God intends His servants to receive sustenance and blessing from their ministry portion, reminding all believers that serving Him comes with both responsibility and divine provision.
Then Moses gives instructions about the portions of the sacrifice dedicated for the priests, saying, “And the thigh offered by lifting up and the breast offered by waving, they shall bring along with the offerings by fire of the portions of fat, to present as a wave offering before the LORD; so it shall be a thing perpetually due you and your sons with you, just as the LORD has commanded.” (v.15) In the immediate context, Aaron and his family were to receive these specific parts from the peace offerings (sometimes called fellowship offerings) as a provision and reminder of their unique calling as priests in service to God. The “thigh offered by lifting up” and the “breast offered by waving” signified that these portions were given back to the LORD first, then returned to the priests so that they could be physically sustained. These instructions highlight the LORD’s continual care for those who ministered in the tabernacle and guarded Israel’s sacred worship (see how the wave offering was similarly given to the priests in Exodus 29).
The wave offering involved a symbolic presentation in which the portion was lifted upward or waved side to side to emphasize that this share originally belonged to the LORD, who graciously gave it to His priests. By stating so it shall be a thing perpetually due you and your sons with you, the text underscores that the priestly portion was not a temporary privilege but an ongoing practice throughout Israel’s generations. This decree taught the people to honor God first in their sacrifices and to recognize the special role played by Aaron’s descendants, serving as mediators of worship and guardians of the covenant.
This verse also illustrates God’s broader principle that whatever was offered in sacrifice was fundamentally His, and any portion given to mankind was both a gift and a responsibility. By faithfully following these procedures, Israel and its priests could maintain reverence for the holiness of the sacrificial system and keep vigilant against careless offerings. In this way, the LORD’s commands shaped a community reliant on His provision and aligned with His will to love and obey Him wholeheartedly.
Set to dark mode
Leviticus 10:15 meaning
Then Moses gives instructions about the portions of the sacrifice dedicated for the priests, saying, “And the thigh offered by lifting up and the breast offered by waving, they shall bring along with the offerings by fire of the portions of fat, to present as a wave offering before the LORD; so it shall be a thing perpetually due you and your sons with you, just as the LORD has commanded.” (v.15) In the immediate context, Aaron and his family were to receive these specific parts from the peace offerings (sometimes called fellowship offerings) as a provision and reminder of their unique calling as priests in service to God. The “thigh offered by lifting up” and the “breast offered by waving” signified that these portions were given back to the LORD first, then returned to the priests so that they could be physically sustained. These instructions highlight the LORD’s continual care for those who ministered in the tabernacle and guarded Israel’s sacred worship (see how the wave offering was similarly given to the priests in Exodus 29).
The wave offering involved a symbolic presentation in which the portion was lifted upward or waved side to side to emphasize that this share originally belonged to the LORD, who graciously gave it to His priests. By stating so it shall be a thing perpetually due you and your sons with you, the text underscores that the priestly portion was not a temporary privilege but an ongoing practice throughout Israel’s generations. This decree taught the people to honor God first in their sacrifices and to recognize the special role played by Aaron’s descendants, serving as mediators of worship and guardians of the covenant.
This verse also illustrates God’s broader principle that whatever was offered in sacrifice was fundamentally His, and any portion given to mankind was both a gift and a responsibility. By faithfully following these procedures, Israel and its priests could maintain reverence for the holiness of the sacrificial system and keep vigilant against careless offerings. In this way, the LORD’s commands shaped a community reliant on His provision and aligned with His will to love and obey Him wholeheartedly.