Leviticus 2: The Grain Offering – A Gift of Thanksgiving

MIJN Team
Apr 1
2 min read

Key Verse: Leviticus 2:13 "Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings."

After the burnt offering in Leviticus 1, which symbolized atonement and full surrender, Leviticus 2 introduces the grain offering—a gift of thanksgiving and devotion to God.

This offering was different because it involved no blood. Instead, it was an act of worship and gratitude, expressing love for God and acknowledging His provision.

The Elements of the Grain Offering

The offering could be given in different forms:

Fine flour mixed with oil and frankincense
Baked loaves or wafers without yeast
Grain roasted over fire

Regardless of its form, three things remained constant:

No Yeast or Honey – Yeast symbolized corruption and sin, while honey, which could ferment, represented impurity. (Leviticus 2:11)
Oil and Frankincense – The oil represented God’s Spirit, and the fragrant incense symbolized prayer and worship.
Salt of the Covenant – Salt was a sign of preservation, loyalty, and lasting commitment to God. (Leviticus 2:13)

The Spiritual Meaning

Unlike the burnt offering, which was completely consumed, part of the grain offering was given to the priests for food (Leviticus 2:10). This shows that worship not only honors God, but also blesses His people.

The grain offering was an act of gratitude—a way to acknowledge that everything we have comes from Him.

Jesus: The True Grain Offering

The grain offering points us to Jesus in several ways:

Jesus is the Bread of Life – Just as the grain offering sustained the priests, Jesus nourishes our souls. (John 6:35)
Jesus was without sin, like the offering without yeast – He was pure and perfect. (Hebrews 4:15)
His life was a fragrant offering to God – His sacrifice was pleasing and acceptable. (Ephesians 5:2)