What Does Exodus 29:13 Mean in the King James?

And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.

Exodus 29:13 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The word for the body’s inwards shares its root with “draw near” and “offering,” tying what lies deepest within to what is brought to the altar.

THE MEANING

The verse names the animal’s actual inner parts: the fat covering the inwards, the tissue above the liver, and both kidneys with their fat. These are taken from inside the animal and burned on the altar. The offering reaches beneath the visible surface to the hidden organs.

THE ROOT

קֶרֶב

qerev

GROWS FROM

קרב

q-r-b

To approach or come near; qerev names the inner part or midst.

Qerev, “inwards,” belongs to the same consonant family as words for drawing near and offering. English separates the body’s interior from the act of bringing an offering, while Hebrew links them through the root: the hidden part is brought near.

ALSO GROWS

qarav: To approach or draw near.

קָרַב

This verb makes the root’s sense of nearness explicit.

korban: An offering, something brought near.

קָרְבָּן

The offering shares the root of “inwards,” linking the body’s inner part with what is brought to the altar.

הִקְטַרְתָּ

hiqṭartā

GROWS FROM

קטר

q-ṭ-r

To make smoke, or cause something to smoke.

“burn” in this verse is hiqṭartā. The altar verb is hiqṭartā, from qatar: to make smoke. Its root also names incense and smoke, so the verse describes the organs being consumed in fire and becoming smoke.

ALSO GROWS

qetoret: Incense.

קְטֹרֶת

Incense is named from the same root of making smoke.

qitor: Smoke or vapor.

קִיטוֹר

This word makes explicit what the altar verb describes: the smoke produced by burning.

THE PATTERN

The sacred encounter reaches the inward part, where what is hidden is exposed or given.

And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the LORD’s.

Leviticus 3:16 · KJVThe fat offered at the altar is explicitly named as belonging to the LORD, extending this verse’s focus on the inward covering.

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Psalm 51:6 · KJVTruth and wisdom are located in the hidden interior, the same inward territory brought into view here.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1 · KJVThe body itself is presented as an offering, extending the altar’s language of bodily giving.

THE THREAD

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 1:2 · KJV

The Hebrew calls the offering korban and uses a verb from the same root, ⁨קרב⁩, for bringing it near. That is the root family of Exodus’s qerev, “inwards”: what English names as the interior is linked to what is brought near.

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