Leviticus 2:13 · Bible study
Leviticus 2:13 Commentary: Salt of the Covenant
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why salt was required with every offering in Leviticus, its symbolic meaning of covenant permanence, and its significance for worship and relationship with God.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Salt symbolizes preservation, purity, and the enduring nature of God’s covenant, required with every offering.
- Key words: מֶלַח (salt), בְּרִית (covenant), מִנְחָה (grain offering), and the verb תִּמְלָח (you shall season) from the same root as salt.
- Main debate: Whether the primary significance is Christological (pointing to Christ as the savory and enduring sacrifice) or moral (pointing to personal purity and covenant fidelity). Both are present in the commentaries.
- Theological theme: Covenant faithfulness, God’s promise is permanent and incorruptible; worship must be offered in the context of that covenant.
- Best use: A sermon or lesson on the nature of worship, the permanence of God’s promises, and the call for believers to be “salt” in the world (Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:49-50).
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And you shall season each of your grain offerings with salt. You must not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offering; you are to add salt to each of your offerings.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Every offering of your meal offering you shall season with salt. You shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your meal offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.
KJV King James Version 1769
And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And every oblation of thy meal-offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meal-offering: with all thine oblations thou shalt offer salt.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And every offering--thy present--with salt thou dost season, and thou dost not let the salt of the covenant of thy God cease from thy present; with all thine offerings thou dost bring near salt.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And every offering of thine oblation shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thine oblation: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Whatsoever sacrifice thou offerest, thou shalt season it with salt: neither shalt thou take away the salt of the covenant of thy God from thy sacrifice. In all thy oblations thou shalt offer salt.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y sazonarás toda ofrenda de tu presente con sal; y no harás que falte jamás de tu presente la sal de la alianza de tu Dios: en toda ofrenda tuya ofrecerás sal.
E temperarás toda oferta de teu presente com sal; e não farás que falte jamais de teu presente o sal da aliança de teu Deus: em toda oferta tua oferecerás sal.
Tu mettras du sel sur toutes tes offrandes; tu ne laisseras point ton offrande manquer de sel, signe de l’ alliance de ton Dieu; sur toutes tes offrandes tu mettras du sel.
Alle deine Speisopfer sollst du salzen, und dein Speisopfer soll nimmer ohne Salz des Bundes deines Gottes sein; denn in allem deinem Opfer sollst du Salz opfern.
En alle offerande uws spijsoffers zult gij met zout zouten, en het zout des verbonds van uw God van uw spijsoffer niet laten afblijven; met al uw offerande zult gij zout offeren.
E ogni oblazione che offrirai, la condirai con sale e non lascerai la tua oblazione mancar di sale, segno del patto del tuo Dio. Su tutte le tue offerte offrirai del sale.
Każdy dar ofiary twojej śniednej solą posolisz a nie odejmiesz soli przymierza Boga twojego od ofiary twojej śniednej; przy każdej ofierze twojej ofiarować będziesz sól.
Всякое приношение твое хлебное соли солью, и не оставляй жертвы твоей без соли завета Бога твоего: при всяком приношении твоем приноси [Господу Богу твоему] соль.
凡 獻為素祭 的供物 都要用鹽 調和，在 素祭 上不可 缺了你 神 立約 的鹽。 一切 的供物 都要配鹽 而獻。
And every meal offering is to be salted with salt; your meal offering is not to be without the salt of the agreement of your God: with all your offerings give salt.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 2:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Leviticus 2:13 establishes salt as a required element in every Israelite offering, both grain and animal. The command is absolute: the salt of the covenant of your God must never be lacking. Adam Clarke notes that salt was the opposite of leaven, it preserved from putrefaction and signified the purity and persevering fidelity necessary in worship. John Gill adds that salt made food savory and preserved it, pointing to the savouriness and perpetuity of Christ as the true meat offering. John Calvin emphasizes that the seasoning which gives grace to sacrifices is found only in God’s word; human inventions are unsavory. The phrase “salt of the covenant” (linking to Numbers 18:19 and 2 Chronicles 13:5) underscores the enduring, incorruptible nature of God’s relationship with His people. As Barnes observes, salt was the one symbol never absent from the altar, showing the imperishability of Yahweh’s love. The prohibition of leaven and honey (which cause fermentation) alongside the mandatory salt reinforces a contrast between corruption and preservation. Keil and Delitzsch note that the law applies to every minchah and to all offerings, as confirmed by Ezekiel 43:24. The consensus is clear: salt represents covenant fidelity, purity, and the enduring grace that makes worship acceptable.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Salt was required with every offering to symbolize the permanence and purity of God's covenant with Israel, and this command was universally observed in the sacrificial system.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Symbolic meaning of salt | All traditions agree that salt represents preservation, incorruption, and the permanence of God's covenant. It is the opposite of leaven, which symbolizes corruption. | Some emphasize a Christological interpretation (Gill, Clarke: salt points directly to Christ as the savory and enduring sacrifice), while others stress a moral or spiritual application (Calvin: the word of God is the true salt that seasons worship; Wesley: the grace of sincerity). Both readings seek to honor the text. |
| Origin and use of salt in sacrifices | Commentators note that salt was used by many ancient cultures (Greeks, Romans) in their sacrifices, showing it was not unique to Israel. However, Israel's use carried a distinct theological meaning tied to the covenant. | Some (e.g., Ellicott) view this as a shared cultural practice that God adopted and reinterpreted; others (e.g., Calvin) stress that God alone appointed the proper form of worship, and any human imitation is not authoritative. There is no significant disagreement that the command is divine and binding. |
| Scope of the command (grain vs. all offerings) | The verse explicitly says 'with all your offerings you shall offer salt,' and Ezekiel 43:24 confirms it applies to animal sacrifices. Most agree this was a universal rule for all altar sacrifices. | Minor debate exists about whether it applied to offerings not eaten (e.g., the whole burnt offering) or only to those consumed; the consensus from the commentaries (Gill, Barnes) is that it applied to all sacrifices except wine, blood, wood, and incense (as per Mishnah). There is no substantive disagreement. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Salt was a precious commodity in the ancient Near East, essential for preserving food and as a seasoning. Among Israelites, Greeks, Romans, and other cultures, salt accompanied sacrifices as a symbol of friendship and incorruption. The Cambridge Bible notes that a covenant among ancient peoples was ratified by eating food together with salt; the Arab saying “there is salt between us” still expresses loyalty and obligation. In the Jerusalem temple, a special room (לשכת מלח, “salt room”) stored salt for sacrifices, and it was provided by the congregation (Mishnah Middot 5:2). The requirement extended to all offerings, burnt offerings, peace offerings, and grain offerings, as seen in Ezekiel 43:24. The command is framed positively (“you shall season with salt”) and negatively (“you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking”), using the Hiphil verb תשבית (“cause to cease”), which gives the prohibition particular force. The surrounding context (Leviticus 2:11-12) forbids leaven and honey because they cause fermentation, which symbolizes corruption. Salt, by contrast, preserves and enhances. The heathen also used salt in sacrifice, Pliny’s Natural History records that Roman offerings were never made without mola salsa (salted meal). Yet for Israel, the sign was tied specifically to God’s covenant. The phrase “covenant of salt” appears elsewhere (Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5) to describe perpetual gifts, like the priesthood and the Davidic throne. Thus the instruction carries a theological weight: every offering must be seasoned with the reminder of God’s faithful, unchanging promise.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries and sources note no significant textual variants for Leviticus 2:13. The Masoretic Text is stable, and the few minor differences in ancient versions (Samaritan, LXX) do not affect the meaning. The command to season with salt appears consistently across witnesses. Some manuscripts vary the spelling of מִנְחָתְךָ (your grain offering) but not in a way that changes interpretation.
Reception History
Leviticus 2:13 has been received across traditions as a key text on the necessity of covenant fidelity in worship. Early Christian writers saw it fulfilled in Christ, who is the true sacrifice seasoned with grace. The rabbinic tradition emphasized the salt as a sign of the perpetual covenant with the priesthood (Numbers 18:19) and applied it to all offerings, with the Mishnah specifying the provision of salt from congregational funds. In the Reformation, Calvin drew from this verse a warning against human inventions in worship: only God’s word provides the true seasoning. Puritans and later evangelicals often applied the text to personal holiness, urging believers to be “salt” in moral character. Jesus’ use of salt imagery in Mark 9:49-50 and Matthew 5:13 connects the Levitical command to the life of discipleship, where self-sacrifice and purity mark the people of God. The phrase “covenant of salt” continues to be used in Christian liturgy and theology as a symbol of God’s enduring promise.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Salt preserves and purifies. Just as salt keeps food from spoiling, it symbolizes the purity God requires in worship. Leaven and honey are forbidden because they corrupt; salt is mandatory because it preserves (Leviticus 2:11, 13). Our worship must be free from sin and hypocrisy, seasoned with sincerity and truth.
- Salt signifies covenant permanence. The “salt of the covenant” points to God’s unbreakable relationship with His people. Numbers 18:19 calls it a “covenant of salt forever.” In a world of broken promises, God’s commitment stands firm. Our offerings, our lives, are acceptable only when offered within that covenant and in response to its grace.
- Salt seasons every offering. The verse extends beyond grain offerings: “with all your offerings you shall offer salt.” Every act of worship, whether corporate or personal, needs the preserving grace of God. Our giving, our praise, our service should all carry the savor of Christ, who is the true sacrifice seasoned with salt for us.
Five-point outline
- The command: salt is non-negotiable. The text uses two imperatives: “you shall season” and “you shall not allow to be lacking.” Salt is not optional; it is essential to acceptable worship.
- The contrast: leaven and honey vs. salt. Leaven and honey cause fermentation and decay (v. 11); salt prevents decay. This teaches that God’s worship must be free from corruption and hypocrisy.
- The title: “the salt of the covenant of your God.” This phrase links the seasoning to the personal relationship between Yahweh and Israel. The covenant is permanent; the salt is its tangible sign in worship.
- The scope: all offerings. “With all your offerings you shall offer salt.” The principle applies universally, every sacrifice, every gift to God, must be accompanied by the preserving grace of the covenant.
- The New Testament echo. Jesus refers to this in Mark 9:49-50, teaching that believers themselves are seasoned with fire and must have salt in themselves, a call to self-sacrifice, purity, and peace.
Illustration hooks
- Preserving meat before refrigeration. Before modern methods, salt was essential to keep meat from spoiling. The image of salt preserving an offering from decay helps explain why God required it: our worship must be kept from moral and spiritual decay.
- A marriage covenant and salt. In many cultures, sharing salt is a sign of lasting friendship. A couple might keep a salt cellar as a wedding keepsake. This illustrates the “covenant of salt”, a bond that is meant to endure.
- Salt in cooking. A dish without salt is bland; a little salt enhances every flavour. Similarly, the grace of the covenant seasons every act of worship, making it pleasing to God.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God care about such a small detail as salt? Does this mean I have to be perfect in my worship?
- What is the “covenant of salt” and how does it relate to the new covenant in Christ?
- How can I “salt” my daily life, my words, my work, my relationships, in a way that honors God?
Leading a Discussion
This passage comes in the middle of instructions for grain offerings. The requirement for salt stands out because it is the one element that must be present in every offering. As you discuss, consider what salt meant in the ancient world and what it might teach us about worship and covenant today.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What does Leviticus 2:13 command? What words or phrases are repeated for emphasis?
- Observation: Compare verse 13 with verses 11-12. What is forbidden, and what is required? How are these opposites?
- Interpretation: Why do you think salt was called “the salt of the covenant of your God”? Read Numbers 18:19 and 2 Chronicles 13:5 for background. What does this phrase tell us about God’s nature and His relationship with Israel?
- Interpretation: How did Jesus use the imagery of salt in Mark 9:49-50 and Matthew 5:13? In what ways does He connect the Old Testament command to the lives of His followers?
- Application: In what areas of your life do you need the “salt” of God’s preserving grace, to keep you from decay, to season your words, to make your service acceptable?
- Application: The offerings in Leviticus were physical gifts. What are the “offerings” we bring to God today (time, talents, money, worship, service)? How can we “season” them with the awareness of God’s covenant?
- Reflection: The prohibition of leaven suggests that hypocrisy and pride spoil worship. What steps can our group take to foster sincerity and purity in our corporate worship and personal devotion?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 18:19 | All the wave offerings of the holy things which the children of Israel offer to Yahweh, I have given you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a portion forever. It is a covenant of salt forever before Yahweh to you and to your offspring with you.” |
| II Chronicles 13:5 | Ought you not to know that Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? |
| Ezra 7:22 | up to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred cors of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. |
| Ezekiel 43:24 | You shall bring them near to Yahweh, and the priests shall cast salt on them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering to Yahweh. |
| Matthew 5:13 | “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. |
| Mark 9:49 | For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. |
| Mark 9:50 | Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” |
| Colossians 4:6 | Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke contrasts salt with leaven: leaven corrupts, salt preserves. For him, the command to salt every offering points to the purity and persevering fidelity required in worship. He calls it the salt of God's covenant because that covenant, unlike perishable things, is incorruptible and secured through Christ.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that salt was the one symbol never missing from any offering, showing the permanent, unbreakable nature of God's love for His people. In its changeless character, it stands as the opposite of leaven. He notes that Arabs still use "a covenant of salt" to express lasting commitment.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin insists the true seasoning for acceptable worship comes solely from God's word, not human ingenuity. He reads the salt command and Christ's fire-saying together: believers must be refined by trials to become pleasing sacrifices. All worship invented by people lacks this divine savor and is rejected.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator focuses on the symbolic meaning of salt in the offering: it represents the covenant between God and Israel. Just as ancient peoples sealed friendship by sharing salt, the salt on the sacrifice reminded the worshiper that his covenant bond with God required a willing and devoted heart.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note stresses that salt is not optional in offerings but essential, calling it the "salt of the covenant." This phrase links salt directly to God's enduring promise, making it a necessary sign of the covenant's permanence and purity in every offering brought to Him.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill sees salt in the offerings as pointing to Christ himself, who is savory food for the soul and whose sacrifice never loses its power. He also connects it to the covenant of salt, symbolizing the lasting permanence of God's agreement, and applies it to believers whose lives should be seasoned with grace.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that salt was commanded for every meat offering because it preserves, unlike leaven which causes decay. Salt thus became an emblem of incorruption and a perpetual covenant of lasting friendship with God. He sees this as a type of the Gospel: as salt preserves meat from spoiling, the Gospel keeps believers from being corrupted by sin.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees the grain offering as motivated by an instinctive desire for communion with God, not by a sense of duty. It signifies a childlike, thankful return of life’s sustenance, and the text’s use of “soul” rather than “man” underscores this voluntary, personal impulse.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry connects the ban on leaven and honey to a spiritual warning: leaven represents pride, hypocrisy, and malice, while honey, though pleasant, becomes harmful in excess. These ingredients spoil the acceptableness of offerings, teaching us to remove such sins from our spiritual sacrifices and keep them pure with sincerity and truth.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the salt required in offerings carries several layers of meaning. It represents the sincerity and incorruption of grace needed for an acceptable sacrifice. It also serves as a symbol of friendship and perpetual communion with God, and as a non-negotiable condition of the covenant between God and Israel.