Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.

LEVITICUS 7:13KJV
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Leviticus 7:13 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 7:13 mean?

Leviticus 7:13 says that, along with cakes, a person bringing a sacrifice of thanksgiving as part of a peace offering must also offer leavened bread. This instruction is part of the detailed rules God gave to Moses for how the Israelites were to bring offerings at the tabernacle.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, who is then to instruct the Israelites about the proper way to present a "sacrifice of thanksgiving" within the peace offerings. The mention of both cakes and leavened bread shows that not all offerings had to be unleavened, which is different from other types of offerings. This detail highlights the specific way thanksgiving offerings were to be handled, setting them apart from other sacrifices.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 7:13

  • "leavened" (חָמֵץ, chamets): This word means bread made with yeast or another rising agent. Most offerings were to be unleavened, so the inclusion of leavened bread here is unusual and marks the thanksgiving offering as distinct.
  • "thanksgiving" (תּוֹדָה, todah): This word refers to a specific type of peace offering given in gratitude. It emphasizes that this sacrifice was about expressing thanks to God, not just fulfilling a ritual.
  • "peace offerings" (שֶׁלֶם, shelem): This word refers to offerings meant to express fellowship or restored relationship with God. The peace offering was shared between God, the priests, and the one bringing the sacrifice, symbolizing harmony.

Why Leviticus 7:13 matters

  • Leviticus 7:13 clears up the common idea that all offerings had to be unleavened; here, leavened bread is actually required for a thanksgiving peace offering.
  • This verse emphasizes that thanksgiving offerings had a unique role and ritual, setting them apart from other sacrifices and highlighting gratitude as a special act of worship.
  • The instruction connects to the wider passage by showing the careful detail in how offerings were to be presented, reflecting the importance of following God's directions in worship.

Where else these words appear

“cakes” Hebrew H2471 · used in 11 verses

  • Exodus 29:2 And unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil: of wheaten flour shalt thou make them.
  • Leviticus 7:12 If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
  • Numbers 6:15 And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.

“leavened” Hebrew H2557 · used in 11 verses

  • Exodus 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
  • Exodus 23:18 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.
  • Leviticus 6:17 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.

“thanksgiving” Hebrew H8426 · used in 30 verses

  • Leviticus 7:12 If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
  • Nehemiah 12:38 And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;
  • Psalms 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

“offering” Hebrew H7133 · used in 78 verses

  • Leviticus 1:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
  • Leviticus 7:29 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
  • Numbers 7:41 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.