What Does Leviticus 14:26 Mean in the King James?

And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand:

Leviticus 14:26 · 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.

THE KEY

The Hebrew word for oil shares its root with fatness and rich food, so the rite begins with material richness held in the priest’s palm.

THE MEANING

This verse brings the act of cleansing down to the body: the priest pours a portion of oil into his left palm. The oil is held in the hand, ready for the next movement of the rite. What happens here is measured, tangible, and close to the skin.

THE ROOT

שֶׁמֶן

shemen

GROWS FROM

שׁמן

sh-m-n

To be fat or grow fat; by extension, fatness, richness, and oil.

English “oil” names the substance, while its Hebrew word belongs to a family that also names fatness and rich food. That shared root lets the material richness of the oil remain audible as it is poured into the priest’s palm.

ALSO GROWS

shamen: Fat or rich.

שָׁמֵן

This adjective shares the root beneath shemen, showing the link between oil and fatness within the Hebrew word-family.

mishmannim: Rich or choice foods; fat portions.

מִשְׁמַנִּים

This related word carries the root into food, echoing the material richness named by shemen.

THE PATTERN

Oil becomes part of consecration and care through its deliberate placement on a body.

Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

Exodus 29:7 · KJVOil is poured directly onto a person as part of an act of consecration.

And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.

Leviticus 8:12 · KJVThe oil’s placement on the body enacts the setting apart named in the verse.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

James 5:14 · KJVOil is placed on the sick person within an act of communal care.

THE THREAD

Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

Exodus 29:7 · KJV

Both verses use ⁨שֶׁמֶן⁩ (shemen, oil) and ⁨יָצַק⁩ (yatsaq, to pour). In Leviticus the oil is held in the palm; in Exodus the same substance is poured onto the head, linking two bodily placements through the same words.

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