Hebrew word · H2373

חָזֶה

chazeh

breast

The breast or brisket of a sacrificial animal. In the Bible it occurs only in priestly texts. The Aramaic relative chadeh means 'chest' (Dan 2:32, the statue's 'breast of silver').

Appears 13 times in 12 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

breast (of animals), breast of an animal sacrifice

Aramaic equivalent: cha.di (חֲדִי "breast" H2306)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Leviticus 7:30

Range of meaning

The breast or brisket of a sacrificial animal. In the Bible it occurs only in priestly texts. The Aramaic relative chadeh means 'chest' (Dan 2:32, the statue's 'breast of silver').

Against the English

'Breast' is accurate, though a modern reader may think of poultry. Here it is the brisket of a bull, sheep or goat.

Used elsewhere in the period

It is always paired with the tenufah rite: 'the breast of the elevation offering' (Lev 7:34; 10:14–15; Num 6:20; 18:18). The ordination ritual is the model (Exod 29:26–27; Lev 8:29).

From the study of Numbers 18:18

Range of meaning

The breast or brisket of a sacrificial animal. It appears only in priestly sacrificial law (Exod 29:26–27; Lev 7:30–34; 8:29; 9:20–21; 10:14–15; Num 6:20; 18:18).

Against the English

'Breast' is accurate. The KJV phrase 'wave breast' is a fixed technical term, not a description.

Used elsewhere in the period

Always paired with the šôq as the priests' dues from the peace offering. Lev 10:14 adds that the breast and thigh are eaten 'in a clean place' by the priest 'and your sons and your daughters with you'.

Where it appears

Exodus · 2

  1. Exodus 29:26 הֶֽחָזֶ֗ה the breast

    Take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your portion.

  2. Exodus 29:27 חֲזֵ֣ה [the] breast of

    Consecrate for Aaron and his sons the breast of the wave offering that is waved and the thigh of the heave offering that is lifted up from the ram of ordination.

Leviticus · 9

  1. Leviticus 7:30 הֶֽחָזֶה֙ הֶחָזֶ֗ה the breast

    With his own hands he is to bring the food offerings to the LORD; he shall bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD.

    Here: The brisket of the sacrificed animal. It acts as a tray for the fat and then becomes the priests' share (v. 31).

  2. Leviticus 7:31 הֶֽחָזֶ֔ה the breast

    The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons.

  3. Leviticus 7:34 חֲזֵ֨ה [the] breast of

    I have taken from the sons of Israel the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as a permanent portion from the sons of Israel.’”

  4. Leviticus 8:29 הֶ֣חָזֶ֔ה the breast

    He also took the breast—Moses’ portion of the ram of ordination—and waved it before the LORD as a wave offering, as the LORD had commanded him.

  5. Leviticus 9:20 הֶחָז֑וֹת the breasts

    and placed these on the breasts. Aaron burned the fat portions on the altar,

  6. Leviticus 9:21 הֶחָז֗וֹת the breasts

    but he waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses had commanded.

  7. Leviticus 10:14 חֲזֵ֨ה [the] breast of

    And you and your sons and daughters may eat the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution in a ceremonially clean place, because these portions have been assigned to you and your children from the peace offerings of the sons of Israel.

  8. Leviticus 10:15 וַחֲזֵ֣ה and [the] breast of

    They are to bring the thigh of the contribution and the breast of the wave offering, together with the fat portions of the food offerings, to wave as a wave offering before the LORD. It will belong permanently to you and your children, as the LORD has commanded.”

Numbers · 2

  1. Numbers 6:20 חֲזֵ֣ה [the] breast of

    The priest shall then wave them as a wave offering before the LORD. This is a holy portion for the priest, in addition to the breast of the wave offering and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

    Here: The breast cut of the ram, which is the standard priestly share of any well-being offering (Lev 7:30–31).

  2. Numbers 18:18 כַּחֲזֵ֧ה like [the] breast of

    And their meat belongs to you, just as the breast and right thigh of the wave offering belong to you.

    Here: "Like the breast of": the brisket of a sacrificial animal, the priests' standard share of every peace offering (Lev 7:30–31). The comparison 'like' places the firstborn meat in the same category as that share.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.