Bible Strands
Leviticus 7:31
The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records a divine command given to Moses for the Israelites regarding the distribution of portions from peace offerings. The text specifies the priest's ritual action before assigning the designated portion to the Aaronic line.
The words — הִקְטִיר (hik.Tir) literally means "he will make smoke," describing the ritual burning of the fat. חָזֶה (cha.Zeh) translates to "breast," identifying the specific cut designated for Aaron and his sons.
The thread — This allocation pattern appears in Leviticus 3:5, 3:11, and 3:16, where the text consistently directs that the priest or Aaron’s sons burn the fat on the altar as a food offering to the LORD.
Why it lands — The verse establishes a clear boundary between the portion consumed by fire for God and the portion allotted to the priesthood. It requires the reader to recognize that ritual practice dictates material distribution without ambiguity.
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 the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 3:5 Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
- Leviticus 3:11 Then the priest is to burn them on the altar as food, a food offering to the LORD.
- Leviticus 3:16 Then the priest is to burn the food on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.
- Leviticus 7:34 I have taken from the sons of Israel the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as a permanent portion from the sons of Israel.’”
- Leviticus 5:13 In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven. The remainder will belong to the priest, like the grain offering.”
- 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 6:26 The priest who offers it shall eat it; it must be eaten in a holy place, in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.
- Leviticus 8:29 He also took the breast—Moses’ portion of the ram of ordination—and waved it before the LORD as a wave offering, as the LORD had commanded him.
- Numbers 18:18 And their meat belongs to you, just as the breast and right thigh of the wave offering belong to you.