Bible Strands
Leviticus 24:9
It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in a holy place; for it is to him a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD—his portion forever.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text records the Lord’s directive to Moses concerning the Sabbath bread arrangement. It establishes the permanent rights and consumption boundaries for Aaron and his priestly line within the tabernacle system.
The words — The Hebrew וְ/הָֽיְתָה֙ (ve./hay.Tah) translates literally as "and it will belong," establishing permanent ownership. The phrase בְּ/מָק֣וֹם קָדֹ֑שׁ (be./ma.Kom ka.Dosh) means "in a holy place," specifying the restricted zone for consumption.
The thread — This regulation regarding consecrated bread recurs in Leviticus 8:31, where Moses commands Aaron and his sons to eat it at the Tent of Meeting. The narrative pattern reappears in Luke 6:4 and Matthew 12:4, where Jesus references the consumption of consecrated bread.
Why it lands — The verse requires readers to recognize that ritual privilege carries strict spatial and temporal boundaries. It demands acknowledgment that sacred provisions are reserved exclusively for designated mediators under covenant law.
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
King James Version
And it shall be Aaron’s and his sons’; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the Lord made by fire by a perpetual statute.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 8:31 And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “Boil the meat at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket of ordination offerings, as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons are to eat it.’
- Luke 6:4 He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”
- Matthew 12:4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.
- Mark 2:26 During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”
- Leviticus 6:16 Aaron and his sons are to eat the remainder. It must be eaten without leaven in a holy place; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.
- Leviticus 10:17 “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the holy place? For it is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the congregation by making atonement for them before the LORD.
- Leviticus 21:22 He may eat the most holy food of his God as well as the holy food,
- 1 Samuel 21:6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away.
- Exodus 29:32 At the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread that is in the basket.
- Leviticus 8:3 and assemble the whole congregation at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”