It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
LEVITICUS 6:17KJVWhat does Leviticus 6:17 mean?
Leviticus 6:17 says that the priests’ portion of a certain offering must not be baked with leaven (yeast), because it is a most holy part of the offerings made by fire, just like the sin offering and the trespass offering. This rule sets apart the priests’ share as especially sacred and distinct from ordinary food.
In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, giving instructions for the priests about how to handle offerings brought by the Israelites. The focus is on the grain offering, which was to be made without leaven and was considered “most holy.” This strictness shows the seriousness of approaching God and the special status of these offerings compared to regular meals.
The Hebrew behind Leviticus 6:17
- חָמֵץ (ḥametz, “leaven”): This word refers to anything made with yeast or that has fermented. Its exclusion here highlights the need for purity and separation from everyday food in offerings.
- קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים (qodesh qadashim, “most holy”): This phrase means “most holy” or “holy of holies.” It marks the offering as belonging to the highest level of sacredness, reserved for God and those serving Him.
- חֵלֶק (ḥeleq, “portion”): This word means “share” or “allotted part.” It clarifies that the priests receive a specific, set part of the offering, not just any food.
- חַטָּאָה (ḥaṭṭā’āh, “sin offering”) and אָשָׁם (’āshām, “trespass offering”): These terms refer to other types of offerings that are also called “most holy.” The comparison shows that the grain offering is just as sacred as these other important sacrifices.
Why Leviticus 6:17 matters
- Leviticus 6:17 clears up that not all food given to priests was treated the same; some portions were set apart as “most holy” and had stricter rules.
- The verse emphasizes that even the priests, who served in the sanctuary, had to follow special guidelines to respect the holiness of God’s offerings.
- By linking the grain offering to the sin and trespass offerings, Leviticus 6:17 shows that different types of sacrifices could share the same level of sacredness, not just those involving animals.