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Leviticus10:8–20

Restrictions for Priests

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Leviticus 10:8–20 — Restrictions for Priests. Each verse below carries the full apparatus: the Berean Standard Bible, the vocalized original (tap any word), and a parsed breakdown of every term transcribed from the interlinear. Synthesized commentary, canonical threads, and the reading of Christ gather at the end, over the whole unit.

8

Then the LORD said to Aaron,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

Yah·weh way·ḏab·bêr ’el- ’a·hă·rōn lê·mōr

Word by word5 · parsed
יְהוָ֔הYah·wehThen the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
Yah·weh (H3068) — the covenant Name is the speaking subject; the statute that follows carries divine, not merely Mosaic, authority.
וַיְדַבֵּ֣רway·ḏab·bêrsaidH1696
√ dâbar — perhaps properly, to arrangeConjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
way·ḏab·bêr (H1696, dâbar), Piel — the verb of formal divine address, the standard formula that introduces law in Leviticus (cf. 1:1, 4:1). Its use here marks vv. 9–11 as binding statute.
אֶֽל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
אַהֲרֹ֖ן’a·hă·rōnAaronH175
√ ʼAhărôwn — Aharon, the brother of MosesNounpropermasculine singular
’a·hă·rōn (H175) — Aaron addressed directly. Gill: "it rather seems that he spoke to Aaron immediately," and (per Jarchi) "as a reward for his silence" after the death of his sons (v. 3). The honor restores the office before the watching people (Ellicott).
לֵאמֹֽר׃lê·mōr. . .H559
√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)Preposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
lê·mōr (H559, ʼâmar), "saying" — the infinitive that opens the quoted speech; the plain verb of utterance, distinct from the weighty dâbar that governs it.
9

“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’at·tāh ū·ḇā·ne·ḵā ’it·tāḵ ’al- tê·šət ya·yin wə·šê·ḵār bə·ḇō·’ă·ḵem ’el- ’ō·hel mō·w·‘êḏ wə·lō ṯā·mu·ṯū ‘ō·w·lām ḥuq·qaṯ lə·ḏō·rō·ṯê·ḵem

Word by word16 · parsed
אַתָּ֣ה׀’at·tāhYouH859
√ ʼattâh — thou and thee, or (plural) ye and youPronounsecond person masculine singular
וּבָנֶ֣יךָū·ḇā·ne·ḵāand your sonsH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcConjunctive wawNounmasculine plural constructsecond person masculine singular
אִתָּ֗ךְ’it·tāḵ. . .H854
√ ʼêth — properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), nearPrepositionsecond person masculine singular
אַל־’al-are notH408
√ ʼal — not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative)Adverb
תֵּ֣שְׁתְּ׀tê·šətto drinkH8354
√ shâthâh — to imbibe (literally or figuratively)VerbQalImperfect Jussivesecond person masculine singular
tê·šət (H8354, shâthâh), "to drink" — Qal jussive of prohibition; the sober command stands at the head of the priestly office.
יַ֣יִןya·yinwineH3196
√ yayin — wine (as fermented)Nounmasculine singular
ya·yin (H3196), "wine" — fermented grape; with shêkâr it forms the standard merism for all that intoxicates.
וְשֵׁכָ֞רwə·šê·ḵāror strong drinkH7941
√ shêkâr — an intoxicant, iConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular
šê·ḵār (H7941, shêkâr), "strong drink" — any non-grape intoxicant. The Pulpit Commentary traces the loan into Greek síkera (Luke 1:13), the word spoken over John the Baptist, who would "drink no wine nor strong drink."
בְּבֹאֲכֶ֛םbə·ḇō·’ă·ḵemwhen you enterH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)Preposition-bVerbQalInfinitive constructsecond person masculine plural
bə·ḇō·’ă·ḵem (H935, bôwʼ), "when you enter" — the prohibition is tied to entry into the Tent of Meeting; Ellicott infers that outside of service "they were not forbidden to use it."
אֶל־’el-. . .H413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
אֹ֥הֶל’ō·helthe TentH168
√ ʼôhel — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)Nounmasculine singular construct
מוֹעֵ֖דmō·w·‘êḏof MeetingH4150
√ môwʻêd — properly, an appointment, iNounmasculine singular
וְלֹ֣אwə·lōor elseH3808
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absConjunctive wawAdverbNegative particle
תָמֻ֑תוּṯā·mu·ṯūyou will dieH4191
√ mûwth — to die (literally or figuratively)VerbQalImperfectsecond person masculine plural
ṯā·mu·ṯū (H4191, mûwth), "you will die" — the same death-verb whose realization Nadab and Abihu had just suffered (10:2). The negated form sets sobriety against their fate.
עוֹלָ֖ם‘ō·w·lāmthis is a permanentH5769
√ ʻôwlâm — properly, concealed, iNounmasculine singular
‘ō·w·lām (H5769), "permanent" — the long, age-enduring time; the law outlasts the occasion that prompted it.
חֻקַּ֥תḥuq·qaṯstatuteH2708
√ chuqqâh — {an enactmentNounfeminine singular construct
ḥuq·qaṯ (H2708, chuqqâh), "statute" — an engraved, fixed enactment; with ‘ōlām and dōrōṯ it marks a perpetual priestly ordinance, not a one-time ruling.
לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃lə·ḏō·rō·ṯê·ḵemfor the generations to comeH1755
√ dôwr — properly, a revolution of time, iPreposition-lNounmasculine plural constructsecond person masculine plural
lə·ḏō·rō·ṯê·ḵem (H1755, dôwr), "for the generations" — the statute reaches every priestly generation to come.
10

You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

ū·lă·haḇ·dîl bên haq·qō·ḏeš ū·ḇên ha·ḥōl ū·ḇên haṭ·ṭā·hō·wr haṭ·ṭā·mê ū·ḇên

Word by word9 · parsed
וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔ילū·lă·haḇ·dîlYou must distinguishH914
√ bâdal — to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etcConjunctive waw, Preposition-lVerbHifilInfinitive construct
ū·lă·haḇ·dîl (H914, bâdal), Hifil, "to separate" — the creation-verb (Gen 1:4), now the priest's calling: to maintain in Israel the boundaries God made. Sobriety (v. 9) serves this discernment.
בֵּ֥יןbênbetweenH996
√ bêyn — between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles)Preposition
הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁhaq·qō·ḏešthe holyH6944
√ qôdesh — a sacred place or thingArticleNounmasculine singular
haq·qō·ḏeš (H6944, qôdesh), "the holy" — what is set apart for God; the most-frequented term of Leviticus.
וּבֵ֣יןū·ḇên. . .H996
√ bêyn — between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles)Conjunctive wawPreposition
הַחֹ֑לha·ḥōland the commonH2455
√ chôl — properly, exposedArticleNounmasculine singular
ha·ḥōl (H2455, chôl), "the common" — the profane, non-sacred. Rare (7 vv); K&D defines it as the wider category, everything simply "not fitted for the sanctuary." This is the lexeme that links the verse verbally to Ezekiel.
וּבֵ֥יןū·ḇênbetweenH996
√ bêyn — between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles)Conjunctive wawPreposition
הַטָּהֽוֹר׃haṭ·ṭā·hō·wrthe cleanH2889
√ ṭâhôwr — pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense)ArticleAdjectivemasculine singular
haṭ·ṭā·hō·wr (H2889, ṭâhôwr), "the clean" — ceremonially or morally pure.
הַטָּמֵ֖אhaṭ·ṭā·mêand the uncleanH2931
√ ṭâmêʼ — foul in a religious senseArticleAdjectivemasculine singular
haṭ·ṭā·mê (H2931, ṭâmêʼ), "the unclean" — religiously defiled; Barnes: "what would occasion defilement by being touched or eaten. Compare Acts 10:14." The same axis Peter's vision will overturn.
וּבֵ֥יןū·ḇên. . .H996
√ bêyn — between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles)Conjunctive wawPreposition
11

so that you may teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses.”

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

ū·lə·hō·w·rōṯ ’eṯ- bə·nê yiś·rā·’êl ’êṯ kāl- ha·ḥuq·qîm ’ă·šer Yah·weh dib·ber ’ă·lê·hem bə·yaḏ- mō·šeh

Word by word13 · parsed
וּלְהוֹרֹ֖תū·lə·hō·w·rōṯso that you may teachH3384
√ yârâh — properly, to flow as water (iConjunctive waw, Preposition-lVerbHifilInfinitive construct
ū·lə·hō·w·rōṯ (H3384, yârâh), Hifil, "to teach" — the root of tôrâh; to direct, to aim. The priest's third office (after sobriety and discernment) is instruction. Ellicott and Pulpit both cross to Mal 2:7: "the priest's lips should keep knowledge."
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
בְּנֵ֣יbə·nêthe IsraelitesH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
אֵ֚ת’êṯH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
כָּל־kāl-allH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeNounmasculine singular construct
kāl- (H3605), "all" — the teaching is comprehensive: all the statutes, not a selection.
הַ֣חֻקִּ֔יםha·ḥuq·qîmthe statutesH2706
√ chôq — an enactmentArticleNounmasculine plural
ha·ḥuq·qîm (H2706, chôq), "the statutes" — the engraved decrees; the same root (chôq) that names the priests' own "portion" in vv. 13–15. What the priest teaches and what he eats are named by one word.
אֲשֶׁ֨ר’ă·šerthatH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
יְהוָ֛הYah·wehthe LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
דִּבֶּ֧רdib·berhas givenH1696
√ dâbar — perhaps properly, to arrangeVerbPielPerfectthird person masculine singular
dib·ber (H1696, dâbar), Piel perfect, "has spoken" — the LORD is the source; the priest only transmits what God has declared.
אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם’ă·lê·hemthemH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPrepositionthird person masculine plural
בְּיַד־bə·yaḏ-throughH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcPreposition-bNounfeminine singular construct
bə·yaḏ- (H3027, yâd), "by the hand of" — the idiom of mediation; the law comes by Moses' hand to be taught by the priest's mouth.
מֹשֶֽׁה׃פmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
mō·šeh (H4872) — the unit's pivot-name; the mediator through whom the statute is given, and (in v. 11) the channel the priests must faithfully relay.
12

And Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that remains from the food offerings to the LORD and eat it without leaven beside the altar, because it is most holy.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

mō·šeh way·ḏab·bêr ’el- ’a·hă·rōn wə·’el han·nō·w·ṯā·rîm bā·nāw ’el·‘ā·zār wə·’el- ’î·ṯā·mār qə·ḥū ’eṯ- ham·min·ḥāh han·nō·w·ṯe·reṯ mê·’iš·šê Yah·weh wə·’iḵ·lū·hā maṣ·ṣō·wṯ ’ê·ṣel ham·miz·bê·aḥ kî hî qō·ḏeš qā·ḏā·šîm

Word by word24 · parsed
מֹשֶׁ֜הmō·šehAnd MosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
וַיְדַבֵּ֨רway·ḏab·bêrsaidH1696
√ dâbar — perhaps properly, to arrangeConjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
way·ḏab·bêr (H1696, dâbar), Piel — now Moses speaks; the chain of v. 11 runs on. Poole: Moses "repeateth and re-enforceth the former command," lest grief make the survivors forget their duty.
אֶֽל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
אַהֲרֹ֗ן’a·hă·rōnAaronH175
√ ʼAhărôwn — Aharon, the brother of MosesNounpropermasculine singular
וְאֶ֣לwə·’el. . .H413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongConjunctive wawPreposition
הַנּֽוֹתָרִים֒han·nō·w·ṯā·rîmand his remainingH3498
√ yâthar — to jut over or exceedArticleVerbNifalParticiplemasculine plural
han·nō·w·ṯā·rîm (H3498, yâthar), "the remaining" — the surviving sons; the same root names the leftover offering they are to eat.
בָּנָיו֮bā·nāwsonsH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine singular
אֶ֠לְעָזָר’el·‘ā·zārEleazarH499
√ ʼElʻâzâr — Elazar, the name of seven IsraelitesNounpropermasculine singular
וְאֶל־wə·’el-. . .H413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongConjunctive wawPreposition
אִ֨יתָמָ֥ר׀’î·ṯā·mārand IthamarH385
√ ʼÎythâmâr — Ithamar, a son of AaronNounpropermasculine singular
קְח֣וּqə·ḥūTakeH3947
√ lâqach — to take (in the widest variety of applications)VerbQalImperativemasculine plural
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
הַמִּנְחָ֗הham·min·ḥāhthe grain offeringH4503
√ minchâh — a donationArticleNounfeminine singular
ham·min·ḥāh (H4503, minchâh), "the grain offering" — the meal-and-oil gift; after the burned handful (the ʼazkārāh), the rest belongs to the priests (Lev 2:3).
הַנּוֹתֶ֙רֶת֙han·nō·w·ṯe·reṯthat remainsH3498
√ yâthar — to jut over or exceedArticleVerbNifalParticiplefeminine singular
מֵאִשֵּׁ֣יmê·’iš·šêfrom the food offeringsH801
√ ʼishshâh — properly, a burnt-offeringPreposition-mNounmasculine plural construct
mê·’iš·šê (H801, ʼishshâh), "from the fire-offerings" — disputed term: "offering made by fire" (Gill, Geneva) or "food offering" (BSB, modern lexica).
יְהוָ֔הYah·wehto the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
וְאִכְל֥וּהָwə·’iḵ·lū·hāand eat itH398
√ ʼâkal — to eat (literally or figuratively)Conjunctive wawVerbQalImperativemasculine pluralthird person feminine singular
מַצּ֖וֹתmaṣ·ṣō·wṯwithout leavenH4682
√ matstsâh — properly, sweetnessNounfeminine plural
maṣ·ṣō·wṯ (H4682, matstsâh), "unleavened bread" — the offering must be eaten without leaven, the symbol of unmixed purity, by the altar.
אֵ֣צֶל’ê·ṣelbesideH681
√ ʼêtsel — a sidePreposition
הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַham·miz·bê·aḥthe altarH4196
√ mizbêach — an altarArticleNounmasculine singular
ham·miz·bê·aḥ (H4196, mizbêach), "the altar" — "beside the altar," i.e. in the court, the holy precinct; Barnes distinguishes this "holy place" from a merely "clean place" (v. 14).
כִּ֛יbecauseH3588
√ kîy — (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)Conjunction
הִֽוא׃it [is]H1931
√ hûwʼ — he (she or it)Pronounthird person feminine singular
קֹ֥דֶשׁqō·ḏešmostH6944
√ qôdesh — a sacred place or thingNounmasculine singular construct
qō·ḏeš (H6944) ... qā·ḏā·šîm (H6944), "most holy" — the doubled construct, a Hebrew superlative; the highest grade of holiness, restricting the meal to priests in the sanctuary.
קָֽדָשִׁ֖יםqā·ḏā·šîmholyH6944
√ qôdesh — a sacred place or thingNounmasculine plural
13

You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your share and your sons’ share of the food offerings to the LORD; for this is what I have been commanded.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wa·’ă·ḵal·tem ’ō·ṯāh qā·ḏōš bə·mā·qō·wm kî hî ḥā·qə·ḵā wə·ḥāq- bā·ne·ḵā mê·’iš·šê Yah·weh kî- ḵên ṣuw·wê·ṯî

Word by word14 · parsed
וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֤םwa·’ă·ḵal·temYou shall eatH398
√ ʼâkal — to eat (literally or figuratively)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectsecond person masculine plural
wa·’ă·ḵal·tem (H398, ʼâkal), "you shall eat" — the priestly eating of the holy offering, a duty as much as a privilege (developed in vv. 17–18).
אֹתָהּ֙’ō·ṯāhH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person feminine singular
קָדֹ֔שׁqā·ḏōšit in a holyH6918
√ qâdôwsh — sacred (ceremonially or morally)Adjectivemasculine singular
qā·ḏōš (H6918), "holy" — "in a holy place"; Ellicott and Barnes render it "a holy place," any part of the sanctuary court, not the inner Holy Place.
בְּמָק֣וֹםbə·mā·qō·wmplaceH4725
√ mâqôwm — properly, a standing, iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular
כִּ֣יbecauseH3588
√ kîy — (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)Conjunction
הִ֔ואitH1931
√ hûwʼ — he (she or it)Pronounthird person feminine singular
חָקְךָ֤ḥā·qə·ḵāis your shareH2706
√ chôq — an enactmentNounmasculine singular constructsecond person masculine singular
ḥā·qə·ḵā (H2706, chôq), "your portion" — the decreed share; the same root as the "statutes" of v. 11. Poole: "Because it is thy due." The priest's wage is a matter of divine enactment.
וְחָק־wə·ḥāq-. . .H2706
√ chôq — an enactmentConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular construct
בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙bā·ne·ḵāand your sons’ shareH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural constructsecond person masculine singular
מֵאִשֵּׁ֖יmê·’iš·šêof the food offeringsH801
√ ʼishshâh — properly, a burnt-offeringPreposition-mNounmasculine plural construct
mê·’iš·šê (H801, ʼishshâh), "of the fire-offerings" — the disputed term again; the portion is drawn from what is given to the LORD by fire.
יְהוָ֑הYah·wehto the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
כִּי־kî-forH3588
√ kîy — (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)Conjunction
כֵ֖ןḵênthis is whatH3651
√ kên — properly, set uprightAdverb
צֻוֵּֽיתִי׃ṣuw·wê·ṯîI have been commandedH6680
√ tsâvâh — (intensively) to constitute, enjoinVerbPualPerfectfirst person common singular
ṣuw·wê·ṯî (H6680, tsâvâh), Pual perfect, "I have been commanded" — passive; Moses is himself under orders. Gill: "to make known and declare this as the will of God."
14

And you and your sons and daughters may eat the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution in a ceremonially clean place, because these portions have been assigned to you and your children from the peace offerings of the sons of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·’êṯ ’at·tāh ū·ḇā·ne·ḵā ū·ḇə·nō·ṯe·ḵā ’it·tāḵ tō·ḵə·lū ḥă·zêh hat·tə·nū·p̄āh wə·’êṯ šō·wq hat·tə·rū·māh ṭā·hō·wr bə·mā·qō·wm kî- ḥā·qə·ḵā wə·ḥāq- nit·tə·nū bā·ne·ḵā miz·ziḇ·ḥê šal·mê bə·nê yiś·rā·’êl

Word by word22 · parsed
וְאֵת֩wə·’êṯAndH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
אַתָּ֕ה’at·tāhyouH859
√ ʼattâh — thou and thee, or (plural) ye and youPronounsecond person masculine singular
וּבָנֶ֥יךָū·ḇā·ne·ḵāand your sonsH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcConjunctive wawNounmasculine plural constructsecond person masculine singular
וּבְנֹתֶ֖יךָū·ḇə·nō·ṯe·ḵāand daughtersH1323
√ bath — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)Conjunctive wawNounfeminine plural constructsecond person masculine singular
ū·ḇə·nō·ṯe·ḵā (H1323, bath), "and your daughters" — the family widens; the daughters share this portion (Geneva: "if they were maids, or widows, or divorced"), as they could not the most-holy grain offering.
אִתָּ֑ךְ’it·tāḵ. . .H854
√ ʼêth — properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), nearPrepositionsecond person masculine singular
תֹּֽאכְלוּ֙tō·ḵə·lūmay eatH398
√ ʼâkal — to eat (literally or figuratively)VerbQalImperfectsecond person masculine plural
חֲזֵ֨הḥă·zêhthe breastH2373
√ châzeh — the breast (as most seen in front)Nounmasculine singular construct
ḥă·zêh (H2373, châzeh), "the breast" — a rare word (12 vv), the wave-portion of the peace offering. Its low frequency makes it a fingerprint of the priestly-dues texts (Ex 29; Lev 7–9; Num 18).
הַתְּנוּפָ֜הhat·tə·nū·p̄āhof the wave offeringH8573
√ tᵉnûwphâh — a brandishing (in threat)ArticleNounfeminine singular
hat·tə·nū·p̄āh (H8573, tᵉnûphâh), "of the wave offering" — from nûph, the to-and-fro swinging before the LORD; the breast is the waved portion.
וְאֵ֣ת׀wə·’êṯH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
שׁ֣וֹקšō·wqand the thighH7785
√ shôwq — the (lower) leg (as a runner)Nounfeminine singular construct
šō·wq (H7785, shôwq), "the thigh" — also rare (19 vv); the heave-leg, the second great priestly due alongside the wave-breast.
הַתְּרוּמָ֗הhat·tə·rū·māhof the contributionH8641
√ tᵉrûwmâh — a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tributeArticleNounfeminine singular
hat·tə·rū·māh (H8641, tᵉrûwmâh), "of the contribution" — the heave offering, lifted up to God; with the wave-breast it forms the standard priestly portion of the peace offering (Lev 7:34).
טָה֔וֹרṭā·hō·wrin a ceremonially cleanH2889
√ ṭâhôwr — pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense)Adjectivemasculine singular
ṭā·hō·wr (H2889, ṭâhôwr), "clean" — a clean place, lower in degree than the holy place of v. 13; Poole: "any of your dwellings, or any place in the camp."
בְּמָק֣וֹםbə·mā·qō·wmplaceH4725
√ mâqôwm — properly, a standing, iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular
כִּֽי־kî-becauseH3588
√ kîy — (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)Conjunction
חָקְךָ֤ḥā·qə·ḵāthese portionsH2706
√ chôq — an enactmentNounmasculine singular constructsecond person masculine singular
וְחָק־wə·ḥāq-. . .H2706
√ chôq — an enactmentConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular construct
נִתְּנ֔וּnit·tə·nūhave been assignedH5414
√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcVerbNifalPerfectthird person common plural
בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙bā·ne·ḵāto you and your childrenH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural constructsecond person masculine singular
מִזִּבְחֵ֥יmiz·ziḇ·ḥêvvvH2077
√ zebach — properly, a slaughter, iPreposition-mNounmasculine plural construct
שַׁלְמֵ֖יšal·mêfrom the peace offeringsH8002
√ shelem — properly, requital, iNounmasculine plural construct
בְּנֵ֥יbə·nêof the sonsH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃yiś·rā·’êlof IsraelH3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
15

They are to bring the thigh of the contribution and the breast of the wave offering, together with the fat portions of the food offerings, to wave as a wave offering before the LORD. It will belong permanently to you and your children, as the LORD has commanded.”

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

yā·ḇî·’ū šō·wq hat·tə·rū·māh wa·ḥă·zêh hat·tə·nū·p̄āh ‘al ha·ḥă·lā·ḇîm ’iš·šê lə·hā·nîp̄ tə·nū·p̄āh lip̄·nê Yah·weh ‘ō·w·lām wə·hā·yāh lə·ḵā ū·lə·ḇā·ne·ḵā ’it·tə·ḵā lə·ḥāq- ka·’ă·šer Yah·weh ṣiw·wāh

Word by word21 · parsed
יָבִ֔יאוּyā·ḇî·’ūThey are to bringH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbHifilImperfectthird person masculine plural
yā·ḇî·’ū (H935, bôwʼ), Hifil, "they shall bring" — the offerers bring the portions to the priests (Ellicott, Gill); the people's gift becomes the priests' due.
שׁ֣וֹקšō·wqthe thighH7785
√ shôwq — the (lower) leg (as a runner)Nounfeminine singular construct
הַתְּרוּמָ֞הhat·tə·rū·māhof the contributionH8641
√ tᵉrûwmâh — a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tributeArticleNounfeminine singular
וַחֲזֵ֣הwa·ḥă·zêhand the breastH2373
√ châzeh — the breast (as most seen in front)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine singular construct
הַתְּנוּפָ֗הhat·tə·nū·p̄āhof the wave offeringH8573
√ tᵉnûwphâh — a brandishing (in threat)ArticleNounfeminine singular
עַ֣ל‘altogether withH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
הַחֲלָבִים֙ha·ḥă·lā·ḇîmthe fat portionsH2459
√ cheleb — fat, whether literally or figurativelyArticleNounmasculine plural
ha·ḥă·lā·ḇîm (H2459, cheleb), "the fat portions" — the suet always reserved for God (Lev 3:16); the breast and thigh are brought up together with the fat that is burned.
אִשֵּׁ֤י’iš·šêof the food offeringsH801
√ ʼishshâh — properly, a burnt-offeringNounmasculine plural construct
לְהָנִ֥יףlə·hā·nîp̄to waveH5130
√ nûwph — to quiver (iPreposition-lVerbHifilInfinitive construct
lə·hā·nîp̄ (H5130, nûph), "to wave" — Hifil infinitive; the swinging presentation before the LORD.
תְּנוּפָ֖הtə·nū·p̄āhas a wave offeringH8573
√ tᵉnûwphâh — a brandishing (in threat)Nounfeminine singular
tə·nū·p̄āh (H8573, tᵉnûphâh), "a wave offering" — the cognate noun; the act and its name spoken in one breath.
לִפְנֵ֣יlip̄·nêbeforeH6440
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Preposition-lNouncommon plural construct
יְהוָ֑הYah·wehthe LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
עוֹלָ֔ם‘ō·w·lāmIt will belong permanentlyH5769
√ ʻôwlâm — properly, concealed, iNounmasculine singular
‘ō·w·lām (H5769), "permanently" — the age-enduring perpetuity; the priestly portion is no temporary concession.
וְהָיָ֨הwə·hā·yāhtoH1961
√ hâyâh — to exist, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectthird person masculine singular
לְךָ֜lə·ḵā
Prepositionsecond person masculine singular
וּלְבָנֶ֤יךָū·lə·ḇā·ne·ḵāyou and your childrenH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcConjunctive waw, Preposition-lNounmasculine plural constructsecond person masculine singular
אִתְּךָ֙’it·tə·ḵā. . .H854
√ ʼêth — properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), nearPrepositionsecond person masculine singular
לְחָק־lə·ḥāq-. . .H2706
√ chôq — an enactmentPreposition-lNounmasculine singular construct
lə·ḥāq- (H2706, chôq), "as a statute/portion" — the decreed allotment; with ‘ōlām it binds the provision to all generations, "as the LORD has commanded."
כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka·’ă·šerasH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPreposition-kPronounrelative
יְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehthe LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
צִוָּ֥הṣiw·wāhhas commandedH6680
√ tsâvâh — (intensively) to constitute, enjoinVerbPielPerfectthird person masculine singular
ṣiw·wāh (H6680, tsâvâh), Piel perfect, "has commanded" — the closing refrain; the whole arrangement rests on divine command, echoing Lev 7:34.
16

Later, Moses searched carefully for the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it had been burned up. He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·’êṯ mō·šeh dā·rōš dā·raš śə·‘îr ha·ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ wə·hin·nêh śō·rāp̄ way·yiq·ṣōp̄ ‘al- ’el·‘ā·zār wə·‘al- ’î·ṯā·mār ’a·hă·rōn han·nō·w·ṯā·rim bə·nê lê·mōr

Word by word17 · parsed
וְאֵ֣ת׀wə·’êṯLaterH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
מֹשֶׁ֖הmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
mō·šeh (H4872) — Moses resumes his oversight; the rehearsal of dues (vv. 12–15) gives way to discovery of a fault.
דָּרֹ֥שׁdā·rōšsearched carefullyH1875
√ dârash — properly, to tread or frequentVerbQalInfinitive absolute
dā·rōš (H1875) ... dā·raš (H1875, dârash), "diligently sought" — the emphatic infinitive-absolute construction; Jarchi (per Gill) ties the diligence to the danger of a likely mistake in the holy things.
דָּרַ֛שׁdā·raš. . .H1875
√ dârash — properly, to tread or frequentVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
שְׂעִ֣ירśə·‘îrfor the goatH8163
√ sâʻîyr — shaggyNounmasculine singular construct
śə·‘îr (H8163, sâʻîyr), "the goat" — literally "the shaggy one"; the goat of the people's sin offering (Lev 9:15), whose flesh the priests should have eaten.
הַֽחַטָּ֗אתha·ḥaṭ·ṭāṯof the sin offeringH2403
√ chaṭṭâʼâh — an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiationArticleNounfeminine singular
וְהִנֵּ֣הwə·hin·nêhand beholdH2009
√ hinnêh — lo!Conjunctive wawInterjection
שֹׂרָ֑ףśō·rāp̄it had been burned upH8313
√ sâraph — to be (causatively, set) on fireVerbPualPerfectthird person masculine singular
śō·rāp̄ (H8313, sâraph), Pual, "it was burned up" — common burning, not altar-smoke (Barnes); the flesh that should have been eaten was instead destroyed.
וַ֠יִּקְצֹףway·yiq·ṣōp̄He was angryH7107
√ qâtsaph — to crack off, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
way·yiq·ṣōp̄ (H7107, qâtsaph), "he was angry" — to burst out in wrath; aimed at the two surviving sons.
עַל־‘al-withH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
אֶלְעָזָ֤ר’el·‘ā·zārEleazarH499
√ ʼElʻâzâr — Elazar, the name of seven IsraelitesNounpropermasculine singular
’el·‘ā·zār (H499) ... ’î·ṯā·mār (H385), "Eleazar ... Ithamar" — the rare name Ithamar (H385, 20 vv) ties this verse to Lev 10:6; Aaron's name is conspicuously absent from the rebuke (Benson, Poole, Gill).
וְעַל־wə·‘al-. . .H5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsConjunctive wawPreposition
אִֽיתָמָר֙’î·ṯā·mārand IthamarH385
√ ʼÎythâmâr — Ithamar, a son of AaronNounpropermasculine singular
אַהֲרֹ֔ן’a·hă·rōnAaron’sH175
√ ʼAhărôwn — Aharon, the brother of MosesNounpropermasculine singular
הַנּוֹתָרִ֖םhan·nō·w·ṯā·rimremainingH3498
√ yâthar — to jut over or exceedArticleVerbNifalParticiplemasculine plural
han·nō·w·ṯā·rim (H3498, yâthar), "remaining" — the surviving sons again; Geneva marks the irony: "left alive" — and not consumed as Nadab and Abihu.
בְּנֵ֣יbə·nêsonsH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
לֵאמֹֽר׃lê·mōrand askedH559
√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)Preposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
17

“Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the holy place? For it is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the congregation by making atonement for them before the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

mad·dū·a‘ lō- ’ă·ḵal·tem ’eṯ- ha·ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ haq·qō·ḏeš bim·qō·wm kî hî wə·’ō·ṯāh qō·ḏeš qā·ḏā·šîm nā·ṯan lā·ḵem lā·śêṯ ’eṯ- ‘ă·wōn hā·‘ê·ḏāh lə·ḵap·pêr ‘ă·lê·hem lip̄·nê Yah·weh

Word by word22 · parsed
מַדּ֗וּעַmad·dū·a‘WhyH4069
√ maddûwaʻ — what (is) known?Interrogative
mad·dū·a‘ (H4069), "why" — the interrogative of rebuke; Moses demands the reason for the omission, not merely notes it.
לֹֽא־lō-didn’t youH3808
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absAdverbNegative particle
אֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם’ă·ḵal·temeatH398
√ ʼâkal — to eat (literally or figuratively)VerbQalPerfectsecond person masculine plural
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
הַֽחַטָּאת֙ha·ḥaṭ·ṭāṯthe sin offeringH2403
√ chaṭṭâʼâh — an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiationArticleNounfeminine singular
ha·ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ (H2403, chaṭṭâʼâh), "the sin offering" — the word names both the sin and its sacrifice; Gill: by eating it the priests "made the sins of the people ... in some sense their own."
הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁhaq·qō·ḏešin the holyH6944
√ qôdesh — a sacred place or thingArticleNounmasculine singular
בִּמְק֣וֹםbim·qō·wmplaceH4725
√ mâqôwm — properly, a standing, iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
כִּ֛יForH3588
√ kîy — (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)Conjunction
הִ֑ואitH1931
√ hûwʼ — he (she or it)Pronounthird person feminine singular
וְאֹתָ֣הּ׀wə·’ō·ṯāhH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object markerthird person feminine singular
קֹ֥דֶשׁqō·ḏešis mostH6944
√ qôdesh — a sacred place or thingNounmasculine singular construct
קָֽדָשִׁ֖יםqā·ḏā·šîmholyH6944
√ qôdesh — a sacred place or thingNounmasculine plural
נָתַ֣ןnā·ṯanit was givenH5414
√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
nā·ṯan (H5414, nâthan), "it was given" — God gave the flesh to the priests; the eating is a divine assignment, "a reward of your service" (Poole).
לָכֶ֗םlā·ḵemto you
Prepositionsecond person masculine plural
לָשֵׂאת֙lā·śêṯto take awayH5375
√ nâsâʼ — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relativePreposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
lā·śêṯ (H5375, nâsâʼ), "to bear/take away" — the pivotal, contested verb; remove (Ellicott) or carry upon oneself (K&D, Poole). The interpretive crux of the unit.
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
עֲוֺ֣ן‘ă·wōnthe guiltH5771
√ ʻâvôn — perversity, iNouncommon singular construct
‘ă·wōn (H5771, ‘âvôn), "the guilt/iniquity" — moral perversity and its liability; the burden the priest's eating somehow takes on.
הָעֵדָ֔הhā·‘ê·ḏāhof the congregationH5712
√ ʻêdâh — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)ArticleNounfeminine singular
hā·‘ê·ḏāh (H5712, ‘êdâh), "of the congregation" — the assembled community whose sin is borne; the priest acts for the many.
לְכַפֵּ֥רlə·ḵap·pêrby making atonementH3722
√ kâphar — to cover (specifically with bitumen)Preposition-lVerbPielInfinitive construct
lə·ḵap·pêr (H3722, kâphar), "to make atonement" — to cover/ransom; the eating is bound into the atoning act, not merely its aftermath (Barnes, Cambridge).
עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם‘ă·lê·hemfor themH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPrepositionthird person masculine plural
לִפְנֵ֥יlip̄·nêbeforeH6440
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Preposition-lNouncommon plural construct
יְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehthe LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
18

Since its blood was not brought inside the holy place, you should have eaten it in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.”

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

hên dā·māh ’el- lō- hū·ḇā ’eṯ- pə·nî·māh haq·qō·ḏeš ’ā·ḵō·wl tō·ḵə·lū ’ō·ṯāh baq·qō·ḏeš ka·’ă·šer ṣiw·wê·ṯî

Word by word14 · parsed
הֵ֚ןhênSinceH2005
√ hên — lo!Interjection
hên (H2005), "behold" — the pointing particle; Moses sets rule against fact for the sons to see.
דָּמָ֔הּdā·māhits bloodH1818
√ dâm — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animalNounmasculine singular constructthird person feminine singular
dā·māh (H1818, dâm), "its blood" — the blood whose destination decides the flesh's fate; the principle of Lev 6:30.
אֶל־’el-. . .H413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
לֹא־lō-was notH3808
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absAdverbNegative particle
הוּבָ֣אhū·ḇābroughtH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbHofalPerfectthird person masculine singular
hū·ḇā (H935, bôwʼ), Hofal, "was brought" — passive; the blood was not carried inside, so the burning rule did not apply. Poole: because Aaron "was not yet admitted into the holy place."
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
פְּנִ֑ימָהpə·nî·māhinsideH6441
√ pᵉnîymâh — faceward, iAdverb
הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁhaq·qō·ḏešthe holy [place]H6944
√ qôdesh — a sacred place or thingArticleNounmasculine singular
haq·qō·ḏeš (H6944), "the holy place" — here the inner sanctuary into which sin-offering blood was sometimes carried (Barnes distinguishes this from the court).
אָכ֨וֹל’ā·ḵō·wlyou should have eatenH398
√ ʼâkal — to eat (literally or figuratively)VerbQalInfinitive absolute
’ā·ḵō·wl (H398) ... tō·ḵə·lū (H398, ʼâkal), "you should surely have eaten" — the emphatic infinitive-absolute construction; the obligation stated at full strength.
תֹּאכְל֥וּtō·ḵə·lū. . .H398
√ ʼâkal — to eat (literally or figuratively)VerbQalImperfectsecond person masculine plural
אֹתָ֛הּ’ō·ṯāhH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person feminine singular
בַּקֹּ֖דֶשׁbaq·qō·ḏešit in the sanctuary areaH6944
√ qôdesh — a sacred place or thingPreposition-b, ArticleNounmasculine singular
baq·qō·ḏeš (H6944), "in the sanctuary" — the holy precinct where the flesh was to be eaten.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka·’ă·šerasH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPreposition-kPronounrelative
צִוֵּֽיתִי׃ṣiw·wê·ṯîI commandedH6680
√ tsâvâh — (intensively) to constitute, enjoinVerbPielPerfectfirst person common singular
ṣiw·vê·ṯî (H6680, tsâvâh), "I commanded" — Moses appeals to express command (Lev 6:26); the standard is not his preference but God's order.
19

But Aaron replied to Moses, “Behold, this very day they presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD. Since these things have happened to me, if I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been acceptable in the sight of the LORD?”

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’a·hă·rōn way·ḏab·bêr ’el- mō·šeh hên hay·yō·wm hiq·rî·ḇū ’eṯ- ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯām wə·’eṯ- ‘ō·lā·ṯām lip̄·nê Yah·weh kā·’êl·leh wat·tiq·re·nāh ’ō·ṯî wə·’ā·ḵal·tî ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ hay·yō·wm hay·yî·ṭaḇ bə·‘ê·nê Yah·weh

Word by word22 · parsed
אַהֲרֹ֜ן’a·hă·rōnBut AaronH175
√ ʼAhărôwn — Aharon, the brother of MosesNounpropermasculine singular
וַיְדַבֵּ֨רway·ḏab·bêrrepliedH1696
√ dâbar — perhaps properly, to arrangeConjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
way·ḏab·bêr (H1696, dâbar), Piel — Aaron answers with the same weighty verb God used to address him (v. 8); he takes the rebuke seriously and replies in kind.
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
מֹשֶׁ֗הmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
הֵ֣ןhênBeholdH2005
√ hên — lo!Interjection
הַ֠יּוֹםhay·yō·wmthis very dayH3117
√ yôwm — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)ArticleNounmasculine singular
הִקְרִ֨יבוּhiq·rî·ḇūthey presentedH7126
√ qârab — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purposeVerbHifilPerfectthird person common plural
hiq·rî·ḇū (H7126, qârab), Hifil, "they presented" — "brought near"; Aaron affirms the substance of the day's duty was rightly done (Poole: "they have done the substance of the thing").
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
חַטָּאתָ֤םḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯāmtheir sin offeringH2403
√ chaṭṭâʼâh — an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiationNounfeminine singular constructthird person masculine plural
וְאֶת־wə·’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
עֹֽלָתָם֙‘ō·lā·ṯāmand their burnt offeringH5930
√ ʻôlâh — a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending)Nounfeminine singular constructthird person masculine plural
לִפְנֵ֣יlip̄·nêbeforeH6440
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Preposition-lNouncommon plural construct
יְהוָ֔הYah·wehthe LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
כָּאֵ֑לֶּהkā·’êl·lehSince these thingsH428
√ ʼêl-leh — these or thosePreposition-kPronouncommon plural
kā·’êl·leh (H428), "such things as these" — the veiled reference to his sons' death; Aaron will not name the wound directly.
וַתִּקְרֶ֥אנָהwat·tiq·re·nāhhave happened to meH7122
√ qârâʼ — to encounter, whether accidentally or in a hostile mannerConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person feminine plural
wat·tiq·re·nāh (H7122, qârâʼ), "have befallen me" — to be met, struck, by hostile event; K&D equates it with qârâh.
אֹתִ֖י’ō·ṯîH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerfirst person common singular
וְאָכַ֤לְתִּיwə·’ā·ḵal·tîif I had eatenH398
√ ʼâkal — to eat (literally or figuratively)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectfirst person common singular
wə·ʼā·ḵal·tî (H398, ʼâkal), "if I had eaten" — conditional perfect (K&D); a hypothetical, framing the defense as a question.
חַטָּאת֙ḥaṭ·ṭāṯthe sin offeringH2403
√ chaṭṭâʼâh — an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiationNounfeminine singular
הַיּ֔וֹםhay·yō·wmtodayH3117
√ yôwm — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)ArticleNounmasculine singular
הַיִּיטַ֖בhay·yî·ṭaḇwould it have been acceptableH3190
√ yâṭab — to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)VerbQalImperfectthird person masculine singular
hay·yî·ṭaḇ (H3190, yâṭab), "would it have been good" — the verb of pleasing; the appeal is to God's eyes, answered in v. 20.
בְּעֵינֵ֥יbə·‘ê·nêin the sightH5869
√ ʻayin — an eye (literally or figuratively)Preposition-bNouncdc
יְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehof the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
20

And when Moses heard this explanation, he was satisfied.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

mō·šeh way·yiš·ma‘ way·yî·ṭaḇ bə·‘ê·nāw

Word by word4 · parsed
מֹשֶׁ֔הmō·šehAnd when MosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
mō·šeh (H4872) — Moses, who began the unit relaying God's word (v. 11) and pressed the charge (vv. 16–18), now yields; the unit's frame closes on the mediator who can be persuaded.
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣עway·yiš·ma‘heard this [explanation]H8085
√ shâmaʻ — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etcConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
way·yiš·ma‘ (H8085, shâmaʻ), "heard" — to hear with heeding; Gill: "he did not proceed in blaming him ... but was satisfied with the answer returned."
וַיִּיטַ֖בway·yî·ṭaḇhe was satisfiedH3190
√ yâṭab — to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
way·yî·ṭaḇ (H3190, yâṭab), "it was good/he was satisfied" — the same verb as Aaron's question in v. 19; the answer is given in the asking's own words. Benson: those who sincerely aim to please God "will find he is not extreme to mark what is amiss."
בְּעֵינָֽיו׃פbə·‘ê·nāw. . .H5869
√ ʻayin — an eye (literally or figuratively)Preposition-bNouncdcthird person masculine singular
bə·‘ê·nāw (H5869, ‘ayin), "in his eyes" — completing the echo of v. 19; the matter that Aaron asked to be good in God's eyes is found good in Moses'.

The verse-by-verse work is done. What follows gathers the whole unit. All three layers below are machine-generated (⚙). Weigh them; they have no authority.

Grand Commentary — the unit, read whole

synthesis · verify

AI synthesis — woven from the public-domain voices above and the original text; generated and fallible.

i. God speaks to Aaron — and the first word is sobriety — 8, 9

For the only time in the book, the LORD addresses Aaron directly (v. 8). Every voice marks the singularity. Charles Ellicott: "the Lord, who hitherto made all such communications to Moses, now honours Aaron with speaking to him immediately," both to comfort the bereaved high priest and "to restore the prestige of this sacred office in the eyes of the people." John Gill, citing Jarchi, hears it as Aaron's reward "for his silence" under the death of his sons (v. 3). And the first word of this honored, direct address is a prohibition: "Wine and strong drink do not drink ... when you go in to the Tent of Meeting, that you may not die" (v. 9). The negated death-verb tā·mu·ṯū (H4191) lands three verses after Nadab and Abihu did die. The commentators are honestly divided on whether the two sons were drunk. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown weighs the old guess and refuses to over-claim: "such an idea, though the presumption is in its favor, is nothing more than conjecture." Joseph Benson grants the law its own weight regardless: "drunkenness is so odious a sin in itself, especially in a minister, and most of all at the time of his administration of sacred things, that God saw fit to prevent all occasions of it." The statute is sealed as ḥuqqaṯ ‘ōlām — a perpetual ordinance, not an emergency measure.

ii. Why sobriety — to separate, and to teach — 10, 11

The prohibition is not an end but a means; vv. 10–11 give its two purposes, both governed by Hifil infinitives. First, ū·lă·haḇ·dîl (H914) — "to make a separation between the holy and the common" — the creation-verb of Genesis 1, now the priest's calling. Keil & Delitzsch draws the careful gradation: "chôl, profanus, common, is a wider or more comprehensive notion than tâmêʼ, unclean. Everything was common (profane) which was not fitted for the sanctuary." The word for "common" (chôl) is rare enough — only seven verses in all Scripture — to become a verbal fingerprint linking this command to Ezekiel's later indictment. Second, ū·lə·hō·w·rōṯ (H3384) — "to teach" — the root of tôrâh itself, "to point, to aim, to direct." The Pulpit Commentary: "one part of the priest's office was teaching the Law." Ellicott reaches to Ezekiel 22:26, where the very vocabulary returns as a charge against priests who "have put no difference between the holy and the profane." Sobriety serves discernment; discernment serves instruction. The drunken priest can do neither (Benson: "Which drunken persons are very unfit to do").

iii. Moses re-rehearses the dues — grief must not forget duty — 12, 13, 14, 15

Now Moses speaks (vv. 12–15), gathering the scattered laws of the priestly portions and pressing them on the grieving survivors. Matthew Poole reads the pastoral motive: Moses "repeateth and re-enforceth the former command, partly lest their great loss and grief should cause them to forget or neglect their meat prescribed them by God ... and partly to encourage them to go on in their holy services ... as if God would no more accept them." Jamieson, Fausset & Brown calls it "a timely and considerate rehearsal." The text itself draws a careful gradation of holiness by place: the grain offering is qō·ḏeš qā·ḏā·šîm — "holy of holies" — and so confined to the priests' sons "beside the altar" (v. 12); but the wave-breast and heave-thigh, merely holy, are eaten "in a clean place" by "thy sons, and thy daughters with thee" (v. 14). John Gill marks the widening: these "were not restrained to him and his sons only ... but were common to the whole family." The Verifier confirms the dense verbal weave to the ordination texts — châzeh (breast, 12 vv), shôwq (thigh, 19 vv), tᵉnûphâh (wave offering, 28 vv) all shared with Exodus 29 and Numbers 18. Even in mourning, the priest is fed by statute; his very bread is a chôq, a decreed portion.

iv. The burned goat — anger, and the meaning of the meal — 16, 17, 18

The unit's drama turns at v. 16: "the goat of the sin offering Moses diligently sought (dā·rōš dā·raš, the doubled root of emphasis) — and behold, it was burned up!" The flesh that should have been eaten was consumed by common fire (Barnes: "in an ordinary way, not in the fire of the altar"). Moses "was angry" — and, every voice notes, with Eleazar and Ithamar, not Aaron. Joseph Benson: "Moses, not willing to aggravate the sorrows of his brother Aaron, says nothing to him." The rebuke (vv. 17–18) opens the unit's theological center: God gave the flesh to the priests "to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them." Here the voices divide honestly on lā·śêṯ ‘ă·wōn (H5375 + H5771). Ellicott assembles the ancient versions for "to take away, remove": "the LXX., the Chaldee, the Syriac" all so render. But K&D, Poole, and Gill read "to bear upon oneself": Gill notes the original literally says they "eat the sin" (cf. Hos 4:8), so that "they made the sins of the people ... in some sense their own ... in which they were types of Christ, who was made sin." Cambridge holds the question open with care: the eating has atoning value "not in itself" but "as contributing towards the acceptance of the whole." The charge against the sons is that, by not eating, they left the atonement incomplete.

v. Aaron's answer, and the law that yields to grief — 19, 20

Aaron breaks his silence (v. 19) — and answers not with excuse but with a question. He affirms the substance was done ("today they brought near their sin offering"), then gestures, unable to name it plainly, at the wound: "such things as these have befallen me" (wat·tiq·re·nāh, the verb of being struck by hostile event). And he asks: "had I eaten a sin offering today, would it have been good in the eyes of the LORD?" The voices split on the ground of his restraint. K&D insists it was holiness, not mere sorrow: the judgment warned him "that they had not so strong and overpowering a holiness as was required for eating the general sin-offering." Ellicott and Poole emphasize the grief — "oppressed with grief, and almost bereft of my reason." Either way, Aaron appeals past the letter to God's pleasure. And Moses yields: "he heard, and it was good in his eyes" (v. 20) — the narrative answering Aaron's question with Aaron's own word, yâṭab. Charles Ellicott calls it "a remarkable instance of Moses' humility ... the human side of his nature as a lawgiver." Poole names the principle: "the letter of the law ofttimes yields to necessities or great accidents" — citing Hezekiah's irregular Passover (2 Chr 30:18) and the Lord's own appeal to David eating the showbread (Matt 12:3–4). Yet Geneva guards against misuse: Moses "bore with his infirmity, considering his great sorrow, but does not leave an example to forgive them that maliciously transgress."

Read under Sola Scriptura — this tool’s own fallible reading (⚙)

Held under the rule that Scripture alone is final — and offered as a reading to be tested, not a verdict to be trusted — three things press out of these thirteen verses, set as they are between two deaths and a satisfied silence. First, the priesthood is built on a chain of discernment that begins in the body. Sobriety (v. 9) exists for separation (v. 10), and separation for teaching (v. 11): a clear head, a drawn boundary, an aimed instruction. The order is downward and concrete — keep the mind unclouded, so you can tell holy from common, so you can point Israel along the way. Nadab and Abihu inverted it; they confused common fire with sacred (Poole), and died. The whole unit is God re-laying the foundation the brothers cracked. Second, the priest's atoning work is not only at the altar but at the table. The hardest sentence in the unit is v. 17: the flesh was given "to bear the iniquity of the congregation." Whether the priest removes the guilt (Ellicott, the ancient versions) or takes it upon himself (K&D, Poole, Gill), the eating is part of the atonement, not its leftover — which is precisely why its omission drew anger. The priest who will not take the people's sin into himself leaves the covering unfinished. Gill's literal note — they "eat the sin" — opens a door the New Testament walks through: One who was "made sin for us" (2 Cor 5:21). Third, the letter of a holy law can bow to the heart God reads. Aaron broke the rule of v. 18; Moses, hearing his grief and his reach for God's pleasure, was satisfied (v. 20). This is not antinomian — Geneva is right that it grants nothing to malicious transgression — but it is the same mercy the Lord Himself invokes when He says "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Hos 6:6; Matt 12:7). The Berean test applies even to this: weigh it against the text, including where the voices leave the matter genuinely unsettled — whether "bear iniquity" means remove or carry (the versions divide), and whether Aaron's ground was grief or insufficient holiness (Ellicott and K&D divide).

The priest who will not eat the people's sin leaves the atonement unfinished — and the God who reads the heart can be satisfied where the letter was broken (a reading offered for testing, not a verse).

Canonical Threads — out to the whole of Scripture

cross-refs · verify

AI-generated connections. Each carries a verification badge with a recorded basis; contested links are flagged.

Holy and common, clean and unclean — Leviticus 10 and Ezekiel's indictment verbal / quotation — confirmed

The priest's charge to "make a separation between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean" (v. 10) is built on an unusually rare word: chôl ("common, profane," H2455), which the Verifier finds in only 7 verses of all Scripture. That scarcity makes its reappearance a near-fingerprint. Centuries later, Ezekiel turns the very vocabulary of Leviticus 10:10 into an indictment: "Her priests have done violence to My law ... they have made no distinction between the holy and the common (chôl) ... and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths" (Ezek 22:26), and again in the temple vision, "they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean" (Ezek 44:23). Charles Ellicott draws the line himself at v. 11, quoting Ezekiel 22:26 as the prophetic charge for the neglected duty. The Verifier confirms a genuinely verbal dependence: the priestly distinction-vocabulary, anchored by the rare chôl, is shared across all four passages.

Leviticus 10:10 · Ezekiel 22:26 · Ezekiel 44:23 · Ezekiel 42:20

basis: Verifier-computed shared lexemes: H2455 chôl (in only 7 vv), H2931 ṭâmêʼ (78 vv), H2889 ṭâhôwr (87 vv), H914 bâdal (40 vv), H996 bêyn (247 vv), H6944 qôdesh (382 vv) for Lev 10:10 ↔ Ezek 22:26 / 44:23 / 42:20. The 7-verse rarity of chôl — confined to the priestly holy/common distinction — makes the verbal link certain; Ellicott cites Ezek 22:26 directly.

The wave-breast and heave-thigh — the priestly dues of Exodus 29 and Numbers 18 verbal / quotation — confirmed

The portions Moses rehearses to the grieving priests (vv. 14–15) — "the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution" — are named by two of the rarest words in the sacrificial vocabulary: châzeh (breast, H2373, just 12 verses) and shôwq (thigh, H7785, just 19). Their scarcity binds this unit tightly to the texts that institute the priestly dues. The Verifier finds the breast-thigh-wave cluster shared with Exodus 29:27 (the ordination charge), Numbers 18:18 (the priests' perpetual portion), and Leviticus 7:30–34 (the law of the peace offering). Ellicott, Barnes, and Gill all cross-reference Leviticus 7:30–34 by name as the governing statute. The same gesture-word, tᵉnûphâh (wave offering, 28 vv), runs through all of them. Leviticus 10:14–15 is not new legislation but the application of an existing, rare-worded body of priestly-portion law to one bereaved family on one hard day.

Leviticus 10:14 · Leviticus 10:15 · Exodus 29:27 · Numbers 18:18 · Leviticus 7:30

basis: Verifier-computed rare shared lexemes: H2373 châzeh (12 vv), H7785 shôwq (19 vv), H8573 tᵉnûphâh (28 vv), H8641 tᵉrûwmâh (63 vv) for Lev 10:14 ↔ Ex 29:27 / Num 18:18; H801 ʼishshâh (64 vv) + châzeh for Lev 10:14 ↔ Lev 7:30. The 12- and 19-verse frequencies of châzeh and shôwq make the dependence verbal, not merely thematic.

The wave offering before the LORD — back to the ordination of Leviticus 8 verbal / quotation — confirmed

The gesture commanded in v. 15 — "to wave as a wave offering before the LORD" (lə·hā·nîp̄ tə·nū·p̄āh) — repeats the climactic act of the priests' own ordination just two chapters earlier. At Leviticus 8:29 Moses "took the breast (châzeh) and waved it (nûph) as a wave offering (tᵉnûphâh) before the LORD." The Verifier confirms the verbal tie: châzeh (12 vv), tᵉnûphâh (28 vv), and the verb nûph (35 vv) are shared between Leviticus 10:15 and 8:29. The same to-and-fro motion that consecrated Aaron's house now governs the portion that perpetually feeds it — "a statute of eternity for your generations." The ordination's defining gesture becomes the family's standing provision. Gill reads the wave itself as a confession of God's right "to all they had," the portion "then given to the priests as a token of it."

Leviticus 10:15 · Leviticus 8:29 · Leviticus 9:21

basis: Verifier-computed shared lexemes: H2373 châzeh (12 vv), H8573 tᵉnûphâh (28 vv), H5130 nûwph (35 vv) for Lev 10:15 ↔ Lev 8:29; châzeh again for Lev 10:15 ↔ Lev 9:21. The rarity of châzeh (12 vv) anchors a verbal, not merely thematic, link between the ordination wave and the perpetual priestly portion.

Bear the iniquity — the priest's eating, the high priest's plate, and the Servant who bore sin structural / thematic — confirmed

The unit's theological crux is v. 17: the sin offering was given to the priests "to bear the iniquity of the congregation" (lā·śêṯ ʼeṯ-‘ă·wōn, H5375 + H5771). The same construction governs the high priest's golden plate in Exodus 28:38, where Aaron "shall bear the iniquity of the holy things," and the prophet's symbolic act in Ezekiel 4:4–6, where he is to "bear the iniquity" of Israel. K&D reads Leviticus 10:17 directly through Exodus 28:38: "as the high priest was to ... cancel ... the sin which adhered to the holy gifts of the nation, so here ... they were thereby to bear the sin of the congregation." Ellicott cites the same Exodus 28:38 parallel. The Verifier confirms the link is real but structural, not a rare-word quotation: Lev 10:17 and Ex 28:38 share ‘âvôn (iniquity, 215 vv), nâsâʼ (bear, 612 vv), qôdesh, and pânîym — a shared formula and motif, but built of common words. Gill and Poole press it forward typologically to "Christ, who was made sin" — a reading we record but, being a leap to a New Testament Greek text, tier separately below.

Leviticus 10:17 · Exodus 28:38 · Ezekiel 4:4-6 · Numbers 18:1

basis: Verifier-computed shared lexemes: H5771 ʻâvôn (215 vv), H5375 nâsâʼ (612 vv), H6944 qôdesh (382 vv), H6440 pânîym (1892 vv) for Lev 10:17 ↔ Ex 28:38. The link is the shared 'bear the iniquity' formula and motif — argued by K&D and Ellicott from Ex 28:38 — built of common (not rare) words, so tiered structural/thematic, not verbal.

Do not drink wine — the sober priest and the sober gospel minister flagged — verify source

The opening law — "Wine and strong drink do not drink ... when you go in to the Tent of Meeting" (v. 9) — is carried forward by nearly every voice to the New Testament's requirement for ministers. Matthew Henry: "It is required of gospel ministers, that they be not given to wine, 1 Tim 3:3." Benson: "it is required of the ministers of the gospel, that they be sober, not given to wine." The Pulpit Commentary even traces the Hebrew shêkâr ("strong drink," v. 9) into the Greek síkera of Luke 1:13, spoken over John the Baptist. Honestly held: the connection to 1 Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7 is doctrinal and pastoral, drawn by the commentators — but it crosses from a Hebrew text to a Greek one, and the Verifier confirms they share no original-language lexeme (Hebrew and Greek cannot share a Strong's number). It is a real and ancient application, argued by Henry and Benson, not a verbal quotation — and so it is flagged for the reader to weigh.

Leviticus 10:9 · 1 Timothy 3:3 · Titus 1:7 · Ezekiel 44:21

basis: Greek↔Hebrew: the Verifier reports no shared original-language lexeme between Lev 10:9 and 1 Tim 3:3 (Greek and Hebrew cannot share Strong's numbers). The minister-sobriety link is the doctrinal application drawn by Henry, Benson, and Pulpit — argued, not asserted. (The Lev 10:9 ↔ Ezek 44:21 tie, by contrast, is Hebrew↔Hebrew and shares H3196 yayin, H8354 shâthâh — structural/thematic.)

Wine and strong drink — the priest in service and the Nazirite under vow structural / thematic — confirmed

The exact prohibition laid on the priest entering the Tent — "yayin (wine) and shêkâr (strong drink) do not drink" (v. 9) — is the very pairing that defines the Nazirite's vow: "he shall abstain from wine (yayin) and strong drink (shêkâr) ... and shall drink no grape juice" (Num 6:3). The Verifier finds the two laws share the prohibition-cluster shêkâr (strong drink, rare at 20 verses), yayin, and shâthâh ("to drink"). The link is genuine but structural, not a quotation: the words are joined wherever Scripture marks a state of consecration, and the same Nazirite chapter closes with a wave offering of the breast (tᵉnûphâh, Num 6:20) that ties it again to vv. 14–15. Two complementary modes of holiness stand side by side — the priest separated by office, abstaining only "when you enter" (Ellicott's careful scope), and the Nazirite separated by a temporary vow, abstaining throughout. Both teach that nearness to the holy demands an unclouded mind. This thread is drawn by the machine layer from the shared lexemes; no commentator in our set names the Nazirite, so it is offered as a verbal-field observation for testing, tiered structural.

Leviticus 10:9 · Numbers 6:3 · Numbers 6:20

basis: Verifier-computed shared lexemes: H7941 shêkâr (in 20 vv), H3196 yayin (in 134 vv), H8354 shâthâh (in 193 vv) for Lev 10:9 ↔ Num 6:3 — the wine/strong-drink prohibition-cluster of consecration; Num 6:20 adds H8573 tᵉnûphâh, the wave-breast (cf. Lev 10:14). Both Hebrew↔Hebrew. shêkâr at 20 vv is uncommon, but yayin and shâthâh are common, so the shared motif of consecrated abstinence is structural/thematic, not a rare-word quotation.

Christ in the Unittypology · verify

AI-generated reading; weigh it against the text.

The priest who bears the people's sin — and the One made sin ancient/widely-held

The center of this unit — the flesh of the sin offering given to the priests "to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement" (v. 17) — is read by the older voices as a shadow of Christ. John Gill draws it out from the Hebrew itself: the priests "eat the sin" (he notes the literal idiom, cf. Hos 4:8), so that "they made the sins of the people ... in some sense their own ... in which they were types of Christ, who was made sin for his people, took their sins upon him, and ... bore them in his own body on the tree." Matthew Poole agrees: the priests "expiate, bear, and take away their sins ... by which God through Christ is reconciled." The New Testament makes the substance explicit: "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us" (2 Cor 5:21), and "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree" (1 Pet 2:24). The priest who incorporates the sin-laden flesh prefigures the Priest who is Himself the sin offering. Honestly held: this is a Hebrew-to-Greek typological reading, argued by Gill and Poole from the text — the Hebrew and Greek share no Strong's lexeme — but it is ancient and widely held.

Leviticus 10:17 · 2 Corinthians 5:21 · 1 Peter 2:24

Priest and sacrifice in one — the burned goat and the Lamb outside the camp ancient/widely-held

The goat whose flesh should have been eaten but was instead burned (v. 16) raises the very question the priests' duty answered: who bears the sin? Jamieson, Fausset & Brown states the type plainly — the priests, "typically representing them and bearing their sins," were to eat the flesh after the blood was applied. Where the sin offering's blood was carried into the sanctuary, its flesh was burned outside the camp (Lev 6:30; Lev 4:21) — and the letter to the Hebrews seizes exactly this distinction: "the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place ... are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood" (Heb 13:11–12). The two roles Leviticus 10 keeps separate — the priest who bears the sin and the victim that is burned — converge in Christ, who is at once the Priest who bears and the Sacrifice that is consumed. Honestly held: the Hebrews link is Greek↔Hebrew, sharing no Strong's lexeme; it is the typological argument Hebrews itself makes, ancient and widely held, not a verbal quotation.

Leviticus 10:16 · Leviticus 10:18 · Hebrews 13:11-12

The High Priest who makes the difference — and is Himself the holiness ancient/widely-held

The priest's first commissioned task is to "make a separation between the holy and the common" (v. 10) and to teach Israel that distinction (v. 11). Charles Ellicott hears in the priests' failure the seedbed of Ezekiel's complaint, and the offices of discernment and teaching point beyond Aaron's clouded, mortal house. The New Testament names a High Priest who does not merely draw the line between holy and common but is the holiness that consecrates — "such a high priest truly meets our need: one who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners" (Heb 7:26), the One in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:3), so that the teaching office finds its end in Him who is the Teacher. Where Aaron must be warned to stay sober enough to tell holy from common, Christ is the unmixed Holy One who makes His people holy. Honestly held: this is a conceptual and typological reading across Testaments — no shared Hebrew/Greek lexeme — offered as a fitting fulfillment rather than a verbal quotation; widely held in the tradition, and named here for testing.

Leviticus 10:10 · Leviticus 10:11 · Hebrews 7:26 · Colossians 2:3

Apparatus & Provenance

The biblical text is the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain (CC0). Hebrew/Greek text, transliteration, morphology and Strong’s are transcribed from the Berean interlinear (CC0) + Strong’s lexicons (PD); the literal renderings, divergence notes, word notes and all synthesis are this tool’s own work (⚙) — fallible; verify them.

Named voices, quoted verbatim from public-domain works:

  • Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible (1834)
  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, (1880s)
  • Charles Ellicott, Commentary for English Readers (1878)
  • Geneva Study Bible, Marginal Notes (1599)
  • Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory (1871)
  • John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63)
  • Joseph Benson, Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1810s)
  • Keil & Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1860s)
  • Matthew Henry, Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706)
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1685)
  • The Pulpit Commentary, Spence & Exell, eds. (1880s)

This unit (Lev 10:8–20) divides cleanly into three movements with three speakers: God to Aaron (vv. 8–11, the sobriety-and-discernment law), Moses to the priests (vv. 12–15, the rehearsal of dues), and the dispute over the burned goat (vv. 16–20, with Moses, then Aaron, then Moses again). The public-domain commentary stream reflects this. Matthew Henry supplies a single section-comment ("10:8–11") repeated verbatim across vv. 8–11, and another ("10:12–20") repeated across vv. 12–20; we quote it only where it bears, and prefer voices with verse-specific comment elsewhere. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and Keil & Delitzsch likewise carry long blocks repeated across multiple verses (JFB's "16–20" note; K&D's full unit-block); each is excerpted at the clause it actually explains. Matthew Poole has "No text ... on this verse" at vv. 8 and 15; he is quoted only where he genuinely comments. Three honest disagreements are surfaced rather than smoothed: (1) Were Nadab and Abihu drunk? JFB calls the presumption favorable but "nothing more than conjecture"; K&D agrees "we can hardly infer" it; Ellicott reports the ancient opinion that they were — we name the division. (2) lā·śêṯ ‘ă·wōn (v. 17, "bear the iniquity") — Ellicott and the ancient versions (LXX, Chaldee, Syriac) render "take away / remove"; the Vulgate, K&D, Poole, and Gill render "bear upon oneself / take the sin into oneself"; Cambridge holds the eating's atoning value "not in itself" but as part of the whole ritual. We record all three. (3) The ground of Aaron's restraint (v. 19) — K&D insists on insufficient holiness, not grief; Ellicott and Poole emphasize the grief; we present both. Cross-reference honesty: the three confirmed verbal threads — the holy/common distinction (Ezek 22:26; 44:23; 42:20), the wave-breast/heave-thigh dues (Ex 29:27; Num 18:18; Lev 7:30), and the ordination wave (Lev 8:29; 9:21) — are all Hebrew↔Hebrew, grounded in rare shared Strong's lexemes computed by the Verifier: chôl (7 vv), châzeh (12 vv), shôwq (19 vv). The "bear the iniquity" thread (Ex 28:38; Ezek 4:4–6) shares a real formula and motif but is built of common words, so it is tiered structural, not verbal — following the Verifier, not over-claiming. The priest/Nazirite wine thread (Num 6:3, 20) is likewise Hebrew↔Hebrew and structural: it shares the consecration prohibition-cluster shêkâr (20 vv) / yayin / shâthâh, but since two of the three are common words it is not over-claimed as verbal; it is the one thread here drawn by the machine layer rather than by a named commentator, and is marked as such. The minister-sobriety thread (1 Tim 3:3; Titus 1:7) and all three Christ-readings (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 13:11–12; Heb 7:26) are Greek↔Hebrew and therefore cannot share a Strong's number — they are flagged or labeled typological/doctrinal, argued by the named voices and by the New Testament texts themselves, never asserted as verbal quotation. Frequencies in the bases are the Verifier's whole-Bible counts, and they are what make the rarest links "confirmed."

= human, public-domain source, quoted and named. = machine synthesis, to be verified. Flagged cross-references are left visible on purpose — the verifier working in the open. “Search the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)