What Does Leviticus 22:18 Mean in the King James?
Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering;
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 uses one root for both the offering and the act of offering it: what is given is, at its root, what is brought near.
THE MEANING
You are included in this verse’s field of approach whether you are of Israel’s house or a stranger living among Israel, and whether your gift arises from a vow or free choice. The verse holds the gift and the act of bringing it near to the LORD as one movement. In the burnt offering, that movement is given over wholly.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that nearness belongs only to those born within the community: the stranger living in Israel appears in the same sentence as the house of Israel.
THE ROOT
קָרְבָּן
qorbān
GROWS FROM
קרב
q-r-b
Approach, be near; in this verb form, bring near.
“oblation / offer” in this verse is qorbān. The forms קָרְבָּן (qorbān, offering) and יַקְרִיב (yaqrîv, brings near or offers) share the root קרב (q-r-b, approach or be near). The gift and the act of offering it are thus presented as one movement: something brought near to the LORD.
ALSO GROWS
qārōv: Near, close.
קָרוֹב
This branch makes the offering’s nearness plain: what is brought is brought close.
qerev: The midst or inner part.
קֶרֶב
This branch carries the root’s sense of being within or close at hand, deepening the image of an offering brought into the LORD’s presence.
THE PATTERN
Approach is expressed as bringing near: an offering and drawing near share the movement toward God.
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.But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.THE THREAD
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.The Hebrew root קרב (q-r-b, approach or be near) links the offering brought near in Leviticus with the psalmist’s drawing near to God. Here, the approach moves from a gift brought before the LORD to nearness itself.
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