Bible Strands

Leviticus 9:21

but he waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses had commanded.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Aaron performs the final ritual act of the peace offering during the inaugural consecration of the tabernacle priesthood. He presents the meat portions before the LORD immediately after burning the fat on the altar and before blessing the assembled congregation.

The words — The verb הֵנִיף (he.Nif) translates literally as "he waved," describing the motion of presenting the breasts (חָזוֹת, cha.Zot) and right thigh (שׁוֹק הַיָּמִין, shok ha-yamin) as a תְּנוּפָה (te.nuFah), a "wave-offering."

The thread — The same ritual action appears in Exodus 29:24 and 29:26 as the prescribed method for consecrating Aaron and his sons. Leviticus 7:30 later codifies this practice, requiring the priest to bring the breast and fat portions to the LORD as a standing ordinance.

Why it lands — The text demands that the priest execute a precise physical gesture to acknowledge the offering. It establishes a procedural boundary for worship where adherence to the commanded form takes precedence over personal preference.

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 breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the Lord; as Moses commanded.

Cross-references

People named

MosesAaron