2 Chronicles 29:22 kjv
So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.
2 Chronicles 29:22 nkjv
So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Likewise they killed the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. They also killed the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.
2 Chronicles 29:22 niv
So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and splashed it against the altar; next they slaughtered the rams and splashed their blood against the altar; then they slaughtered the lambs and splashed their blood against the altar.
2 Chronicles 29:22 esv
So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw it against the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and their blood was thrown against the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs, and their blood was thrown against the altar.
2 Chronicles 29:22 nlt
So they killed the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Next they killed the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. And finally, they did the same with the male lambs.
2 Chronicles 29 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 17:11 | For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar... | Blood as the means of atonement. |
| Heb 9:22 | Indeed, under the law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. | Necessity of blood for forgiveness. |
| Ex 29:12 | You shall take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger... | Similar altar consecration with blood. |
| Lev 4:5-7 | The anointed priest shall take some of the bull's blood and carry it into the tent of meeting. He is to dip his finger... | Priest's role in handling sin offering blood. |
| Lev 1:5 | ...he is to slaughter the young bull before the Lord. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and sprinkle it... | Sprinkling blood in burnt offering. |
| Lev 3:8 | ...He is to slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons are to sprinkle its blood on all sides of the altar. | Blood sprinkling for fellowship offerings. |
| Lev 8:15 | Moses slaughtered the bull and took the blood and with his finger put it on the horns of the altar all around... | Altar purification during priestly ordination. |
| Ezek 43:20 | ...you shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar, and on the four corners of the ledge... | Cleansing altar in prophetic vision. |
| Heb 9:13-14 | For if the blood of goats and bulls... sanctifies those who are defiled... how much more will the blood of Christ... | Animal blood prefigures Christ's perfect blood. |
| Heb 10:4 | For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. | Limitation of animal sacrifices in taking away sin. |
| Heb 12:24 | ...to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. | Christ's blood as a better sprinkling. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | ...but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. | Redemption through Christ's spotless blood. |
| Rev 1:5 | ...and from Jesus Christ... To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood... | Christ's blood cleansing from sin. |
| Eph 1:7 | In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace... | Redemption and forgiveness through Christ's blood. |
| Col 1:20 | ...and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. | Reconciliation and peace through Christ's blood. |
| Rom 3:25 | God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. | Christ's blood as propitiation. |
| 2 Chr 29:7 | They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps, and have not offered incense or made burnt offerings... | Prior neglect that necessitated these rituals. |
| 2 Chr 29:19 | Moreover, all the articles that King Ahaz had removed in his unfaithfulness when he was king, we have restored and consecrated... | Prior defilement necessitating temple cleansing. |
| 2 Chr 30:15-16 | They slaughtered the Passover lamb... and the priests sprinkled the blood received from the Levites. | Later cleansing and ritual continuation in Hezekiah's reign. |
| Isa 53:10 | ...he makes his life an offering for sin... | Prophecy of the Messiah's sin offering. |
| John 1:29 | The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" | Christ as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. |
| Acts 20:28 | ...to shepherd the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. | The church purchased by Christ's blood. |
2 Chronicles 29 verses
2 Chronicles 29 22 Meaning
2 Chronicles 29:22 describes the pivotal act of ritual purification during King Hezekiah's reign. It details the precise steps taken by the priests after various animals—bulls, rams, and lambs—were slaughtered for sacrifice. The priests carefully received the blood from each animal and sprinkled it upon the altar, signifying the atonement and cleansing necessary to consecrate the temple and people to the Lord, following the period of defilement under King Ahaz. This process of applying blood to the altar was essential for purification and reconciliation.
2 Chronicles 29 22 Context
2 Chronicles Chapter 29 marks a significant spiritual revival under King Hezekiah of Judah. Ascending to the throne after the deeply idolatrous reign of his father, Ahaz, Hezekiah immediately embarked on restoring true worship. The chapter describes the reopening and cleansing of the defiled temple, the return of the priests and Levites to their sacred duties, and the reinstitution of the commanded sacrifices. Verse 22 specifically describes the initial stage of purification: the blood from various categories of sacrificial animals is applied to the altar, a crucial step for cleansing the altar and, by extension, the entire temple and people from defilement and sin, making them fit for God's presence and proper worship according to Mosaic Law. Historically, this represented a profound break from syncretistic practices and a return to the covenant faith, establishing ritual purity as the foundation for renewed relationship with God.
2 Chronicles 29 22 Word analysis
- So they slaughtered (וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ – vayyishḥaṭu): From the root שָׁחַט (shaḥat), meaning to kill, slaughter, especially for sacrificial purposes. This word implies a prescribed ritual act, not just killing, but an offering of life. It emphasizes the foundational act of sacrifice as per God's law.
- the bulls (הַבָּקָר – habbaqar): Domesticated bovine animals. Bulls, being the largest and most valuable, were often used for significant corporate sin offerings or for atonement for the congregation, or for high-ranking officials. Their sacrifice symbolized a comprehensive and substantial offering for the grave defilement under Ahaz.
- and the priests (הַכֹּהֲנִים – hakkohanim): Specifically refers to the descendants of Aaron who were consecrated for priestly duties. This highlights their unique and exclusive role as mediators between God and the people in the cultic system, particularly in handling the sacred blood.
- received (וַיְקַבְּלוּ – vayeqabblu): From קָבַל (qabal), meaning to receive, take, accept. It suggests a purposeful, solemn reception of the blood into a vessel, underscoring the reverent and prescribed nature of handling this vital element of atonement. It wasn't accidental but a designated action.
- the blood (הַדָּם – haddam): From דָּם (dam), meaning blood. In Israelite sacrificial theology, blood holds the life force (Lev 17:11) and is the sole means for atonement and cleansing of sin and impurity. Its application on the altar symbolized the life given for life, satisfying divine justice and bringing reconciliation.
- and sprinkled it (וַיִּזְרְקוּהוּ – vayyizrĕquhu): From זָרַק (zaraq), meaning to sprinkle, splash, strew. This precise ritualistic application of the blood (not pouring or painting) indicates that atonement is a sacred and deliberate act. Sprinkling typically symbolized purification, consecration, or the making of a covenant.
- on the altar (עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ – ‘al-hammizbeaḥ): The altar of burnt offering, the primary point of contact between God and man in the temple court. It was here that sin was symbolically dealt with. The altar itself was consecrated and purified by blood, allowing it to once again serve as a holy place for acceptable worship.
- They also slaughtered the rams... They slaughtered the lambs: The repetition and distinct mention of different types of animals (rams - אֵילִים (elim), often used for guilt offerings, consecration; lambs - כְּבָשִׂים (kěvāsim), frequently for personal sin or purity) indicates the comprehensive nature of the atonement being sought. Each category addressed specific aspects of defilement or sin, covering the full spectrum of transgressions of the people and cleansing of the temple. The systematic and thorough process underscores the magnitude of the spiritual restoration.
- slaughtered the rams, and sprinkled the blood on the altar. They slaughtered the lambs, and sprinkled the blood on the altar: This repeated structure emphasizes the methodical and complete nature of the purification ritual. The thorough application of blood from different animal types ensured a comprehensive covering for all forms of defilement—from corporate sin (bulls) to more individual or general impurities (rams, lambs). This ritual established purity as the necessary foundation for future offerings and communion with God.
2 Chronicles 29 22 Bonus section
- The progression from bulls to rams to lambs often signified a descending scale in the gravity of the sin being atoned for or the status of the offerer (high priest/community, ruler/individual, common person). In Hezekiah's purification, it symbolizes a thorough addressing of defilement at all levels.
- The altar of burnt offering was seen as the central point of communion with God, where sins were dealt with. Its cleansing was paramount because it served as the interface for God's presence among His people.
- The meticulous adherence to the ritual laws concerning blood, after a period of utter neglect and idolatry, underscored Hezekiah's deep commitment to covenant faithfulness and served as a powerful declaration against the apostasy of his father Ahaz.
- The ritual acts performed by the priests (receiving and sprinkling the blood) were not merely ceremonial but were understood to have genuine spiritual efficacy within the old covenant system, purifying the impure and atoning for sin, enabling worship to proceed.
2 Chronicles 29 22 Commentary
2 Chronicles 29:22 illustrates the critical act of applying sacrificial blood to the altar, a cornerstone of Mosaic covenant worship and vital for ceremonial purification. King Hezekiah, seeking to reverse the widespread defilement under Ahaz, initiated this meticulous cleansing of the temple. The repetition of "slaughtered...received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar" for bulls, rams, and lambs emphasizes the comprehensive and systematic nature of this atonement. The varied animals covered a spectrum of sins, from communal transgressions to individual impurities, signifying a full restoration of ritual purity for both the temple and the nation. This precise act, ordained by God, was foundational for re-establishing a relationship with a holy God. It foreshadows the perfect and ultimate sacrifice of Christ, whose own blood, "sprinkled" (Heb 12:24) on the heavenly altar, provides eternal and complete forgiveness, surpassing the limited power of animal blood (Heb 10:4) by cleansing believers from all sin.