Exodus 29:26

And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration, and wave it [for] a wave offering before the LORD: and it shall be thy part.

And thou shalt take {H3947} the breast {H2373} of the ram {H352} of Aaron's {H175} consecration {H4394}, and wave {H5130} it for a wave offering {H8573} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}: and it shall be thy part {H4490}.

"Take the breast of the ram for Aharon's consecration, and wave it as a wave offering before ADONAI; it will be your share.

Take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your portion.

And thou shalt take the breast of Aaron’s ram of consecration, and wave it for a wave-offering before Jehovah: and it shall be thy portion.

Commentary

Context

Exodus 29 details the elaborate and precise ceremony for the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests, marking their official induction into sacred service before the LORD. This chapter outlines specific rituals, sacrifices, and offerings designed to sanctify them for their holy office. Verse 26 focuses on a particular element of the "ram of consecration" (Exodus 29:22), specifically the breast portion. Following the anointing and the blood rites, this verse describes the symbolic act of presenting the breast as a "wave offering," a ritual performed by Moses as part of the ordination process, after which it became Moses' designated portion.

Key Themes

  • Consecration and Holiness: The entire ceremony, including this specific offering, underscores the theme of setting apart individuals and objects for God's exclusive use. It highlights the seriousness and sanctity of priestly service.
  • Divine Ordinance and Obedience: The meticulous instructions given by God emphasize the importance of strict adherence to His commands in worship and service. Every detail, down to the specific parts of the sacrifice and how they were handled, was divinely ordained.
  • Presentation and Dedication: The act of waving the offering before the LORD symbolized presenting it directly to God, acknowledging His ownership and sovereignty over all things. It was an act of complete dedication.
  • Priestly Portion and Provision: The phrase "it shall be thy part" indicates that after being presented to the LORD, this portion was returned to the officiating priest (Moses) as a form of divine provision. This foreshadows the system where priests would live off the offerings of the people, signifying God's provision for His consecrated servants.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Wave Offering": The Hebrew word is tenuphah (תְּנוּפָה), derived from a root meaning "to wave" or "to sway." This ritual involved a back-and-forth or upward-and-downward motion, symbolizing the offering being presented to God and then, in essence, received back from Him as a gift to the priest. It signified a complete dedication to the LORD and His subsequent return of the portion to the one performing the service.
  • "Consecration": The "ram of Aaron's consecration" uses the Hebrew millu'im (מִלּוּאִים), which literally means "fillings" or "filling of the hands." This refers to the symbolic act of filling the priest's hands with portions of the sacrifice, signifying their empowerment and authorization for service.

Practical Application

While the specific rituals of the Old Testament priesthood are no longer performed, this verse offers timeless principles for believers today. As believers are now a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), we are called to a life of consecration and dedication to God. The idea of the wave offering reminds us to:

  • Present Ourselves Wholly: We are encouraged to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1). This involves dedicating our gifts, talents, and lives to His service.
  • Acknowledge God's Sovereignty: Like the wave offering, our acts of worship and service should be a recognition that everything we have comes from God and is ultimately His.
  • Trust in God's Provision: Just as the priests received their portion, God promises to sustain and provide for those who faithfully serve Him.
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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

  • Leviticus 8:29

    And Moses took the breast, and waved it [for] a wave offering before the LORD: [for] of the ram of consecration it was Moses' part; as the LORD commanded Moses.

  • Leviticus 7:31

    And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'.

  • Psalms 99:6

    ¶ Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

  • Leviticus 7:34

    For 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.
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