What Does Leviticus 4:9 Mean?

And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is at the flanks, and the lobe above the liver with the kidneys, he turns aside.

Leviticus 4:9 · 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 the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,

THE KEY

The Hebrew verb for “take away” also means “turn aside,” making removal an act of departure from its place.

THE MEANING

The verse names the kidneys, the fat upon them by the flanks, and the caul above the liver as portions that are taken away. Its verb also carries the sense of turning aside or departing, so removal is expressed as a part leaving its place.

THE ROOT

יְסִירֶנָּה

yesirennah

GROWS FROM

סור

sur: turn aside, depart

“turns aside” in this verse is yesirennah. ⁨יְסִירֶנָּה⁩ (yesirennah, “he shall remove it”) is a causative form from ⁨סור⁩ (sur, “turn aside; depart”). The root joins taking away with causing something to depart from its place.

ALSO GROWS

lasur: to turn aside, depart

לָסוּר

This form carries the same root letters and makes the sense of departure explicit.

ve-asurah: and let me turn aside

וְאָסֻרָה

This form shows the root describing a change of direction, as in Moses turning aside to look at the bush.

הַכָּבֵד

hakaved

GROWS FROM

כבד

k-b-d: be heavy, weighty

The Hebrew name for the liver shares its root with the word for “heavy” and with words for “weight” and “honor.” The organ’s name keeps physical weight and figurative weight within one word-family.

ALSO GROWS

kaved: heavy, weighty

כָּבֵד

The shared form makes the liver’s connection to heaviness audible in Hebrew.

kavod: weight, honor

כָּבוֹד

This branch carries the root’s sense of weight into the language of honor.

THE PATTERN

Scripture gives separation a concrete shape: something leaves its place by turning aside or being taken away.

And the two kidneys, and the fat upon them that lies by the flanks, and the lobe above the liver, along with the kidneys, he turns them aside.

Leviticus 3:4 · SDVThe same organs and fat are named as portions to be taken away, making separation explicit in the offering.

And Moses said, Let me turn aside now and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.

Exodus 3:3 · SDV“Turn aside” comes from ⁨סור⁩ (sur, “turn aside; depart”), the same root behind “take away” in this verse.

Every branch in me that bears no fruit, he lifts away. And every branch that bears, he cleanses it, that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:2 · SDVA branch is taken away from the vine, extending the pattern of removal into an image of separation.

THE THREAD

For they will turn your son aside from walking after me, so that he serves other gods. Then the burning of the LORD's anger will flare against you and wipe you out swiftly.

Deuteronomy 7:4 · SDV

The verb translated “turn away” belongs to ⁨סור⁩ (sur, “turn aside; depart”), the same root behind “take away” in Leviticus 4:9. The shared root shows that taking away and turning away are both forms of making something depart.

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