Numbers 15:20
Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.
Original Language Analysis
רֵאשִׁית֙
of the first
H7225
רֵאשִׁית֙
of the first
Strong's:
H7225
Word #:
1 of 10
the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit)
תָּרִ֥ימוּ
Ye shall offer up
H7311
תָּרִ֥ימוּ
Ye shall offer up
Strong's:
H7311
Word #:
4 of 10
to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
כִּתְרוּמַ֣ת
as ye do the heave offering
H8641
כִּתְרוּמַ֣ת
as ye do the heave offering
Strong's:
H8641
Word #:
5 of 10
a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute
כִּתְרוּמַ֣ת
as ye do the heave offering
H8641
כִּתְרוּמַ֣ת
as ye do the heave offering
Strong's:
H8641
Word #:
6 of 10
a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute
גֹּ֔רֶן
of the threshingfloor
H1637
גֹּ֔רֶן
of the threshingfloor
Strong's:
H1637
Word #:
7 of 10
a threshing-floor (as made even); by analogy, any open area
כֵּ֖ן
H3651
כֵּ֖ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
8 of 10
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
Cross References
Leviticus 2:14And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.Exodus 34:26The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.Nehemiah 10:37And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.Exodus 23:19The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.Ezekiel 44:30And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.Leviticus 23:10Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Historical Context
Bread was the staple food of ancient Near Eastern diet, making this a frequent, everyday offering. Archaeological excavations reveal bread ovens in Israelite homes, typically operated by women. This offering thus particularly involved women's domestic labor, recognizing their work as worship. The practice continued in rabbinic Judaism as hafrashat challah (separating challah), still observed by Orthodox Jews today, though without temple/priesthood, the portion is typically burned.
Questions for Reflection
- How can you consecrate routine daily activities as acts of worship?
- What does God's concern for household bread-making teach about the sacred-secular divide?
- How might viewing your work—whether cooking, carpentry, or computer programming—as offering to God transform your attitude?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering—this challah (חַלָּה) offering made from the first portion of bread dough consecrated even household food preparation to Yahweh. Unlike agricultural firstfruits brought to the sanctuary, this offering occurred in the home, sacralizing domestic life. Every bread-baking became an act of worship, reminding Israel that God's claim extended beyond formal religious rituals into everyday activities.
The comparison as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor connects household bread-making to the harvest-time grain offering. Just as the threshing floor's first grain went to God, so the kitchen's first dough. This comprehensive system meant Israel couldn't separate "secular" from "sacred"—all life belonged to Yahweh. Paul echoes this principle: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).