BibleWord.ai› Bible› Leviticus› Chapter 6› Verse 23

Leviticus 6:23

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 6:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And every meal-offering of the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And every meal-offering of the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.
Leviticus 6:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20This is the oblation of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto Jehovah in the day when he is anointed: the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half thereof in the evening.
21On a baking-pan it shall be made with oil; when it is soaked, thou shalt bring it in: in baken pieces shalt thou offer the meal-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
22And the anointed priest that shall be in his stead from among his sons shall offer it: by a statute for ever it shall be wholly burnt unto Jehovah.
23And every meal-offering of the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.
24And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
25Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin-offering: in the place where the burnt-offering is killed shall the sin-offering be killed before Jehovah: it is most holy.
26The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in a holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.
← Leviticus 6:22Leviticus 6:24 →
← Full Chapter 6 Leviticus Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt, etc.] Wherefore the priest that offered this for the high priest got nothing by it: he served him gratis: it shall not be eaten; neither by himself, nor any other priest. The priests by eating the offerings of the people bore their iniquities, and made atonement for them, (<031017>Leviticus 10:17) but the priests might not eat their own sacrifices, to show that they could not bear their own sins, and make atonement for them; and this proves the insufficiency of the legal sacrifices, and the need there was for one to arise of another order to take away sin; and it is thought by some to be typical of the active obedience of Christ…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Not be eaten - Compare Leviticus 6:30; Leviticus 4:12 note. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“It shall not be eaten - No part of it shall be eaten by the priest, as it was when the offering was for the people. The reason of the difference is, partly because when he offered it for the people, he was to have some recompence for his pains; partly to signify the imperfection of the Levitical priest, who could not bear their own iniquity; for the priest's eating part of the people's sacrifices did signify his typical bearing of the people's iniquity; and partly to teach the priests and ministers of God, that it is their duty to serve God with singleness of heart, and to be content with God's honour though they have no present advantage by it. Leviticus 6:26”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“6:23 Normally, the bulk of a grain offering would go to the officiating priest (2:9-10). However, the grain offering described in 6:19-23 was for a special occasion—the ordination of the priests—and therefore was to be burned up entirely and not eaten.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shall be: The meat offering of the people was eaten by the priests, who typically bore and expiated their sins; but as no priest, being a sinner, could make atonement for himself, his meat offering must not be eaten, but wholly burnt on the altar, which was a typical transfer of his guilt to the great antitype who actually bore and expiated it. it shall not be: Lev 6:16, Lev 6:17, Lev 2:10 Leviticus 6:25”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Leviticus 6 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification