Leviticus 9:16 — Word Study
WLCוַיַּקְרֵ֖ב אֶת־ הָעֹלָ֑ה וַֽיַּעֲשֶׂ֖הָ כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃
BSAHe presentedqârab▸ [brought near, approached] the burnt offeringʻôlâh [animal for complete consumption, a step to the altar] and offered itʻâsâh▸ according to the ordinancemishpâṭ [manner, justice, God's righteous judgment]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיַּקְרֵ֖ב | and he presented | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| הָעֹלָ֑ה | the burnt offering | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וַֽיַּעֲשֶׂ֖הָ | and he offered it | Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃ | according to the ordinance | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the ordinance. |
| KJV | And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner. |
| ASV | And he presented the burnt-offering, and offered it according to the ordinance. |
| YLT | and he bringeth near the burnt-offering, and maketh it, according to the ordinance; |
| WEB | He presented the burnt offering, and offered it according to the ordinance. |
| BBE | And he took the burned offering, offering it in the ordered way; |
Where they part company is in the use of כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two phrases, indicating the actions taken by Aaron in a structured manner.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbקָרַב
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 9:16
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 — The Offerings of Aarongenerated
Leviticus 9:16 describes Aaron's actions as he performs the sacrificial offerings on behalf of the people. This verse highlights the importance of following God's ordinances in worship, as seen in the preceding and following verses where Aaron presents various offerings, demonstrating obedience to divine instructions.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 9:12–14 | Then Aaron slaughtered the burnt offering. His sons brought him the blood, and he sprinkled it on all sides of the altar. |
| 2 | Leviticus 1:3–10 | If one’s offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD. |
| 3 | Leviticus 8:18–21 | Then Moses presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. |
| 4 | Hebrews 10:1–22 | For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מִשְׁפָּט, ka.mish.Patgenerated
The word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) means judgment or justice, often used in legal contexts to describe God's righteous decisions. It emphasizes the importance of adhering to divine standards in worship and conduct.
In this verse, it signifies that Aaron's offering was not arbitrary but aligned with God's ordained manner of sacrifice, reflecting God's justice and righteousness in the worship practices established for His people.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses according to the ordinance.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb וַיַּקְרֵ֖ב (vai.yak.Rev, he presented) governs the sentence, with two phrases following: the noun phrase הָעֹלָ֑ה (ha.'o.Lah, the burnt offering) and the prepositional phrase כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט (ka.mish.Pat, according to the ordinance). The structure emphasizes the action of presenting the offering and its compliance with God's requirements.
The Hebrew word order places the verb first, highlighting the action of presenting, which is central to the verse's meaning.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיַּקְרֵ֖ב as προσήνεγκεν (prosēnegken), meaning 'he brought near.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning of approaching or presenting an offering.
The translation of כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט as καθήκει (kathēkei) indicates adherence to a prescribed order, reflecting the importance of following God's established laws.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Leviticus 9:16 tells us that Aaron presented the burnt offering and made it according to God's instructions. This act of worship was part of his responsibilities as high priest, ensuring the offerings were done correctly.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that Aaron followed God's specific instructions for how the burnt offering should be presented, ensuring that the worship was acceptable.
The burnt offering symbolizes complete devotion to God, as the entire animal is consumed by fire, representing the offerer's commitment.
This verse emphasizes the importance of following God's laws and ordinances in worship, which is a central theme throughout Leviticus.
We can learn the importance of obedience to God's commands and the seriousness of approaching Him in worship.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean for me to approach God with my offerings today?
- How can I ensure that my worship aligns with God's instructions?
- In what areas of my life do I need to follow God's ordinances more closely?
- How does understanding the significance of offerings enhance my relationship with God?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Leviticus 9:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd he brought the burnt offering,.... The calf and the lamb, Leviticus 9:3 and offered it according to the manner; judgment, ordinance, and appointment of God respecting that sort of offerings; see Leviticus 1:1.
Read John Gill on Leviticus 9 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 9 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhich also was offered for the people, as the last mentioned sin-offering was.
Read Matthew Poole on Leviticus 9 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) And he brought the burnt offering.—That is, the yearling calf and the lamb (see Leviticus 9:3), which he offered according to the rites prescribed in Leviticus 1:3, &c. The same expression “manner,” in the sense of prescribed ritual, also occurs in Leviticus 5:10, where, like here, it is rendered in the Margin by “ordinance.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 9 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. The Burnt-Offering offered ‘according to the ordinance’ as prescribed in ch. 1, or as in Leviticus 9:12-14. Cp. Leviticus 9:10.
Read Cambridge on Leviticus 9 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible16. The manner — “Ordinance,” (R.V.) The ritual of the altar prescribed in chaps. 1 and Leviticus 7:1-6.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 9 →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
He presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the ordinance.
He presented the burnt offering, and offered it according to the ordinance.
He presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the ordinance.
He then presented the burnt offering, and did it according to the standard regulation.
Tyndale line
And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.
And he presented the burnt-offering, and offered it according to the ordinance.
And he presented the burnt offering, and offered it according to the ordinance.
And he brought the burnt-offering, and offered it according to the manner.
So he offred the burnt offring, and prepared it, according to the maner.
Strictly literal
And he presented the burnt-offering and offered it according to the ordinance.
and he bringeth near the burnt-offering, and maketh it, according to the ordinance;
and he brings the burnt-offering near, and makes it, according to the ordinance;
And he brought near the burnt-offering, and offered it according to the prescribed manner.
He presented the burnt offering and offered it as Yahweh had commanded.
From the Latin
He offered the holocaust:
Simplified
He presented the burnt offering, doing so in accordance with the regulations.
And he took the burned offering, offering it in the ordered way;
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 reads וַיַּקְרֵ֖ב אֶת־ הָעֹלָ֑ה וַֽיַּעֲשֶׂ֖הָ כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃, while the Septuagint matches four out of five words. The Samaritan Pentateuch agrees with the Masoretic Text word for word, confirming the consistency of this verse across traditions.
וַיַּקְרֵ֖ב אֶת־ הָעֹלָ֑ה וַֽיַּעֲשֶׂ֖הָ כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃
4 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.
ויקרב את העלה ויעשׂה כמשׁפט
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
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 9:16
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.
קָרַב (qarab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to approach or come near, with various nuances including bringing or presenting something. It encompasses different forms such as Qal (to approach), Niphal (to be brought near), and Hiphil (to bring near). The term is often associated with offerings or dedications to God, particularly in the context of the book of Ezekiel.
[קָרֵב], קָרַב 279 vb. come near, approach
Qal 93 approach
Niph. he shall be brought unto God
Pi. cause to approach, bring near
Hiph.
177
bring near, bring, present
of time
as term techn. (c. 158 t.), chiefly Ez HP, bring near, of presenting, dedicating, or offering to י׳
base
H7126 קָרֵב, קָרַב come near, approach .approach
. he shall be brought unto God
. cause to approach, bring near
. . . bring near, bring, present
. of time
. as term techn. (c. 158 t.), chiefly Ez HP, bring near, of presenting, dedicating, or offering to י׳
7126 qarab kaw-rab'
a primitive root; to approach (causatively, bring near) for
whatever purpose:--(cause to) approach, (cause to) bring
(forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw
near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer,
present, produce, make ready, stand, take.
קָרַב (qa.rav) — to present: come.
: come/approach
1) to come near, approach, enter into, draw near
1a) (Qal) to approach, draw near
1b) (Niphal) to be brought near
1c) (Piel) to cause to approach, bring near, cause to draw near
1d) (Hiphil) to bring near, bring, present
קָרַב (qa.rav) — to present: bring.
: bring/offer
1) to come near, approach, enter into, draw near
1a) (Qal) to approach, draw near
1b) (Niphal) to be brought near
1c) (Piel) to cause to approach, bring near, cause to draw near
1d) (Hiphil) to bring near, bring, present
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
עֹלָה (olah) refers to both a whole burnt-offering and an ascent or stairway. It is derived from a feminine active participle of the root meaning to go up. The term is used in contexts related to sacrifices, particularly in the Old Testament, where it signifies offerings that ascend in smoke. The entries consistently highlight its dual meaning without significant disagreement.
ref
H5930a עֹלָה whole burnt-offering H5930b עֹלָה ascent, stairway
5930 `olah o-law'
or mowlah {o-law'}; feminine active participle of 5927; a
step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a
holocaust (as going up in smoke):--ascent, burnt offering
(sacrifice), go up to. See also 5766.
see HEBREW for 05927
see HEBREW for 05766
עֹלָה (o.lah) — burnt offering.
whole burnt offering
Aramaic equivalent: a.lah (עֲלָת "burnt offering" H5928)
עֹלָה (o.lah) — ascent.
ascent, stairway, steps
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
Burnt offering
Hebrew olah; i.e., “ascending,” the whole being consumed by fire, and regarded as ascending to God while being consumed. Part of every offering was burnt in the sacred fire, but this was wholly burnt, a “whole burnt offering.” It was the most frequent form of sacrifice, and apparently the only one mentioned in the book of Genesis. Such were the sacrifices offered by Abel (Gen. 4:3, 4, here called minhah; i.e., “a gift”), Noah (Gen. 8:20), Abraham (Gen. 22:2, 7, 8, 13), and by the Hebrews in Egypt (Ex. 10:25).
The law of Moses afterwards prescribed the occasions and the manner in which burnt sacrifices were to be offered. There were “the continual…
The word is applied to the offering which was wholly consumed by fire on the altar, and the whole of which, except the refuse ashes "ascended" in the smoke to God. The meaning of the whole burnt offering was that which is the original idea of all sacrifice, the offering by the sacrificer of himself, soul and body, to God--the submission of his will to the will of the Lord. The ceremonies of the burnt offering are given in detail in the book of Leviticus. [SACRIFICE]
→ See OFFERINGS, BURNT
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vqw3ms/Sp3fs
The Hebrew word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) primarily means judgment or justice and encompasses various aspects such as legal rights, ordinances, and decisions. It is derived from a root meaning to pronounce a verdict, covering both human and divine law. The entries highlight its application in legal contexts, including the act of deciding cases and the attributes of justice and rectitude.
מִשְׁפָּט 422 n.m. judgment
judgment
justice, right, rectitude
ordinance
decision
one's (legal) right, privilege, due
proper, fitting, measure
custom, manner
what manner of
plan
base
H4941 מִשְׁפָּט judgment . judgment
. justice, right, rectitude
. ordinance
. decision
. one's (legal) right, privilege, due
. . proper, fitting, measure
. custom, manner
. what manner of
. plan
4941 mishpat mish-pawt'
from 8199; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable)
pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree
(human or (participant's) divine law, individual or
collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the
crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a
participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or
even a style:--+ adversary, ceremony, charge, X crime,
custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due,
fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly),
(manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order,
ordinance, right, sentence, usest, X worthy, + wrong.
see HEBREW for 08199
מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) — justice: judgement.
: judgement/punishment
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
1a) judgment
1a1) act of deciding a case
1a2) place, court, seat of judgment
1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
1a6) execution (of judgment)
1a7) time (of judgment)
1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)
1c) ordinance
1d) decision (in law)
1e) right, privilege, due (legal)
1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) — justice.
: justice/right/righteousness
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
1a) judgment
1a1) act of deciding a case
1a2) place, court, seat of judgment
1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
1a6) execution (of judgment)
1a7) time (of judgment)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
or'-di-nans:
1. Old Testament Use:
This word generally represents chuqqah, something prescribed, enactment, usually with reference to matters of ritual. In the King James Version the same word is frequently translated by "statute" or "statutes," which is also the rendering of a similar Hebrew word, namely, choq. the Revised Version (British and American) generally retains "ordinance," but sometimes substitutes "statute" (e.g. Ex 18:20; Ps 99:7). In one instance the Revised Version (British and American) renders "set portion" (Eze 45:14). The word generally has a religious or ceremonial significance. It is used for instance in connection with the Passover (Ex 12:43;