Topical Bible: Offerings: Wave: To be Eaten

◄ Offerings: Wave: To be Eaten ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the Old Testament, the concept of wave offerings is intricately linked to the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites. These offerings were a subset of the broader category of peace offerings, which were characterized by their communal and celebratory nature. The wave offering, in particular, involved a specific ritual act where portions of the sacrifice were waved before the Lord, symbolizing the presentation and dedication of the offering to God.

Biblical Foundation

The wave offering is first introduced in the book of Exodus. In Exodus 29:24-26 , God instructs Moses regarding the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests: "Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering. Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering as a pleasing aroma before the LORD; it is an offering made by fire to the LORD. Take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your portion."

The wave offering was a symbolic act of presenting the offering to God, acknowledging His sovereignty and provision. The act of waving signified the offering's dedication to God, while the subsequent consumption by the priests and sometimes the offerer represented God's provision and blessing upon His people.

Components and Rituals

The wave offering typically involved specific parts of the sacrificial animal, such as the breast and the thigh. Leviticus 7:30-34 provides further instructions: "With his own hands he is to bring the offerings made by fire to the LORD. He shall bring the fat with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD. The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. You are to give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from your peace offerings. The son of Aaron who presents the blood and fat of the peace offering shall have the right thigh as a portion. I have taken the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution from the Israelites, from their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as a perpetual portion from the Israelites."

Purpose and Significance

The wave offering served multiple purposes within the Israelite community. Primarily, it was an act of worship and acknowledgment of God's provision. By waving the offering, the Israelites demonstrated their gratitude and dependence on God. Additionally, the consumption of the offering by the priests and, in some cases, the offerer, reinforced the communal aspect of the peace offerings. It was a shared meal that symbolized fellowship with God and among His people.

The wave offering also had a practical function in supporting the Levitical priesthood. As the priests did not have a territorial inheritance like the other tribes of Israel, the portions of the offerings allocated to them provided sustenance and allowed them to focus on their priestly duties.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the wave offering underscores the principles of dedication, gratitude, and community. It reflects the belief that all blessings come from God and that His people are called to respond with thankfulness and obedience. The communal aspect of the offering highlights the importance of fellowship and unity within the body of believers, a theme that resonates throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

In summary, the wave offering was a significant component of the sacrificial system, embodying the principles of worship, provision, and community. Through this ritual, the Israelites expressed their devotion to God and their reliance on His continued blessings.

Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 10:14,15
And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall you eat in a clean place; you, and your sons, and your daughters with you: for they be your due, and your sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.
Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 18:11,18,19,31
And this is yours; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in your house shall eat of it.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Cleansing of the Temple - the Sign,' which is not a Sign.
... and not eaten; while from the Temple-tribute such offerings were paid for as the
two wave loaves and the shewbread, which were afterwards eaten by priests. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v the cleansing of.htm

None but Jesus --Second Part
... when he stood in integrity, ere he had eaten of the ... the right hand of God." No more
burnt-offerings are needed ... and have only just to stand up and wave the palm ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/none but jesussecond part.htm

The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn ...
... were counted from the presentation of the wave-omer on ... Law, [3568] it was only to
be eaten by the ... below it would involve three labours and three sin-offerings. ...
/.../chapter xxxv the two sabbath-controversies.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... as symbols of life; or bears a flat tray, full of offerings"bunches of ... in
darkness"in this very day whereon thy coming is sung,"wave, which spreadest ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... other cities, the honours which these bestowed upon him, and the offerings which
they ... he lamented over him: "'Well, Adapa, why hast thou not eaten"why hast ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of
your ... to be a decisive one; for Urartu, buoyed up and borne on the wave of some ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The First Theban Empire
... On one of the rocks of the island of Konosso, Monthotpu Nibhotpuri sculptured a
scene of offerings in which the gods are represented as granting him victory ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day ...
... That which we read is this; 'Hast thou eaten of the ... new meat offering, with meat
offerings and drink offerings, &c ... For as the wave sheaf and the bread of first ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/questions about the nature and.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... the vassal of the Great God; that he might walk in the ways in which it is good
to walk, he the vassal of the Great God; that he might have offerings of bread ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... the knowledge of good and evil, was a type of the law, or covenant of works, as
the sequel of the story clearly manifesteth; for had not Adam eaten thereof, he ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm