Exodus 29:2

And unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil: [of] wheaten flour shalt thou make them.

And unleavened {H4682} bread {H3899}, and cakes {H2471} unleavened {H4682} tempered {H1101} with oil {H8081}, and wafers {H7550} unleavened {H4682} anointed {H4886} with oil {H8081}: of wheaten {H2406} flour {H5560} shalt thou make {H6213} them.

also matzah, matzah cakes mixed with olive oil, and matzah wafers spread with oil - all made from fine wheat flour;

along with unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil. Make them out of fine wheat flour,

and unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened mingled with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil: of fine wheaten flour shalt thou make them.

Commentary

Exodus 29:2 KJV Commentary

Exodus 29:2 details specific elements required for the elaborate ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. These items—unleavened bread, cakes, and wafers made of fine wheaten flour, prepared with oil—were not merely food but sacred components of a ritual that would set apart God's chosen servants for holy service.

Context

This verse is part of a comprehensive chapter outlining the consecration of Aaron and his sons to serve as priests for the Lord. Following the detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle and designing the priestly garments in previous chapters, Exodus 29 provides the protocol for the actual ordination, which included various sacrifices, washings, and anointings. The precise instructions for these bread offerings underscore the meticulous nature of Old Testament worship and God's demand for holiness in those who would mediate between Him and His people. This ceremony was crucial for the establishment of the Levitical priesthood, a system designed to bring Israel into a proper relationship with God through defined rituals and offerings.

Key Elements and Symbolism

  • Unleavened Bread: The repeated emphasis on "unleavened" (Hebrew: matzah) is highly significant. Leaven (yeast) in the Bible often symbolizes sin, corruption, or malice (as seen in 1 Corinthians 5:8). The absence of leaven therefore signifies purity, holiness, and the integrity required for those approaching God. It also recalls the haste of the Exodus, where there was no time for bread to rise, linking the priestly service to Israel's foundational act of redemption.
  • Oil: The use of oil—tempered with cakes and anointed on wafers—is symbolic of consecration, setting apart for holy use, and often, the presence or empowering of the Holy Spirit. Anointing with oil was a common practice for dedicating persons or objects to God's service, signifying divine appointment and enablement.
  • Wheaten Flour: The instruction for "wheaten flour" implies the use of the finest quality grain, indicating that only the best was acceptable for offerings made to God.
  • Variety of Preparations: The inclusion of bread, cakes (mixed with oil), and wafers (smeared with oil) suggests a complete and varied offering, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the dedication.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "unleavened bread" is matzah (מַצּוֹת), which inherently means "without leaven." The term for "tempered with oil" is balul (בָּלוּל), meaning "mixed" or "mingled," indicating the oil was thoroughly incorporated into the dough. "Anointed with oil" uses the verb mashach (מָשַׁח), which means "to smear," "to anoint," or "to consecrate." This is the root from which the Hebrew word for "Messiah" (mashiach - "anointed one") is derived, subtly foreshadowing the ultimate Anointed One.

Theological Significance

This verse underscores the foundational principle that God demands purity and holiness from those who serve Him, especially in a mediatorial capacity. The meticulous instructions reveal God's infinite care for proper worship and His desire for His people to approach Him reverently. The unleavened offerings can be seen as a foreshadowing of Christ, who is the perfect, sinless "Bread of Life" and the ultimate High Priest, offering Himself as the pure and complete sacrifice.

Practical Application

While we no longer offer animal sacrifices or bread offerings for priestly ordination, the principles remain relevant. Believers today, as a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), are called to offer themselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). This verse reminds us that our service, worship, and daily lives should be marked by purity, integrity, and a dedication set apart by the Holy Spirit. We are to present our best to God, not out of legalistic obligation, but out of grateful reverence for His holiness and His provision through Christ.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 6:15

    And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.

  • Exodus 12:8

    And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; [and] with bitter [herbs] they shall eat it.

  • Numbers 6:19

    And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put [them] upon the hands of the Nazarite, after [the hair of] his separation is shaven:

  • Leviticus 8:26

    And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that [was] before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put [them] on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:

  • Leviticus 7:10

    And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one [as much] as another.

  • Leviticus 6:19

    And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

  • Leviticus 6:23

    For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.
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