His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD.

LEVITICUS 7:30KJV
Know the Bible

Leviticus 7:30 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 7:30 mean?

Leviticus 7:30 instructs that the person bringing a fellowship or peace offering must personally present the offering to the LORD, specifically bringing both the fat and the breast, so that the breast can be waved as a special presentation before God. This act is part of the ritual for offerings made by fire, showing personal involvement and respect in the process.

In this verse, God is giving Moses detailed instructions for the Israelites about how to handle certain sacrifices at the Tabernacle. The focus is on the worshipper’s own hands bringing the offering, not just the priest doing everything, and on the specific parts of the animal (the fat and the breast) that are to be presented. The “wave offering” was a symbolic gesture, moving the breast portion before the LORD as a sign of dedication.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 7:30

  • "hands" (יָד — yad): This word highlights that the worshipper must use their own hands, emphasizing personal participation in the act of worship, not just relying on the priest.
  • "waved" (נָפַף — naphaf): This verb means to move or wave something back and forth. The waving of the breast as an offering was a visible act of presenting it to God, setting it apart from other offerings.
  • "offering" (תְּנוּפָה — tenuphah): This term refers to the specific type of offering that is waved before the LORD, marking it as a special ritual distinct from simply burning or eating the sacrifice.

Why Leviticus 7:30 matters

  • Leviticus 7:30 clarifies that the worshipper is not passive; they are directly involved in presenting their offering, which underlines the personal nature of worship in ancient Israel.
  • The verse shows that certain parts of the sacrifice had special ritual significance, helping the reader understand the structure and meaning behind the sacrificial system.
  • By describing the “wave offering,” Leviticus 7:30 connects this act to a broader pattern in the book, where offerings are not just about giving something up but about visibly dedicating it to God.

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 7:34 For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.
  • Leviticus 10:14 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.

“offering” 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 9:21 And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.
  • 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.

“waved” Hebrew H5130 · used in 35 verses

  • Exodus 20:25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
  • Leviticus 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
  • Joshua 8:31 As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

“offerings” Hebrew H801 · used in 64 verses

  • Exodus 29:18 And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the LORD: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
  • 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.
  • Leviticus 24:7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.