234. azkarah
Lexical Summary
azkarah: Memorial offering, remembrance portion

Original Word: אַזְכָּרָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: azkarah
Pronunciation: az-kaw-RAW
Phonetic Spelling: (az-kaw-raw')
KJV: memorial
NASB: memorial portion, memorial offering
Word Origin: [from H2142 (זָכַר - remember)]

1. a reminder
2. specifically remembrance- offering

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
memorial

From zakar; a reminder; specifically remembrance- offering -- memorial.

see HEBREW zakar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from zakar
Definition
a memorial offering
NASB Translation
memorial offering (2), memorial portion (5).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אַזְכָּרָה noun feminine memorial-offering, only P (an Aramaic infinitive form; compare BaNB 90 Sta§ 224) — absolute ׳א Leviticus 24:7; suffix אַזְכָּֽרָתָהּ Leviticus 2:2 5t.; — used of the frankincense burned for the shew-bread והיתה ׳אִשֶּׁה לי ׳ללחם לאז Leviticus 24:7; elsewhere always after הקטיר, only with suffix, referring to מִנְחָה Leviticus 2:2,9,16; Leviticus 6:8; Numbers 5:26; of the meal used as חַטָּאת by the very poor Leviticus 5:12; always connected with אִשֶּׁה, except Leviticus 6:8; Numbers 5:26.

Topical Lexicon
Concept within the Sacrificial System

The term designates the “memorial portion” that was burned on the altar from certain offerings. By reducing a handful of the grain or flour and letting its aroma ascend, the priest placed the entire gift “in remembrance” before the LORD. This act did not suggest divine forgetfulness but publicly affirmed the covenant relationship and invoked God’s faithful attention to His people.

Occurrences and Ritual Settings

Leviticus concentrates six of the seven uses, emphasizing the memorial portion in three main settings:
• Grain Offering – Leviticus 2:2, 2:9, 2:16 describe the priest’s handful of fine flour, oil, and frankincense: “He shall burn the memorial portion on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the LORD” (Leviticus 2:2).
• Continual Provision for the Priests – Leviticus 6:15 links the memorial portion to daily ministry; only the small handful was burned, while the rest fed the priesthood, uniting worship with sustenance.
• Showbread – Leviticus 24:7 places frankincense on the twelve loaves “as a memorial portion for the bread, an offering made by fire to the LORD,” underscoring weekly covenant remembrance.

Two further instances broaden the term’s reach:
• Sin Offering of Fine Flour – Leviticus 5:12 stresses that even in cases of poverty the memorial portion maintained the essential act of remembrance.
• Jealousy Offering – Numbers 5:26 applies the concept to the ordeal of suspected adultery, indicating that judgment as well as forgiveness stands before God’s memorial.

Symbolism and Theological Emphases

1. Representation of the Whole: The small handful stood for the entire gift, illustrating that God receives and judges the heart behind the offering, not merely its size.
2. Aroma of Acceptance: Each reference pairs the memorial portion with “a pleasing aroma,” revealing divine acceptance on the basis of obedient faith.
3. Covenant Memory: By calling an offering a “memorial,” Scripture highlights God’s covenant faithfulness; the act publicly rehearsed His past mercies and sought continued grace.
4. Holiness and Consumption: What was burned belonged solely to God; what remained sustained the priests, weaving divine holiness and communal provision into one ritual.

Liturgical Function and the Priesthood

The priest’s role was essential. He identified the handful, added incense where prescribed, and ensured complete combustion. The precision safeguarded both the sanctity of the altar and the livelihood of the priestly families. In turn, Israel witnessed a visible reminder that their daily labors (grain) and weekly worship (showbread) were forever tied to God’s presence.

Christological Foreshadowing

The memorial portion previews the perfect offering of Jesus Christ. His self-sacrifice was entirely consumed for God’s glory, yet believers, like the priests, now live from the benefits of that one offering. The apostle’s exhortation, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1), echoes the principle that a portion—one life—can represent the many. Likewise, the Lord’s Supper operates as a “remembrance” (Luke 22:19), signaling continuity between ancient memorial portions and New Covenant worship.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Worship Planning: Blending praise (frankincense) with tangible gifts mirrors the memorial portion’s dual fragrance of thanksgiving and dedication.
• Stewardship Teaching: The handful shows that proportional giving, not equal amounts, honors God.
• Pastoral Care: The poverty-adapted sin offering (Leviticus 5:12) encourages inclusive ministry, assuring that no believer is excluded from atonement or remembrance due to lack of resources.
• Prayer Life: Cornelius’s prayers rose “as a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4), inviting believers to view intercession as a spiritual azkarah.

Related Themes and Cross-References

• Passover as “a memorial” – Exodus 12:14
• Incense before the throne – Revelation 8:3-4
• Offerings for remembrance in Psalms – Psalm 20:3

Through these interconnected strands, the memorial portion invites every generation to worship the LORD with offerings, prayers, and lives that continually rise before Him in covenant remembrance.

Forms and Transliterations
אַזְכָּ֣רָתָ֔הּ אַזְכָּרָתָ֖הּ אַזְכָּרָתָ֗הּ אַזְכָּרָתָה֙ אַזְכָּרָתָהּ֙ אזכרתה לְאַזְכָּרָ֔ה לאזכרה ’az·kā·rā·ṯāh ’azkārāṯāh azkaraTah lə’azkārāh lə·’az·kā·rāh leazkaRah
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Leviticus 2:2
HEB: הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־ אַזְכָּרָתָהּ֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה אִשֵּׁ֛ה
NAS: shall offer [it] up in smoke [as] its memorial portion on the altar,
KJV: shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar,
INT: shall offer and the priest memorial the altar an offering

Leviticus 2:9
HEB: הַמִּנְחָה֙ אֶת־ אַזְכָּ֣רָתָ֔הּ וְהִקְטִ֖יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה
NAS: up from the grain offering its memorial portion, and shall offer [it] up in smoke
KJV: from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn
INT: at offering memorial and shall offer the altar

Leviticus 2:16
HEB: הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־ אַזְכָּרָתָ֗הּ מִגִּרְשָׂהּ֙ וּמִשַּׁמְנָ֔הּ
NAS: shall offer up in smoke its memorial portion, part of its grits
KJV: shall burn the memorial of it, [part] of the beaten corn
INT: shall offer the priest memorial grits oil

Leviticus 5:12
HEB: קֻמְצ֜וֹ אֶת־ אַזְכָּרָתָה֙ וְהִקְטִ֣יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה
NAS: his handful of it as its memorial portion and offer [it] up in smoke
KJV: his handful of it, [even] a memorial thereof, and burn
INT: all along handful memorial and offer the altar

Leviticus 6:15
HEB: רֵ֧יחַ נִיחֹ֛חַ אַזְכָּרָתָ֖הּ לַיהוָֽה׃
NAS: aroma, as its memorial offering to the LORD.
KJV: savour, [even] the memorial of it, unto the LORD.
INT: aroma A soothing memorial to the LORD

Leviticus 24:7
HEB: וְהָיְתָ֤ה לַלֶּ֙חֶם֙ לְאַזְכָּרָ֔ה אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃
NAS: on each row that it may be a memorial portion for the bread,
KJV: that it may be on the bread for a memorial, [even] an offering made by fire
INT: become the bread memorial an offering to the LORD

Numbers 5:26
HEB: הַמִּנְחָה֙ אֶת־ אַזְכָּ֣רָתָ֔הּ וְהִקְטִ֖יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה
NAS: of the grain offering as its memorial offering and offer [it] up in smoke
KJV: of the offering, [even] the memorial thereof, and burn
INT: of the grain offering memorial and offer the altar

7 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 234
7 Occurrences


’az·kā·rā·ṯāh — 6 Occ.
lə·’az·kā·rāh — 1 Occ.

233
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