Leviticus 2:4
Now if you bring an offering of grain baked in an oven, it must consist of fine flour, either unleavened cakes mixed with oil or unleavened wafers coated with oil.
Now if you bring an offering of grain baked in an oven
The grain offering, also known as the "meal offering" or "minchah" in Hebrew, was a voluntary act of worship and devotion to God. It was distinct from animal sacrifices and symbolized the dedication of one's labor and sustenance to the Lord. The use of an oven indicates a more refined preparation process, suggesting a personal and deliberate act of worship. In ancient Israel, ovens were typically communal and made of clay, reflecting the communal aspect of worship and daily life.

it must consist of fine flour
Fine flour was a luxury item, representing the best of one's produce. It signifies offering God the highest quality of what one has, reflecting the principle of giving God the first and best. This mirrors the call for believers to offer their best in service and devotion, as seen in Malachi 1:14, where God expresses displeasure with inferior offerings.

either unleavened cakes mixed with oil
Unleavened cakes, or "matzot," were made without yeast, symbolizing purity and the absence of sin. Leaven often represents sin or corruption in Scripture (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). The mixing with oil, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, indicates the sanctifying work of the Spirit in the believer's life. Oil was also used for anointing, pointing to consecration and the presence of God.

or unleavened wafers coated with oil
Unleavened wafers, thinner and more delicate than cakes, emphasize humility and simplicity in offerings. The coating with oil further underscores the role of the Holy Spirit in sanctification and empowerment. This imagery can be connected to the anointing of Jesus Christ, the "Anointed One," who was without sin and filled with the Spirit (Luke 4:18). The offering of unleavened wafers reflects the believer's call to live a life of purity and dedication, empowered by the Spirit.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Leviticus, who received the laws from God on Mount Sinai and communicated them to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The recipients of the Levitical laws, including the instructions for grain offerings.

3. Tabernacle
The place where offerings were presented to God, serving as the central place of worship for the Israelites.

4. Priests
The descendants of Aaron who were responsible for offering sacrifices and maintaining the rituals prescribed in the law.

5. Grain Offering
A type of offering made to God, symbolizing dedication and thanksgiving, often associated with the provision of daily sustenance.
Teaching Points
Symbolism of Unleavened Bread
The use of unleavened bread in offerings symbolizes purity and separation from sin. Believers are called to live lives that are free from the corruption of sin, reflecting the holiness of God.

Oil as a Symbol of the Holy Spirit
The mixing and anointing with oil in the grain offering can be seen as a representation of the Holy Spirit's work in the believer's life, empowering and sanctifying them for service to God.

Gratitude and Dedication
The grain offering is an expression of gratitude for God's provision. Christians are encouraged to offer their lives as living sacrifices, dedicating their time, talents, and resources to God's service.

Christ as the Fulfillment
While the grain offering was a part of the Old Covenant, it points to Christ, who is the bread of life. Believers find their sustenance and fulfillment in Him, who provides for both physical and spiritual needs.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the symbolism of unleavened bread in Leviticus 2:4 relate to the call for purity in the New Testament?

2. In what ways can the anointing with oil in the grain offering be seen as a foreshadowing of the Holy Spirit's role in the life of a believer?

3. How can we apply the principle of offering our "first fruits" to God in our daily lives today?

4. What are some practical ways we can express gratitude to God for His provision, as symbolized by the grain offering?

5. How does understanding the grain offering enhance our appreciation of Christ's sacrifice and His role as the bread of life?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 29:2
This verse describes the use of unleavened bread in the consecration of priests, highlighting the importance of purity and dedication in offerings.

Matthew 13:33
Jesus uses leaven as a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven, contrasting the purity of unleavened offerings with the pervasive nature of leaven.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Paul speaks about leaven as a symbol of sin, urging believers to live in sincerity and truth, akin to the purity of unleavened bread.

Hebrews 10:1-10
Discusses the insufficiency of Old Testament sacrifices and the fulfillment of these offerings in Christ, who is the ultimate sacrifice.
The Feast Upon the MinchahJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 2:1-10
Consecrated Life-Work, as Brought Out in the Meat OfferingR.M. Edgar Leviticus 2:1-11
All Sin Must be Excluded from Our Offerings to GodJ. Spencer.Leviticus 2:1-16
Attractive FragranceFrom Witherby's Scripture Gleanings.Leviticus 2:1-16
Christ the True Meat-OfferingF. H. White.Leviticus 2:1-16
Every Christian's Life Ought to be FragrantLeviticus 2:1-16
Fine Enough to be FragrantSarah Smiley.Leviticus 2:1-16
Firstfruits of Our Young Years to be ConsecratedJ. Spencer.Leviticus 2:1-16
Frankincense as a SymbolA. Maclaren, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
Homage Graced with ExcellenciesW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 2:1-16
Labour Consecrated to GodJ. Tinling.Leviticus 2:1-16
Offering God the True End of ManJ. Spencer.Leviticus 2:1-16
Offering the Best to GodLeviticus 2:1-16
Offerings to God Must be Simple and SincereLeviticus 2:1-16
Oil as a Symbol: Service Permeated by the Holy SpiritD. L. Moody.Leviticus 2:1-16
Our Recognition of the Hand of God in the Blessings of LifeW. Clarkson Leviticus 2:1-16
Self-ConsecrationH. W. Beecher.Leviticus 2:1-16
Self-DedicatedJ. Breed, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Aroma of the Christian LifeLeviticus 2:1-16
The Burnt-Offering and the Meat-Offering ContrastedB. W. Newton.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Holy Ghost NeededJ. Davidson.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meal OfferingJ. H. Kurtz, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingLeviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingJ. M. Gibson, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingC. S. Taylor, M. A.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingA. Jukes.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingA. A. Bonar.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingDean Law.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-OfferingC. H. Mackintosh.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-Offering Typical of Christ and His PeopleJohn Gill, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Meat-Offering; or the Father HonouredLeviticus 2:1-16
The Offering of Consecrated LabourS. H. Kellogg, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
The Time of Offering the FirstfruitsLeviticus 2:1-16
We Should Offer to God What We Like Best OurselvesLeviticus 2:1-16
Why Such Varieties of Offering?J. Caroming, D. D.Leviticus 2:1-16
Youth the Time for Religious OfferingProfessor Drummond.Leviticus 2:1-16
Priest and People: Reciprocal ServicesW. Clarkson Leviticus 2:3-10
The Various Kinds of Meat OfferingsR.A. Redford Leviticus 2:4-16
People
Aaron, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Anointed, Baked, Baken, Best, Bring, Bringest, Cakes, Cereal, Consist, Cooked, Covered, Fine, Flour, Grain, Meal, Meal-offering, Meat, Meat-offering, Mingled, Mixed, Oblation, Offer, Offerest, Offering, Oil, Oven, Present, Spread, Thin, Unleavened, Wafers, Yeast
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 2:4

     5435   ovens

Leviticus 2:1-6

     7368   grain offering

Leviticus 2:1-7

     4488   oil

Leviticus 2:1-11

     4404   food

Leviticus 2:1-16

     4456   grain

Leviticus 2:4-5

     4530   unleavened bread
     4554   yeast

Leviticus 2:4-10

     5222   baking

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

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

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

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