Leviticus 7:28-36 · Bible study
Leviticus 7:28-36 Commentary: Priests' Portions from Peace Offerings
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore God's provision for priests in Leviticus 7:28-36. Learn the meaning of wave breast, heave thigh, and the perpetual statute for Aaron's sons.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God commands the priests' portions from peace offerings, the breast and right thigh, as a perpetual statute for their provision.
- Key words: wave offering (תנופה), heave offering (תרומה), statute (חוקת), anointing-portion (משחת).
- Main debate: Whether 'anointing' in v35 refers to ceremonial anointing or a measured portion (Cambridge favours the latter).
- Theological theme: God provides for His servants; worship involves both giving and receiving in community.
- Best use: Teaching on supporting ministry, understanding OT sacrificial system, and seeing Christ as our peace offering.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
28Then the LORD said to Moses,
29“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘Anyone who presents a peace offering to the LORD must bring it as his sacrifice to the LORD.
30With his own hands he is to bring the offerings made by fire to the LORD; he shall bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD.
31The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons.
32And you are to give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from your peace offering.
33The son of Aaron who presents the blood and fat of the peace offering shall have the right thigh as a portion.
34I have taken from the sons of Israel the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as a permanent portion from the sons of Israel.’”
35This is the portion of the offerings made by fire to the LORD for Aaron and his sons since the day they were presented to serve the LORD as priests.
36On the day they were anointed, the LORD commanded that this be given them by the sons of Israel. It is a permanent portion for the generations to come.
WEB World English Bible 2000
28Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
29“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to Yahweh shall bring his offering to Yahweh out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
30With his own hands he shall bring the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before Yahweh.
31The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.
32The right thigh you shall give to the priest for a heave offering out of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.
33He among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right thigh for a portion.
34For the waved breast and the heaved thigh I have taken from the children of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel.’”
35This is the consecrated portion of Aaron, and the consecrated portion of his sons, out of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister to Yahweh in the priest’s office;
36which Yahweh commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them. It is their portion forever throughout their generations.
KJV King James Version 1769
28And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
29Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the Lord shall bring his oblation unto the Lord of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
30His own hands shall bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the Lord.
31And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.
32And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.
33He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part.
34For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.
35This 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;
36Which the Lord commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute for ever throughout their generations.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
28And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
29Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace-offerings unto Jehovah shall bring his oblation unto Jehovah out of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings:
30his own hands shall bring the offerings of Jehovah made by fire; the fat with the breast shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave-offering before Jehovah.
31And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar; but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.
32And the right thigh shall ye give unto the priest for a heave-offering out of the sacrifices of your peace-offerings.
33He among the sons of Aaron that offereth the blood of the peace-offerings, and the fat, shall have the right thigh for a portion.
34For the wave-breast and the heave-thigh have I taken of the children of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace-offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons as their portion for ever from the children of Israel.
35This is the anointing-portion of Aaron, and the anointing-portion of his sons, out of the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto Jehovah in the priest’s office;
36which Jehovah commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them. It is their portion for ever throughout their generations.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
28And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,
29`Speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, He who is bringing near the sacrifice of his peace-offerings to Jehovah doth bring in his offering to Jehovah from the sacrifice of his peace-offerings;
30his own hands do bring in the fire-offerings of Jehovah, the fat beside the breast, it he doth bring in with the breast, to wave it--a wave-offering before Jehovah.
31`And the priest hath made perfume with the fat on the altar, and the breast hath been Aaron's and his sons;
32and the right leg ye do make a heave-offering to the priest of the sacrifices of your peace-offerings;
33he of the sons of Aaron who is bringing near the blood of the peace-offerings, and the fat, his is the right leg for a portion.
34`For the breast of the wave-offering, and the leg of the heave-offering, I have taken from the sons of Israel, from the sacrifices of their peace-offerings, and I give them to Aaron the priest, and to his sons, by a statute age-during, from the sons of Israel.'
35This is the anointing of Aaron, and the anointing of his sons out of the fire-offerings of Jehovah, in the day he hath brought them near to act as priest to Jehovah,
36which Jehovah hath commanded to give to them in the day of His anointing them, from the sons of Israel--a statute age-during to their generations.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
28And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,
29Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that presenteth the sacrifice of his peace-offering to Jehovah shall bring his offering to Jehovah of the sacrifice of his peace-offering.
30His own hands shall bring Jehovah's offerings by fire, the fat with the breast shall he bring: the breast, that it may be waved as a wave-offering before Jehovah.
31And the priest shall burn the fat on the altar; and the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'.
32And the right shoulder of the sacrifices of your peace-offerings shall ye give as a heave-offering unto the priest.
33He of the sons of Aaron that presenteth the blood of the peace-offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for [his] part.
34For the breast of the wave-offering, and the shoulder of the heave-offering, have I taken of the children of Israel from the sacrifices of their peace-offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons from the children of Israel by an everlasting statute.
35This is [the portion] of the anointing of Aaron and of the anointing of his sons, from Jehovah's offerings by fire, in the day [when] he presented them to serve Jehovah as priests,
36which Jehovah commanded to be given them by the children of Israel in the day that he anointed them: [it is] an everlasting statute, throughout their generations.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
28And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
29Speak to the children of Israel, saying: He that offereth a victim of peace offerings to the Lord, let him offer therewith a sacrifice also, that is, the libations thereof.
30He shall hold in his hands the fat of the victim, and the breast. And when he hath offered and consecrated both to the Lord, he shall deliver them to the priest,
31Who shall burn the fat upon the altar. But the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'.
32The right shoulder also of the victim, of peace offerings shall fall to the priest for firstfruits.
33He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood, and the fat: he shall have the right shoulder also for his portion.
34For the breast that is elevated and the shoulder that is separated I have taken of the children of Israel, from off their victims of peace offerings: and have given them to Aaron the priest, and to his sons, by a law for ever, from all the people of Israel.
35This is the anointing of Aaron and his sons, in the ceremonies of the Lord, in the day when Moses offered them, that they might do the office of priesthood,
36And the things that the Lord commanded to be given them by the children of Israel, by a perpetual observance in their generations.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 7:28
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Leviticus 7:28-36 functions as a divine ordinance establishing the permanent provision for the priesthood from the peace offerings. The Cambridge Bible notes that the wave offering symbolised the gift given to God and then returned for priestly use. Gill emphasises that the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons generally, while the right thigh goes specifically to the officiating priest. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown sees these verses as a summing up of the priests' privileges and duties. On verse 35, Cambridge suggests the word for 'anointing' may refer to a measured portion rather than the ceremonial anointing itself, though the connection to consecration remains. All agree that the statute is perpetual, as Wesley notes, given at the day of anointing and binding for all generations. The passage grounds the priests' material support in a direct command from Yahweh, underscoring the divine authority behind the sacrificial system.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The priests receive the breast and right thigh from the peace offerings as a permanent provision ordained by God through Moses.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Priestly portions | The breast and right thigh are given to the priests as their due from peace offerings. | Whether the breast was for all priests generally and the right thigh only for the officiating priest (Gill specifies the one who presents blood and fat), or whether the division is less strict. |
| Wave and heave offerings | These are symbolic gestures of dedicating the offering to the Lord before distribution. | The exact meaning of waving vs heaving: some see waving as moving to and fro and heaving as lifting upward (Barnes), while others use the terms more generally for any dedicated gift. |
| Anointing of priests | The 'portion of the anointing' in v35 refers to the priests' rightful share. | Cambridge argues the word may mean 'measured portion' based on an Aramaic root, while most other commentators take it as the share given because of their anointing. |
| Perpetual statute | This ordinance is established forever for all generations. | How to understand 'forever' in light of the New Covenant: some see it as typologically fulfilled in Christ, others as a principle that continues spiritually (support of ministers). |
Historical & Cultural Context
The peace offering (shelem) was unique among Israel's sacrifices. Unlike the burnt offering, which was entirely consumed, the peace offering was shared between God, the priest, and the offerer and his family. It expressed thanksgiving, fulfilled a vow, or was a freewill gift. Leviticus 7:28-36 regulates the precise distribution of this offering.
The offerer brought the fat and the breast with his own hands, a deliberate act emphasising personal participation. According to later tradition, the priest then placed his own hands under the offerer's and performed the wave offering, moving the breast to and fro before the altar, symbolising presentation to God and reception back. The heave offering of the right thigh involved lifting it upward, signifying dedication. The right side was regarded as the place of honour and strength.
These actions were not empty rituals. They taught the worshipper that every good gift comes from God and returns to His service. The portions assigned to the priests, breast for all priests, right thigh for the officiating priest, ensured their material provision. Since the Levites received no tribal inheritance (Numbers 18:20-24), these offerings formed their livelihood. The phrase 'statute forever' (חוקת עולם) appears repeatedly, indicating this was a permanent covenant obligation.
The passage is framed by 'Yahweh spoke to Moses', setting it within the larger collection of divine speeches that compose Leviticus. This literary structure asserts that the entire sacrificial system rests not on human custom but on God's direct command, a point the repeated formula underscores throughout the book. The specificity of these commands reminds worshippers today that God is not distant from the details of our worship and provision.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants in this passage. The Cambridge Bible observes that the use of the plural 'ye' in verse 32 may indicate the composite character of the section, but this is a matter of literary composition rather than textual criticism.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, this passage is read as part of the regular Torah cycle and understood as the legal basis for the gifts given to the priests, known as the 'portions of the ministry'. Early Christian writers such as Origen and Chrysostom saw the peace offerings as types of Christ's sacrifice, with the wave breast symbolising His love and the heave shoulder His strength. The Reformers emphasised the divine authority of the command, using it to argue for the material support of ministers. Wesley explicitly connects the breast and shoulder to the wisdom and power of Christ our High Priest, an interpretation that influenced Methodist preaching. The verse has been cited in catechetical instruction on the dignity of the priesthood and on the congregation's duty to provide for those who serve at the altar. Today, many Christian traditions read this passage as a reminder that God consecrates ordinary resources, meat, bread, offerings, for the sustenance of His servants.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Offerer Brings His Best (v29-30): The worshipper personally brings the fat and breast to the Lord, teaching that genuine worship requires personal involvement and offering of what costs something.
- The Priest Receives His Portion (v31-33): God provides for those who serve at the altar. The breast for all priests and the right thigh for the officiating priest establish a system of support.
- The Ordinance Is Permanent (v34-36): This command is a 'statute forever', reminding us that God's provisions for His servants are not temporary but rooted in His enduring covenant.
Five-point outline
- Divine Source (v28): Yahweh speaks directly to Moses, establishing the authority behind every detail.
- Personal Involvement (v30): The worshipper's own hands bring the offering, preventing delegation or detachment.
- Symbolic Gestures (v30,32): Waving and heaving dedicate the portions to God before they are received by the priests.
- Equitable Distribution (v31,33): The breast goes to all priests, the right thigh to the officiating priest, both are cared for.
- Eternal Covenant (v34-36): The statute 'forever' connects this provision to God's faithfulness across generations.
Illustration hooks
- A congregation that regularly provides a love offering for their pastor, seeing it as a privilege rather than an obligation.
- The peace offering feast like a family reunion where the host sets aside the best portion for the guest of honour, the priest representing God.
- A team sport where the coach and officials receive a share of the victory meal, recognizing their contribution to the team's success.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God devote so much detail to which part of the animal goes to the priest?
- How does this ancient law apply to how I support my church leaders today legally and practically?
- What does it mean for us that this is a 'statute forever' when we no longer offer animal sacrifices?
Leading a Discussion
This passage may feel distant, yet it teaches a profound truth: God provides for those who serve Him through the generosity of His people. As you discuss, consider how this ancient ordinance reflects God's care for spiritual leaders today and what it reveals about His heart for order and provision.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What parts of the peace offering were assigned to the priests? Which parts went to the officiating priest specifically?
- Observation: Notice the repeated phrase 'statute forever' (vv.34,36). What does this tell you about the permanence of this command?
- Interpretation: What do the wave offering and heave offering symbolise? How did these gestures affect the worshipper's understanding of giving?
- Interpretation: Why does the text emphasise 'with his own hands' (v30)? What does this teach about personal participation in worship?
- Interpretation: The word for 'anointing-portion' in v35 may mean 'measured portion' (Cambridge). How does that possibility affect your reading of the passage?
- Application: How does this passage inform our understanding of supporting church ministers today? What principles transfer to the New Covenant?
- Application: The peace offering was a fellowship meal. How can we cultivate a spirit of gratitude and fellowship in our giving?
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)
| Leviticus 3:1 | “‘If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he offers it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before Yahweh. |
| Leviticus 3:17 | “‘It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you shall eat neither fat nor blood.’” |
| Colossians 1:20 | and through him to reconcile all things to himself by him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross. |
| I John 1:7 | But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. |
| Exodus 29:24 | You shall put all of this in Aaron’s hands, and in his sons’ hands, and shall wave them for a wave offering before Yahweh. |
| Exodus 29:28 | It shall be for Aaron and his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel; for it is a wave offering. It shall be a wave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, even their wave offering to Yahweh. |
| Leviticus 3:3 | He shall offer of the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh. The fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards, |
| Leviticus 3:4 | and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away. |
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
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke points to Ainsworth for clarity on the oblation: it refers specifically to the portions from the peace-offerings that were given to the Lord and the priest. He then directs readers to his own notes on Exodus for further explanation of the wave-offering and the right shoulder, linking these instructions into a single system.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes distinguishes wave-offerings, moved back and forth repeatedly, from heave-offerings, lifted up once, both as solemn acts of dedicating something to the sanctuary. He notes that "heave-offering" sometimes serves as a general term for offerings. He also clarifies that "the portion of the anointing" means the appointed share for Aaron and his sons.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge commentary clarifies that "his oblation" in this passage means only the fat portions burned for the Lord and the breast waved before Him, not the whole sacrifice. It explains the wave offering as symbolically given to God then returned to the priests, and notes that priestly dues grew over time as the right thigh was added for the officiating priest.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible notes emphasize that God did not leave the priests’ provision to chance or human custom. Instead, He personally designated the breast and the right shoulder from the peace offerings as a permanent ordinance, giving them to Aaron and his sons as part of their anointing and service.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill focuses on the precise allocation of the peace offering: the officiating priest received the right shoulder, while the breast was for all priests. He interprets the breast and shoulder as types of Christ — the breast signifying wisdom, the shoulder power. This distribution, he argues, established a pattern for supporting those who minister
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that the "portion of the anointing" does not refer to a physical anointing but to the provision made for the high priest and the entire priestly order, linking anointing with office or dignity. He also observes that the breast was given to all priests, while the officiating priest received the right shoulder specifically, and the phrase "in the day when he presented them" marks the beginning of their ministry.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch explains that the waving ceremony for the peace-offering had a double meaning: the priest moved the breast forward to symbolically present it to God, then backward to show God returning it to the priests. This participation of the priests transformed the family's meal into a holy covenant feast that foreshadowed rejoicing in God's kingdom.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry reads the conclusion of these sacrificial laws as a twofold provision: a grant ensuring priests are well provided for in their service, and a binding statute that commands the people to offer worship, leaving it not to their choice but to their obligation.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees deeper meaning in the peace-offering ritual beyond its literal instructions. The breast, seat of wisdom, and shoulder, seat of strength, he connects directly to Christ as high priest and to every priest serving in His likeness. The anointing ceremony itself becomes the sign of the priesthood's rightful portion.