📖 Biblical Definition
An offering portion lifted up and set apart for God, often becoming the priests' food allotment within the broader sacrificial system. Hebrew terumah (contribution, heave-offering), from rum (to be high, lifted). The heave-offering was distinguished from the wave-offering (tenufah) by gesture: heaved was lifted vertically; waved was moved horizontally. Both were ritual acts of dedicating a portion to the LORD. Numbers 18:8-32 establishes the heave-offerings as the priestly portion — the priests had no land inheritance, so the heaved portions of sacrifices, firstfruits, and tithes became their material support. Exodus 29:27 designates portions of the consecration sacrifices as heave-offerings. The NT picks up the theme as believers themselves become a kind of offering presented to God (Rom 12:1: present your bodies a living sacrifice) — the whole person heaved up to the Lord in consecrated service.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
An offering lifted up and set apart for the priests.
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A specific category of Mosaic offering in which a portion was lifted (heaved) toward the LORD, then given to the priests as their share for sustenance — a tangible witness that the priests served at the people's expense.
📖 Key Scripture
Exodus 29:27 — "And thou shalt sanctify the breast of the wave offering, and the shoulder of the heave offering, which is waved, and which is heaved up."
Numbers 18:24 — "But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites."
Leviticus 7:32 — "And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Forgotten as obsolete ritual; missing how it visibly portrayed the people's support of priestly ministry.
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The heave offering teaches a permanent principle: those who serve at the altar live by the altar. Pastoral support is not optional under the new covenant either. Paul argues from heave-offering to gospel-support directly (1 Cor 9:13-14).
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew terumah — that which is lifted up.
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['Hebrew', 'H8641', 'terumah', 'heave offering']
['Hebrew', 'H7311', 'rum', 'to lift up']
Usage
"Support those who serve at the altar."
"The heave offering teaches gospel-support."