Leviticus 10:3

Authorized King James Version

Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
לֵאמֹר֙
said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
מֹשֶׁ֜ה
Then Moses
mosheh, the israelite lawgiver
#3
אֶֽל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#4
אַֽהֲרֹֽן׃
And Aaron
aharon, the brother of moses
#5
הוּא֩
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
#6
אֲשֶׁר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#7
דִּבֶּ֨ר
spake
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
#8
יְהוָ֤ה׀
This is it that the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#9
לֵאמֹר֙
said
to say (used with great latitude)
#10
בִּקְרֹבַ֣י
in them that come nigh
near (in place, kindred or time)
#11
אֶקָּדֵ֔שׁ
I will be sanctified
to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)
#12
וְעַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#13
פְּנֵ֥י
me and before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#14
כָל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#15
הָעָ֖ם
all the people
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
#16
אֶכָּבֵ֑ד
I will be glorified
to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same
#17
וַיִּדֹּ֖ם
held his peace
to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish
#18
אַֽהֲרֹֽן׃
And Aaron
aharon, the brother of moses

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing peace contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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