This verse highlights that God’s commandments for offerings were delivered by divine decree through Moses at Mount Sinai.
Leviticus 7:38 describes the divine origin of the regulations for offerings by saying “which the Lord commanded Moses at Mount Sinai in the day that He commanded the sons of Israel to present their offerings to the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai” (v.38). This reference emphasizes that the guidelines for offerings did not arise from human invention but were revealed directly by God. By highlighting “the day that He commanded the sons of Israel to present their offerings” (v.38), the verse indicates a specific, historical point when these commands were delivered, underscoring their sacred significance and showing how obedience to them reflected faith in God’s covenant. Throughout Leviticus, the underlying principle is the importance of reverent worship, and here we see a clear continuation of that theme within the context of properly presenting sacrifices.
Moses, who is mentioned in “which the Lord commanded Moses at Mount Sinai” (v.38), stands as a central figure in Israel’s journey around the 15th to 13th centuries BC. He is the deliverer of the people from bondage in Egypt (Exodus 12:40-41), the mediator of the Ten Commandments, and the one whom God used to communicate the terms of the covenant. This verse specifically locates him at Mount Sinai, a dramatic and revered landmark in the southwestern part of the Sinai Peninsula. It was there, amid the rugged desert terrain, that Moses received the Law, forging the spiritual and communal identity of the new nation (Exodus 19-20).
The “wilderness of Sinai” (v.38) was not merely a background setting; it was a crucial stage in Israel’s relationship with the Lord, as it tested their commitment and reliance on God for sustenance and direction. In future centuries, these same sacrificial principles would help prepare the people to understand the ultimate sacrifice found in Jesus Christ, whose once-for-all offering fulfilled the symbolic system of offerings (Hebrews 10:10-14).
Leviticus 7:38 meaning
Leviticus 7:38 describes the divine origin of the regulations for offerings by saying “which the Lord commanded Moses at Mount Sinai in the day that He commanded the sons of Israel to present their offerings to the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai” (v.38). This reference emphasizes that the guidelines for offerings did not arise from human invention but were revealed directly by God. By highlighting “the day that He commanded the sons of Israel to present their offerings” (v.38), the verse indicates a specific, historical point when these commands were delivered, underscoring their sacred significance and showing how obedience to them reflected faith in God’s covenant. Throughout Leviticus, the underlying principle is the importance of reverent worship, and here we see a clear continuation of that theme within the context of properly presenting sacrifices.
Moses, who is mentioned in “which the Lord commanded Moses at Mount Sinai” (v.38), stands as a central figure in Israel’s journey around the 15th to 13th centuries BC. He is the deliverer of the people from bondage in Egypt (Exodus 12:40-41), the mediator of the Ten Commandments, and the one whom God used to communicate the terms of the covenant. This verse specifically locates him at Mount Sinai, a dramatic and revered landmark in the southwestern part of the Sinai Peninsula. It was there, amid the rugged desert terrain, that Moses received the Law, forging the spiritual and communal identity of the new nation (Exodus 19-20).
The “wilderness of Sinai” (v.38) was not merely a background setting; it was a crucial stage in Israel’s relationship with the Lord, as it tested their commitment and reliance on God for sustenance and direction. In future centuries, these same sacrificial principles would help prepare the people to understand the ultimate sacrifice found in Jesus Christ, whose once-for-all offering fulfilled the symbolic system of offerings (Hebrews 10:10-14).