as the members of the household of God, enjoy in the Gospel, Luk 14:15; Luk 22:30.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv28, 31, 33 So Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, "Speak to…
So Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, "Speak to the people of Israel and say, 'He who offers
This has a quotation within a quotation. A direct quotation can be stated as an indirect quotation. AT: "Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and told him to tell the people of Israel this: 'He who offers" (See:Quotes Within Quotes and Direct and Indirect Quotations)
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The offering for Yahweh to be made by fire, his own hands must bring it
The statement "his own hands must bring it" can be placed at the beginning of the sentence. The phrase "to be made by fire" can be stated in active form. AT: "He himself must bring the offering that he plans to burn as a sacrifice to Yahweh" (See: Active or Passive)
his own hands must bring it
Here "hands" represents the whole person. AT: "he must bring it himself" (See: Synecdoche)
breast
the front part of the animal's body below the neck
so that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before Yahweh
This can be translated in active form. AT: "so that the priest can present it to Yahweh as a wave offering" (See: Active or Passive)
may be waved as a wave offering before Yahweh
Raising up the offering is a symbolic gesture that shows that the person is dedicating the sacrifice to Yahweh. (See: Symbolic Action)
translationWords
Yahweh
Moses
Israel
peace offering
fire
hand
raise
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v34 7:34 breast of the special offering . . .…
7:34 breast of the special offering . . . right thigh of the sacred offering: The peace offering was a shared meal between God, the priest, the worshiper, and guests. The breast (in some older translations called a “wave offering”) and thigh (sometimes called the “contribution” or “heave offering”) were specifically designated as the priest’s portion (see 10:13-15). After these offerings were taken into the Tabernacle and presented before the Lord, they could then be eaten (see Exod 29:24, 26).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.