Leviticus 22:26

Study note

Setting — Yahweh addresses Moses at a structural pivot in the priestly code, concluding the prohibition against deformed offerings in verse 25 and introducing the seven-day waiting period for newborn livestock in verse 27.

The words — The verse begins with וַיְדַבֵּר (va/y.da.Ber), literally "and he spoke," immediately followed by יְהוָה (Yah.weh) "Yahweh" and אֶל־מֹשֶׁה (el-mo.Sheh) "to Moses," which establishes the speaker, the recipient, and the speech-act formula.

The thread — This divine address formula anchors the surrounding ritual instructions in Leviticus 22:25 and Leviticus 22:27, functioning as a structural marker that links the prohibition of flawed animals to the acceptance of consecrated ones.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to treat the transmission of divine instruction as the operative mechanism for ritual validity, making accurate reception and delivery of the command the prerequisite for acceptable worship.

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.