Leviticus 22:16

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.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses Moses to regulate the handling of sacred offerings. This instruction targets the priests and the congregation to prevent the profanation of consecrated items.

The words — The verb הִשִּׂ֤יאוּ (hi.Si'u) literally means "they will cause to bear," linked to עֲוֹן (a.Von, "iniquity") and אַשְמָה ('ashmah, "guilt"). The phrase describes the direct consequence of allowing unauthorized consumption of holy things.

The thread — This warning mirrors Leviticus 22:9, where priests face guilt and death for profaning sacred objects. It also intersects with Leviticus 7:18 on offering acceptance and 1 Peter 2:24, which transfers the bearing of guilt to Christ.

Why it lands — The text requires strict reverence for consecrated items, stating that careless handling incurs divine guilt. It demands that readers treat holiness as accountable and handle sacred boundaries with obedience.

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

וְהִשִּׂ֤יאוּve./hi.Si.'uand/ they will cause to bear אוֹתָם֙'o.Ta/m<obj.>/ them עֲוֹ֣ן'a.Voniniquity of אַשְׁמָ֔ה'ash.Mahguilt בְּאָכְלָ֖םbe./'a.khe.La/mwhen/ eat/ they אֶת־'et-<obj.>קָדְשֵׁיהֶ֑םka.de.shei./Hemholy things/ their כִּ֛יkifor אֲנִ֥י'a.NiI יְהוָ֖הYah.weh[am] Yahweh מְקַדְּשָֽׁם׃ פme.ka.de.Sha/m[who] sets apart as holy/ them

King James Version

Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass, when they eat their holy things: for I the Lord do sanctify them.

Cross-references

Leviticus 22:9 The priests must keep My charge, lest they bear the guilt and die because they profane it. I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
Leviticus 7:18 If any of the meat from his peace offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted. It will not be credited to the one who presented it; it shall be an abomination, and the one who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.
Leviticus 20:8 And you shall keep My statutes and practice them. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
Psalms 38:4 For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.
Isaiah 53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.