📖 Biblical Definition
The grain offering of the Mosaic sacrificial system, distinct from the animal sacrifices but integral to the whole. Leviticus 2 details its preparation: fine flour, oil, and frankincense, either uncooked (with a handful burned as a memorial) or baked in oven, pan, or frying-pan (also with a memorial portion). Always unleavened (no leaven or honey could be burned to the LORD, Lev 2:11), always salted (the salt of the covenant, Lev 2:13). Most of the offering went to Aaron and his sons as their food allotment. The meal offering accompanied burnt and peace offerings (Num 28-29) and signified the consecrated labor and dedication of the offerer — his work-product brought before God. Christ as the true grain offering is implied in the NT: He is the corn of wheat that fell into the ground and died, that He might bring forth much fruit (John 12:24). The Christian believer offers the work of his hands as continuing meal-offering (Heb 13:15-16).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The grain offering of fine flour and oil.
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The Mosaic grain offering of fine flour, mixed with oil and frankincense, sometimes baked and sometimes raw; never with leaven or honey; presented either alone or in conjunction with animal sacrifices to consecrate the fruit of human labor.
📖 Key Scripture
Leviticus 2:1 — "When any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon."
Leviticus 2:11 — "No meat offering... shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering."
Numbers 28:5 — "And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Confused with English 'meat' (KJV uses 'meat offering' for the grain offering); modern speakers miss it is grain, not meat.
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Older English uses 'meat' for any food (cf. 'meat in due season'). The minchah is the grain offering — the fruit of human labor consecrated to God. It teaches that work-product itself is offering: bread and oil, not just blood and animal.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew minchah — gift, grain offering.
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['Hebrew', 'H4503', 'minchah', 'gift, grain offering']
['Hebrew', 'H5560', 'soleth', 'fine flour']
Usage
"Consecrate your labor as meal-offering."
"Bread and oil also are sacrifice."