Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses performs this action during the seven-day ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons, immediately after burning the altar offerings. The ritual occurs at the tabernacle entrance as a mandated step in the priestly consecration sequence.
The words — תְנוּפָה (te.nu.Fah) denotes a wave offering, a ritual presentation involving movement before Yahweh. The verb וַ/יְנִיפֵ֥/הוּ (va/y.ni.Fe./hu) specifies the physical act of waving the breast portion forward as directed.
The thread — The ritual is commanded in Exodus 29:26, detailed in Leviticus 7:30 as a hand-brought presentation, and repurposed in Isaiah 66:20 as a metaphor for nations bringing offerings. The practice consistently designates the breast as the priest's allotted portion within the sacrificial system.
Why it lands — The text records a precise ritual action commanded by God, establishing the procedural basis for priestly provision. Readers must recognize the verse as a legal description of sacrificial logistics rather than a symbolic narrative.
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 Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the Lord: for of the ram of consecration it was Moses’ part; as the Lord commanded Moses.
Cross-references
- Exodus 29:26 Take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your portion.
- Leviticus 7:30 With his own hands he is to bring the food offerings to the LORD; he shall bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD.
- Isaiah 66:20 And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the LORD on horses and chariots and wagons, on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
- 1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.