What Does Leviticus 2:2 Mean in the King James?
And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:
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 offering’s center is remembrance: a measured handful and all its frankincense become an azkarah, a memorial made fragrant before the LORD.
THE MEANING
Remembrance takes material shape here: a handful of fine flour and oil, with all the frankincense, is burned on the altar as the offering’s memorial portion. Its aroma is received as pleasing to the LORD.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the idea that remembrance is only an inner thought: here, remembrance is embodied in a portion placed on the altar.
THE ROOT
אַזְכָּרָה
azkarah
GROWS FROM
זכר
Remember, recall, or bring to mind.
The Hebrew word for the offering’s memorial portion grows from the same root as “remember.” Remembrance here is not only something held inwardly; it has a portion, a place on the altar, and a visible form.
ALSO GROWS
zakar: To remember or call to mind.
זָכַר
The verb shares the seed of “memorial,” showing that the offering is shaped around an act of remembering.
zikkaron: Remembrance or memorial.
זִכָּרוֹן
This related noun makes the link explicit: the portion is set apart as a form of remembrance.
zeker: Remembrance or mention.
זֵכֶר
This branch carries remembrance into what is named or spoken, alongside the material act in the verse.
נִיחֹחַ
nichoach
GROWS FROM
נוח
Rest, settle, or come to rest.
The phrase is רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ, an aroma described with a word linked to rest and settling. “Sweet savour” therefore carries an additional shade of a soothing aroma that settles before the LORD.
ALSO GROWS
nuach: To rest or settle.
נוּחַ
Its root meaning adds the language of settling to the aroma rising from the altar.
menuchah: Rest or a resting place.
מְנוּחָה
This related form echoes the repose carried by nichoach, giving the pleasing aroma a further shade of rest.
THE PATTERN
Remembrance in scripture is carried by tangible things that give memory a visible form before God.
And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.THE THREAD
He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.The word “remembered” shares the זכר root with the offering’s “memorial” portion. Leviticus gives remembrance a material form in flour, oil, and incense; the psalm says the LORD’s works themselves are made remembrance.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
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