« | Leviticus 2 | » |
1 'When anyone offers a grain offering to the LORD, his offering shall be [of] fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it.
2 'He shall bring it to Aaron's sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn [it as] a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.
3 'The rest of the grain offering [shall be] Aaron's and his sons'. [It is] most holy of the offerings to the LORD made by fire.
4 ' And if you bring as an offering a grain offering baked in the oven, [it shall be] unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.
5 'But if your offering [is] a grain offering [baked] in a pan, [it shall be of] fine flour, unleavened, mixed with oil.
6 'You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it [is] a grain offering.
7 ' If your offering [is] a grain offering [baked] in a covered pan, it shall be made [of] fine flour with oil.
8 'You shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the LORD. And when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar.
9 'Then the priest shall take from the grain offering a memorial portion, and burn [it] on the altar. [It is] an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.
10 'And what is left of the grain offering [shall be] Aaron's and his sons'. [It is] most holy of the offerings to the LORD made by fire.
11 ' No grain offering which you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the LORD made by fire.
12 'As for the offering of the firstfruits, you shall offer them to the LORD, but they shall not be burned on the altar for a sweet aroma.
13 'And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.
14 ' If you offer a grain offering of your firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits green heads of grain roasted on the fire, grain beaten from full heads.
15 'And you shall put oil on it, and lay frankincense on it. It [is] a grain offering.
16 'Then the priest shall burn the memorial portion: [part] of its beaten grain and [part] of its oil, with all the frankincense, as an offering made by fire to the LORD.
The New King James Version (NKJV)
The New King James Version (NKJV) is a modern translation of the Bible that seeks to preserve the stylistic and literary beauty of the original King James Version (KJV) while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. The project to create the NKJV began in 1975, spearheaded by Arthur Farstad and a team of over 130 scholars, theologians, and pastors. They aimed to maintain the traditional language and rhythm of the KJV while updating archaic terms and expressions to be more understandable for modern audiences. The translation was completed and published in 1982, offering a blend of reverence for the past and clarity for the present.
One of the defining features of the NKJV is its commitment to the Textus Receptus, the same Greek text underlying the New Testament of the KJV. This ensures a high degree of continuity between the two versions, making the NKJV familiar to those who have long cherished the KJV. However, the NKJV also considers findings from more recent scholarship and textual criticism, incorporating insights from the latest manuscripts and research. This approach helps to balance respect for the historical text with a recognition of the advancements in biblical studies.
The NKJV has been praised for its readability and poetic qualities, which make it suitable for both private study and public worship. Its translators worked diligently to preserve the lyrical and memorable phrasing of the KJV, which has deeply influenced English literature and religious practice. By modernizing the language without compromising the text’s inherent dignity and solemnity, the NKJV has become a popular choice among those who value both accuracy and elegance in their Bible reading.
Despite its strengths, the NKJV has faced criticism from some quarters. Critics argue that by adhering too closely to the Textus Receptus, it may not fully reflect the breadth of available manuscript evidence. Others feel that it may still be too archaic for some readers, especially those who are new to the Bible or who come from different linguistic backgrounds. Nonetheless, the NKJV remains a significant and respected translation, offering a bridge between the venerable tradition of the KJV and the needs of modern readers.