Leviticus 6:16

And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.

And the remainder {H3498} thereof shall Aaron {H175} and his sons {H1121} eat {H398}: with unleavened bread {H4682} shall it be eaten {H398} in the holy {H6918} place {H4725}; in the court {H2691} of the tabernacle {H168} of the congregation {H4150} they shall eat {H398} it.

The rest of it Aharon and his sons are to eat; it is to be eaten without leaven in a holy place -they are to eat it in the courtyard of the tent of meeting.

Aaron and his sons are to eat the remainder. It must be eaten without leaven in a holy place; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.

And that which is left thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: it shall be eaten without leaven in a holy place; in the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it.

Commentary

Leviticus 6:16 provides specific instructions regarding the consumption of the grain offering (often called "meat offering" in KJV) by Aaron and his sons, the priests. It emphasizes the sacredness of this portion and the strict conditions under which it must be eaten within the holy confines of the Tabernacle.

Context

This verse is part of a detailed section (Leviticus 6:8-7:38) outlining the laws for various offerings, specifically for the priests who served in the Tabernacle. The grain offering (minchah in Hebrew) was typically made of fine flour, oil, and frankincense. A small portion was burned on the altar as a "memorial" to the Lord (Leviticus 2:2), while the remainder was designated as holy food for the priests. The command to eat it with unleavened bread recalls the purity and haste of the Passover meal (Exodus 12:8) and signifies freedom from corruption. The designated location, "in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation," underscores the sanctity and restricted nature of this priestly sustenance.

Key Themes

  • Holiness and Purity: The requirement for unleavened bread and consumption in a holy place highlights the absolute purity demanded for anything associated with God's service. The offering itself was "most holy" (Leviticus 6:17).
  • Priestly Provision: God ordained that a portion of the offerings would serve as sustenance for the priests, who had no land inheritance among the tribes. This arrangement ensured that those who dedicated their lives to serving God and mediating for the people were adequately provided for.
  • Divine Order and Reverence: The meticulous details for handling the offerings reflect God's demand for order, precision, and deep reverence in all aspects of worship and service. Every instruction served a purpose in maintaining the sanctity of His presence.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "remainder thereof" refers to the portion of the grain offering that was left after the "memorial portion" was offered on the altar.
  • "Unleavened bread" is matzot in Hebrew, emphasizing a state of purity, free from the leaven (yeast) that often symbolized corruption or sin in biblical contexts.
  • "Holy place" translates to qodesh, signifying a consecrated, set-apart area for divine purposes.

Practical Application

While the Levitical sacrificial system has been fulfilled in Christ, the principles of Leviticus 6:16 offer timeless insights:

  • Reverence in Worship: We are called to approach God with reverence and purity, recognizing His holiness. Our "offerings" today, whether of praise, service, or resources, should be given wholeheartedly and with a pure heart.
  • Support for Ministry: Just as the Old Testament priests were sustained by the offerings, the New Testament teaches that those who minister the Gospel should be supported by the church (1 Corinthians 9:14).
  • Spiritual Purity: The emphasis on unleavened bread serves as a reminder for believers to strive for spiritual purity, purging the "leaven" of malice and wickedness from their lives and living in sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8).
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

  • Ezekiel 44:29

    They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.

  • Leviticus 2:3

    And the remnant of the meat offering [shall be] Aaron's and his sons': [it is] a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.

  • Leviticus 10:12

    ¶ And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it [is] most holy:

  • Leviticus 10:13

    And ye shall eat it in the holy place, because it [is] thy due, and thy sons' due, of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire: for so I am commanded.

  • 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.

  • Leviticus 6:26

    The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:13

    Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live [of the things] of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
← Back