Leviticus 10:14 - The waved breast and the heaved thigh you shall eat in a clean place, you, and your sons, and your daughters with you: for they are given as your portion, and your sons’ portion, out of the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the children of Israel.

Generated Verse: Leviticus 10:14

What does "Leviticus 10:14" mean?


This verse from Leviticus 10:14 outlines a specific dietary allowance for the priests and their families from the peace offerings brought by the Israelites. Let's break it down:

"The waved breast and the heaved thigh...": These refer to specific portions of the animal sacrificed as a peace offering. The "waved breast" likely refers to the breast portion, presented to God by waving it before the altar. The "heaved thigh" similarly refers to the thigh portion, presented to God by heaving (lifting) it up. These were then given to the priests.

"...you shall eat in a clean place...": This emphasizes that the priests and their families were to consume these portions in a ritually pure and clean environment. Cleanliness was extremely important in the context of the Temple and sacrifices.

"...you, and your sons, and your daughters with you...": This specifies that the allowance extended to the priest's entire immediate family, including his sons and daughters.

"...for they are given as your portion, and your sons’ portion...": This makes it clear that these specific portions of the peace offering were designated as the rightful food allowance for the priests and their families. It was part of their compensation for their service in the Tabernacle/Temple.

"...out of the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the children of Israel.": It clarifies that the waved breast and heaved thigh came specifically from the peace offerings brought by the Israelites. The peace offering was a type of sacrifice offered to God as a freewill offering or in thanksgiving. Part of the animal was burned on the altar for God, part was given to the priests, and part was eaten by the person bringing the offering and their family/friends.

In essence, the verse defines a specific food allowance for the priests and their families, derived from the peace offerings made by the Israelites. The waved breast and heaved thigh, portions presented to God as part of the offering ritual, were given to the priests as their share and could be eaten by them and their families in a ritually clean place.

Context and Significance:

Priestly Sustenance: The verse highlights how the priests were provided for. They didn't have land of their own like the other tribes of Israel and relied on these offerings for their sustenance.
Holiness and Ritual Purity: The emphasis on eating in a "clean place" reflects the broader concern with ritual purity and holiness within the Israelite sacrificial system.
Division of Offerings: It illustrates the division of the peace offering: a portion for God, a portion for the priests, and a portion for the offerer (and their family/friends). This division emphasizes the communal aspect of the offering.
Religious Law: The verse is part of the detailed legal codes in Leviticus that regulated every aspect of Israelite religious life.

Understanding this verse requires knowing the context of the sacrificial system in ancient Israel and the role of the priests within that system.

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