Aaron and his sons are to eat the remainder.This instruction pertains to the priests, specifically Aaron and his sons, who were designated to serve in the tabernacle. The "remainder" refers to the portion of the grain offering not burned on the altar, which was considered most holy. This practice underscores the provision for the priests, who did not have a land inheritance like the other tribes of Israel. It also highlights the principle of sharing in the offerings made to God, a theme that resonates with the New Testament teaching that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel (
1 Corinthians 9:13-14).
It must be eaten without leaven
Leaven, or yeast, is often symbolic of sin and corruption in the Bible. The requirement for the offering to be eaten without leaven signifies purity and holiness, reflecting the nature of God and the sanctity required in worship. This connects to the New Testament where Jesus warns against the "leaven of the Pharisees," which is hypocrisy (Luke 12:1). The unleavened bread also points to Christ, the sinless one, who is the bread of life (John 6:35).
in a holy place;
The holy place refers to a location set apart for sacred purposes, emphasizing the sanctity of the act of consuming the offering. This requirement ensures that the priests maintain a reverent attitude towards the offerings, recognizing them as holy. The concept of holiness is central to Leviticus and is a reminder of God's call for His people to be holy as He is holy (Leviticus 11:44).
they are to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.
The courtyard of the Tent of Meeting was the designated area for the priests to perform their duties and partake in the offerings. This location was accessible only to the priests, ensuring that the consumption of the offering remained a sacred act. The Tent of Meeting, also known as the Tabernacle, was the dwelling place of God's presence among the Israelites, symbolizing His desire to be with His people. This foreshadows the coming of Jesus, Emmanuel, "God with us" (Matthew 1:23), and the ultimate fulfillment of God's presence with humanity through the Holy Spirit.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
AaronThe first high priest of Israel, brother of Moses, and a key figure in the establishment of the priestly order.
2.
Aaron's SonsThe descendants of Aaron who served as priests, responsible for performing the rituals and sacrifices as outlined in the Law.
3.
Holy PlaceRefers to the sacred area designated for worship and sacrifice, specifically the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.
4.
Tent of MeetingThe portable earthly dwelling place of God among the Israelites, where the priests performed their duties.
5.
LeavenA substance, typically yeast, used in dough to make it rise. In the context of sacrifices, leaven is often symbolic of sin or corruption.
Teaching Points
The Role of the PriesthoodThe priesthood, represented by Aaron and his sons, was integral to maintaining the covenant relationship between God and Israel. Their duties were a foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate priesthood.
Symbolism of LeavenLeaven, often representing sin, was excluded from offerings to signify purity and holiness. This calls believers to examine their lives for sin and strive for holiness.
Sacred SpacesThe courtyard of the Tent of Meeting was a designated holy place, reminding us of the importance of reverence and respect for places of worship today.
Communal and Personal HolinessThe consumption of the offering by the priests in a holy place underscores the communal aspect of holiness, where personal and collective purity are intertwined.
Christ as Our High PriestThe priestly duties and the sacrificial system point to Jesus Christ, who fulfills and surpasses these roles, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Leviticus 6:16?
2.How does Leviticus 6:16 emphasize the holiness required in priestly duties?
3.What does "Aaron and his sons shall eat" signify about priestly provision?
4.How can we apply the principle of sacred consumption in our daily lives?
5.What connections exist between Leviticus 6:16 and New Testament teachings on holiness?
6.How does this verse reflect God's provision and care for His servants?
7.What is the significance of the grain offering in Leviticus 6:16?
8.How does Leviticus 6:16 reflect God's provision for the priests?
9.Why is the consumption of unleavened bread emphasized in Leviticus 6:16?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 6?
11.What does the tabernacle of David refer to?
12.(Leviticus 6:14-18) Is the precise handling of grain offerings reasonable given the nomadic conditions of the Israelites, and is there archaeological support for these meticulous procedures?
13.In Leviticus 9:22-23, is there any historical or archaeological evidence outside the Bible to support the account of Moses and Aaron's miraculous blessing and the visible glory of God?
14.How can the exclusive priestly role assigned to Aaron's descendants (Numbers 18:1-7) be historically verified given the sparse archaeological evidence for tribal lineages?What Does Leviticus 6:16 Mean
Aaron and his sons are to eat the remainder- The “remainder” is what is left of the grain offering after a memorial portion has been burned on the altar (Leviticus 2:2–3, 10; 6:14).
- God explicitly assigns this portion to the priests as their food, showing that those who serve at the altar live from the altar (Numbers 18:8–10;1 Corinthians 9:13).
- This provision underscores God’s care for His ministers and affirms that sacred service brings real, tangible blessing.
It must be eaten without leaven- Leaven often pictures sin or corruption (Exodus 12:15;Matthew 16:6;1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
- By requiring the bread to be unleavened, God teaches that the priests’ fellowship with Him must be marked by purity and separation from sin.
- The spotless nature of the offering foreshadows Christ, the sinless “bread of life” (John 6:35).
In a holy place- “Holy” points to that which is set apart for God; the priests may not treat these leftovers as common food to be eaten anywhere (Leviticus 10:12-13).
- Consuming the offering within consecrated space reminds the priests—and us—that fellowship with God is always on His terms, never ours.
- It also safeguards the community by keeping sacred items from casual or profane use (Ezekiel 22:26).
They are to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting- The courtyard lies inside the Tabernacle fence but outside the sanctuary proper (Exodus 27:9-19).
- Eating there keeps the act visible to the worshiping congregation yet still within sanctified boundaries.
- This balances reverence (the meal remains in God’s house) with accessibility (the priests do not hide their fellowship with God).
summaryLeviticus 6:16 teaches that God both feeds and sanctifies His priests: the leftover grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons, must remain free from leaven, and is to be eaten only within the consecrated court. These details highlight purity, provision, and reverence—timeless principles that culminate in Christ, our sinless High Priest who shares His holy life with all who serve Him.
(16)
With unleavened bread shall it beeaten.--Better,
unleavened shall it be eaten.That is, the remainder of the meal is to be made into unleavened cakes, and thus be eaten. (See
Leviticus 10:12.) By adding the word
with,which is not in the original, the Authorised Version says that the priests are to eat the meat offering with the addition of unleavened cakes.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Aaronאַהֲרֹ֣ן(’a·hă·rōn)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175:Aaron -- an elder brother of Mosesand his sonsוּבָנָ֑יו(ū·ḇā·nāw)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121:A sonare to eatיֹאכְל֖וּ(yō·ḵə·lū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 398:To eatthe remainder.וְהַנּוֹתֶ֣רֶת(wə·han·nō·w·ṯe·reṯ)Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 3498:To jut over, exceed, to excel, to remain, be left, to leave, cause to abound, preserveIt must be eatenתֵּֽאָכֵל֙(tê·’ā·ḵêl)Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 398:To eatas unleavened,מַצּ֤וֹת(maṣ·ṣō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4682:Sweetness, sweet, an unfermented cake, loaf, the festival of Passoverin a holyקָדֹ֔שׁ(qā·ḏōš)Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6918:Sacred, God, an angel, a saint, a sanctuaryplace;בְּמָק֣וֹם(bə·mā·qō·wm)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725:A standing, a spot, a conditionthey are to eatיֹאכְלֽוּהָ׃(yō·ḵə·lū·hā)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person feminine singular
Strong's 398:To eatit in the courtyardבַּחֲצַ֥ר(ba·ḥă·ṣar)Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 2691:A yard, a hamletof the Tentאֹֽהֶל־(’ō·hel-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 168:A tentof Meeting.מוֹעֵ֖ד(mō·w·‘êḏ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4150:Appointed time, place, or meeting
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OT Law: Leviticus 6:16 That which is left of it Aaron (Le Lv Lev.) 
