The Meaning of Leviticus 2:9 Explained

Leviticus 2:9

KJV: And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

YLT: and the priest hath lifted up from the present its memorial, and hath made perfume on the altar, a fire-offering of sweet fragrance to Jehovah;

Darby: And the priest shall take from the oblation a memorial thereof, and shall burn it on the altar, an offering by fire to Jehovah of a sweet odour.

ASV: And the priest shall take up from the meal-offering the memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the priest  shall take  from the meat offering  a memorial  thereof, and shall burn  [it] upon the altar:  [it is] an offering made by fire,  of a sweet  savour  unto the LORD. 

What does Leviticus 2:9 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 2:9 mean?

And shall take the priest from the grain offering - a memorial [portion] and burn [it] on the altar [it is] an offering made by fire aroma a sweet to Yahweh
וְהֵרִ֨ים הַכֹּהֵ֤ן מִן־ הַמִּנְחָה֙ אֶת־ אַזְכָּ֣רָתָ֔הּ וְהִקְטִ֖יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה אִשֵּׁ֛ה רֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהוָֽה

וְהֵרִ֨ים  And  shall  take 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָרוּם 
Sense: to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.
הַכֹּהֵ֤ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
הַמִּנְחָה֙  the  grain  offering 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אַזְכָּ֣רָתָ֔הּ  a  memorial  [portion] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: אַזְכָּרָה  
Sense: memorial-offering, the portion of the meal (food) offering which is burned.
וְהִקְטִ֖יר  and  burn  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מֻקְטָר 
Sense: .
הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה  on  the  altar 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
אִשֵּׁ֛ה  [it  is]  an  offering  made  by  fire 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִשֶּׁה  
Sense: burnt-offering, offering made by fire, fire offering.
רֵ֥יחַ  aroma 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֵיחַ  
Sense: scent, fragrance, aroma, odour.
נִיחֹ֖חַ  a  sweet 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נִיחֹחַ  
Sense: soothing, quieting, tranquillising.
לַיהוָֽה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.