Leviticus 6:15 - He shall take from there his handful of the fine flour of the meal offering, and of its oil, and all the frankincense which is on the meal offering, and shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma, as its memorial, to Yahweh.

Generated Verse: Leviticus 6:15

What does "Leviticus 6:15" mean?


This verse from Leviticus 6:15 describes a specific part of the procedure for a meal offering (also called a grain offering). Let's break it down:

"He shall take from there his handful of the fine flour of the meal offering...": The "he" refers to the priest. The meal offering itself was made of fine flour, oil, and frankincense. The priest was to take a handful of the flour mixture. The use of "fine flour" indicates it was of high quality.
"...and of its oil, and all the frankincense which is on the meal offering...": Along with the handful of flour, the priest also took some of the oil mixed with the flour and all of the frankincense that had been placed on top of the offering. Frankincense was a fragrant resin used in worship.
"...and shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma, as its memorial, to Yahweh.": The priest would then burn this portion of the offering on the altar. The smoke and aroma were considered a "pleasant aroma" (literally a "soothing aroma") to Yahweh (God). The burned portion served as a "memorial" (a remembrance or token) of the complete offering. In essence, it was a symbolic representation of the whole offering being presented to God.

In summary, the meaning of the verse is:

The priest takes a representative portion (a handful of flour and oil, plus all the frankincense) from the meal offering and burns it on the altar. This act is a symbolic offering to God, representing the entire meal offering and creating a pleasing aroma as a memorial.

Significance:

Symbolic Offering: The verse emphasizes that a portion of the offering was burned, representing the whole offering. This highlights the idea that the Israelites were dedicating a part of their resources (the meal offering) to God.
Pleasing Aroma: The "pleasant aroma" is significant. It suggests that God found these offerings acceptable and pleasing when offered with the right attitude and heart.
Memorial: The "memorial" aspect is important. It reminds the people of their covenant with God and their commitment to worship and obedience. It's a tangible way of remembering God's presence and blessings.
Role of the Priest: The priest acted as an intermediary between the people and God. By performing this ritual, he facilitated their worship and ensured that the offering was presented according to God's instructions.

This verse provides insight into the meticulous nature of the sacrificial system in ancient Israel, and how offerings were meant to be acts of worship and remembrance.