Leviticus2
New Living Translation
1“When you present grain as an offering to the Lord, the offering must consist of choice flour. You are to pour olive oil on it, sprinkle it with frankincense,
2and bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests. The priest will scoop out a handful of the flour moistened with oil, together with all the frankincense, and burn this representative portion on the altar. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
3The rest of the grain offering will then be given to Aaron and his sons. This offering will be considered a most holy part of the special gifts presented to the Lord.
4“If your offering is a grain offering baked in an oven, it must be made of choice flour, but without any yeast. It may be presented in the form of thin cakes mixed with olive oil or wafers spread with olive oil.
5If your grain offering is cooked on a griddle, it must be made of choice flour mixed with olive oil but without any yeast.
6Break it in pieces and pour olive oil on it; it is a grain offering.
7If your grain offering is prepared in a pan, it must be made of choice flour and olive oil.
8“No matter how a grain offering for the Lord has been prepared, bring it to the priest, who will present it at the altar.
9The priest will take a representative portion of the grain offering and burn it on the altar. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
10The rest of the grain offering will then be given to Aaron and his sons as their food. This offering will be considered a most holy part of the special gifts presented to the Lord.
11“Do not use yeast in preparing any of the grain offerings you present to the Lord, because no yeast or honey may be burned as a special gift presented to the Lord.
12You may add yeast and honey to an offering of the first crops of your harvest, but these must never be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
13Season all your grain offerings with salt to remind you of God’s eternal covenant. Never forget to add salt to your grain offerings.
14“If you present a grain offering to the Lord from the first portion of your harvest, bring fresh grain that is coarsely ground and roasted on a fire.
15Put olive oil on this grain offering, and sprinkle it with frankincense.
16The priest will take a representative portion of the grain moistened with oil, together with all the frankincense, and burn it as a special gift presented to the Lord.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Leviticus 2.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The meat-offering of flour. (1–11). The offering of first-fruits. (12–16).
vv1-11
Meat-offerings may typify Christ, as presented to God for us, and as being the Bread of life to our souls; but they rather seem to denote our obligation to God for the blessings of providence, and those good works which are acceptable to God. The term “meat” was, and still is, properly given to any kind of provision, and the greater part of this offering was to be eaten for food, not burned. These meat-offerings are mentioned after the burnt-offerings: without an interest in the sacrifice of Christ, and devotedness of heart to God, such services cannot be accepted. Leaven is the emblem of pride, malice, and hypocrisy, and honey of sensual pleasure. The former are directly opposed to the graces of humility, love, and sincerity, which God approves; the latter takes men from the exercises of devotion, and the practice of good works. Christ, in his character and sacrifice, was wholly free from the things denoted by leaven; and his suffering life and agonizing death were the very opposites to worldly pleasure. His people are called to follow, and to be like him.
vv12-16
Salt is required in all the offerings. God hereby intimates to them that their sacrifices, in themselves, were unsavoury. All religious services must be seasoned with grace. Christianity is the salt of the earth. Directions are given about offering their first-fruits at harvest. If a man, with a thankful sense of God's goodness in giving him a plentiful crop, was disposed to present an offering to God, let him bring the first ripe and full ears. Whatever was brought to God must be the best in its kind, though it were but green ears of corn. Oil and frankincense must be put upon it. Wisdom and humility soften and sweeten the spirits and services of young people, and their green ears of corn shall be acceptable. God takes delight in the first ripe fruits of the Spirit, and the expressions of early piety and devotion. Holy love to God is the fire by which all our offerings must be made. The frankincense denotes the mediation and intercession of Christ, by which our services are accepted. Blessed be God that we have the substance, of which these observances were but shadows. There is that excellency in Christ, and in his work as Mediator, which no types and shadows can fully represent. And our dependence thereon must be so entire, that we must never lose sight of it in any thing we do, if we would be accepted of God.
Key Words
נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
קָרַב: to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
מִנְחָה: a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
קׇרְבָּן: something brought near the altar, i.e. a sacrificial present
סֹלֶת: flour (as chipped off)
יָצַק: properly, to pour out (transitive or intransitive); by implication, to melt or cast as metal; by extension, to place firmly, to stiffen or grow hard
שֶׁמֶן: grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לְבוֹנָה: frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
Leviticus 2Explicates the 'salt of the covenant' as a perpetual, incorruptible bond between God and His priests.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Christ's offering of Himself to God is described as a sweet-smelling savor, fulfilling the grain offering's purpose.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Applies the prohibition of physical leaven to purging the spiritual leaven of malice and wickedness.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Jesus references the command that every sacrifice must be seasoned with salt, representing spiritual purification.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Illuminates the term 'memorial' as a physical reminder of God's covenant and favor.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the Levites' duty in preparing the fine flour and baked things for the grain offering.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus uses leaven to symbolize corrupt doctrines, explaining the prohibition of leaven in holy offerings.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The frankincense placed on the offering represents Christ's intercession and the prayers of saints.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Specifies the priestly practice of taking a handful of the offering as a memorial on the altar.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms that Aaron's sons could eat 'most holy' bread within the sanctuary precincts.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shows the designated boiling and baking places in the temple where priests prepared the grain offering.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel command for speech to be seasoned with salt, representing grace and wisdom.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Relates to the firstfruits dough offering which was presented but not burned on the altar.
Supported by JFB
Details the ritual presentation of the firstfruits sheaf at the beginning of harvest.
Supported by Matthew Henry