“You shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it for a wave offering before the LORD, and it shall be your portion.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text highlights that the "breast of the ram" was designated as "your portion," indicating Moses received it because he was officiating as the priest in this specific ordination ceremony. This demonstrates that even the sacred offerings had a practical distribution, with the officiating priest receiving a designated share.
“You shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it for a wave offering before the LORD, and it shall be your portion.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a lengthy, detailed account of the ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons as the first priests of Israel. The preceding verses describe the various sacrifices, anointing with oil, and the symbolic application of blood to their ears, thumbs, and feet, all designed to set them apart for God's service. This specific verse highlights a portion of one of the rams, the breast, which is waved before the Lord as part of the consecration ritual and then designated as a personal share for Moses, who is officiating the ceremony.
Why did the priest wave certain parts of the sacrifice? It wasn't just a formality, but a profound act of presentation.
The wave offering, like the heave offering, was a specific way of presenting sacrifices to God. The breast of the ram, in this case, was 'waved' before the Lord. This gesture signified that the offering was being set apart for God's special use and ownership. It's like saying, 'Lord, this belongs to You first.' This act wasn't arbitrary; it established a clear connection between the earthly priest and the heavenly King.
The breast of the ram was waved before the Lord, but then it became Moses' personal portion. What does this tell us about serving God?
In this specific ceremony for Aaron's ordination, Moses, who was acting in a priestly capacity to set apart Aaron and his sons, received the breast of the ram as his portion. This was a significant privilege! While later, the priests would receive the breast of peace offerings as their regular due (Leviticus 7:31-34), in this foundational moment, Moses, as the facilitator of God's command, was given this sacred meat. It highlights that faithful service to God, even when it's about setting others apart for ministry, has its own rewards – a direct, tangible 'portion' from God's provision.
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tenuphah · Hebrew Noun
A common ritual act in the Old Testament, involving moving an offering back and forth or up and down before the Lord, signifying the presentation of the sacrifice to God and its subsequent reception back by the priests as their provision.
millu'im · Hebrew Noun
The setting apart of persons, objects, or time for exclusive service and devotion to God, signifying holiness and separation from common or profane use.
This passage establishes the general rule that the breast of a peace offering, after being waved, belongs to the priest, directly correlating with the specific instance in Exodus where the breast is given to Moses.
Hebrews 7:26This New Testament passage describes Jesus as our perfect High Priest, who is holy, blameless, and separate from sinners, mirroring the consecration and holiness required for the Old Testament priests.
Leviticus 8:29This verse explicitly mentions the breast of the ram of consecration being waved and presented as an elevation offering for Aaron and his sons, reinforcing the specific act described in Exodus 29:26.
1 Samuel 2:28This verse recounts a similar principle, where God rebukes Eli's sons for taking portions of sacrifices that were meant for God, highlighting the sacredness of priestly portions and the importance of offering them correctly.
gillExodus 29:26: "And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration, and wave it for a wave offering before the LORD: and it shall be thy part."
And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecrations,.... The ram being slain and cut to pieces, this part is particularly disposed of: and wave it for a wave offering before the Lord; in the manner before described: and it shall be thy part: the part of Moses, he officiating now as a priest; and we find accordingly in later…
calvinExodus 29:1-35: "And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish,"
And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.
Cingesque illos baltheo: Aharon et flios ejus, et aptabis eis pileos, et erit eis sacerdotium in statutum perp…
The text highlights that the "breast of the ram" was designated as "your portion," indicating Moses received it because he was officiating as the priest in this specific ordination ceremony. This demonstrates that even the sacred offerings had a practical distribution, with the officiating priest receiving a designated share.
This passage is part of a lengthy, detailed account of the ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons as the first priests of Israel. The preceding verses describe the various sacrifices, anointing with oil, and the symbolic application of blood to their ears, thumbs, and feet, all designed to set them apart for God's service. This specific verse highlights a portion of one of the rams, the breast, which is waved before the Lord as part of the consecration ritual and then designated as a personal share for Moses, who is officiating the ceremony.
This passage is part of a lengthy, detailed account of the ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons as the first priests of Israel. The preceding verses describe the various sacrifices, anointing with oil, and the symbolic application of blood to their ears, thumbs, and feet, all designed to set them apart for God's service. This specific verse highlights a portion of one of the rams, the breast, which is waved before the Lord as part of the consecration ritual and then designated as a personal share for Moses, who is officiating the ceremony.
"“You shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it for a wave offering before the LORD, and it shall be your portion." — The text highlights that the "breast of the ram" was designated as "your portion," indicating Moses received it because he was officiating as the priest in this specific ordination ceremony. This dem…
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Last reviewed October 2026