What Does Leviticus 7:35 Mean?
This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, from the offerings of fire to the LORD, in the day that he drew them near to minister to the LORD in the priest's office;
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.
King James wording
King James Version
This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest’s office;THE KEY
The priests are not merely presented for office: they are brought near, from the same root that names an offering as a drawing near.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks now through a pattern in which being set apart carries both nearness to the LORD and a share from what is offered. The priestly portion belongs with priestly service, so consecration is joined to the work it makes possible.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the idea that being set apart is only elevation: here, anointing is bound to being brought near and serving the LORD.
THE ROOT
הִקְרִיב
hiqriv
GROWS FROM
קרב
to approach or bring near
“he drew them near” in this verse is hiqriv. The Hebrew verb means he brings them near. The same root gives korban, an offering understood as a drawing near, so presentation and offering share a language of approach rather than mere display.
ALSO GROWS
qarab: to approach or come near
קָרַב
The priests are brought near to the LORD before they begin their service.
qorban: drawing near; an offering brought near
קָרְבָּן
It links the priests’ presentation with the offerings from which their portion comes.
מִשְׁחַת
mishchat
GROWS FROM
משח
to smear or anoint
“the anointing of Aaron” in this verse is mishchat. Mishchat names anointing, and its root also gives mashiach, the anointed one. The repeated word ties the priests’ setting apart to the office they are appointed to serve.
ALSO GROWS
mashach: to smear or anoint
מָשַׁח
It names the act that marks Aaron and his sons for their priestly role.
mashiach: the anointed one
מָשִׁיחַ
It carries the same root into the title for one who is anointed.
לְכַהֵן
lekhaen
GROWS FROM
כהן
to officiate as a priest
“to minister to the LORD” in this verse is lekhaen. The Hebrew verb rendered “minister” means to officiate as a priest, and the verse makes that function explicit with “in the priest’s office.” One word family names the act, the priest, and the priesthood, joining identity to service.
ALSO GROWS
kohen: priest
כֹּהֵן
It names the person carrying out the priestly service.
kehunnah: priesthood
כְּהֻנָּה
It names the office into which Aaron and his sons are appointed.
THE PATTERN
Being set apart is expressed as being brought near and given work in service before God.
And this is the thing that you do to them, to set them apart, to serve me as priest. You take one young bull and two whole rams,For every high priest taken from among humankind is set in place for humankind in the things toward God, that he may bring near both gifts and sacrifices for shortcomings.You also, as living stones, are built up into a house of breath, a set-apart priesthood, to carry up sacrifices of breath, well received by God through Jesus, the Anointed One.THE THREAD
But for me, drawing near to God is good; I have set my shelter in the Lord LORD, to recount all your works.Leviticus says the priests are brought near; this psalm uses the same Hebrew root for drawing near to God. What sounds like presentation in one verse and nearness in another belongs to one word family.
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