Leviticus 2:13
And you shall season each of your grain offerings with salt. You must not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offering; you are to add salt to each of your offerings.
And you shall season each of your grain offerings with salt.

The grain offering expressed thanksgiving, devotion, and the acknowledgment that every provision came from God. Salt preserved food from decay and was valued in the ancient world as a sign of durability and faithfulness. Its required presence declared that worship must not be empty or temporary, but offered in covenant loyalty to the Lord.

Ezk 43:24 You must present them before the LORD;…
Ezr 6:9 Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, and lambs…
Job 6:6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor…

You must not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offering;

God’s covenant with Israel rested on His unchanging faithfulness and called forth their obedient response. Salt accompanied covenant meals and agreements as a visible witness of enduring fellowship and obligation. Scripture also speaks of God’s “covenant of salt” with David’s house, emphasizing the permanence of His promise (2 Chronicles 13:5). The sacrifices pointed beyond themselves to the perfect and lasting covenant established through Christ’s blood.

Num 18:19 All the holy offerings that the Israelites present…
2Ch 13:5 Do you not know that the LORD, the God of Israel…

you are to add salt to each of your offerings.

Every act of worship brought before God was to bear the reminder of His covenant. Salt stood alongside the exclusion of leaven from the grain offering, teaching that devotion to God required integrity rather than corruption. Jesus called His disciples “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13), commissioning them to live as a preserving witness in a world marked by moral decay.

Mrk 9:49-50 For everyone will be salted with fire.…
Luk 14:34-35 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor…
Mat 5:13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
- The author of Leviticus, who received the laws and instructions from God to give to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
- The recipients of the laws, who were to follow these instructions as part of their covenant relationship with God.

3. Grain Offering
- A type of offering made to God, consisting of fine flour, oil, and frankincense, symbolizing dedication and thanksgiving.

4. Salt
- A crucial element in the offerings, symbolizing preservation, purity, and the enduring nature of the covenant with God.

5. Covenant
- The sacred agreement between God and the Israelites, of which the salt is a symbol, representing its perpetual and unbreakable nature.
Teaching Points
Symbolism of Salt
Salt in the grain offering symbolizes the enduring and preserving nature of God's covenant with His people. It reminds believers of the importance of faithfulness and purity in their relationship with God.

Covenant Faithfulness
The inclusion of salt in offerings underscores the seriousness of the covenant. Believers are called to uphold their commitments to God with integrity and dedication.

Spiritual Preservation
Just as salt preserves food, believers are to act as preservers of God's truth and righteousness in the world, maintaining their distinctiveness and influence.

Holiness in Worship
The command to include salt in offerings highlights the need for holiness and reverence in worship. Believers should approach God with sincere hearts and pure intentions.

Practical Application of Salt
In daily life, Christians are encouraged to be "salt" in their communities, influencing others positively and upholding the values of the Kingdom of God.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the use of salt in the grain offering teach us about the nature of God's covenant with His people?

2. How can we apply the symbolism of salt in our daily lives as followers of Christ?

3. In what ways can we ensure that our worship and offerings to God are seasoned with "salt"?

4. How does the concept of being the "salt of the earth" challenge us in our interactions with others?

5. What are some practical steps we can take to preserve and uphold God's truth in our communities?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Numbers 18:19
- This verse also refers to the "salt of the covenant," emphasizing the perpetual nature of God's promises.

Matthew 5:13
- Jesus calls His followers the "salt of the earth," connecting the idea of salt as a preservative and a symbol of covenant faithfulness.

Colossians 4:6
- Paul instructs believers to let their speech be "seasoned with salt," indicating wisdom and grace in communication.

Mark 9:49-50
- Jesus speaks about everyone being "salted with fire," linking the concept of purification and sacrifice.
Salt for SacrificeSpurgeon, Charles HaddonLeviticus 2:13
Salt of the CovenantG. Deane.Leviticus 2:13
Salt to be Included in All OfferingsA. A. Bonar.Leviticus 2:13
The Salt of the CovenantS.R. Aldridge Leviticus 2:13
All Sin Must be Excluded from Our Offerings to GodJ. Spencer.Leviticus 2:1-16
Attractive FragranceFrom Witherby's Scripture Gleanings.Leviticus 2:1-16
Christ the True Meat-OfferingF. H. White.Leviticus 2:1-16
Every Christian's Life Ought to be FragrantLeviticus 2:1-16
Fine Enough to be FragrantSarah Smiley.Leviticus 2:1-16
Firstfruits of Our Young Years to be ConsecratedJ. Spencer.Leviticus 2:1-16
Frankincense as a SymbolA. Maclaren, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
Homage Graced with ExcellenciesW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 2:1-16
Labour Consecrated to GodJ. Tinling.Leviticus 2:1-16
Offering God the True End of ManJ. Spencer.Leviticus 2:1-16
Offering the Best to GodLeviticus 2:1-16
Offerings to God Must be Simple and SincereLeviticus 2:1-16
Oil as a Symbol: Service Permeated by the Holy SpiritD. L. Moody.Leviticus 2:1-16
Our Recognition of the Hand of God in the Blessings of LifeW. Clarkson Leviticus 2:1-16
Self-ConsecrationH. W. Beecher.Leviticus 2:1-16
Self-DedicatedJ. Breed, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Aroma of the Christian LifeLeviticus 2:1-16
The Burnt-Offering and the Meat-Offering ContrastedB. W. Newton.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Holy Ghost NeededJ. Davidson.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meal OfferingJ. H. Kurtz, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingLeviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingJ. M. Gibson, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingC. S. Taylor, M. A.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingA. Jukes.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingA. A. Bonar.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingDean Law.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingC. H. Mackintosh.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-Offering Typical of Christ and His PeopleJohn Gill, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-Offering; or the Father HonouredLeviticus 2:1-16
The Offering of Consecrated LabourS. H. Kellogg, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Time of Offering the FirstfruitsLeviticus 2:1-16
We Should Offer to God What We Like Best OurselvesLeviticus 2:1-16
Why Such Varieties of Offering?J. Caroming, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
Youth the Time for Religious OfferingProfessor Drummond.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Various Kinds of Meat OfferingsR.A. Redford Leviticus 2:4-16
The Offering of Daily LifeS.R. Aldridge Leviticus 2:7-13
Notable ThingsJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 2:11-13
Purity in WorshipW. Clarkson Leviticus 2:11-13
About Honouring God with Our FirstfruitsR.M. Edgar Leviticus 2:12-16
People
Aaron, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Add, Agreement, Allow, Bring, Cease, Cereal, Covenant, Grain, Lacking, Leave, Meal, Meal-offering, Meat, Meat-offering, Moreover, Oblation, Oblations, Offer, Offering, Offerings, Present, Salt, Salted, Season, Suffer, Yours
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 2:13

     4306   minerals
     4357   salt

Leviticus 2:1-16

     4456   grain

Leviticus 2:8-16

     7422   ritual

Leviticus 2:11-16

     4442   firstfruits

Leviticus 2:13-16

     7368   grain offering

Library
The Collection for St Paul: the Farewell
PHILIPPIANS iv. 10-23 The Philippian alms--His sense of their faithful love--He has received in full--A passage in the Scriptural manner--The letter closes--"Christ is preached"--"Together with them" The work of dictation is nearly done in the Roman lodging. The manuscript will soon be complete, and then soon rolled up and sealed, ready for Epaphroditus; he will place it with reverence and care in his baggage, and see it safe to Philippi. But one topic has to be handled yet before the end. "Now
Handley C. G. Moule—Philippian Studies

In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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