Wave Offering
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Wave Offering in the Bible?
The wave offering was a ritual practice in ancient Israel where a portion of a sacrifice was ceremonially waved before the sanctuary, with specific portions allocated to the priesthood and others retained by the offerer for communal consumption, as detailed in Leviticus 7 and Numbers 18.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding this practice clarifies the structural hierarchy of priestly duties and the communal nature of sacrificial meals in the Hebrew Bible, illustrating how religious rituals reinforced social cohesion and the economic support of the Levitical class.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.