Leviticus 2: You're a Handful!

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Jan 5, 2026 · 1m

“The priest shall scoop out of it a handful (kometz) of its choice flour and oil, as well as all of its frankincense” (verse 2).

וְהֵרִים מִמֶּנּוּ בְּקֻמְצוֹ מִסֹּלֶתָהּ וּמִשַּׁמְנָהּ עַל כָּל־לְבֹנָתָהּ וְהִקְטִיר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־אַזְכָּרָתָהּ הַמִּזְבֵּחָה רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַה׳׃

What is a kometz? The Gemara in Yoma 47b explains that the word means handfuls. If the word was only "handfuls," then the measurement could have been an overflowing fistful. Therefore, later in chapter 6 verse 8, the word is repeated in the singular. But the plural is needed in our verse so that one does not think the…