1
וְנֶ֗פֶשׁ כִּֽי תַקְרִ֞יב קָרְבַּ֤ן מִנְחָה֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה סֹ֖לֶת יִהְיֶ֣ה קָרְבָּנ֑וֹ וְיָצַ֤ק עָלֶ֨יהָ֙ שֶׁ֔מֶן וְנָתַ֥ן עָלֶ֖יהָ לְבֹנָֽה
When a person brings near an offering of grain to YHWH, his offering shall be fine flour; and he shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it.
The waw joins this torah to the burnt-offering torah of ch. 1, and כִּי introduces the primary case ('when a person brings'). The subject is נֶפֶשׁ, not אִישׁ — the grain offering is the sacrifice within reach of any life whatever. The apodosis names the material (סֹלֶת), and two weqatal clauses carry the offerer's own acts forward: pouring oil, laying on frankincense.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וְנֶ֗פֶשׁand when a personconj וְ + N (c) sg abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Fronted subject of the כִּי-protasisנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'throat, breath, life, person'; the legal formula uses it for 'anyone at all' — the grain offering is the sacrifice within reach of every life, however poor.
כִּֽיwhenconj · כִּי (H3588)Conjunction introducing the protasis (primary case)כִּי (H3588) 'when, that, because'; in casuistic law it marks the primary case, while אִם (vv. 5, 7, 14) marks the subordinate sub-cases beneath it.
תַקְרִ֞יבbrings nearHiphil impf 3fs · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb of the protasis→ Yiqtol: imperfective/generic — the recurring, hypothetical caseקָרַב (H7126) 'draw near'; the Hiphil is causative, 'cause to draw near, present'. The 3fs agrees with the feminine נֶפֶשׁ. The whole sacrificial vocabulary of Leviticus (קָרְבָּן, הִקְרִיב) grows from this root of approach.
קָרְבַּ֤ןan offering ofN m sg constr · קָרְבָּן (H7133)Direct object (construct head)קָרְבָּן (H7133) 'that which is brought near', a noun formed from קָרַב; the cover-term for anything presented at the sanctuary — animal, grain, or metal.
מִנְחָה֙grain offeringN f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Genitive of content (construct chain with קָרְבַּן)מִנְחָה (H4503) 'gift, tribute'; in secular use the present an inferior brings a superior (Gen 32:14; Judg 3:15; 2 Kgs 17:4), and in cultic use the grain offering — the subject's tribute to his king.
לַֽיהוָ֔הto YHWHprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (recipient)יְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; לְ marks him as the superior to whom this tribute (מִנְחָה) is rendered.
סֹ֖לֶתfine flourN f sg abs · סֹלֶת (H5560)Predicate nominative (fronted before יִהְיֶה)סֹלֶת (H5560) 'fine flour, semolina' — the sifted, choicest wheat flour, distinct from ordinary קֶמַח. Fronted here to stress that quality, not quantity, is what the offering requires.
יִהְיֶ֣הshall beQal impf 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Copular predicate verb (apodosis)→ Yiqtol: prescriptive — the legislator's 'shall be'הָיָה (H1961) 'be, become'; the imperfect here carries legislative force, stating not what happens but what must be.
קָרְבָּנ֑וֹhis offeringN m sg constr + 3ms suffix · קָרְבָּן (H7133)Subject of יִהְיֶהקָרְבָּן (H7133) with possessive suffix — the worshipper's own gift, resuming קָרְבַּן מִנְחָה from the protasis.
וְיָצַ֤קand he shall pourconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · יָצַק (H3332)Weqatal continuing the apodosis (procedural sequence)→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — the next required actיָצַק (H3332) 'pour, pour out'; used of pouring molten metal, of anointing oil, and here of drenching the flour so that it will burn and so that the gift is rich, not bare.
עָלֶ֨יהָ֙on itprep עַל + 3fs suffix · עַל (H5921)Locative prepositional phraseעַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; the 3fs suffix reaches back to the feminine מִנְחָה / סֹלֶת.
שֶׁ֔מֶןoilN m sg abs · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Direct object of וְיָצַקשֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'olive oil'; staple food, lamp fuel, and anointing substance — a token of richness and gladness, and the medium that makes the flour burn.
וְנָתַ֥ןand he shall putconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Weqatal continuing the procedural sequence→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — the second required actנָתַן (H5414) 'give, set, place'; the most general Hebrew verb of putting, here of laying the frankincense on top of the oiled flour.
עָלֶ֖יהָon itprep עַל + 3fs suffix · עַל (H5921)Locative prepositional phraseעַל (H5921) 'upon', again with the מִנְחָה as antecedent; the frankincense lies on the surface, where the priest can gather all of it in v. 2.
לְבֹנָֽהfrankincenseN f sg abs · לְבֹנָה (H3828)Direct object of וְנָתַןלְבֹנָה (H3828) 'frankincense', from לָבָן 'white' (the milky resin of the Boswellia tree); a costly imported aromatic. All of it is burned with the memorial handful (v. 2) — pure fragrance for God, never eaten.
2
וֶֽהֱבִיאָ֗הּ אֶל בְּנֵ֣י אַהֲרֹן֮ הַכֹּהֲנִים֒ וְקָמַ֨ץ מִשָּׁ֜ם מְלֹ֣א קֻמְצ֗וֹ מִסָּלְתָּהּ֙ וּמִשַּׁמְנָ֔הּ עַ֖ל כָּל לְבֹנָתָ֑הּ וְהִקְטִ֨יר הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת אַזְכָּרָתָהּ֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה אִשֵּׁ֛ה רֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהוָֽה
And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons, the priests; and he shall scoop from there his handful of its fine flour and of its oil, together with all its frankincense, and the priest shall turn its memorial portion into smoke on the altar — a fire-offering, a soothing aroma to YHWH.
Four weqatal verbs carry the ritual forward: bring, scoop, and (the priest) burn. The offering divides here — a single handful (קֹמֶץ) plus all the frankincense goes up in fire as the אַזְכָּרָה, while the bulk stays behind for v. 3. The verse is the hinge on which the whole chapter turns; vv. 9 and 16 simply repeat it.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
וֶֽהֱבִיאָ֗הּand he shall bring itconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms + 3fs obj suffix · בּוֹא (H935)Weqatal advancing the procedure→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — the offering is carried to the priestsבּוֹא (H935) 'come, go'; Hiphil 'bring in'. With the 3fs suffix ('bring it') the מִנְחָה passes out of the offerer's hands and into the priestly sphere.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Preposition of goal/directionאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; marks the terminus of motion — here the priestly recipients.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Object of the preposition (construct head)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; in construct with a personal name it designates the whole descent line — 'the sons of Aaron' is the priestly house, not merely Aaron's four children.
אַהֲרֹן֮Aaronproper noun · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Genitive of relationship (construct chain)אַהֲרֹן (H175), Aaron, Moses' brother and the first high priest; his 'sons' are the ordained priesthood through whom alone the offering reaches the altar.
הַכֹּהֲנִים֒the priestsart + N m pl abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Apposition to בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹןכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the appositive defines the sons of Aaron by their office — it is qua priests, not qua kinsmen, that they receive the offering.
וְקָמַ֨ץand he shall scoopconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · קָמַץ (H7061)Weqatal advancing the procedure→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — the act that separates the token from the massקָמַץ (H7061) 'grasp with the closed hand, take a fistful'; a rare verb (only here, 5:12, and Num 5:26) used exclusively of this ritual gesture. The subject is the priest, who takes the token portion.
מִשָּׁ֜םfrom thereprep מִן + adv · שָׁם (H8033)Adverbial prepositional phrase (source)שָׁם (H8033) 'there'; with מִן, 'from there' — i.e. out of the presented mass of flour, which is thereby divided into token and remainder.
מְלֹ֣אthe fullness ofN m sg constr · מְלֹא (H4393)Direct object of וְקָמַץ (construct head)מְלֹא (H4393) 'fullness, that which fills', from מָלֵא 'be full'; מְלֹא קֻמְצוֹ = 'his fist's full', a measure defined by the priest's own hand rather than by any weight.
קֻמְצ֗וֹhis handfulN m sg constr + 3ms suffix · קֹמֶץ (H7062)Genitive completing מְלֹאקֹמֶץ (H7062) 'closed hand, fistful', cognate with קָמַץ; the token amount God receives. The whole gift is accepted in a single handful — the smoke of a fist stands for the entire offering.
מִסָּלְתָּהּ֙from its fine flourprep מִן + N f sg constr + 3fs suffix · סֹלֶת (H5560)Partitive prepositional phraseסֹלֶת (H5560) 'fine flour' with partitive מִן — only a portion of the flour is taken, in contrast with the frankincense, of which all is taken.
וּמִשַּׁמְנָ֔הּand from its oilconj וְ + prep מִן + N m sg constr + 3fs suffix · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Coordinated partitive prepositional phraseשֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'oil' with partitive מִן; the handful is taken from the oiled flour, so that the token includes both the grain and the fat that soaks it.
עַ֖לtogether withprep · עַל (H5921)Preposition of accompanimentעַל (H5921) 'upon' shades here into 'in addition to, together with' — the handful goes to the altar accompanied by the frankincense.
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Quantifier in constructכֹּל (H3605) 'all, the whole of'; the emphasis is exact — not a handful of frankincense but every grain of it goes into the fire.
לְבֹנָתָ֑הּits frankincenseN f sg constr + 3fs suffix · לְבֹנָה (H3828)Genitive completing כָּללְבֹנָה (H3828) 'frankincense'; the priests eat the flour but never the incense — the fragrance belongs wholly to God, so the costliest element of the gift is the one no human tastes.
וְהִקְטִ֨ירand he shall turn into smokeconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · קָטַר (H6999)Weqatal advancing the procedure (climactic act)→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — the decisive transfer to Godקָטַר (H6999), Hiphil 'send up in smoke, burn as incense'; not the ordinary verb for burning (שָׂרַף, used of refuse) but a technical cultic term — the substance is not destroyed but converted into fragrance and sent upward.
הַכֹּהֵ֜ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְהִקְטִירכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; named explicitly at the altar-act, marking the point past which the layman may not go.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
אַזְכָּרָתָהּ֙its memorial portionN f sg constr + 3fs suffix · אַזְכָּרָה (H234)Direct object of וְהִקְטִיראַזְכָּרָה (H234) 'memorial portion, token', from זָכַר 'remember'; the burned handful that represents the whole and 'reminds' — whether it puts the offerer in God's memory or God's goodness in the offerer's, the term keeps both open.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָהto the altarart + N m sg abs + directive ־ָה · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Accusative of direction (he-locale)מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar', from זָבַח 'slaughter, sacrifice' — literally 'place of slaughter', though this chapter's offering sheds no blood. The final ־ָה is the directive he: 'altar-ward'.
אִשֵּׁ֛הa fire-offering ofN m sg constr · אִשֶּׁה (H801)Appositional accusative describing the burnt handfulאִשֶּׁה (H801) 'fire-offering', traditionally derived from אֵשׁ 'fire'; the class-name for any portion consumed on the altar. Its use here proves that the bloodless grain offering stands in the same class as the animal sacrifices.
רֵ֥יחַan aroma ofN m sg constr · רֵיחַ (H7381)Apposition (construct head of רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ)רֵיחַ (H7381) 'scent, odour', from רוּחַ 'breathe, smell'; what ascends to God from the altar is not the food but its fragrance.
נִיחֹ֖חַsoothingN m sg abs · נִיחֹחַ (H5207)Genitive of quality (attributive)נִיחֹחַ (H5207) 'soothing, quieting', from נוּחַ 'rest'; the phrase רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ ('aroma of appeasement') goes back to Gen 8:21 — the smell that settles God's anger and signals acceptance.
לַיהוָֽהto YHWHprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (recipient)יְהוָה (H3068); the closing לַיהוָה seals the formula — the smoke has one address, and this same clause will end vv. 9 and 16.
3
וְהַנּוֹתֶ֨רֶת֙ מִן הַמִּנְחָ֔ה לְאַהֲרֹ֖ן וּלְבָנָ֑יו קֹ֥דֶשׁ קָֽדָשִׁ֖ים מֵאִשֵּׁ֥י יְהוָֽה
And what is left of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and to his sons — a most holy thing from the fire-offerings of YHWH.
A nominal (verbless) clause closes the first movement: the leftover is simply 'to Aaron and to his sons'. The superlative קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים ('most holy') classifies the priests' food at the highest grade of sanctity — it must be eaten by males of the priestly house in the holy place (6:9-11). The grain the worshipper grew feeds the priests, and the smoke feeds God.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וְהַנּוֹתֶ֨רֶת֙and what is left overconj וְ + art + Niphal ptc f sg abs · יָתַר (H3498)Substantival participle — subject of the verbless clause→ Participial: a standing state — the residue as it lies after the handful is takenיָתַר (H3498) 'be left over, remain'; the articular Niphal participle substantivizes ('the remainder'). The very word marks the offering's division: God's token has gone up, and what the fire did not take is now named.
מִןofprep · מִן (H4480)Partitive prepositionמִן (H4480) 'from, out of'; partitive here — the remainder is a part carved out of the whole מִנְחָה.
הַמִּנְחָ֔הthe grain offeringart + N f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Object of the partitive מִןמִנְחָה (H4503) 'grain offering, tribute'; the article points back to the specific offering just presented.
לְאַהֲרֹ֖ןfor Aaronprep לְ + proper noun · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Predicate of the verbless clause (lamed of possession)אַהֲרֹן (H175) with the lamed of possession — 'it belongs to Aaron'. The priests have no field; the altar is their inheritance, and this clause is how they eat.
וּלְבָנָ֑יוand for his sonsconj וְ + prep לְ + N m pl constr + 3ms suffix · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinated predicate (lamed of possession)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; the portion is not Aaron's personally but the priestly line's — a standing provision, generation after generation.
קֹ֥דֶשׁa holy thing ofN m sg constr · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Predicate nominative (construct head of the superlative)קֹדֶשׁ (H6944) 'holiness, a holy thing', from קָדַשׁ 'be set apart'. In construct with its own plural it forms the Hebrew superlative — 'holy of holies', the highest grade of sanctity.
קָֽדָשִׁ֖יםholy thingsN m pl abs · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Genitive completing the superlative constructקֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים, 'most holy'; the grade requires that the priests eat it in a holy place, males only, and it contaminates whatever touches it with holiness (6:11, 20).
מֵאִשֵּׁ֥יfrom the fire-offerings ofprep מִן + N m pl constr · אִשֶּׁה (H801)Prepositional phrase (source of the holiness)אִשֶּׁה (H801) 'fire-offering'; the priests' bread is holy precisely because it comes out of the same offering whose token went into the fire — they eat from God's table.
יְהוָֽהYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive of possession (construct chain with אִשֵּׁי)יְהוָה (H3068); the fire-offerings are his, and the priests' portion is a share in what belongs to him.
4
וְכִ֥י תַקְרִ֛ב קָרְבַּ֥ן מִנְחָ֖ה מַאֲפֵ֣ה תַנּ֑וּר סֹ֣לֶת חַלּ֤וֹת מַצֹּת֙ בְּלוּלֹ֣ת בַּשֶּׁ֔מֶן וּרְקִיקֵ֥י מַצּ֖וֹת מְשֻׁחִ֥ים בַּשָּֽׁמֶן
And when you bring near an offering of grain baked in an oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil.
וְכִי opens the second major case and the address shifts from third person (v. 1) to second person 'you' — the legislation moves closer to the hearer. The oven (תַּנּוּר) is the first of three cooking methods; the constants (fine flour, oil, unleavened) hold throughout. Two products are allowed: thick perforated cakes (חַלּוֹת) mixed through with oil, and thin wafers (רְקִיקִים) merely smeared with it.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וְכִ֥יand whenconj וְ + conj · כִּי (H3588)Conjunction introducing the second main caseכִּי (H3588) again marks a main case, not a sub-case; with it the torah turns from the raw offering to the cooked, and the address shifts to the second person.
תַקְרִ֛בyou bring nearHiphil impf 2ms · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb of the protasis→ Yiqtol: imperfective/generic — the case as often as it arisesקָרַב (H7126) Hiphil, 'present, bring near'; the shift from 3fs (v. 1) to 2ms addresses the Israelite directly — the law is now spoken to him, not merely about him.
קָרְבַּ֥ןan offering ofN m sg constr · קָרְבָּן (H7133)Direct object (construct head)קָרְבָּן (H7133) 'offering, that which is brought near'; the same cover-term as v. 1, binding the cooked case to the raw one.
מִנְחָ֖הgrain offeringN f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Genitive of contentמִנְחָה (H4503) 'grain offering, tribute'; the noun is repeated at the head of each new case, so that all the variations stay one and the same offering.
מַאֲפֵ֣הbaked inN m sg constr · מַאֲפֶה (H3989)Apposition qualifying מִנְחָה (construct head)מַאֲפֶה (H3989) 'something baked', a hapax legomenon formed with the מ־ prefix from אָפָה 'to bake'; מַאֲפֵה תַנּוּר = 'an oven-baking', i.e. an offering that has been through the oven.
תַנּ֑וּרan ovenN m sg abs · תַּנּוּר (H8574)Genitive completing מַאֲפֵהתַּנּוּר (H8574) 'oven'; the ordinary domestic clay oven of the household, in which the dough was slapped against the hot inner wall. The offering can be prepared in the offerer's own kitchen.
סֹ֣לֶתfine flour ofN f sg constr · סֹלֶת (H5560)Predicate nominative (construct head)סֹלֶת (H5560) 'fine flour'; the material is unchanged from v. 1 — cooking may vary, but the quality of the grain may not.
חַלּ֤וֹתcakesN f pl abs · חַלָּה (H2471)Genitive in apposition (the form the flour takes)חַלָּה (H2471) 'cake, ring-loaf', probably from חָלַל 'pierce' — a perforated ring of dough. Thick enough to have oil worked all through it, unlike the wafer of the next clause.
מַצֹּת֙unleavenedN f pl abs · מַצָּה (H4682)Attributive apposition to חַלּוֹתמַצָּה (H4682) 'unleavened bread'; the noun in apposition functions adjectivally. The requirement anticipates the flat ban of v. 11 — nothing fermented touches the altar.
בְּלוּלֹ֣תmixedQal passive ptc f pl abs · בָּלַל (H1101)Attributive participle modifying חַלּוֹת→ Passive participial: a completed state — the oil already worked through the doughבָּלַל (H1101) 'mingle, mix, moisten'; the oil is kneaded into the cake, not laid on top of it — the distinction from מָשַׁח in the next clause is deliberate and precise.
בַּשֶּׁ֔מֶןwith the oilprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Instrumental prepositional phraseשֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'oil'; the בְּ is instrumental ('with oil'), and the article makes it the oil proper to the offering rather than any oil at all.
וּרְקִיקֵ֥יand wafers ofconj וְ + N m pl constr · רָקִיק (H7550)Coordinated predicate nominative (construct head)רָקִיק (H7550) 'thin cake, wafer', from a root meaning 'be thin, beaten out'; too thin to absorb oil, it can only be brushed with it.
מַצּ֖וֹתunleavened breadN f pl abs · מַצָּה (H4682)Genitive of material (construct chain with רְקִיקֵי)מַצָּה (H4682) 'unleavened bread'; the second product must be as free of leaven as the first — the rule holds whatever the shape of the dough.
מְשֻׁחִ֥יםsmearedQal passive ptc m pl abs · מָשַׁח (H4886)Attributive participle modifying רְקִיקֵי→ Passive participial: a completed state — the surface already anointedמָשַׁח (H4886) 'smear, anoint' — the verb behind מָשִׁיחַ, 'anointed one'. Used of daubing oil on a surface: kings, priests, and here wafers. The bread is, in the letter of the word, anointed.
בַּשָּֽׁמֶןwith the oilprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Instrumental prepositional phraseשֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'oil'; in pausal pointing (בַּשָּֽׁמֶן) at the verse's end. Both products, thick and thin, must carry oil — no offering goes up dry.
5
וְאִם מִנְחָ֥ה עַל הַֽמַּחֲבַ֖ת קָרְבָּנֶ֑ךָ סֹ֛לֶת בְּלוּלָ֥ה בַשֶּׁ֖מֶן מַצָּ֥ה תִהְיֶֽה
And if your offering is a grain offering on a griddle, it shall be fine flour mixed with oil, unleavened.
וְאִם marks a subordinate sub-case under the cooked-offering rubric of v. 4. The protasis is verbless ('if a griddle grain offering is your offering'), and the apodosis again insists on the same three constants: סֹלֶת, oil, and מַצָּה — unleavened.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וְאִםand ifconj וְ + conj · אִם (H518)Conjunction introducing a sub-caseאִם (H518) 'if'; in casuistic law it subordinates — a variation within the main case opened by כִּי in v. 4, not a new case of its own.
מִנְחָ֥הa grain offeringN f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Predicate nominative of the verbless protasisמִנְחָה (H4503) 'grain offering'; fronted in a verbless clause — 'if a griddle grain offering is your offering'.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Locative prepositionעַל (H5921) 'upon'; the cake sits on the surface of the griddle. The preposition is exact: the מַחֲבַת is flat, so the offering is 'on' it, whereas the deep מַרְחֶשֶׁת of v. 7 simply takes a construct ('a pan grain offering').
הַֽמַּחֲבַ֖תthe griddleart + N f sg abs · מַחֲבַת (H4227)Object of the preposition עַלמַחֲבַת (H4227) 'flat plate, griddle'; a shallow iron or clay pan on which cakes were fried with little oil. Later the priests' own daily offering is called 'the מִנְחָה of the griddle' (6:14).
קָרְבָּנֶ֑ךָyour offeringN m sg constr + 2ms suffix · קָרְבָּן (H7133)Subject of the verbless protasisקָרְבָּן (H7133) 'offering' with the second-person suffix; the law has become personal — it is your gift that is under discussion.
סֹ֛לֶתfine flourN f sg abs · סֹלֶת (H5560)Predicate nominative (apodosis, fronted before תִהְיֶה)סֹלֶת (H5560) 'fine flour'; the invariable substance of the מִנְחָה, named again in each sub-case.
בְּלוּלָ֥הmixedQal passive ptc f sg abs · בָּלַל (H1101)Attributive participle modifying סֹלֶת→ Passive participial: a completed state — flour already saturated with oilבָּלַל (H1101) 'mingle, mix'; the griddle cake, like the oven cake of v. 4, has its oil worked all through the dough.
בַשֶּׁ֖מֶןwith the oilprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Instrumental prepositional phraseשֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'oil'; instrumental בְּ. Oil appears in every single form of the offering in this chapter — it is as constant as the flour.
מַצָּ֥הunleavenedN f sg abs · מַצָּה (H4682)Second predicate nominativeמַצָּה (H4682) 'unleavened bread'; placed emphatically just before the verb, so that the last word of the recipe before 'it shall be' is the ban on leaven.
תִהְיֶֽהit shall beQal impf 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Copular predicate verb (apodosis)→ Yiqtol: prescriptive — legislative 'shall be'הָיָה (H1961) 'be'; 3fs agreeing with the feminine מִנְחָה. The verb comes last, in pause, closing the sub-case.
6
פָּת֤וֹת אֹתָהּ֙ פִּתִּ֔ים וְיָצַקְתָּ֥ עָלֶ֖יהָ שָׁ֑מֶן מִנְחָ֖ה הִֽוא
Break it into pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.
The infinitive absolute פָּתוֹת stands for an imperative — a clipped, ritual-manual idiom — and is then picked up by a weqatal (וְיָצַקְתָּ). The griddle cake, unlike the oven cakes, must be crumbled before the oil is poured. The verse ends with the classifying verbless clause מִנְחָה הִוא, 'it is a grain offering', a formula that recurs at v. 15.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
פָּת֤וֹתbreak it upQal inf abs · פָּתַת (H6626)Infinitive absolute used for the imperative→ Volitional: the infinitive absolute standing in for a command — clipped, manual-style instructionפָּתַת (H6626) 'break into pieces, crumble'; a rare verb, and this is its only occurrence in the Torah. The infinitive absolute as command is characteristic of terse ritual prescription.
אֹתָהּ֙itobj marker + 3fs suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct object (obj-marker carrying the pronoun)אֵת (H853), the object marker, here bearing the pronominal suffix; the 3fs refers to the griddle offering.
פִּתִּ֔יםinto piecesN f pl abs · פַּת (H6595)Adverbial accusative of resultפַּת (H6595) 'morsel, fragment of bread', cognate with פָּתַת; the figura etymologica ('crumble it into crumbs') is a Hebrew way of saying 'crumble it thoroughly'.
וְיָצַקְתָּ֥and you shall pourconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · יָצַק (H3332)Weqatal continuing the command→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — carrying the volitional force of the infinitive absolute forwardיָצַק (H3332) 'pour'; the same verb as v. 1, but the order is reversed — here the cake is cooked first and oiled after, since the crumbs must be soaked once broken.
עָלֶ֖יהָon itprep עַל + 3fs suffix · עַל (H5921)Locative prepositional phraseעַל (H5921) 'upon'; the suffix refers to the crumbled griddle offering.
שָׁ֑מֶןoilN m sg abs · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Direct object of וְיָצַקְתָּשֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'oil', here in pausal form (שָׁמֶן) under the athnach.
מִנְחָ֖הa grain offeringN f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Predicate nominative of the classifying verbless clauseמִנְחָה (H4503); the formula מִנְחָה הִוא ('it is a grain offering') is a legal classification — it declares that this cooked, crumbled, oiled thing falls under the whole torah of the chapter.
הִֽואit ispronoun 3fs · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the verbless clauseהוּא (H1931), independent personal pronoun; the Pentateuch's consonantal text writes it הוא for both genders, and the Masoretes point it הִוא when feminine is meant, as here (agreeing with מִנְחָה).
7
וְאִם מִנְחַ֥ת מַרְחֶ֖שֶׁת קָרְבָּנֶ֑ךָ סֹ֥לֶת בַּשֶּׁ֖מֶן תֵּעָשֶֽׂה
And if your offering is a grain offering from a pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.
The third and last cooking sub-case, formally parallel to v. 5. The מַרְחֶשֶׁת is evidently a deeper vessel than the flat מַחֲבַת, so the cake is cooked in oil rather than merely on it. The passive תֵּעָשֶׂה ('shall be made') leaves the agent unnamed and lets the required material stand alone.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
וְאִםand ifconj וְ + conj · אִם (H518)Conjunction introducing the third sub-caseאִם (H518) 'if'; the third and last of the cooking sub-cases, formally identical to v. 5 — the law lists its variants in a tight, closed series.
מִנְחַ֥תa grain offering ofN f sg constr · מִנְחָה (H4503)Predicate nominative (construct head) of the verbless protasisמִנְחָה (H4503) in construct: 'a pan-grain-offering'. The vessel names the offering, as in English one speaks of a 'skillet bread'.
מַרְחֶ֖שֶׁתa panN f sg abs · מַרְחֶשֶׁת (H4802)Genitive completing מִנְחַתמַרְחֶשֶׁת (H4802) 'deep pan, stewing-pot'; a hapax apart from 7:9, evidently a deeper vessel than the flat מַחֲבַת, so that the dough is cooked in oil rather than merely on a greased surface.
קָרְבָּנֶ֑ךָyour offeringN m sg constr + 2ms suffix · קָרְבָּן (H7133)Subject of the verbless protasisקָרְבָּן (H7133) 'offering' with 2ms suffix, exactly as in v. 5 — the two sub-cases are cut to the same pattern.
סֹ֥לֶתfine flourN f sg abs · סֹלֶת (H5560)Subject of the passive תֵּעָשֶׂה (fronted)סֹלֶת (H5560) 'fine flour'; for the fifth time in seven verses the same material is named — repetition is the law's way of making a thing non-negotiable.
בַּשֶּׁ֖מֶןwith the oilprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Instrumental prepositional phraseשֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'oil'; no participle is used here (no בְּלוּלָה or מְשֻׁחָה) — in the deep pan the flour is simply 'made with oil', cooked in it.
תֵּעָשֶֽׂהit shall be madeNiphal impf 3fs · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (apodosis, passive)→ Yiqtol passive: prescriptive — 'is to be made', the agent left unnamedעָשָׂה (H6213) 'do, make'; the Niphal is passive. By leaving the maker unnamed the law fixes attention on the thing made, and quietly allows anyone in the household to do the cooking.
8
וְהֵבֵאתָ֣ אֶת הַמִּנְחָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר יֵעָשֶׂ֛ה מֵאֵ֖לֶּה לַיהוָ֑ה וְהִקְרִיבָהּ֙ אֶל הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהִגִּישָׁ֖הּ אֶל הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ
And you shall bring the grain offering that is made from these to YHWH; and it shall be presented to the priest, and he shall bring it near to the altar.
מֵאֵלֶּה, 'from these', sweeps oven, griddle and pan back into one stream: however the dough was cooked, the handling from here on is identical. The verse marks the transfer of the offering from the layman's hands (second person) to the priest's (third person) — the threshold of the sanctuary.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
וְהֵבֵאתָ֣and you shall bringconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 2ms · בּוֹא (H935)Weqatal opening the common procedure→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — the act that gathers all three sub-cases into oneבּוֹא (H935) Hiphil 'bring in'; the same verb as v. 2, but in the second person — the offerer himself carries the cooked offering to the sanctuary.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
הַמִּנְחָ֗הthe grain offeringart + N f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Direct object of וְהֵבֵאתָמִנְחָה (H4503) 'grain offering'; definite, and immediately defined by the relative clause that follows — whichever of the three cooked forms was chosen.
אֲשֶׁ֧רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing an attributive clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834), the all-purpose relative; indeclinable, taking its reference from the head noun הַמִּנְחָה.
יֵעָשֶׂ֛הis madeNiphal impf 3ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb of the relative clause (passive)→ Yiqtol passive: generic — 'whichever is made'עָשָׂה (H6213) 'make'; Niphal passive. The verb is deliberately vague: whatever was made, by whatever method, is covered.
מֵאֵ֖לֶּהfrom theseprep מִן + demonstrative pronoun c pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Prepositional phrase (source)אֵלֶּה (H428) 'these'; the deictic sweeps up the three preceding sub-cases — oven, griddle, pan — and folds them back into one procedure. Everything from here on is the same for all three.
לַיהוָ֑הto YHWHprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (recipient)יְהוָה (H3068); the offering is brought to God, even though it will pass through the priest's hands — the mediation does not change the addressee.
וְהִקְרִיבָהּ֙and he shall present itconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms + 3fs obj suffix · קָרַב (H7126)Weqatal advancing the procedure→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — handing the offering overקָרַב (H7126) Hiphil, 'bring near, present'; the subject slips from 'you' to an unnamed 3ms, the transfer point at which the layman's part ends and the priest's begins.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Preposition of goalאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; marks the priest as the terminus of this stage of the offering's journey.
הַכֹּהֵ֔ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Object of the preposition אֶלכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the offering stops here before it may go further — no Israelite approaches the altar with his own hand.
וְהִגִּישָׁ֖הּand he shall bring it nearconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms + 3fs obj suffix · נָגַשׁ (H5066)Weqatal advancing the procedure (priest as subject)→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — the final approach to the altarנָגַשׁ (H5066) 'draw near, approach'; Hiphil 'bring near'. A second verb of approach after קָרַב, marking a second and closer stage: the priest alone may make the offering touch the altar.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Preposition of goalאֶל (H413) 'to'; the second goal of the verse, and the last — the altar itself.
הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַthe altarart + N m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Object of the preposition אֶלמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar'; the bronze altar of burnt offering in the court. The verse ends where the whole movement was headed.
9
וְהֵרִ֨ים הַכֹּהֵ֤ן מִן הַמִּנְחָה֙ אֶת אַזְכָּ֣רָתָ֔הּ וְהִקְטִ֖יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה אִשֵּׁ֛ה רֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהוָֽה
And the priest shall lift up from the grain offering its memorial portion and turn it into smoke on the altar — a fire-offering, a soothing aroma to YHWH.
The cooked offering ends exactly where the raw one did. Only the verb differs: קָמַץ ('scoop a handful') in v. 2 becomes הֵרִים ('lift up, set apart') here, since a baked cake is broken off rather than grasped by the fistful. The closing formula אִשֵּׁה רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה is verbatim from v. 2 — identical result, different kitchen.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וְהֵרִ֨יםand he shall lift upconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · רוּם (H7311)Weqatal opening the priestly rite→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — the setting apart of the tokenרוּם (H7311) 'be high'; Hiphil 'raise, lift up, set aside as a contribution' (cf. תְּרוּמָה). Where v. 2 had קָמַץ, 'take a fistful' — apt for loose flour — a baked cake must be broken off and lifted out instead.
הַכֹּהֵ֤ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְהֵרִיםכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; from here to the end of the movement he is the sole actor.
מִןfromprep · מִן (H4480)Partitive prepositionמִן (H4480) 'from, out of'; partitive — the memorial portion is taken out of the offering, not in place of it.
הַמִּנְחָה֙the grain offeringart + N f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Object of the partitive מִןמִנְחָה (H4503) 'grain offering'; the whole from which the token is drawn.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
אַזְכָּ֣רָתָ֔הּits memorial portionN f sg constr + 3fs suffix · אַזְכָּרָה (H234)Direct object of וְהֵרִיםאַזְכָּרָה (H234) 'memorial portion', from זָכַר 'remember'; the token that stands for the whole. The word occurs only in the grain-offering laws — the burned handful is the whole gift in miniature.
וְהִקְטִ֖ירand he shall turn it into smokeconj וְ + Hiphil perf 3ms (waw-consecutive) · קָטַר (H6999)Consecutive perfect continuing the priestly rite→ Weqatal force: prescriptive sequence — the climactic transfer to Godקָטַר (H6999) Hiphil 'send up in smoke'; the offering is not annihilated but transformed — matter becomes fragrance and the fragrance ascends.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהto the altarart + N m sg abs + directive ־ָה · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Accusative of direction (he-locale)מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar' with the directive he — 'altar-ward'. The same form as in v. 2, so that the cooked offering ends exactly where the raw one did.
אִשֵּׁ֛הa fire-offering ofN m sg constr · אִשֶּׁה (H801)Appositional accusative describing the burnt portionאִשֶּׁה (H801) 'fire-offering'; the grain offering shares the class-name of the animal sacrifices — bloodless, but no lesser gift.
רֵ֥יחַan aroma ofN m sg constr · רֵיחַ (H7381)Apposition (construct head of רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ)רֵיחַ (H7381) 'scent'; God's share of the offering is its smell — the least material part of it.
נִיחֹ֖חַsoothingN m sg abs · נִיחֹחַ (H5207)Genitive of quality (attributive)נִיחֹחַ (H5207) 'soothing, restful', from נוּחַ 'rest'; the aroma that quiets — the standing sign of divine acceptance since Noah's altar (Gen 8:21).
לַיהוָֽהto YHWHprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (recipient)יְהוָה (H3068); the formula אִשֵּׁה רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה is repeated verbatim from v. 2 — the ritual outcome is identical whatever the kitchen.
10
וְהַנּוֹתֶ֨רֶת֙ מִן הַמִּנְחָ֔ה לְאַהֲרֹ֖ן וּלְבָנָ֑יו קֹ֥דֶשׁ קָֽדָשִׁ֖ים מֵאִשֵּׁ֥י יְהוָֽה
And what is left of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and to his sons — a most holy thing from the fire-offerings of YHWH.
Word-for-word identical with v. 3, deliberately. The repetition seals the second movement with the same refrain that sealed the first: whatever the mode of preparation, God takes the token and the priests eat the rest as קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וְהַנּוֹתֶ֨רֶת֙and what is left overconj וְ + art + Niphal ptc f sg abs · יָתַר (H3498)Substantival participle — subject of the verbless clause→ Participial: a standing state — the residue after the token is burnedיָתַר (H3498) 'be left over'; the articular Niphal participle, substantivized. The verse repeats v. 3 word for word — the same refrain seals both movements of the chapter.
מִןofprep · מִן (H4480)Partitive prepositionמִן (H4480) 'from, out of'; partitive, as in v. 3.
הַמִּנְחָ֔הthe grain offeringart + N f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Object of the partitive מִןמִנְחָה (H4503) 'grain offering'; here the cooked offering of vv. 4-9, but the disposition is the same as for the raw.
לְאַהֲרֹ֖ןfor Aaronprep לְ + proper noun · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Predicate of the verbless clause (lamed of possession)אַהֲרֹן (H175) with the lamed of possession; the priest's livelihood is written into the sacrificial law itself.
וּלְבָנָ֑יוand for his sonsconj וְ + prep לְ + N m pl constr + 3ms suffix · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinated predicate (lamed of possession)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; the portion belongs to the priestly line as such, in perpetuity.
קֹ֥דֶשׁa holy thing ofN m sg constr · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Predicate nominative (construct head of the superlative)קֹדֶשׁ (H6944) 'holiness, holy thing'; the construct with its own plural forms the Hebrew superlative.
קָֽדָשִׁ֖יםholy thingsN m pl abs · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Genitive completing the superlative constructקֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים, 'most holy' — the highest grade, eaten only by priests, only in the sanctuary court (6:9-11).
מֵאִשֵּׁ֥יfrom the fire-offerings ofprep מִן + N m pl constr · אִשֶּׁה (H801)Prepositional phrase (source of the holiness)אִשֶּׁה (H801) 'fire-offering'; the priests' bread is holy by derivation — it comes from what was given to the fire.
יְהוָֽהYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive of possession (construct chain with אִשֵּׁי)יְהוָה (H3068); the offerings are his, and the priests eat what is his — a share at God's own table.
11
כָּל הַמִּנְחָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר תַּקְרִ֨יבוּ֙ לַיהוָ֔ה לֹ֥א תֵעָשֶׂ֖ה חָמֵ֑ץ כִּ֤י כָל שְׂאֹר֙ וְכָל דְּבַ֔שׁ לֹֽא תַקְטִ֧ירוּ מִמֶּ֛נּוּ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהוָֽה
No grain offering that you bring near to YHWH shall be made with leaven; for you shall not turn any leaven or any honey into smoke as a fire-offering to YHWH.
The chapter turns from procedure to prohibition, and the fronted כָּל הַמִּנְחָה makes it universal: no grain offering whatever. כִּי gives the ground and widens the ban from leaven to honey. Both are agents of fermentation or of natural sweetness — the products of decay and of unaided nature are barred from the altar fire, though not from the table (cf. 23:17).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
כָּלeveryN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Quantifier heading the fronted subjectכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; with the following negative it yields the absolute 'no grain offering whatever' — the prohibition admits no exception.
הַמִּנְחָ֗הgrain offeringart + N f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Fronted subject (casus pendens) of תֵעָשֶׂהמִנְחָה (H4503) 'grain offering'; fronted for emphasis at the head of the new movement — before any rule is stated, the scope is fixed: all of them.
אֲשֶׁ֤רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing an attributive clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834), the relative; the clause it opens defines the offering not by its recipe but by its destination — 'which you bring near to YHWH'.
תַּקְרִ֨יבוּ֙you bring nearHiphil impf 2mp · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: imperfective/generic — customary practiceקָרַב (H7126) Hiphil 'present'; the number shifts from singular (vv. 4-8) to plural — the prohibitions are addressed to Israel as a whole, not to the individual worshipper alone.
לַיהוָ֔הto YHWHprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (recipient)יְהוָה (H3068); it is the destination that triggers the ban — leaven is not unclean in itself, only unfit for his altar.
לֹ֥אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative adverb with the imperfect (categorical prohibition)לֹא (H3808), the absolute negative; with the imperfect it expresses a permanent, unconditional prohibition — the idiom of the Decalogue, not a mere 'do not on this occasion'.
תֵעָשֶׂ֖הshall be madeNiphal impf 3fs · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (passive, categorical prohibition)→ Yiqtol passive with לֹא: an absolute, standing prohibitionעָשָׂה (H6213) 'make'; Niphal passive, agreeing with the feminine מִנְחָה. The passive makes the ban impersonal and therefore total — there is no one who may do it.
חָמֵ֑ץleavenedN m sg abs · חָמֵץ (H2557)Adverbial accusative of manner ('as something leavened')חָמֵץ (H2557) 'that which is leavened, fermented', from חָמֵץ 'be sour'; distinguished from שְׂאֹר, the sourdough starter. Here the product, in the next clause the agent — both are barred.
כִּ֤יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction (grounding the prohibition)כִּי (H3588) here causal, 'for, because'; it does not open a new case but grounds the ban just stated, and in doing so widens it from leaven to honey.
כָלanyN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Quantifier in construct with שְׂאֹרכֹּל (H3605) 'any, the whole of'; under the negative, 'not any' — not a trace of starter is tolerated.
שְׂאֹר֙leavenN m sg abs · שְׂאֹר (H7603)Direct object of תַקְטִירוּ (genitive under כָל)שְׂאֹר (H7603) 'leaven, sourdough starter', from שָׂאַר 'be left over' — the reserved lump of fermenting dough that raises the next batch. It works by decay and it swells what it touches; neither belongs on the altar.
וְכָלor anyconj וְ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Coordinated quantifier in construct with דְּבַשׁכֹּל (H3605) 'any'; the repetition of כָּל before each banned substance makes the two prohibitions equally absolute.
דְּבַ֔שׁhoneyN m sg abs · דְּבַשׁ (H1706)Coordinated direct object of תַקְטִירוּדְּבַשׁ (H1706) 'honey', covering both bees' honey and the thick syrup of dates or grapes. Sweet, prized, and a mark of the good land ('flowing with milk and honey') — yet it too ferments, and it is banned from the fire though welcome as firstfruits (v. 12).
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative adverb with the imperfect (categorical prohibition)לֹא (H3808); the second absolute negative of the verse, governing the burning of leaven and honey alike.
תַקְטִ֧ירוּyou shall turn into smokeHiphil impf 2mp · קָטַר (H6999)Predicate verb of the prohibition→ Yiqtol with לֹא: an absolute, standing prohibitionקָטַר (H6999) Hiphil 'send up in smoke'. The verb, not the substance, is the hinge: leaven and honey may be owned, eaten, even given to the sanctuary — what they may never do is burn on the altar.
מִמֶּ֛נּוּof itprep מִן + 3ms suffix · מִן (H4480)Partitive prepositional phraseמִן (H4480) with suffix; the form מִמֶּנּוּ is ambiguous in itself ('from him/it' or 'from us'), but the context fixes it as 'from it' — from any such substance.
אִשֶּׁ֖הa fire-offeringN m sg abs · אִשֶּׁה (H801)Adverbial accusative (as a fire-offering)אִשֶּׁה (H801) 'fire-offering'; the noun names precisely the category from which leaven and honey are excluded — they may be given, but never as this.
לַֽיהוָֽהto YHWHprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (recipient)יְהוָה (H3068); the same phrase that ends the acceptance formulas of vv. 2 and 9 now ends a prohibition — what may not be sent up to him is stated as carefully as what may.
12
קָרְבַּ֥ן רֵאשִׁ֛ית תַּקְרִ֥יבוּ אֹתָ֖ם לַיהוָ֑ה וְאֶל הַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַ לֹא יַעֲל֖וּ לְרֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹֽחַ
As an offering of firstfruits you may bring them to YHWH, but they shall not go up on the altar for a soothing aroma.
A carefully drawn exception that is not really an exception: leaven and honey may be presented (הִקְרִיב) as firstfruits — brought into the sanctuary and given to the priests — but they may not ascend (עָלָה) the altar as a soothing aroma. The distinction between what may be given and what may be burned is precisely the point.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
קָרְבַּ֥ןas an offering ofN m sg constr · קָרְבָּן (H7133)Fronted adverbial accusative (capacity)קָרְבָּן (H7133) 'offering'; fronted to mark the one capacity in which leaven and honey are permitted — as a presentation, not as fuel.
רֵאשִׁ֛יתfirstfruitsN f sg abs · רֵאשִׁית (H7225)Genitive of content (construct chain with קָרְבַּן)רֵאשִׁית (H7225) 'beginning, first, choicest', from רֹאשׁ 'head' — the same word that opens Genesis. Of the harvest it means the first and best portion, God's by right before any of it is eaten.
תַּקְרִ֥יבוּyou may bring nearHiphil impf 2mp · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb (permissive)→ Yiqtol: permissive/potential — 'you may present them'קָרַב (H7126) Hiphil 'present'; the same verb as the prohibition of v. 11, but now positive. The contrast is with עָלָה in the next clause: they may be brought near, but they may not go up.
אֹתָ֖םthemobj marker + 3mp suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct object (obj-marker carrying the pronoun)אֵת (H853) with the 3mp suffix; the antecedent is the leaven and honey of v. 11 — the very substances just banned from the fire.
לַיהוָ֑הto YHWHprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (recipient)יְהוָה (H3068); the gift is genuinely his — it goes to the sanctuary and feeds his priests — but it does not go into his fire.
וְאֶלbut ontoconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Adversative conjunction + preposition (fronted for contrast)אֶל (H413) 'to, onto'; the waw is adversative here ('but'), and the prepositional phrase is fronted before the negative — the altar is exactly the place these gifts may not reach.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַthe altarart + N m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Object of the preposition אֶלמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar'; the boundary line of the whole verse — the sanctuary is open to leaven and honey, the altar is not.
לֹאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative adverb with the imperfect (categorical prohibition)לֹא (H3808), absolute negative; it governs the ascent of the offering, not its presentation — the distinction the whole verse exists to draw.
יַעֲל֖וּthey shall go upQal impf 3mp · עָלָה (H5927)Predicate verb of the prohibition→ Yiqtol with לֹא: an absolute, standing prohibitionעָלָה (H5927) 'go up, ascend'; the root behind עֹלָה, the 'ascending offering' of ch. 1. Leaven and honey may enter the sanctuary, but they will never rise from the altar as smoke.
לְרֵ֥יחַfor an aroma ofprep לְ + N m sg constr · רֵיחַ (H7381)Prepositional phrase of purposeרֵיחַ (H7381) 'scent'; the לְ is a lamed of purpose — the point is not that they cannot burn but that their burning could never count as the soothing aroma.
נִיחֹֽחַsoothingN m sg abs · נִיחֹחַ (H5207)Genitive of quality (attributive)נִיחֹחַ (H5207) 'soothing'; the phrase that named acceptance in vv. 2 and 9 is here withheld — leaven and honey can never produce it.
13
וְכָל קָרְבַּ֣ן מִנְחָתְךָ֮ בַּמֶּ֣לַח תִּמְלָח֒ וְלֹ֣א תַשְׁבִּ֗ית מֶ֚לַח בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ מֵעַ֖ל מִנְחָתֶ֑ךָ עַ֥ל כָּל קָרְבָּנְךָ֖ תַּקְרִ֥יב מֶֽלַח
And every offering of your grain offering you shall salt with salt; you shall not let the salt of the covenant of your God be missing from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.
Over against what may not be burned stands what must never be omitted. The rule is stated three times — positively, negatively, then positively again with the scope widened from מִנְחָה to כָּל קָרְבָּנְךָ — a rhetorical triple that fixes it. The phrase מֶלַח בְּרִית אֱלֹהֶיךָ makes salt the sign of the covenant: it does not decay and it preserves, the opposite of leaven, and a shared meal salted is a bond that holds (cf. Num 18:19; 2 Chr 13:5).
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וְכָלand everyconj וְ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Quantifier heading the fronted objectכֹּל (H3605) 'every, all'; as with the prohibition of v. 11, the positive rule opens with the totalizing quantifier — there is to be no salt-free offering.
קָרְבַּ֣ןoffering ofN m sg constr · קָרְבָּן (H7133)Fronted direct object (construct chain)קָרְבָּן (H7133) 'offering'; the fronting throws the emphasis onto the object — whatever you bring, salt it.
מִנְחָתְךָ֮your grain offeringN f sg constr + 2ms suffix · מִנְחָה (H4503)Genitive completing קָרְבַּןמִנְחָה (H4503) 'grain offering' with the 2ms suffix; the address returns to the individual singular, as in vv. 4-8.
בַּמֶּ֣לַחwith saltprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · מֶלַח (H4417)Instrumental prepositional phraseמֶלַח (H4417) 'salt', from מָלַח 'salt, season'; abundant from the Dead Sea. It preserves rather than ferments — the exact opposite of the leaven just banned.
תִּמְלָח֒you shall saltQal impf 2ms · מָלַח (H4414)Predicate verb (positive command)→ Yiqtol: prescriptive — a standing, unconditional requirementמָלַח (H4414) 'to salt, season'; the cognate accusative construction (בַּמֶּלַח תִּמְלָח, 'with salt you shall salt') is emphatic — salt it you certainly shall.
וְלֹ֣אand notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative adverb with the imperfect (categorical prohibition)לֹא (H3808); the positive command is immediately restated as a prohibition — the law says the same thing twice, from both sides, so that it cannot be misheard.
תַשְׁבִּ֗יתyou shall let be missingHiphil impf 2ms · שָׁבַת (H7673)Predicate verb of the prohibition→ Yiqtol with לֹא: an absolute, standing prohibitionשָׁבַת (H7673) 'cease, rest' — the root of Sabbath; Hiphil 'cause to cease, make absent'. To leave out the salt is to make the covenant's own sign cease from the offering.
מֶ֚לַחthe salt ofN m sg constr · מֶלַח (H4417)Direct object of תַשְׁבִּית (construct head)מֶלַח (H4417) 'salt'; the construct chain מֶלַח בְּרִית אֱלֹהֶיךָ names the seasoning as a covenant token, not a culinary nicety.
בְּרִ֣יתthe covenant ofN f sg constr · בְּרִית (H1285)Genitive in the construct chain (attributive)בְּרִית (H1285) 'covenant, binding agreement'; a 'covenant of salt' (Num 18:19; 2 Chr 13:5) is one that does not spoil. Salt was eaten at the making of pacts, and it is here made a standing witness on every offering.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָyour GodN m pl constr + 2ms suffix · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive of possession (final link of the chain)אֱלֹהִים (H430), plural in form but taking singular reference for Israel's God. The suffix 'your' is the pivot of the verse: the salt is not a recipe but a reminder that this God is bound to this worshipper.
מֵעַ֖לfrom uponprep מִן + prep · עַל (H5921)Compound preposition (separation)מֵעַל, 'from upon, off of'; the compound stresses removal from a surface — the salt is to lie on the offering, and it must never be taken off it.
מִנְחָתֶ֑ךָyour grain offeringN f sg constr + 2ms suffix · מִנְחָה (H4503)Object of the compound preposition מֵעַלמִנְחָה (H4503) 'grain offering'; in pausal form under the athnach, closing the negative half of the rule.
עַ֥לwithprep · עַל (H5921)Preposition of accompaniment (fronted phrase)עַל (H5921) 'upon, in addition to'; the fronted phrase widens the scope in the verse's last clause — no longer only the מִנְחָה but every offering you bring.
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Quantifier in constructכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; the third totalizing quantifier in the verse, and the widest — the salt rule now reaches beyond the grain offering to every sacrifice.
קָרְבָּנְךָ֖your offeringN m sg constr + 2ms suffix · קָרְבָּן (H7133)Genitive completing כָּל (object of עַל)קָרְבָּן (H7133) 'offering'; the general term, not מִנְחָה — the salt goes on the burnt offering and the peace offering as well.
תַּקְרִ֥יבyou shall offerHiphil impf 2ms · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb (positive command)→ Yiqtol: prescriptive — a standing requirement on every sacrificeקָרַב (H7126) Hiphil 'present, offer'; the chapter's governing verb, here made to carry the salt rule out to the whole sacrificial system.
מֶֽלַחsaltN m sg abs · מֶלַח (H4417)Direct object of תַּקְרִיבמֶלַח (H4417) 'salt'; the last word of the verse, in pause. Salt is named three times in three clauses — command, prohibition, and command again — and the third leaves it standing alone.
14
וְאִם תַּקְרִ֛יב מִנְחַ֥ת בִּכּוּרִ֖ים לַיהוָ֑ה אָבִ֞יב קָל֤וּי בָּאֵשׁ֙ גֶּ֣רֶשׂ כַּרְמֶ֔ל תַּקְרִ֕יב אֵ֖ת מִנְחַ֥ת בִּכּוּרֶֽיךָ
And if you bring near a grain offering of firstfruits to YHWH, you shall bring fresh ears roasted in fire, crushed grain of new produce, as the grain offering of your firstfruits.
The last case returns to the וְאִם formula and to raw material — but now grain still in the ear (אָבִיב), parched over fire and coarsely crushed. This is not milled סֹלֶת but the very first of the standing crop, offered before the harvest is properly processed: the earliest possible acknowledgment that the field is God's.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְאִםand ifconj וְ + conj · אִם (H518)Conjunction introducing the final caseאִם (H518) 'if'; the last of the chapter's conditional openings, returning after the prohibitions to the pattern of prescription.
תַּקְרִ֛יבyou bring nearHiphil impf 2ms · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb of the protasis→ Yiqtol: imperfective/generic — the case as it arises each harvestקָרַב (H7126) Hiphil 'present'; the firstfruits offering is voluntary in form ('if you bring'), yet the very naming of the crop as רֵאשִׁית makes it God's already.
מִנְחַ֥תa grain offering ofN f sg constr · מִנְחָה (H4503)Direct object (construct head)מִנְחָה (H4503) 'grain offering'; the firstfruits are brought under this heading, so the whole torah of the chapter — oil, frankincense, salt, memorial portion — applies to them.
בִּכּוּרִ֖יםfirstfruitsN (c) pl abs · בִּכּוּרִים (H1061)Genitive of content (construct chain)בִּכּוּרִים (H1061) 'firstfruits', from בְּכוֹר 'firstborn'; the earliest ripe grain of the season. The same logic that claims the firstborn of the womb claims the first of the field.
לַיהוָ֑הto YHWHprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (recipient)יְהוָה (H3068); the first of the harvest goes to him before any of it goes to the household — the order of the giving is the confession.
אָבִ֞יבfresh earsN m sg abs · אָבִיב (H24)Direct object of תַּקְרִיב (in apposition to the offering)אָבִיב (H24) 'fresh green ears of grain'; the word that also names the spring month of the exodus (Exod 13:4). Grain at this stage is still in the ear and soft — the harvest caught at its very beginning.
קָל֤וּיroastedQal passive ptc m sg abs · קָלָה (H7033)Attributive participle modifying אָבִיב→ Passive participial: a completed state — the ears already parched over the fireקָלָה (H7033) 'roast, parch'; parched grain (קָלִי) was a common field food (Ruth 2:14; 1 Sam 17:17). Roasting halts the ripening and makes the soft kernel edible — and, incidentally, kills any ferment.
בָּאֵשׁ֙in the fireprep בְּ + art + N (c) sg abs · אֵשׁ (H784)Instrumental prepositional phraseאֵשׁ (H784) 'fire'; the same word that stands behind אִשֶּׁה, 'fire-offering'. The grain meets fire twice — once in the household roasting, once on the altar.
גֶּ֣רֶשׂcrushed grain ofN m sg constr · גֶּרֶשׂ (H1643)Apposition to אָבִיב (construct head)גֶּרֶשׂ (H1643) 'crushed grain, grits', from a root meaning 'crush' — a hapax outside this chapter (only here and v. 16). Coarse-broken, not milled to סֹלֶת: the firstfruits come to the altar in their roughest form.
כַּרְמֶ֔לnew produceN m sg abs · כַּרְמֶל (H3759)Genitive completing גֶּרֶשׂכַּרְמֶל (H3759) 'fresh, garden-growth, new grain' — the same word as the place-name Carmel, 'orchard land'. It denotes grain still full and plump, not yet dried down.
תַּקְרִ֕יבyou shall bring nearHiphil impf 2ms · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Yiqtol: prescriptive — the required act, resuming the verb of the protasisקָרַב (H7126) Hiphil 'present'; the repetition of the verb from the protasis (a Hebrew resumptive) makes the apodosis: if you bring it, then this is what you bring.
אֵ֖ת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
מִנְחַ֥תthe grain offering ofN f sg constr · מִנְחָה (H4503)Direct object (construct head)מִנְחָה (H4503) 'grain offering'; the phrase from the protasis is repeated in full, sealing the case — this, and nothing else, is what the firstfruits offering is.
בִּכּוּרֶֽיךָyour firstfruitsN (c) pl constr + 2ms suffix · בִּכּוּרִים (H1061)Genitive completing מִנְחַתבִּכּוּרִים (H1061) 'firstfruits' with the 2ms suffix — 'yours', and precisely for that reason to be given away first.
15
וְנָתַתָּ֤ עָלֶ֨יהָ֙ שֶׁ֔מֶן וְשַׂמְתָּ֥ עָלֶ֖יהָ לְבֹנָ֑ה מִנְחָ֖ה הִֽוא
And you shall put oil on it and set frankincense on it; it is a grain offering.
The firstfruits offering is dressed exactly as the flour offering of v. 1: oil and frankincense. The classifying formula מִנְחָה הִוא (as in v. 6) insists that this too, for all its unmilled rawness, is a full מִנְחָה and falls under the whole torah.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְנָתַתָּ֤and you shall putconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · נָתַן (H5414)Weqatal continuing the apodosis→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — the next required actנָתַן (H5414) 'give, set, place'; the same verb as v. 1, though there it governed the frankincense and here the oil — the two dressings of the offering are simply reversed.
עָלֶ֨יהָ֙on itprep עַל + 3fs suffix · עַל (H5921)Locative prepositional phraseעַל (H5921) 'upon'; the 3fs suffix refers to the firstfruits מִנְחָה.
שֶׁ֔מֶןoilN m sg abs · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Direct object of וְנָתַתָּשֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'olive oil'; even the rawest offering of the chapter is not brought dry — the oil is as invariable as the flour it usually accompanies.
וְשַׂמְתָּ֥and you shall setconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · שִׂים (H7760)Weqatal continuing the apodosis→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — the second required actשִׂים (H7760) 'put, set, place'; a near-synonym of נָתַן, varied here for style. The frankincense is set on top, where the priest can gather all of it (v. 16).
עָלֶ֖יהָon itprep עַל + 3fs suffix · עַל (H5921)Locative prepositional phraseעַל (H5921) 'upon'; the doubled phrase (oil on it, frankincense on it) reproduces the rhythm of v. 1 exactly.
לְבֹנָ֑הfrankincenseN f sg abs · לְבֹנָה (H3828)Direct object of וְשַׂמְתָּלְבֹנָה (H3828) 'frankincense'; costly imported resin. That the humblest offering of green ears still carries it shows that no grade of gift is exempt from the fragrance owed to God.
מִנְחָ֖הa grain offeringN f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Predicate nominative of the classifying verbless clauseמִנְחָה (H4503); the classifying formula מִנְחָה הִוא, as at v. 6 — for all its rawness, the firstfruits offering is a full grain offering and falls under the whole torah.
הִֽואit ispronoun 3fs · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the verbless clauseהוּא (H1931), independent pronoun, pointed הִוא as feminine to agree with מִנְחָה — one of the Pentateuch's characteristic spellings.
16
וְהִקְטִ֨יר הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת אַזְכָּרָתָ֗הּ מִגִּרְשָׂהּ֙ וּמִשַּׁמְנָ֔הּ עַ֖ל כָּל לְבֹנָתָ֑הּ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַיהוָֽה
And the priest shall turn its memorial portion into smoke — from its crushed grain and from its oil, together with all its frankincense — a fire-offering to YHWH.
The chapter closes with the sentence it began with: the priest burns the אַזְכָּרָה of grain, oil, and all the frankincense as an אִשֶּׁה to YHWH. Only גֶּרֶשׂ ('crushed grain') stands where סֹלֶת stood in v. 2. The token ascends, the covenant is remembered, and the rest — implicitly, as in vv. 3 and 10 — remains for the priests.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וְהִקְטִ֨ירand he shall turn into smokeconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · קָטַר (H6999)Weqatal — the chapter's closing rite→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — the final, climactic transfer to Godקָטַר (H6999) Hiphil 'send up in smoke'; the same verb that closed vv. 2 and 9. The chapter ends as it began, with the token ascending and the covenant remembered.
הַכֹּהֵ֜ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְהִקְטִירכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the last actor named in the chapter, as he was the decisive one in vv. 2 and 9.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
אַזְכָּרָתָ֗הּits memorial portionN f sg constr + 3fs suffix · אַזְכָּרָה (H234)Direct object of וְהִקְטִיראַזְכָּרָה (H234) 'memorial portion', from זָכַר 'remember'; the third and last occurrence in the chapter (vv. 2, 9, 16), once in each of the three burning rites.
מִגִּרְשָׂהּ֙from its crushed grainprep מִן + N m sg constr + 3fs suffix · גֶּרֶשׂ (H1643)Partitive prepositional phraseגֶּרֶשׂ (H1643) 'crushed grain'; it stands exactly where סֹלֶת stood in v. 2 — the one substitution the firstfruits case makes in the standard rite.
וּמִשַּׁמְנָ֔הּand from its oilconj וְ + prep מִן + N m sg constr + 3fs suffix · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Coordinated partitive prepositional phraseשֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'oil'; the phrasing reproduces v. 2 word for word (מִסָּלְתָּהּ וּמִשַּׁמְנָהּ becomes מִגִּרְשָׂהּ וּמִשַּׁמְנָהּ) — the rite is unchanged, only the grain.
עַ֖לtogether withprep · עַל (H5921)Preposition of accompanimentעַל (H5921) 'upon, in addition to'; as in v. 2, the handful goes up accompanied by the whole of the frankincense.
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Quantifier in constructכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; only a handful of grain, but all of the frankincense — the proportion is the chapter's most eloquent detail.
לְבֹנָתָ֑הּits frankincenseN f sg constr + 3fs suffix · לְבֹנָה (H3828)Genitive completing כָּללְבֹנָה (H3828) 'frankincense'; the priests never eat it. What is purely fragrant is purely God's — the one element of the offering that no one else touches.
אִשֶּׁ֖הa fire-offeringN m sg abs · אִשֶּׁה (H801)Appositional accusative describing the burnt portionאִשֶּׁה (H801) 'fire-offering'; the chapter's final classification. Notably the full formula רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ is not repeated here — the closing note is simply that it is his, given to the fire.
לַיהוָֽהto YHWHprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (recipient)יְהוָה (H3068); the last word of the chapter, as of vv. 2, 9, 11, and 12. Every path through the torah of the grain offering ends at the same name.