Leviticus 2:13

Translation
King James Version
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.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And every oblation H7133 of thy meat offering H4503 shalt thou season H4414 with salt H4417; neither shalt thou suffer the salt H4417 of the covenant H1285 of thy God H430 to be lacking H7673 from thy meat offering H4503: with all thine offerings H7133 thou shalt offer H7126 salt H4417.
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Complete Jewish Bible
You are to season every grain offering of yours with salt -do not omit from your grain offering the salt of the covenant with your God, but offer salt with all your offerings.
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Berean Standard Bible
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.
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American Standard Version
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.
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World English Bible Messianic
Every offering of your meal offering you shall season with salt; neither shall you allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your meal offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
(All the meate offrings also shalt thou season with salt, neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the couenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meate offring, but vpon all thine oblations thou shalt offer salt)
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Young's Literal Translation
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.
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See also
Ezekiel 43:24Matthew 5:13Colossians 4:6Mark 9:49Mark 9:502 Chronicles 13:5Numbers 18:19
In the KJVVerse 2,776 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Leviticus 2:13 delivers a precise and profoundly symbolic command regarding the grain offering, mandating the inclusion of salt with every presentation. This seemingly simple instruction carries immense theological weight, symbolizing purity, preservation, and the enduring, unbreakable nature of God's covenant with His people. It underscores that all worship and offerings presented to the Lord must be characterized by integrity, faithfulness, and a recognition of His steadfast promises, reflecting an uncorrupted devotion and an eternal bond.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Leviticus 2 meticulously outlines the regulations for the minchah, or grain offering, which stood as a foundational, unbloody sacrifice within ancient Israel's elaborate worship system. Unlike the bloody sin or burnt offerings, the grain offering typically consisted of fine flour, oil, and frankincense, serving various purposes such as expressions of thanksgiving, devotion, and acknowledgment of God's sovereign provision. The chapter systematically details the preparation methods for different forms of grain offerings—baked, griddle-cooked, or pan-cooked. Crucially, prior verses in Leviticus 2 specify both permitted ingredients (oil, frankincense) and, notably, explicit prohibitions against leaven or honey (Leviticus 2:11). Within this framework of precise inclusions and exclusions, the emphatic command in Leviticus 2:13 for salt stands out as a non-negotiable, universal requirement, highlighting its unique and indispensable symbolic significance within the sacrificial ritual.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: In the ancient Near East, salt was far more than a mere culinary additive; it was an invaluable commodity with multifaceted uses and profound symbolic meaning. Its primary practical applications included food preservation, purification, and medicinal purposes. Culturally, salt was widely recognized as a potent symbol of permanence, loyalty, and an unbreakable bond. Covenants and treaties between parties were frequently solemnized or "sealed" with salt, signifying an enduring and incorruptible agreement—hence the idiom "covenant of salt" (Hebrew: berith melach). This specific phrase appears elsewhere in Scripture, notably in Numbers 18:19 where God establishes an everlasting covenant with the Levitical priesthood, and in 2 Chronicles 13:5 referring to God's eternal covenant with David and his descendants. This pervasive cultural understanding of salt as a symbol of enduring commitment and incorruptibility provides the essential backdrop for its mandatory inclusion in all offerings, communicating that the offering, and by extension the worshipper's devotion, was intended to be pure, preserved from decay, and presented within the framework of an eternal and unchanging relationship with God.
  • Key Themes: Leviticus 2:13 significantly contributes to several overarching themes present throughout the book of Leviticus and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it underscores the theme of Holiness and Purity in worship, emphasizing that God, being perfectly holy, demands that all approaches to Him be undefiled and free from corruption. The preservative quality of salt symbolizes this desired purity, ensuring the offering is acceptable. Secondly, the verse highlights the theme of Covenant Faithfulness and Permanence. By explicitly connecting salt to "the covenant of thy God," it serves as a tangible reminder of God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises and the enduring nature of His relationship with Israel. This reinforces the idea that the covenant is an unbreakable bond, a truth echoed in God's perpetual covenant with the priesthood (Numbers 18:19) and with David (2 Chronicles 13:5). Lastly, it touches upon the theme of Total Dedication and Acceptable Worship, indicating that genuine worship requires an offering that is complete, unblemished, and presented with integrity, reflecting a heart fully committed to the eternal God.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Oblation (Hebrew, qorbân', H7133): This term, derived from the root qârab (to approach or bring near), refers to "something brought near the altar, i.e., a sacrificial present." In Leviticus 2:13, it encompasses the entirety of the offering presented to God. The use of qorbân underscores the fundamental purpose of the offering: to draw near to God and present something to Him, highlighting the act of worship and dedication.
  • Meat Offering (Hebrew, minchâh', H4503): The King James Version's "meat offering" is an archaic translation; the Hebrew minchâh (מִנְחָה) more accurately denotes a "grain offering," "meal offering," or "tribute." It signifies a donation or a gift, specifically a bloodless and typically voluntary sacrificial offering made from fine flour, often with oil and frankincense. This offering expressed thanksgiving, devotion, or a recognition of God's provision, distinguishing it from animal sacrifices primarily focused on atonement.
  • Salt (Hebrew, melach', H4417): The Hebrew word melach (מֶלַח) refers to common salt, derived from a root meaning "to rub to pieces or pulverize." Beyond its practical use as a seasoning, salt was universally valued in the ancient world for its preservative qualities, preventing decay and corruption. This practical property imbued it with rich symbolic meaning, representing purity, incorruptibility, and permanence. Its mandatory inclusion in the offerings thus spoke to the desire for the offering to be pure, acceptable, and enduring in God's sight.
  • Covenant (Hebrew, bᵉrîyth', H1285): The Hebrew term bᵉrîyth (בְּרִית), often translated as "covenant," refers to a compact or solemn agreement. Its root suggests "cutting," likely alluding to the ancient practice of covenant-making that involved cutting animals and passing between the pieces (Genesis 15:9-18). In the context of "salt of the covenant," bᵉrîyth emphasizes an unbreakable, perpetual, and faithful agreement between God and His people, signifying a bond that would not decay or be broken.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt": This opening clause establishes a universal and non-negotiable requirement for the grain offering. The verb "season" (Hebrew: mâlach) implies a thorough mixing or sprinkling, ensuring that the salt permeates the entire offering. This is not a mere suggestion for taste but a divine command, indicating the essential nature of salt's symbolic properties—purity, preservation, and covenant fidelity—for the offering's acceptance before God.
  • "neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering": This negative command powerfully reinforces the absolute necessity of salt, elevating it from a simple ingredient to a profound theological imperative. The explicit phrase "salt of the covenant of thy God" directly links the ritual act to the broader, eternal framework of God's enduring covenant with Israel. To omit salt would be to symbolically deny or diminish the permanence, purity, and steadfastness of that divine relationship, rendering the offering incomplete, unacceptable, and a potential breach of covenant faithfulness.
  • "with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt": This concluding clause significantly expands the scope of the command. While the immediate context is the "meat offering" (grain offering), this broader statement suggests a fundamental principle applicable to the entire sacrificial system. It implies that the symbolic properties of salt—purity, preservation, and covenant faithfulness—were not limited to one type of offering but were fundamental to every act of worship, dedication, and approach to the Lord, serving as a constant reminder of the nature of God's relationship with His people and the integrity required in their response.

Literary Devices

Leviticus 2:13 masterfully employs several significant literary devices to convey its profound and enduring message. Symbolism is paramount, with salt serving as a multi-layered and potent symbol. Primarily, it symbolizes purity and preservation, reflecting its practical use in preventing decay and corruption. This points to the desired state of the worshipper's heart and the offering itself—free from defilement, hypocrisy, and intended to endure in God's sight. Furthermore, the phrase "salt of the covenant" introduces a powerful symbolic link to permanence and fidelity, signifying an unbreakable, eternal bond between God and His people. The repetition of the command to offer salt, first specifically for the "meat offering" and then broadly for "all thine offerings," serves as a rhetorical device to emphasize its absolute necessity and universal applicability within the sacrificial system. This reiteration underscores the critical importance of the theological principles embodied by salt. The verse also utilizes metonymy by using "salt of the covenant" to represent the covenant itself, where a characteristic (salt as a symbol of permanence and incorruptibility) stands for the whole concept (the enduring and faithful covenant between God and Israel).

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Leviticus 2:13 transcends its immediate ritual context to convey enduring theological truths about the nature of worship and God's relationship with humanity. The mandatory inclusion of salt underscores that true worship must be characterized by purity, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to God's covenant. It speaks to the divine expectation that offerings, whether material or spiritual, should be free from corruption and decay, reflecting a heart dedicated to an eternal God. This principle of preservation and permanence is foundational to understanding God's faithfulness and the steadfastness of His promises, reminding believers that His covenant love is everlasting and His character unchanging. It calls for a worship that is not transient or superficial, but deep, genuine, and enduring, mirroring the unchangeable nature of the One being worshipped.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

While the specific ritual of grain offerings with salt belongs to the Old Covenant, the profound spiritual principles embedded in Leviticus 2:13 remain vitally relevant for believers today. Our "offerings" to God are no longer animal sacrifices or grain offerings, but rather our lives, our worship, our service, and our obedience, as exhorted in Romans 12:1. This verse calls us to present our spiritual offerings with an "undefiled" quality, free from hypocrisy, corruption, or half-heartedness. Just as salt preserved the offering from decay, our faith and devotion should be pure and enduring, reflecting a genuine heart before God. Furthermore, the "salt of the covenant" reminds us of the steadfastness of God's promises and our unwavering commitment to Him. Our lives, therefore, should be marked by faithfulness and integrity, acting as a preserving influence in a world prone to decay, much like the "salt of the earth" that Christ calls His followers to be (Matthew 5:13). This passage encourages us to cultivate a worship and a life that are both pure and perpetual, honoring the God of the eternal covenant and demonstrating His preserving power in our daily walk.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what ways might my "offerings" (my time, talents, resources, worship) to God be lacking the "salt" of purity or integrity?
  • How does the concept of God's "covenant of salt"—an unbreakable and enduring promise—impact my understanding of His faithfulness in my own life, especially during times of doubt or difficulty?
  • As "salt of the earth," how can I more effectively live a life that preserves moral and spiritual truth, and flavors the world with the grace of the Gospel, in a decaying society?

FAQ

What is a "meat offering" in Leviticus 2:13?

Answer: The term "meat offering" in the King James Version is an archaic translation of the Hebrew word minchâh (מִנְחָה). In modern English translations, it is more accurately rendered as "grain offering" or "meal offering." This was an unbloody sacrifice, typically made from fine flour, often mixed with oil and frankincense, as described throughout Leviticus 2. It was distinct from animal sacrifices and generally represented an act of thanksgiving, devotion, or a recognition of God's provision, rather than atonement for sin.

Why was salt required for all offerings?

Answer: Salt was required for all offerings, particularly the grain offering, for several significant symbolic reasons rooted in its practical properties and cultural understanding. Firstly, salt was a well-known preservative, preventing decay and corruption. Its inclusion symbolized the purity and incorruptibility expected in worship and in the worshipper's relationship with God. It signified a desire for the offering, and by extension the worshipper's devotion, to endure and be acceptable to God. Secondly, and most importantly, salt was a symbol of permanence and fidelity in covenants. The phrase "salt of the covenant" (as seen in Numbers 18:19 and 2 Chronicles 13:5) signified an unbreakable, perpetual agreement. By requiring salt, God emphasized the everlasting nature of His covenant with Israel and the permanence of His promises, serving as a tangible reminder of His faithfulness and the worshipper's commitment to that enduring relationship.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Leviticus 2:13, with its mandate for salt in all offerings, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The requirement for purity and preservation in the Old Testament sacrifices powerfully foreshadows the perfect, unblemished nature of Christ, who offered Himself as the spotless Lamb of God for the sins of the world. His sacrifice was not subject to decay or corruption, but was a singular, eternal offering (Hebrews 9:12) that perfectly satisfied God's holy requirements, establishing a righteousness that endures forever. Furthermore, the "salt of the covenant" points directly to the new covenant established in Christ's blood (Luke 22:20). This new covenant is not merely an enduring agreement but an eternal and unbreakable bond, guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His perpetual high priesthood (Hebrews 13:20-21). Through His perfect life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection, Christ Himself is the ultimate "salt" that preserves us from spiritual decay, purifies us from sin, and irrevocably seals us into an everlasting relationship with God. As believers, we are now called to present our lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), made pure and acceptable through our union with Him, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be the "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13), preserving and flavoring the world with the truth and grace of the Gospel.

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Commentary on Leviticus 2 verses 11–16

Here, I. Leaven and honey are forbidden to be put in any of their meat-offerings: No leaven, nor any honey, in any offering made by fire, Lev 2:11. 1. The leaven was forbidden in remembrance of the unleavened bread they ate when they came out of Egypt. So much despatch was required in the offerings they made that it was not convenient they should stay for the leavening of them. The New Testament comparing pride and hypocrisy to leaven because they swell like leaven, comparing also malice and wickedness to leaven because they sour like leaven, we are to understand and improve this as a caution to take heed of those sins which will certainly spoil the acceptableness of our spiritual sacrifices. Pure hands must be lifted up without wrath, and all our gospel feasts kept with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 2. Honey was forbidden, though Canaan flowed with it, because to eat much honey is not good (Pro 25:16, Pro 25:27); it turns to choler and bitterness in the stomach, though luscious to the taste. Some think the chief reason why those two things, leaven and honey, were forbidden, was because the Gentiles used them very much in their sacrifices, and God's people must not learn or use the way of the heathen, but his services must be the reverse of their idolatrous services; see Deu 12:30, Deu 12:31. Some make this application of this double prohibition: leaven signifies grief and sadness of spirit (Psa 73:21), My heart was leavened; honey signifies sensual pleasure and mirth. In our service of God both these must be avoided, and a mean observed between those extremes; for the sorrow of the world worketh death, and a love to the delights of sense is a great enemy to holy love.

II. Salt is required in all their offerings, Lev 2:13. The altar was the table of the Lord; and therefore, salt being always set on our tables, God would have it always used at his. It is called the salt of the covenant, because, as men confirmed their covenants with each other by eating and drinking together, at all which collations salt was used, so God, by accepting his people's gifts and feasting them upon his sacrifices, supping with them and they with him (Rev 3:20), did confirm his covenant with them. Among the ancients salt was a symbol of friendship. The salt for the sacrifice was not brought by the offerers, but was provided at the public charge, as the wood was, Ezr 7:20-22. And there was a chamber in the court of the temple called the chamber of salt, in which they laid it up. Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? God would hereby intimate to them that their sacrifices in themselves were unsavoury. The saints, who are living sacrifices to God, must have salt in themselves, for every sacrifice must be salted with salt (Mar 9:49, Mar 9:50), and our speech must be always with grace (Col 4:6), so must all our religious performances be seasoned with that salt. Christianity is the salt of the earth.

III. Directions are given about the first-fruits. 1. The oblation of their first-fruits at harvest, of which we read, Deu 26:2. These were offered to the Lord, not to be burnt upon the altar, but to be given to the priests as perquisites of their office, Lev 2:12. And you shall offer them (that is, leaven and honey) in the oblation of the first-fruits, though they were forbidden in other meat-offerings; for they were proper enough to be eaten by the priests, though not to be burnt upon the altar. The loaves of the first-fruits are particularly ordered to be baked with leaven, Lev 23:17. And we read of the first-fruits of honey brought to the house of God, Ch2 31:5. 2. A meat-offering of their first-fruits. The former was required by the law; this was a free-will offering, Lev 2:14-16. If a man, with a thankful sense of God's goodness to him in giving him hopes of a plentiful crop, was disposed to bring an offering in kind immediately out of his field, and present it to God, owning thereby his dependence upon God and obligations to him, (1.) Let him be sure to bring the first ripe and full ears, not such as were small and half-withered. Whatever was brought for an offering to God must be the best in its kind, though it were but green ears of corn. We mock God, and deceive ourselves, if we think to put him off with a corrupt thing while we have in our flock a male, Mal 1:14. (2.) These green ears must be dried by the fire, that the corn, such as it was, might be beaten out of them. That is not expected from green ears which one may justly look for from those that have been left to grow fully ripe. If those that are young do God's work as well as they can, they shall be accepted, though they cannot do it so well as those that are aged and experienced. God makes the best of green ears of corn, and so must we. (3.) Oil and frankincense must be put upon it. Thus (as some allude to this) wisdom and humility must soften and sweeten the spirits and services of young people, and then their green ears of corn shall be acceptable. God takes a particular delight in the first ripe fruits of the Spirit and the expressions of early piety and devotion. Those that can but think and speak as children, yet, if they think and speak well, God will be well pleased with their buds and blossoms, and will never forget the kindness of their youth. (4.) It must be used as other meat-offerings, Lev 2:16, compare Lev 2:9. He shall offer all the frankincense; it is an offering made by fire. The fire and the frankincense seem to have had a special significancy. [1.] The fire denotes the fervency of spirit which ought to be in all our religious services. In every good thing we must be zealously affected. Holy love to God is the fire by which all our offerings must be made; else they are not of a sweet savour to God. [2.] The frankincense denotes the mediation and intercession of Christ, by which all our services are perfumed and recommended to God's gracious acceptance. Blessed be God that we have the substance of which all these observances were but shadows, the fruit that was hid under these leaves.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 11–16. Public domain.
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Origen of AlexandriaAD 253
HOMILIES ON NUMBERS 27:12
Just as meat, if it is not sprinkled with salt, no matter how great and special it is, becomes rotten, so also the soul, unless it is somehow salted with constant temptations, immediately becomes feeble and soft. For this reason the saying is established that every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Methodius of OlympusAD 311
BANQUET OF THE TEN VIRGINS 1.1
Hence in Leviticus every gift, unless it is seasoned with salt, is forbidden to be offered as an oblation to the Lord God. Now the whole spiritual meditation of the Scriptures is given to us as salt which stings in order to benefit and which disinfects. Without [this] it is impossible for a soul, by means of reason, to be brought to the Almighty; for “you are the salt of the earth,” said the Lord to the apostles.
Macarius of EgyptAD 391
HOMILY 1.5
If indeed the soul takes refuge in God, believes and seeks the salt of life which is the good and person-loving Spirit, then the heavenly salt comes and kills those ugly worms. The Spirit takes away the awful stench and cleanses the soul by the strength of his salt. Thus the soul is brought back to health and freed from its wounds by the true salt in order to be again useful and ordered to serve the heavenly Lord. That is why even in the law God uses this example when he ordered that all sacrifices be salted with salt.
JeromeAD 420
LETTER 125.1
Salt is good, and every offering must be sprinkled with it. Therefore also the apostle has given the commandment: “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt.” But “if the salt have lost his savor,” it is cast out.
Richard ChallonerAD 1781
Salt: In every sacrifice salt was to be used, which is an emblem of wisdom and discretion, without which none of our performances are agreeable to God.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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