What Does Numbers 5:25 Mean in the King James?
Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar:
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 priest’s act of “offering” is an act of bringing near: what he takes from the woman’s hand is waved before the LORD and brought to the altar.
THE MEANING
The verse moves the woman’s jealousy offering from her hand, before the LORD, and toward the altar. The action translated “offer” carries the sense of bringing near, presenting the gift as an approach into the divine presence. The wording also keeps the power in view: the priest takes and handles what the woman holds.
THE ROOT
וְהִקְרִיב
wehiqriv
GROWS FROM
ק־ר־ב
q-r-b
Come near; approach.
The verb translated “offer” also carries the motion of bringing near. The related words for “near” and “offering” preserve a connection English leaves quiet: the act is both presentation and approach.
ALSO GROWS
qārōv: Near, close
קָרוֹב
The same root makes nearness part of the meaning carried by the priest’s act of offering.
qorbān: Offering; something brought near
קָרְבָּן
This related word names an offering through the same root of approach, making the altar gift a movement toward the divine presence.
THE PATTERN
An offering is framed as an approach into God’s presence: it is brought near, set before the LORD, or named as drawing near.
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
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.Leviticus names the offering קָרְבָּן (qorbān, “offering; something brought near”) and uses the same root, ק־ר־ב (q-r-b, “come near”), for bringing it to the LORD. Numbers calls the woman’s gift a מִנְחָה (minḥāh, “gift or offering”), then uses that root for the priest’s act of offering it at the altar.
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