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Exodus 29:24

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And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them [for] a wave offering before the LORD.

And thou shalt put {H7760} all in the hands {H3709} of Aaron {H175}, and in the hands {H3709} of his sons {H1121}; and shalt wave {H5130} them for a wave offering {H8573} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}.

and put it all in the hands of Aharon and his sons. They are to wave them as a wave offering in the presence of ADONAI.

Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering.

and thou shalt put the whole upon the hands of Aaron, and upon the hands of his sons, and shalt wave them for a wave-offering before Jehovah.

Commentary

Exodus 29:24 describes a crucial step in the consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons, establishing them as priests before the LORD. This verse details the specific ritual act required for parts of the sacrificial offerings.

Context

Chapter 29 of Exodus lays out the detailed instructions for the ordination of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood, a significant event in the establishment of the Mosaic covenant and the Tabernacle service. Leading up to this verse, God has commanded Moses to take a ram of consecration, along with unleavened bread, cakes, and wafers from a basket, to be placed on the hands of the priests. This particular act of "waving" was a physical demonstration of presenting the offering to God. The entire chapter underscores the solemnity and precision required for approaching a holy God and for the appointment of those who would mediate His presence to Israel.

Key Themes

  • Consecration and Ordination: The verse is central to the process of setting apart Aaron and his sons for their sacred duties, emphasizing the divine initiation and authorization of the priesthood.
  • Sacred Ritual and Worship: The "wave offering" was a specific, divinely ordained ritual, highlighting the importance of precise obedience in worship and the presentation of gifts to God. It was a tangible act of devotion and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty.
  • Divine Ownership and Provision: While presented to the LORD, portions of the wave offering were often given back to the priests for their sustenance, symbolizing that all things belong to God, and He provides for those who serve Him.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "wave them for a wave offering" translates from the Hebrew term tenuphah (תְּנוּפָה), which literally means "a swinging, waving, or brandishing." This ritual involved moving the offering back and forth or up and down before the altar. Scholars interpret this movement as symbolizing a presentation of the offering to God (swinging forward and upward) and then a receiving back from God (swinging backward and downward), signifying His acceptance and sometimes His return of a portion for the priests' use. It visually conveyed the idea of the offering being consecrated to God and then being received as His gift. This act was distinct from a "heave offering" (terumah), which involved lifting the offering up.

Related Scriptures

  • For more on the nature of wave offerings and their consumption, see Leviticus 7:30.
  • The culmination of Aaron's consecration and the wave offering described here is also recounted in Leviticus 8:29.

Practical Application

While the Levitical priesthood and its rituals have been fulfilled in Christ, the principles behind this verse remain relevant. It reminds us of:

  • Intentionality in Worship: Our acts of worship and giving should be intentional, prepared, and presented with reverence, recognizing to whom they are offered.
  • Giving Our Best: The offerings were specific and costly, emphasizing that our service and gifts to God should reflect our best, not just what is convenient or leftover.
  • Our Priestly Role: In the New Testament, all believers are called a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), called to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving, and service (Hebrews 13:15). This verse encourages us to actively and deliberately present our lives and gifts 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 (May 20, 2025) 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 7:30 (4 votes)

    His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved [for] a wave offering before the LORD.

  • Leviticus 8:27 (3 votes)

    And he put all upon Aaron's hands, and upon his sons' hands, and waved them [for] a wave offering before the LORD.

  • Leviticus 9:21 (2 votes)

    And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved [for] a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.

  • Exodus 29:26 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Exodus 29:27 (2 votes)

    And thou shalt sanctify the breast of the wave offering, and the shoulder of the heave offering, which is waved, and which is heaved up, of the ram of the consecration, [even] of [that] which [is] for Aaron, and of [that] which is for his sons:

  • Leviticus 10:14 (2 votes)

    And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for [they be] thy due, and thy sons' due, [which] are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.