August 9th thru August 15th, 2026
20 – Parasha Tetzaveh (תְּצַוֶּ֣ה) — “Shalt Command ” – 5th Month 25th thru 6th Month 1st — (08/15/2026)
20 – Parsha Tetzaveh (תְּצַוֶּ֣ה) — “Shalt Command”
August 9th thru August 15th, 2026
August 10th thru August 16th
Torah Portion: Shemoth (Exodus) 27:20 – 30:10
Haftarah: Yechezq’el (Ezekiel) 43:10-27
Brit Ha’dasha: Ivriym (Hebrews) 13:10-17
Daily Readings
1stday (Sunday) – Shemoth (Exodus) 27:20-28:14 – Yahuah commands Mosheh to command the children of Yashar’el that they bring pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always; Aharon and his sons are commanded to order it from evening to morning before Yahuah as a statute throughout their generations; Yahuah commands Mosheh to take אֶת Aharon, his brother, and his sons from among the children of Yashar’el, that they may minister unto Him in the priest’s office; Set apart garments are commanded for Aharon for glory and for beauty; Yahuah commands the wise hearted, whom Yahuah has filled with Ruach Chokmah (Ruach of Wisdom), are commanded to make Aharon’s garments to consecrate him; The garments include the breastplate, ephod, robe, broidered coat, turban, and belt, made of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen; the ephod is to have two shoulder pieces joined together and a curious belt according to its work; Yahuah commands that two onyx stones be taken and engraved with the names of the children of Yashar’el, six names upon one stone and six upon the other according to their birth; The stones are to be set in gold and placed upon the shoulders of the ephod as stones of memorial, that Aharon shall bear their names before Yahuah upon his two shoulders for a memorial.
2ndday (Monday) – Shemoth (Exodus) 28:15-43 – Yahuah commands the making of the breastplate of judgment with cunning work of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen; It shall be foursquare and doubled, with four rows of precious stones, twelve stones according to the names of the twelve tribes of Yashar’el; Each stone shall have the name of one of the children of Yashar’el engraved upon it like the engravings of a signet; The breastplate is to be fastened to the ephod with rings, chains, and a lace of blue so that it shall not be loosed; Aharon shall bear אֶת the names of the children of Yashar’el in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart when he goes in unto the set apart place, for a memorial before Yahuah continually; Yahuah commands that the Uriym and the Thummiym be placed in the breastplate of judgment, that they shall be upon Aharon’s heart when he goes in before Yahuah, and that Aharon shall bear אֶת the judgment of the children of Yashar’el upon his heart before Yahuah continually; The robe of the ephod is to be all of blue, with golden bells and pomegranates upon the hem, that the sound of the bells shall be heard when Aharon goes in unto the set apart place before Yahuah and when he comes out, that he die not; A plate of pure gold is to be engraved with Qodesh L’Yahuah (Set Apartness of Yahuah) and placed upon Aharon’s forehead, that Aharon may bear אֶת the iniquity of the set apart things and that the children of Yashar’el may be accepted before Yahuah; Coats, belts, bonnets, and linen breeches are also commanded for Aharon’s sons that they bear not iniquity and die
3rdday (Tuesday) – Shemoth (Exodus) 29:1-18 –Yahuah commands the things that shall be done to hallow Aharon and his sons to minister unto Him in the priest’s office; A young bullock and two rams without blemish are to be taken together with matstsah, matstsah cakes tempered with oil, and wafers matstsah anointed with oil; Aharon and his sons are brought unto the door of the tent of meeting and washed with water; Mosheh is commanded to take אֶת the garments and put them upon Aharon, including the tunic, robe of the ephod, ephod, breastplate, girdle, turban, and the set apart crown; The anointing oil is poured upon his head and he is anointed; His sons are clothed with coats, girded with belts, and given bonnets, and the priest’s office is established as a perpetual statute; Yahuah commands that a bullock be brought before the tent of meeting, and Aharon and his sons shall put אֶת their hands upon the head of the bullock; The bullock is slaughtered before Yahuah, its blood is placed upon the horns of the altar and the remainder poured beside the bottom of the altar; The fat and inward parts are burned upon the altar, while the flesh, skin, and dung are burned with fire without the camp because it is a sin offering; The first ram is then taken, Aharon and his sons put אֶת their hands upon its head, it is slaughtered, its blood is sprinkled round about upon the altar, and the whole ram is burned upon the altar as an ascending smoke offering unto Yahuah, a sweet savour and an offering made by fire unto Yahuah.
4thday (Wednesday) – Shemoth (Exodus) 29:19-37 – Yahuah commands that the second ram be taken, and Aharon and his sons shall put אֶת their hands upon its head; The ram is slaughtered and its blood is placed upon the tip of the right ear of Aharon and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and the blood is sprinkled upon the altar round about; Yahuah commands that the blood upon the altar and the anointing oil be sprinkled upon Aharon, his garments, his sons, and their garments, and they shall be hallowed; The fat, rump, inward parts, caul above the liver, kidneys, fat upon them, and right shoulder are taken together with one loaf of bread, one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer from the basket of the matstsah; These are placed in the hands of Aharon and his sons and waved before Yahuah; Mosheh receives אֶת the breast of the ram of Aharon’s consecration as a wave offering; the breast and shoulder are sanctified for Aharon and his sons as a statute for ever from the children of Yashar’el; The set apart garments of Aharon shall belong to the son who serves in his stead, and he shall wear them seven days when he comes into the tent of meeting to minister in the set apart place; Aharon and his sons shall eat אֶת the flesh of the ram and the bread at the door of the tent of meeting, but a foreigner shall not eat thereof because they are set apart; seven days shall they be consecrated, and every day a bullock shall be offered for a sin offering for atonement; the altar shall be cleansed, atoned for, anointed, and sanctified seven days, and it shall be an altar most set apart.
5thday (Thursday) – Shemoth (Exodus) 29:38–46 – Yahuah commands that two lambs of the first year be offered upon the altar day by day continually, the one lamb in the morning and the other lamb at even; With the one lamb shall be a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering; The other lamb shall be offered at even according to the offering and drink offering of the morning; This shall be a continual ascending smoke offering throughout the generations of Yashar’el at the door of the tent of meeting before Yahuah, where He will meet with them and speak unto them; Yahuah declares that He will meet with the children of Yashar’el and that the tabernacle shall be sanctified by His glory; He declares, I will sanctify אֶת the tent of meeting of the assembly, and the altar, and He will sanctify Aharon and his sons to minister unto Him in the priest’s office; Yahuah declares that He will dwell among the children of Yashar’el and will be their Elohiym; Yashar’el shall know that He is Yahuah Elohaykem, Who brought them forth out of the land of Mitsrayim, that He may dwell among them.
Yechezq’el (Ezekiel) 43:10–27 – Yahuah reveals to Yechezq’el the ordinances for the altar in the future house, including the offerings, the sprinkling of blood, the cleansing and purging of the altar, and the seven days appointed for its purification and consecration; On the eighth day and thereafter, the priests are to offer ascending smoke offerings and peace offerings upon the altar, and Yahuah declares, “I will accept you;”
6thday (Friday) – Shemoth (Exodus) 30:1–10 – Yahuah commands Mosheh to make אֶת the altar of incense from shittiym wood, overlaying it with pure gold and placing it before the vail by the Ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat where Yahuah will meet with Mosheh; Aharon is commanded to burn sweet incense upon it every morning when he dresses the lamps and every evening when he lights the lamps, making it a perpetual incense before Yahuah throughout their generations; No strange incense, ascending smoke offering, oblation, or drink offering is to be offered upon it; Once each year Aharon is to make atonement upon its horns with the blood of the sin offering of atonements, because it is most set apart unto Yahuah.
Brit Ha’Dasha – Ivriym (Hebrews) 13:10–17 – Believers have an altar to eat from which the priest of the tabernacle have no right to eat; Yahusha suffered outside the gate to sanctify the people with His own blood; Believers are called to go forth unto Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach, because they seek a city to come; They are to continually offer the sacrifice of praise unto Elohiym, do good and communicate with others, for such sacrifices please Him; They are also commanded to obey and submit to those who have the rule over them.
Main Themes & Commandments — Parsha Tetzaveh
Yahuah Commands His Priests to Be Set Apart and Consecrated
Tetzaveh establishes the priesthood of Aharon and his sons and gives detailed instructions concerning their garments, anointing, consecration, and service before Yahuah. Aharon was to bear the names of the children of Yashar’el before Yahuah upon his shoulders and upon his heart, showing that the priestly office carried responsibility for the people before Him. The garments were to be made for glory and beauty, and Aharon and his sons were to be washed, clothed, anointed, and consecrated before entering into their appointed service.
The priesthood was not something to be entered according to personal desire or human appointment. Yahuah Himself established who would minister unto Him and how they were to be consecrated. Their service required obedience to His instructions and reverence for what He had declared set apart.
Shemoth (Exodus) 28:1-3 – “And take thou unto thee אֶת Aharon thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Yashar’el, that he may minister unto Me in the priest’s office… And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with Ruach Chokmah, that they may make Aharon’s אֶת garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto Me in the priest’s office.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 28:29 – “And Aharon shall bear אֶת the names of the children of Yashar’el in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the set apart place, for a memorial before Yahuah continually.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 29:7 – “Then shalt thou take the anointing אֶת oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 29:44 – “And I will sanctify אֶת the tent of meeting of the assembly, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aharon and his sons, to minister to Me in the priest’s office.”
**Yahuah commands His appointed servants to be consecrated and set apart according to His instructions, serving Him with reverence and carrying the responsibility He places upon them before His people.
Yahuah Commands Continual Set Apart Service and Offerings
Tetzaveh repeatedly establishes that the service before Yahuah was to be continual and according to His appointed order. The lamps were to burn continually, incense was to be offered morning and evening, and two lambs were to be offered day by day continually. The altar and priests were also to be cleansed, atoned for, and consecrated according to the instructions of Yahuah. This continual service demonstrated that what was set apart unto Yahuah was not to be treated casually or according to man’s preference.
The Haftarah reinforces this pattern by describing the cleansing and consecration of the altar for seven days, followed by the offerings beginning on the eighth day. The Brit Ha’Dasha likewise calls believers to continual praise, doing good, and communicating with others as offerings pleasing to Elohiym.
Shemoth (Exodus) 29:38-39 – “Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. The one אֶת lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 30:7-8 – “And Aharon shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth אֶת the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aharon lighteth אֶת the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before Yahuah throughout your generations.”
Yechezq’el (Ezekiel) 43:26-27 – “Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves. And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your ascending smoke offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith Adonai Yahuah.”
Ivriym (Hebrews) 13:15-16 – “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to Elohiym continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices Elohiym is well pleased.”
**Yahuah commands His people to maintain continual faithfulness in what He has appointed, offering Him what is set apart according to His instructions and living in a manner that brings Him acceptable praise.
Yahuah Requires Atonement, Cleansing, and Reverence for What Is Set Apart
The priesthood and altar could not be approached as ordinary things. Aharon and his sons were required to undergo washing, anointing, and consecration; blood was placed upon the altar and upon the priests; sin offerings were made for atonement; and the altar itself was cleansed and sanctified for seven days. Yahuah repeatedly declares that these things are set apart unto Him and establishes boundaries concerning what may be offered and who may partake.
The altar of incense was likewise declared most set apart unto Yahuah, and strange incense was forbidden. The Haftarah continues this emphasis by requiring the altar to be purged and purified before acceptable offerings could be made upon it. Tetzaveh therefore teaches that approaching Yahuah requires reverence for what He has declared set apart and obedience to the means of cleansing and atonement that He has appointed.
Shemoth (Exodus) 29:36-37 – “And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it. Seven days shalt thou make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most set apart: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be set apart.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 30:9-10 – “Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor ascending smoke offering, nor oblation; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon. And Aharon shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most set apart unto Yahuah.”
Yechezq’el (Ezekiel) 43:20 – “And thou shalt take אֶת the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it.”
Ivriym (Hebrews) 13:10-12 – “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Yahusha also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.”
**Yahuah commands His people to honour what He declares set apart, reject what He has forbidden, and approach Him according to His appointed way of cleansing, consecration, and atonement.
Hebrew Link Words
Tetzaveh (tə·ṣaw·weh) (תְּצַוֶּ֣ה) — “Shall Command” — Strong’s Hebrew Word 6680 [e]
The Hebrew word תְּצַוֶּ֣ה (Tetzaveh) “Shall Command” is the title of the twentieth portion of Yahuah’s year and comes from the primitive root צָוָה (tsavah), Strong’s 6680, meaning to command, charge, appoint, order, or give instructions. The word carries the idea of giving an authoritative command or placing something in order according to the will of the one giving the command.
Tetzaveh is found in Shemoth 27:20 where Yahuah commands Mosheh concerning the pure olive oil that was to be brought for the continual light of the menorah. The command then continues throughout the portion as Yahuah gives Mosheh detailed instructions concerning Aharon and his sons, their priestly garments, their consecration, the sacrifices, the altar, and the continual service before Him.
Shemoth (Exodus) 27:20 – “And thou Shalt Command אֶת the children of Yashar’el, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.”
The word Tetzaveh therefore establishes an important theme throughout this portion: Yahuah commands His people concerning how that which is set apart unto Him is to be prepared, consecrated, and maintained. The priesthood, the garments, the offerings, the altar, the incense, and the continual light were not established according to man’s preference but according to the commandment of Yahuah.
**Are you following the commandments and keeping the things of Father Yahuah set apart in your life or do you treat them as ordinary and common?
Lesharath (lə·šā·rêṯ) (לְשָׁרֵ֥ת) — “To Minister” — Strong’s Hebrew Word 8334 [e]
The Hebrew word לְשָׁרֵ֥ת (Lesharath) “To Minister” comes from the primitive root שָׁרַת (sharath), Strong’s 8334, meaning to minister, serve, attend, wait upon, or serve in an official capacity. The word is particularly associated with serving before or attending to someone of higher authority, and in Scripture it is frequently used concerning those who minister before Yahuah.
Shemoth (Exodus) 28:1 – “And take thou unto thee אֶת Aharon thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Yashar’el, that he may minister unto Me in the priest’s office, even Aharon, Nadav and Aviyhu, El’azar and Iythamar, Aharon’s sons.”
The same Hebrew root appears repeatedly throughout Tetzaveh as Aharon and his sons are appointed to minister unto Yahuah in the priest’s office. Their service was not simple, ordinary labor; they were appointed to serve in the things Yahuah had declared set apart.
This word also helps reveal an important principle of the portion: those who minister unto Yahuah are to serve according to His commands and instructions. Aharon and his sons could not determine for themselves how they would approach Yahuah or perform their priestly service. Their ministry was established by Yahuah.
Shemoth (Exodus) 29:44 – “And I will sanctify אֶת the tent of meeting of the assembly, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aharon and his sons, to minister to Me in the priest’s office.”
The Brit Ha’Dasha continues this concept by revealing Yahusha Ha’Mashiach as the greater High Priest and Minister of the true tabernacle, and believers are likewise called to offer service and praise unto Elohiym through Him.
Ivriym (Hebrews) 8:1-2 – “We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which Yahuah pitched, and not man.”
** Does your service to Yahuah come from a heart that desires to obey Him, or are there areas where you serve according to what is convenient or pleasing to yourself?
Yahusha Ha’Mashiach in the Torah Portion
- The Priesthood of Aharon points to Mashiach Yahusha as the greater High Priest Who ministers before Yahuah on behalf of His people. Aharon and his sons were chosen to minister unto Yahuah in the priest’s office, while Yahusha is revealed in the Brit Ha’Dasha as the High Priest of the true tabernacle which Yahuah pitched, and not man; Aharon’s ministry therefore provides the earthly pattern of the greater priesthood of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach.
- The Garments of Aharon point to Mashiach Yahusha as the One Who bears His people before Yahuah. Aharon was commanded to bear the names of the children of Yashar’el upon his shoulders and upon his heart when he entered before Yahuah, continually carrying their memorial before Him; Yahusha, as the greater High Priest, bears His people before Father Yahuah and ever lives to make intercession for them.
- The Anointing and Consecration of Aharon and his sons reveal Mashiach Yahusha as the Set Apart One Who sanctifies His people. Aharon and his sons were washed, clothed, anointed, and consecrated for service unto Yahuah, and blood was applied in their consecration; Yahusha is the One Who sanctifies His people through His own blood, having suffered outside the gate.
- The Sin Offering and Blood of the Altar point to Mashiach Yahusha as the greater Atonement for sin. Yahuah commanded continual sin offerings and atonement for the priests and the altar, while the Brit Ha’Dasha reveals that Yahusha offered Himself and sanctified His people with His own blood; the repeated offerings therefore reveal the need for the greater and sufficient work accomplished through Mashiach.
Reflection & Self-Study Questions
- Aharon was chosen and consecrated by Yahuah to minister in the priest’s office.
What does Tetzaveh teach you about the importance of being called, prepared, and set apart for service unto Yahuah? - Aharon bore the names of the children of Yashar’el upon his shoulders and upon his heart before Yahuah continually.
What does this reveal about the responsibility of representing others before Yahuah, and how does Yahusha Ha’Mashiach fulfill this greater role? - Yahuah commanded that the lamps burn continually before Him.
What does the continual light teach you about remaining faithful at all times and allowing the light of Yahuah to continually shine in your life for others to see? - The priesthood required washing (baptizing), anointing, consecration, and blood before Aharon and his sons could minister unto Yahuah.
What does this teach about the seriousness of approaching Yahuah and what He has declared set apart? - Yahuah commanded continual offerings upon the altar, while the Brit Ha’Dasha reveals Yahusha as the greater and sufficient sacrificial offering for sin.
How does understanding this relationship deepen your understanding of the purpose of the sacrificial system and the seriousness of each and every sin we commit? - Yahuah commanded that no strange incense be offered upon the altar of incense.
What does this teach about worship according to Yahuah’s instructions rather than according to man’s preferences, traditions, or imaginations that seem to dominate the church today? - Tetzaveh repeatedly emphasizes continual service before Yahuah, while Ivriym calls believers to continually offer the sacrifice of praise and to do good and communicate with others.
What areas of your life need greater consistency in worship, obedience, service, or praise unto Yahuah?