The Meaning of Leviticus 2:12 Explained

Leviticus 2:12

KJV: As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour.

YLT: An offering of first -fruits -- ye bring them near to Jehovah, but on the altar they go not up, for sweet fragrance.

Darby: As to the offering of the first-fruits, ye shall present them to Jehovah; but they shall not be offered upon the altar for a sweet odour.

ASV: As an oblation of first - fruits ye shall offer them unto Jehovah: but they shall not come up for a sweet savor on the altar.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

As for the oblation  of the firstfruits,  ye shall offer  them unto the LORD:  but they shall not be burnt  on the altar  for a sweet  savour. 

What does Leviticus 2:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 2:1-16 - Meal-Offerings With Oil And Incense
The meal-offering, which is described in this chapter, portrayed in emblem the perfect character of our Lord. He was as fine flour, of the best quality, without grit or coarseness. There was nothing uneven, nothing rough and harsh, nothing unseemly or forbidding in Him. He was anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit; His perfect obedience was fragrant to the Father, and should be so to us; there was no leaven of guile or hypocrisy in His constitution. See Ephesians 5:2. We should feed on His holy character by meditation, and resemble it in daily living. The interposition of the priest was an essential feature of the ancient ritual, informing us that our prayer and self-surrender are acceptable to God through our Savior. We are also reminded by Leviticus 2:14 that we are called to be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures to the Creator. See James 1:18. [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 2

1  The meat offering with oil and incense
4  either baked in the oven
5  or on a plate
7  or in a frying pan
12  The first fruits not to be burnt on the altar,
13  Salt to be used with every offering
14  The offering of first fruits

What do the individual words in Leviticus 2:12 mean?

As for the offering of the firstfruits you shall offer them to Yahweh but on the altar not they shall be burned for a aroma sweet
קָרְבַּ֥ן רֵאשִׁ֛ית תַּקְרִ֥יבוּ אֹתָ֖ם לַיהוָ֑ה וְאֶל־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַ לֹא־ יַעֲל֖וּ לְרֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹֽחַ

קָרְבַּ֥ן  As  for  the  offering 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קָרְבָּן 
Sense: offering, oblation.
רֵאשִׁ֛ית  of  the  firstfruits 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: רֵאשִׁית  
Sense: first, beginning, best, chief.
תַּקְרִ֥יבוּ  you  shall  offer 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
לַיהוָ֑ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְאֶל־  but  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַ  the  altar 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
יַעֲל֖וּ  they  shall  be  burned 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
לְרֵ֥יחַ  for  a  aroma 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֵיחַ  
Sense: scent, fragrance, aroma, odour.
נִיחֹֽחַ  sweet 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נִיחֹחַ  
Sense: soothing, quieting, tranquillising.