Leviticus 22:16

Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass, when they eat their holy things: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

Or suffer them to bear {H5375} the iniquity {H5771} of trespass {H819}, when they eat {H398} their holy things {H6944}: for I the LORD {H3068} do sanctify {H6942} them.

and thus cause them to bear guilt requiring a guilt offering, by eating their holy things; because I am ADONAI, who makes them holy.'"

by allowing the people to eat the sacred offerings and thus to bear the punishment for guilt. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.”

and so cause them to bear the iniquity that bringeth guilt, when they eat their holy things: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.

Commentary

Context

Leviticus 22:16 is found within a section of the Law (Leviticus chapters 21-22) that specifically outlines the regulations for the priests and the handling of holy offerings. These chapters emphasize the absolute necessity of ritual purity and blamelessness for those who serve God directly and for anything dedicated to Him. The immediate context of verse 16 is a series of rules regarding who among the priest's household may eat of the holy things, such as the heave offerings or wave offerings, which were portions of sacrifices given to the priests for their sustenance. The overarching principle is that only those who are ritually clean and authorized may partake of these sacred provisions, lest they defile them or incur guilt.

Key Themes

  • Holiness and Separation: The verse underscores God's profound holiness and the sanctity of anything dedicated to Him. Because God Himself declares, "I the LORD do sanctify them," the offerings and the priests are set apart and require utmost reverence and strict adherence to His laws. This concept of God's call to holiness is central to the book of Leviticus.
  • Consequences of Disrespect: To "suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass" means that consuming holy things while unclean or unauthorized results in spiritual guilt and divine judgment. It is not merely a ceremonial error but a serious offense against God's holy character, a form of sacrilege. This highlights the severe consequences of treating God's provisions lightly.
  • Divine Authority and Protection: The phrase "for I the LORD do sanctify them" serves as both a reason for the strict rules and a declaration of God's sovereign authority over His sanctuary and its provisions. He protects the sanctity of His things and demands that His people, especially the priests, respect His boundaries.

Linguistic Insights

The term "sanctify" (Hebrew: qadash) is crucial here. It means to set apart, consecrate, or make holy. It emphasizes that the holiness of the offerings is not inherent but is imparted by God Himself. This divine act of separation demands a corresponding respectful behavior from those who interact with these holy things. The phrase "iniquity of trespass" combines two significant Hebrew words: 'avon, referring to guilt, perversity, or punishment for sin, and ma'al, which signifies an act of unfaithfulness, betrayal, or sacrilege, often involving a misappropriation of what belongs to God. This combination stresses the severe nature of the offense.

Practical Application

While the specific regulations for priests eating holy offerings are part of the Old Covenant, the underlying principles of reverence for God and His holy things remain timeless and applicable to believers today. As Christians, we are called a royal priesthood, and our lives are dedicated to God. This verse teaches us:

  • Reverence for God's Presence: We should approach God and all that pertains to Him with utmost reverence, whether it's worship, His Word, or the sacraments. The New Testament warns against partaking of the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner, which can bring judgment (1 Corinthians 11:27).
  • Spiritual Purity: Just as physical purity was required under the Law, spiritual purity is essential for us. We are called to live holy lives, separating ourselves from sin and worldly defilement, so we may serve God acceptably (2 Corinthians 7:1).
  • Respect for God's Resources: This includes our time, talents, and finances, which are to be used for His glory. Misusing or disrespecting what God has consecrated, whether physical or spiritual, carries a spiritual consequence.

Leviticus 22:16 serves as a powerful reminder of God's unyielding holiness and the importance of approaching Him and His provisions with the respect and purity He demands.

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

  • Leviticus 22:9

    They shall therefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it: I the LORD do sanctify them.

  • 1 Peter 2:24

    Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

  • Psalms 38:4

    For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

  • Isaiah 53:11

    He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

  • Isaiah 53:12

    Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

  • Leviticus 20:8

    And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I [am] the LORD which sanctify you.

  • Leviticus 7:18

    And if [any] of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.
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