Leviticus 22:11

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — God addresses the priestly family regarding restrictions on consuming sacred offerings within the wilderness community.

The words — The Hebrew יִקְנֶה (yik.Neh, "he will acquire") and יֹאכַל (Yo.khal, "he will eat") establish the conditional permission for a priest to grant food access to a purchased or household-born slave.

The thread — This household exception parallels the rules for purchased slaves eating the Passover in Exodus 12:44 and the circumcision requirement for household members in Genesis 17:13.

Why it lands — The text restricts sacred food to the priest's immediate household and property, excluding guests and hired workers, while granting a specific exception for slaves owned or born into that household.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְכֹהֵ֗ןve./kho.Henand/ a priest כִּֽי־ki-if יִקְנֶ֥הyik.Nehhe will acquire נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ne.fesha person קִנְיַ֣ןkin.Yan[the] acquisition of כַּסְפּ֔וֹkas.P/omoney/ his ה֖וּאhu'he יֹ֣אכַלYo.khalhe will eatבּ֑וֹb/oin <the>/ itוִילִ֣ידvi./Lidand/ [the] one born of בֵּית֔וֹbei.T/ohousehold/ his הֵ֖םhemthey יֹאכְל֥וּyo.khe.Luthey will eat בְלַחְמֽוֹ׃ve./lach.M/oin/ food/ his

King James Version

But if the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat.

Cross-references

Genesis 17:13 Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh will be an everlasting covenant.
Exodus 12:44 But any slave who has been purchased may eat of it, after you have circumcised him.
Numbers 18:11 And this is yours as well: the offering of their gifts, along with all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I have given this to you and your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. Every ceremonially clean person in your household may eat it.