Leviticus 8:32 — Word Study
WLCוְהַנּוֹתָ֥ר בַּבָּשָׂ֖ר וּבַלָּ֑חֶם בָּאֵ֖שׁ תִּשְׂרֹֽפוּ׃
BSAThen you must burn upʼêsh [with fire, consume completely] the remainderyâthar [what is left, excess] of the meatbâsâr [flesh, animal sacrifice] and breadlechem [food, grain offering]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְהַנּוֹתָ֥ר | and the remainder | Conjunction, particle, verb niphal participle (active) masculine singular |
| בַּבָּשָׂ֖ר | in the meat | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וּבַלָּ֑חֶם | and in the bread | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| בָּאֵ֖שׁ | with fire | Preposition, noun common both singular absolute |
| תִּשְׂרֹֽפוּ׃ | you will burn | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then you must burn up the remainder of the meat and bread. |
| KJV | And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire. |
| ASV | And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire. |
| YLT | 'And the remnant of the flesh and of the bread with fire ye burn; |
| WEB | What remains of the meat and of the bread you shall burn with fire. |
| BBE | And that which is over of the flesh and of the bread is to be burned with fire. |
There are no significant differences among the translations on this verse.
The sentence is structured around a main action followed by details on what is to be burned and how.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׂרַף
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Leviticus 8:32
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Instructions for the Priests' Ordinationgenerated
Leviticus 8:32 provides specific instructions for Aaron and his sons during their ordination. Moses commands them to boil the meat and bread at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and to consume what is designated for them. The remainder, however, must be burned completely, ensuring that nothing is left over, which signifies the complete dedication of the offerings to God. This practice underscores the seriousness of the sacrificial system and the importance of following God's commands precisely.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 7:17 | But any meat of the sacrifice remaining until the third day must be burned up. |
| 2 | Exodus 12:10 | Do not leave any of it until morning; before the morning you must burn up any part that is left over. |
| 3 | Exodus 29:34 | And if any of the meat of ordination or any bread is left until the morning, you are to burn up the remainder. It must not be eaten, because it is sacred. |
| 4 | Proverbs 27:1 | Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. |
| 5 | Ecclesiastes 9:10 | Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָתַר, ve.ha.no.Targenerated
The Hebrew word יָתַר (yathar) is a verb that means to remain or to be left over. It can also imply excelling or having more than enough. The parsing indicates it is a participle in the Niphal form, suggesting an ongoing state of remaining. In this context, it refers specifically to what is left from the meat and bread after the designated portions have been consumed.
This word captures the essence of what is not used and must be dealt with appropriately, highlighting the importance of ritual cleanliness and obedience in the sacrificial system.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'Then you must burn up the remainder of the meat and bread.' The KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE translations agree with this wording, maintaining the focus on burning the remainder.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs in this verse are יָתַר and תִּשְׂרֹף, indicating the actions of remaining and burning. The structure emphasizes the actions that must be taken regarding the leftover offerings. The sentence is straightforward, with the main action being the burning of what is left.
The Hebrew word order places the remainder at the beginning, drawing attention to what must be dealt with after the consumption of the meat and bread.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָתַר as καταλειφθὲν, which means 'left behind' or 'remaining.' This choice reflects a similar emphasis on what is not consumed, aligning with the idea of leftovers that need to be disposed of properly.
This translation choice indicates a consistent understanding of the importance of handling the remnants of offerings in a sacred manner.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Leviticus 8:32 instructs that after boiling the meat and bread for Aaron and his sons, any leftovers must be completely burned. This practice is part of the ordination process, emphasizing the importance of following God's commands regarding sacrifices.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Burning the remainder signifies that what is not consumed is to be completely dedicated to God, ensuring nothing is wasted or treated casually.
Following these instructions is crucial for maintaining ritual purity and obedience to God's commands, which are central to the sacrificial system.
The act of burning leftovers teaches the importance of reverence in worship and the necessity of properly disposing of what is not used in a sacred context.
This verse highlights the meticulous nature of the sacrificial system, where every aspect of the offerings must be handled according to divine instruction.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the act of burning leftovers teach us about our approach to offerings and sacrifices today?
- How can I ensure that I am fully dedicating my resources and efforts to God?
- What are some ways I can practice obedience to God's commands in my daily life?
- In what areas of my life do I need to let go of what is left over and dedicate it to God?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Leviticus 8:32 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread,.... Until the next morning, which could not be eaten by Aaron and his sons: shall ye burn with fire; that it might not be corrupted, nor put to common nor superstitious uses.
Read John Gill on Leviticus 8 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded,
Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 8 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(32) And that which remaineth.—That is, if any of the flesh or cakes was not eaten upon the day on which the sacrifice was offered, it had to be burnt, which was the law in the case of the peace offering. (See Leviticus 7:15; Leviticus 7:17; Exodus 29:34.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 8 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges(iii) The ram of consecration (22–36), cp. Exodus 29:19-26 The last sacrifice is that of the ram of consecration. As some portions are consumed by the offerers (Leviticus 8:31) it resembles the Peace-Offerings, but special rites are added, indicating the character and duties of the priestly office. The blood of the ram is applied to the ear, hand, and foot of Aaron and his sons. The ear attentive to the commands of God, the hand ready to do His will, the foot prepared to walk in His ways are thus signified. The blood is also thrown (as enjoined in Leviticus 3:2) against the altar round about. In Leviticus 8:23-24 the blood is put first on Aaron and afterwards on his sons; cp. Exodus 29:20…
Read Cambridge on Leviticus 8 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible31, 32. Boil the flesh… eat… burn — In the peace offering the offerer and his friends were permitted to eat in a sacred banquet, and to burn with fire that which remained. Leviticus 7:15, note.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 8 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Then you must burn up the remainder of the meat and bread.
What remains of the meat and of the bread you shall burn with fire.
Then you must burn up the remainder of the meat and bread.
but the remainder of the meat and the bread you must burn with fire.
Tyndale line
And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.
And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.
And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.
And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.
But that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread, shall ye burne with fire.
Strictly literal
And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.
'And the remnant of the flesh and of the bread with fire ye burn;
And the remnant of the flesh and of the bread you burn with fire;
And that which is left of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.
Whatever remains of the meat and of the bread you must burn.
From the Latin
And whatsoever shall be left of the flesh and the leaves, shall be consumed with fire.
Simplified
Afterwards you must burn what's left over of the meat and bread.
And that which is over of the flesh and of the bread is to be burned with fire.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agree word for word. The Dead Sea Scrolls also reflect the same content, although some words were supplied by an editor due to damage.
וְהַנּוֹתָ֥ר בַּבָּשָׂ֖ר וּבַלָּ֑חֶם בָּאֵ֖שׁ תִּשְׂרֹֽפוּ׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
והנותר בבשׂר ובלחם באשׁ תשׂרפו
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
[והנותר] [בבשר] [ובלחם] [באש] [תשרפו]
nothing on the leather here — 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Leviticus 8:32
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
יָתַר (yathar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to remain or be left over. It encompasses various nuances, including leaving a remnant, excelling, and preserving alive. The entries indicate that it can express both the idea of excess and the act of leaving something behind. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[יָתַר] 107 vb. remain over
Qal Pt. the remainder
Niph. be left over, remain over
Hiph.
leave over, leave
abs. leave a remnant
save over, i.e. presevre alive
excel, shew pre-eminence
shew excess = have more than enough
base
H3498 [יָתַר] remain over .Pt. the remainder
. be left over, remain over
. . . leave over, leave
. abs. leave a remnant
. save over, i.e. presevre alive
. excel, shew pre-eminence
. shew excess = have more than enough
3498 yathar yaw-thar'
a primitive root; to jut over or exceed; by implication, to
excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively, to
leave, cause to abound, preserve:--excel, leave (a remnant),
left behind, too much, make plenteous, preserve, (be, let)
remain(-der, -ing, - nant), reserve, residue, rest.
יָתַר (ya.tar) — to remain.
1) to be left over, remain, remain over, leave
1a) (Qal) remainder (participle)
1b) (Niphal) to be left over, remain over, be left behind
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to leave over, leave
1c2) to save over, preserve alive
1c3) to excel, show pre-eminence
1c4) to show excess, have more than enough, have an excess
Conj | Art | V-Niphal — Conjunction · particle · verb niphal participle (active) masculine singularHC/Td/VNrmsa
בָּשָׂר (basar) means 'flesh' and encompasses various meanings, including the physical body, kinship, and a euphemism for male genitalia. It can refer to humans, animals, and all living things, highlighting the frailty of man in relation to God. The entries consistently emphasize its bodily and relational aspects.
בָּשָׂר 266 n.m. flesh
of the body
flesh for the body itself
male organ of generation (euphemism)
flesh for kindred, blood-relations
man over against God as frail or erring
base
H1320 בָּשָׂר flesh . of the body
. flesh for the body itself
. male organ of generation (euphemism)
. flesh for kindred, blood-relations
. man over against God as frail or erring
1320 basar baw-sawr'
from 1319; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body,
person; also (by euphem.) the pudenda of a man:--body, (fat,
lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-)kind, + nakedness, self, skin.
see HEBREW for 01319
בָּשָׂר (ba.sar) — flesh.
1) flesh
1a) of the body
1a1) of humans
1a2) of animals
1b) the body itself
1c) male organ of generation (euphemism)
1d) kindred, blood-relations
1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God)
1f) all living things
1g) animals
1h) mankind
Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
met (broma, brosis): In the King James Version used for food in general, e.g. "I had my meat of herbs" (2 Esdras 12:51); "his disciples were gone away into the city to buy meat," the Revised Version (British and American) "food" (Joh 4:8). The English word signified whatever is eaten, whether of flesh or other food.
It does not appear that the word "meat" is used in any one instance in the Authorized Version of either the Old or New Testament in the sense which it now almost exclusively bears of animal food. The latter is denoted uniformly by "flesh." The word "meat," when our English version was made, meant food in general; or if any particular kind was designated, it referred to meal, flour or grain. The only real and inconvenient ambiguity caused by the change which has taken place in the meaning of the word is in the case of the "meat offering." [MEAT OFFERING OFFERING]
לֶ֫חֶם (lechem) means bread or food, encompassing items like grain and provisions for both humans and animals. It is derived from a related root and is used in various contexts, particularly in the Old Testament. The entries consistently emphasize its primary association with bread, though they also acknowledge its broader meaning as food.
לֶ֫חֶם 296 n.m. and (rarely) f. bread, food
base
H3899 לֶ֫חֶם bread, food
3899 lechem lekh'-em
from 3898; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or
grain (for making it):--((shew-))bread, X eat, food, fruit,
loaf, meat, victuals. See also 1036.
see HEBREW for 03898
see HEBREW for 01036
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food.
: food(eating)
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: bread.
: bread/loaf
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: allowance.
: allowance
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
Conj | Prep | N-cs — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Rd/Ncmsa
bred (lechem; artos):
I. DIETARY PREEMINENCE
II. MATERIALS
1. Barley
2. Wheat
3. Three Kinds of Flour
III. BREAD-MAKING
1. Grinding
2. Kneading
3. Baking
(1) Hot Stones
(2) Baking Pans
4. Ovens
(1) The Bowl-Oven
(2) The Jar-Oven
(3) The Pit-Oven
5. Forms of Baked Bread
6. Work for Women
IV. SANCTITY AND SYMBOLISM OF BREAD
1. Sanctity
2. Symbolism
LITERATURE
The art of bread-making is very ancient. It was even known to the Egyptians at a very early day (Wilkinson, Ancient Egyptians), to the Hebrews of the Exodus (Nowack, Lehrbuch der hebr. Archaologie) and, of course, to the Greeks and Romans of a later day. Bread played a large part in the vocabulary and in the life of the ancient Hebrews.
I. Dietary Preeminence.
(1) In the East bread is primary, other articles of food merely accessory; while in the West meat and other things chiefly constitute the meal, and bread is merely secondary. Accordingly "bread" in…
Bread
Among the Jews was generally made of wheat (Ex. 29:2; Judg. 6:19), though also sometimes of other grains (Gen. 14:18; Judg. 7:13). Parched grain was sometimes used for food without any other preparation (Ruth 2:14).
Bread was prepared by kneading in wooden bowls or “kneading troughs” (Gen. 18:6; Ex. 12:34; Jer. 7:18). The dough was mixed with leaven and made into thin cakes, round or oval, and then baked. The bread eaten at the Passover was always…
The preparation of bread as an article of food dates from a very early period. (Genesis 18:6) The corn or grain employed was of various sorts. The best bread was made of wheat, but "barley" and spelt were also used. (John 6:9,13; Isaiah 28:25) The process of making bread was as follows: the flour was first mixed with water or milk; it was then kneaded with the hands (in Egypt with the feet also) in a small wooden bowl or "kneading-trough" until it became dough. (Exodus 12:34,39; 2 Samuel 13:3; Jeremiah 7:18) When the kneading was completed, leaven was generally added [LEAVEN]; but when the time for preparation was short…
A word which in Scripture is often put for food in general, Ge 3:19 18:5 28:20 Ex 2:20 Le 11:3. Manna is called bread from heaven, Ex 16:4. Bread, in the proper and literal sense, usually means cakes made of wheaten flour; barely being used chiefly by the poor and for feeding horses. The wheat was ground daily, in small stone mills; the flour was made into dough in a wooden trough, and subsequently leavened, Ex 12:34 Ho 7:4. It was then made into cakes, and baked.
אֵשׁ (esh) means 'fire' and encompasses various types, including natural fire, supernatural fire associated with divine appearances, and fire used for cooking or on altars. It can also figuratively represent God's anger. The entries consistently highlight its literal and metaphorical uses, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
אֵשׁ 377 n.f. fire
fire, of conflagration
of supernatural fire
fire for cooking, roasting, parching
esp. of altar fire
fig. of Yahweh's anger
in various combinations
base
H784 אֵשׁ fire . fire, of conflagration
. of supernatural fire
. fire for cooking, roasting, parching
. esp. of altar fire
. fig. of Yahweh's anger
. in various combinations
784 'esh aysh
a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):--
burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.
אֵשׁ (esh) — fire.
1) fire
1a) fire, flames
1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany)
1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching)
1d) altar-fire
1e) God's anger (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common both singular absoluteHRd/Ncbsa
fir ('esh; pur):
These are the common words for fire, occurring very frequently. 'Ur, "light" (Isa 24:15 the King James Version; compare the Revised Version (British and American); Isa 31:9, and see FIRES), nur (Aramaic) (Da 3:22 ff) are found a few times, also 'eshshah (Jer 6:29), and be`erah (Ex 22:6), once each. Ac 28:2,3 has pura, "pyre," and Mr 14:54; Lu 22:56, phos, "light," the Revised Version (British and American) "in the light (of the fire)." "To set…
Fire
(1.) For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chr. 7:1, 3). The expressions “fire from heaven” and “fire of the Lord” generally denote lightning, but sometimes also the fire of the altar was so called (Ex. 29:18; Lev. 1:9; 2:3; 3:5, 9).
Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise than from the altar was called “strange fire” (Lev. 10:1, 2;
is represented as the symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the instrument of his power, in the way either of approval or of destruction. (Exodus 3:2; 14:19) etc. There could not be a better symbol for Jehovah than this of fire, it being immaterial, mysterious, but visible, warming, cheering, comforting, but also terrible and consuming. Parallel with this application of fire and with its symbolical meaning are to be noted the similar use for sacrificial purposes and the respect paid to it, or to the heavenly bodies as symbols of deity, which prevailed among so many nations of antiquity, and of which the traces are not even now extinct; e.g. the Sabean and Magian systems of worship. (Isaiah 27:9) Fire for sacred purposes obtained elsewhere than from the altar was called "strange fire," and for the use of such Nadab and Abihu were punished…
In Scripture, is often connected with the presence of Jehovah; as in the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai, Ex 3:2 19:18 Ps 18:1-50 Hab 1:1-3:19. The second coming of Christ will be "in flaming fire," 2Th 1:8. In the New Testament it illustrates the enlightening, cheering, and purifying agency of the Holy Spirit, Mt 3:11 Ac 2:3. By sending fire from heaven to consume sacrifices, God often signified his acceptance of them: as in the case of Abel, Ge 4:4; Abraham, Ge…
The Hebrew word שָׂרַף (*saraph*) is a primitive root meaning 'to burn.' It encompasses various forms, including Qal (to burn), Niphal (to be burned), Piel (burner), and Pual (to be burnt up). The entries suggest a focus on the act of burning and its implications, with no significant disagreements noted among the lexicons.
שָׂרַף 117 vb. burn
Qal burn
Niph. be burned
Pi. his burner, usu. one burning him, but prob. burning spices for him
Pu. it was burnt up (and gone).
base
H8313 שָׂרַף burn
8313 saraph saw-raf'
a primitive root; to be (causatively, set) on fire:--(cause
to, make a) burn((-ing), up) kindle, X utterly.
שָׂרַף (sa.raph) — to burn.
1) to burn
1a) (Qal) to burn
1b) (Niphal) to be burned
1c) (Piel) burner, burning (participle)
1d) (Pual) to be burnt up, be burned
Also means: sa.raph (סָרַף "to burn" H5635)
HVqi2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine pluralHVqi2mp