The term "waveth" is derived from the practice of the wave offering, a significant ritual in the Old Testament sacrificial system. The wave offering, known in Hebrew as "tenufah," was a ceremonial act where portions of a sacrifice were waved before the Lord as an expression of dedication and consecration. This act symbolized the offering being presented to God and then returned for the use of the priests.

Biblical References:

1. Leviticus 7:30-31 : "With his own hands he is to bring the offerings made by fire to the LORD. He shall bring the fat together with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD. The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons."

In this passage, the wave offering is part of the peace offerings, where the breast of the sacrificial animal is waved before the Lord. This act signifies the offering's acceptance by God and the subsequent provision for the priests, highlighting the communal and covenantal aspects of the sacrificial system.

2. Exodus 29:24 : "Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering."

Here, during the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests, the wave offering is part of the ordination ceremony. The act of waving symbolizes the dedication of the priests to God's service, marking their sanctification and readiness to serve in the tabernacle.

3. Numbers 8:11 : "Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the sons of Israel, so that they may perform the service of the LORD."

The Levites themselves are presented as a wave offering, indicating their role as dedicated servants of the Lord. This presentation underscores the concept of the entire tribe being set apart for divine service, emphasizing their unique position among the Israelites.

Theological Significance:

The wave offering holds deep theological significance within the Old Testament sacrificial system. It represents the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and the dedication of the best portions of the offerings to Him. The act of waving signifies a transfer of ownership, where the offering is symbolically given to God and then returned for the use of the priests or the community.

The wave offering also prefigures the New Testament understanding of Christ's sacrifice. Just as the wave offering was a sign of consecration and acceptance, Christ's offering of Himself is the ultimate act of dedication and acceptance by God. Hebrews 10:10 states, "And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." This verse highlights the fulfillment of the sacrificial system in Christ, who is both the offering and the priest.

Cultural Context:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, offerings and sacrifices were common religious practices. The wave offering, however, is unique to the Israelite worship system, reflecting the covenant relationship between God and His people. It served as a tangible expression of faith and obedience, reinforcing the community's identity as God's chosen people.

The wave offering's inclusion in various sacrificial rites, such as peace offerings, ordination ceremonies, and the consecration of the Levites, illustrates its integral role in Israel's worship and communal life. It functioned as a means of maintaining the covenant relationship and ensuring the provision for those who served in the tabernacle and later the temple.

In summary, the concept of "waveth" as seen in the wave offering is a profound element of Old Testament worship, symbolizing dedication, consecration, and the acknowledgment of God's provision and sovereignty.

God's Gentle Power
... by revivals. When others bow like the corn that waveth in the wind, they
stand stiff and firm, and are altogether untouched. It ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/gods gentle power.htm

A Discourse Upon the Pharisee and the Publican
... He was the strictest, he was the most zealous; therefore Christ in his making of
this parable, waveth all other sects then in being, and pitcheth upon the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse upon the pharisee.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm

Waveth (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Waveth (3 Occurrences). Leviticus 8:27 and putteth
the whole on the hands of Aaron, and on the hands of ...
/w/waveth.htm - 7k

Waving (23 Occurrences)

/w/waving.htm - 13k

Waves (43 Occurrences)

/w/waves.htm - 18k

Consecrations (6 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 8:29 and Moses taketh the breast, and waveth it -- a wave-offering before
Jehovah; of the ram of the consecrations it hath been to Moses for a portion ...
/c/consecrations.htm - 8k

Putteth (182 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 8:27 and putteth the whole on the hands of Aaron, and on the hands of
his sons, and waveth them -- a wave-offering before Jehovah. (YLT). ...
/p/putteth.htm - 38k

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