Leviticus 22:17 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 22:17 mean?

Leviticus 22:17 introduces a new instruction from the LORD to Moses. The verse identifies the source of the instruction and the person who receives it. The words that follow are meant for Aaron, his sons, and the people of Israel.

The opening phrase marks a fresh speech after the previous instructions. For the first hearers, Moses was the person through whom the LORD’s words were passed to the people.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 22:17

• “LORD” — יְהוָה (YHWH): This is God’s personal name in the Hebrew text. The KJV uses capital letters to distinguish the name from the ordinary title “Lord.”
• “saying” — אָמַר (ʾamar): This word means “to say” or “to speak.” Here it signals that the LORD’s actual words follow the introduction.

Why Leviticus 22:17 matters

• The instruction has a wider audience than Moses alone. Verse 18 directs him to speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites.
• The opening gives the following rules their speaker. The instructions about animals brought as offerings begin with “the LORD spake” in verse 17.