And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.

LEVITICUS 10:14KJV
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Leviticus 10:14 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 10:14 mean?

Leviticus 10:14 explains that the priests—Aaron, his sons, and their daughters—are allowed to eat certain parts of the peace offerings (specifically the wave breast and heave shoulder) in a ceremonially clean place, because these portions are their rightful share from the sacrifices brought by the Israelites. This verse sets out which parts of the sacrifice belong to the priestly family as their due.

In context, God is speaking to Aaron and his family after the ordination of the priests. The situation is about the proper handling of sacrifices, especially after the deaths of Nadab and Abihu for improper worship. The verse clarifies that the priestly family, including daughters, can share in these specific offerings, but only in a place that is ritually clean, emphasizing both privilege and responsibility in handling holy things.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 10:14

  • "Wave" (תְּנוּפָה, tenuphah) and "heave" (תְּרוּמָה, terumah): These words refer to specific ceremonial actions where parts of the sacrifice are lifted or waved before God, marking them as set apart for the priests.
  • "Clean" (טָהוֹר, tahor): This word means ritually pure, not just physically clean. The instruction to eat in a "clean place" highlights the importance of maintaining ritual purity when handling sacred food.
  • "Due" (חֹק, choq): This word means an allotted portion or rightful share. It underlines that these parts of the offering are not just a gift, but a legal right for the priests and their families.

Why Leviticus 10:14 matters

  • Leviticus 10:14 clarifies that the priestly privilege of eating certain sacrifices extends to the whole family, including daughters, not just the male priests.
  • The verse emphasizes the need for ritual purity even in the priests’ daily lives, showing that sacredness was not limited to the altar but extended to their homes.
  • This instruction connects to the broader theme in Leviticus of order and holiness in worship, especially after the earlier warning about improper conduct in the sanctuary.

Where else these words appear

“breast” Hebrew H2373 · used in 12 verses

  • Exodus 29:26 And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration, and wave it for a wave offering before the LORD: and it shall be thy part.
  • Leviticus 7:31 And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'.
  • Leviticus 9:21 And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.

“shoulder” Hebrew H7785 · used in 19 verses

  • Exodus 29:22 Also thou shalt take of the ram the fat and the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder; for it is a ram of consecration:
  • Leviticus 8:26 And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:
  • Judges 15:8 And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.

“wave” Hebrew H8573 · used in 28 verses

  • Exodus 29:24 And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them for a wave offering before the LORD.
  • Leviticus 8:29 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.
  • Numbers 6:20 And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.

“heave” Hebrew H8641 · used in 63 verses

  • Exodus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
  • Numbers 15:20 Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.
  • Nehemiah 10:37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.