Leviticus 22:26
“Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,”
What does Leviticus 22:26 mean?
This opening formula appears dozens of times throughout Leviticus and signals that what follows is an important instruction from God to Moses, who will then communicate it to the Israelite community. It's the storytelling pattern that frames God's teachings during Israel's wilderness journey, giving weight and authority to the laws and practices that come next. The verse itself doesn't contain the actual instruction, but it sets the stage for whatever guidance follows, reminding readers that these aren't just human ideas but directives understood as coming from God himself.