Leviticus 9:20

And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:

And they put {H7760} the fat {H2459} upon the breasts {H2373}, and he burnt {H6999} the fat {H2459} upon the altar {H4196}:

They put the fat on the breasts, and he made the fat go up in smoke on the altar.

and placed these on the breasts. Aaron burned the fat portions on the altar,

and they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:

Commentary

Context of Leviticus 9:20

Leviticus chapter 9 marks a pivotal moment in the priestly ministry of ancient Israel. Following the detailed instructions for their ordination in Leviticus 8, Aaron and his sons are now performing their first official sacrifices for the people and for themselves. This inaugural act of worship was crucial for establishing the proper protocol for approaching a holy God. The events of this chapter, including the actions described in verse 20, culminate in a dramatic display of divine approval, signifying God's acceptance of their ministry and the sacrifices offered.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Dedication and Holiness: The burning of the fat (*chelev*) on the altar was a crucial element of many Old Testament sacrifices, particularly the peace offerings and sin offerings. The fat was considered the choicest part, symbolizing the best and richest portion, which was exclusively reserved for God. This act underscored God's holiness and His right to the very best from His people.
  • Obedience to Divine Command: The detailed instructions regarding the handling of sacrificial elements, including the fat and the breasts, emphasized the importance of precise obedience to God's commands for worship. Any deviation could have severe consequences, as seen later in the chapter with Nadab and Abihu.
  • Aaronic Priesthood: This verse highlights the practical duties of Aaron and his sons as mediators between God and the people. Their actions, though prescribed by God, required careful execution to ensure the sacrifices were acceptable and that fellowship with God could be maintained.
  • Anticipation of the Perfect Sacrifice: While these animal sacrifices were necessary for atonement under the Old Covenant, they ultimately pointed forward to the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself once for all, fulfilling the symbolic nature of these rituals.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "fat" here is chelev (Χ—Φ΅ΧœΦΆΧ‘), which refers specifically to the rich, internal fat surrounding organs, rather than just adipose tissue. This kind of fat was strictly forbidden for human consumption (Leviticus 3:17), reinforcing its sacred status as belonging solely to the Lord. The "breasts" (chazeh) were part of the wave offering, a portion designated for the priests, but the fat placed upon them was separated to be burnt on the altar, showing the distinct handling of different parts of the offering.

Practical Application

Leviticus 9:20, though describing an ancient ritual, holds timeless principles for believers today. It reminds us of the importance of offering God our best, not just our leftovers, in every aspect of our lives – our time, talents, and resources. This is not about earning favor, but about expressing love and reverence for a holy God who gave His best for us. Our worship and service should be characterized by intentionality and obedience, recognizing that God deserves our utmost devotion. Just as the fat was a "sweet savour" to the Lord, so our lives, offered in dedication, can be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.

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 β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 7:29

    Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.

  • 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.

  • Leviticus 3:14

    And he shall offer thereof his offering, [even] an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that [is] upon the inwards,

  • Leviticus 3:17

    [It shall be] a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.
← Back