What Does Leviticus 7:8 Mean in the King James?
And the priest that offereth any man’s burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered.
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 burnt offering goes up, but its skin stays in the priest’s hands as a defined share.
THE MEANING
The offering rises toward God, while the skin remains a concrete portion for the priest who serves. The verse makes sacred giving include material provision, with that share assigned rather than left accidental.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that giving to God must leave the person serving with no material share: here, the priest’s portion is explicitly assigned.
THE ROOT
מַקְרִיב
maqriv
GROWS FROM
קרב
To draw near, approach, or bring close.
“offereth / offered” in this verse is maqriv. The Hebrew behind “offereth” and “offered” carries the sense of bringing near. The verse’s offering is an act of nearness, and the priest’s share belongs to the service that brings it near.
ALSO GROWS
qorbān: Offering; something brought near.
קָרְבָּן
The related word names an offering through its movement toward the altar.
qarov: Near, close; a near one or relative.
קָרוֹב
The same root connects offering with nearness and closeness, a relation English “offer” does not show.
עֹלָה
ʿolah
GROWS FROM
עלה
To go up or ascend.
The Hebrew name marks what goes up, while “burnt offering” foregrounds the fire. That upward movement sharpens the verse’s contrast: the skin does not go up in smoke but remains with the priest as his share.
ALSO GROWS
ʿālāh: To go up, ascend.
עָלָה
This verb supplies the movement carried in the name of the offering.
ʿaliyyah: Ascent, going up.
עֲלִיָּה
This related noun keeps the upward movement visible beneath the English phrase.
THE PATTERN
In altar service, giving includes a defined material portion for the one who ministers.
And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance.Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?THE THREAD
If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.The Hebrew behind both instances of “offer” is from קרב, qarav: to bring near. Leviticus 7:8 opens that approach further by showing the priest’s material share in carrying the offering near.
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