New American Standard Bible 1995

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Deuteronomy

18

:

3

"Now this shall be the priests' due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
"Now this this, here Pronoun H2088 וְזֶ֡ה ve·zeh
shall be the priests' priest Noun H3548 הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים hak·ko·ha·nim
due judgment Noun H4941 מִשְׁפַּ֨ט mish·pat
from the people, people Noun H5971 הָעָ֗ם ha·'am
from those who offer a sacrifice, to slaughter for sacrifice Verb H2076 זֹבְחֵ֥י zo·ve·chei
either if Conjunction H518 אִם־ im-
an ox a head of cattle (bullock, ox, etc.) Noun H7794 שֹׁ֣ור sho·vr
or if Conjunction H518 אִם־ im-
a sheep, one of a flock, a sheep (or goat) Noun H7716 שֶׂ֑ה seh;
of which they shall give to give, put, set Verb H5414 וְנָתַן֙ ve·na·tan
to the priest priest Noun H3548 לַכֹּהֵ֔ן lak·ko·hen,
the shoulder arm, shoulder, strength Noun H2220 הַזְּרֹ֥עַ haz·ze·ro·a'
and the two cheeks jaw, cheek Noun H3895 וְהַלְּחָיַ֖יִם ve·hal·le·cha·ya·yim
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

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and the stomach. stomach, belly Noun H6896 וְהַקֵּבָֽה׃ ve·hak·ke·vah.

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 "Now this shall be the priests' due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach.
King James Bible "Now And this shall be the priests' priest's due from the people, from those who them that offer a sacrifice, either an whether it be ox or a sheep, of which sheep; and they shall give to unto the priest the shoulder shoulder, and the two cheeks cheeks, and the stomach.maw.
Hebrew Greek English "Now this shall be the priests' due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach.