What Does Leviticus 2:1 Mean?

And when a living soul brings near a gift to the LORD, his drawing near is of fine flour; he pours oil upon it and sets frankincense upon it.

Leviticus 2:1 · SDV

Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.

Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.

This verse in the King James

King James wording

King James Version

And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:

THE KEY

The Hebrew word translated “put” also means “give,” so placing frankincense on the flour is itself part of the offering.

THE MEANING

The offering takes visible form in fine flour, oil poured over it, and frankincense deliberately placed on it. The verse presents ordinary nourishment as something prepared and brought before the LORD.

THE ROOT

וְנָתַן

ve-natan

GROWS FROM

נתן

To give, set, or place.

“sets” in this verse is ve-natan. English “put” can sound like arrangement alone, while this root also means “give.” The verse joins placement and presentation: the frankincense is placed on the flour as part of the gift.

ALSO GROWS

natan: To give, set, or place.

נָתַן

The verse uses this verb for placing the frankincense, linking its position on the flour with the act of giving.

mattanah: Gift or present.

מַתָּנָה

This word for a gift shares the same root, making the placed ingredient part of the offering’s giving rather than merely an extra detail.

THE PATTERN

Offering is the deliberate placing of a portion of life or praise before God.

And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock, and of their fat. And the LORD gazed upon Abel and upon his offering.

Genesis 4:4 · SDVAbel presents a tangible portion from his flock as an offering before the LORD.

But who am I, and what is my people, that we should hold the strength to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come from you, and from your hand have we given to you.

1 Chronicles 29:14 · SDVThe offering is understood as a deliberate presentation of what already comes from God.

Through him, then, let us always carry up a sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.

Hebrews 13:15 · SDVThe same pattern takes the form of praise, presented as the fruit of the lips.

THE THREAD

And now, behold, I have brought the first-ripened fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me. And you set it down before the LORD your God, and bow down before the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 26:10 · SDV

The firstfruits are named as what the LORD has “given” before they are brought before him. “Given” shares its Hebrew root with Leviticus’s “put,” linking the frankincense’s placement to the act of giving.

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