What Does Leviticus 3:11 Mean in the King James?

And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Leviticus 3:11 · 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 root behind “burn” also gives “incense” and “smoke,” so the verse names what rises from the altar as food for the LORD.

THE MEANING

What reaches the altar is named as food for the LORD. The verse holds fire and meal together: the offering rises in smoke, yet it is not described as mere disappearance.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The fire only destroys what is placed on the altar.

THE ROOT

וְהִקְטִירוֹ

wəhiqṭîrô

GROWS FROM

קטר

Q-Ṭ-R

Make smoke rise; burn incense or an offering.

The priest’s “burn” is ⁨הִקְטִיר⁩ (hiqtir, make smoke rise or offer by fire), from ⁨קטר⁩ (qatar). The same root gives words for incense and smoke, revealing an upward movement within the burning while the verse calls the offering food for the LORD.

ALSO GROWS

qetoret: Incense burned so its smoke rises.

קְטֹרֶת

This branch shares the root behind “burn” and shows that the altar’s action belongs to the language of rising smoke.

qitor: Smoke or vapor.

קִיטוֹר

This branch makes visible what the root’s burning produces: smoke, not simply disappearance.

THE PATTERN

Scripture binds altar offerings to the language of food and eating, making sacrifice meal-shaped.

They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.

Leviticus 21:6 · KJVThe offerings made by fire are again called the bread of God.

Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.

Numbers 28:2 · KJVThe LORD calls the fire-offering “my bread,” joining the altar’s fire with food language.

Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

1 Corinthians 10:18 · KJVEating from a sacrifice is described as sharing in the altar, extending its meal-shaped relation.

THE THREAD

And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

Exodus 30:7 · KJV

Exodus uses the same root, ⁨קטר⁩ (qatar, make smoke rise), for burning incense. It places the verb beside ⁨קְטֹרֶת⁩ (qetoret, incense), opening the smoke-making sense of the altar action in Leviticus.

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