The grain offering

2:1 “‘When a person presents a grain offering to the Lord, his offering must consist of choice wheat flour, and he must pour olive oil on it and put frankincense on it. 2:2 Then he must bring it to the sons of Aaron, the priests, and the priest must scoop out from there a handful of its choice wheat flour and some of its olive oil in addition to all of its frankincense, and the priest must offer its memorial portion up in smoke on the altar – it is a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord. 2:3 The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and to his sons – it is most holy from the gifts of the Lord. 2:4 “‘When you present an offering of grain baked in an oven, it must be made of choice wheat flour baked into unleavened loaves mixed with olive oil or unleavened wafers smeared with olive oil. 2:5 If your offering is a grain offering made on the griddle, it must be choice wheat flour mixed with olive oil, unleavened. 2:6 Crumble it in pieces and pour olive oil on it – it is a grain offering. 2:7 If your offering is a grain offering made in a pan, it must be made of choice wheat flour deep fried in olive oil. 2:8 “‘You must bring the grain offering that must be made from these to the Lord. Present it to the priest, and he will bring it to the altar. 2:9 Then the priest must take up from the grain offering its memorial portion and offer it up in smoke on the altar – it is a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord. 2:10 The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and to his sons – it is most holy from the gifts of the Lord. 2:11 “‘No grain offering which you present to the Lord can be made with yeast, for you must not offer up in smoke any yeast or honey as a gift to the Lord. 2:12 You can present them to the Lord as an offering of first fruit, but they must not go up to the altar for a soothing aroma. 2:13 Moreover, you must season every one of your grain offerings with salt; you must not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be missing from your grain offering – on every one of your grain offerings you must present salt. 2:14 “‘If you present a grain offering of first ripe grain to the Lord, you must present your grain offering of first ripe grain as soft kernels roasted in fire – crushed bits of fresh grain. 2:15 And you must put olive oil on it and set frankincense on it – it is a grain offering. 2:16 Then the priest must offer its memorial portion up in smoke – some of its crushed bits, some of its olive oil, in addition to all of its frankincense – it is a gift to the Lord. Peace Offering Regulations: Animal from the Herd

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Leviticus 2 tells Israel how to bring a grain offering to the Lord. It is a holy gift from the produce of the land. A memorial portion is burned on the altar, and the rest supports the priests. The offering must be made with care, without yeast, with salt, and in the proper form.

This chapter gives laws for a grain offering made from flour, oil, frankincense, and first ripe grain. The worshiper brings the gift to the priest. The priest burns a memorial portion on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The rest belongs to Aaron and his sons as most holy food.

The law allows several forms. The offering may be baked in an oven, cooked on a griddle, made in a pan, or brought as first ripe grain. But the material and the holiness of the offering remain the same. It must be fine flour, with oil, and it must be brought through the priest to the altar.

No grain offering may contain yeast, and it may not be burned with honey. The text does allow these to be presented as firstfruits, but not on the altar as a soothing aroma. Every grain offering must also be seasoned with salt. This is called the salt of the covenant of God.

The passage shows that worship is not only for times of guilt or crisis. It also includes thankful giving from daily provision. God claims the fruit of labor and harvest for himself. He is to be honored with what is fitting and holy. The priests are also provided for through this holy offering.

For Christians, this passage is not a direct command to copy Israel’s sacrificial system. It teaches by pattern and analogy. We learn that God deserves the best, that holiness matters, and that covenant faithfulness should shape even ordinary gifts.

• The grain offering was a holy gift from Israel’s produce to the Lord.
• A priest burned a memorial portion, and the rest supported the priests.
• The offering could be prepared in more than one way, but it still had to be made from fine flour with oil.
• No grain offering burned on the altar could contain yeast.
• Honey was also excluded from the altar offering, though it could be brought as firstfruits.
• Every grain offering had to be seasoned with salt, called the salt of the covenant.
• The passage shows thankful worship, covenant loyalty, and holy giving from daily provision.

• When you present a grain offering to the Lord, it must be made in the proper way.
• Do not offer yeast on the altar as a gift to the Lord.
• Do not burn honey on the altar as a soothing aroma.
• Every grain offering must be seasoned with salt.
• Bring the grain offering through the priest to the altar.
• The offering is to be holy and handled with care.

This chapter belongs to the Mosaic covenant, where redeemed Israel learned how to live as a holy people before Yahweh. It shows that the God who delivered Israel also claimed their land, harvest, and daily provision. The grain offering fits the wider sacrificial system that ordered Israel’s worship. In the larger Bible story, it points to the pattern that firstfruits, faithful tribute, and holy service belong to the Lord who gives increase.

God deserves more than leftovers. He is worthy of the best of our work, our giving, and our worship. This passage also reminds us that ordinary provision is part of our life before God. We should give him thanks with obedience, not just with feelings. For Christians, this should shape stewardship, gratitude, and reverence, even though we do not bring this offering in the same way Israel did.

• Lite Commentary
• In-depth Commentary