Exodus 24:8 kjv

And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

Exodus 24:8 nkjv

And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words."

Exodus 24:8 niv

Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

Exodus 24:8 esv

And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

Exodus 24:8 nlt

Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, "Look, this blood confirms the covenant the LORD has made with you in giving you these instructions."

Exodus 24 verses

Exodus 24 8 Meaning

Exodus 24:8 describes the crucial moment of the formal ratification of the Mosaic Covenant at Mount Sinai. After Israel solemnly pledged obedience to the divine decrees, Moses applied the sacrificial blood to the people, declaring it the visible seal of the covenant established by the Lord. This act consecrated the people to God, bound them to His words (the Law), and marked their entry into a unique, divinely-initiated relationship with Him, dependent on both His grace and their obedience.

Exodus 24 8 Context

Exodus 24:8 concludes the solemn ratification ceremony of the Mosaic Covenant at Mount Sinai. Following the Ten Commandments and the book of the covenant (Ex 20:1-23:33), Moses relayed these "words of the Lord" to the people (Ex 24:3), who unanimously pledged their obedience, declaring, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do." A ceremonial altar with twelve pillars was then built, and burnt offerings and peace offerings were sacrificed (Ex 24:4-5). Half of the sacrificial blood was immediately sprinkled on the altar, representing God's side of the covenant (Ex 24:6). The other half, referred to in verse 8, was then applied to the people. This ritual underscored Israel's acceptance of the covenant terms and their consecration as God's chosen nation. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, blood rituals were common in treaty-making to signify life and death oaths. However, this covenant ceremony uniquely involved Yahweh, the one true God, as the initiating party, signifying a sacred and binding relationship established on divine law rather than human initiative or arbitrary pagan practices. It polemically contrasted with the common pagan ideas of human manipulation of deities; here, God condescended to covenant with humanity on His righteous terms.

Exodus 24 8 Word analysis

• And Moses took the blood:
  • Moses: Serves as the appointed mediator between God and Israel, underscoring the necessity of divine representation in drawing near to God.
  • took the blood: The blood originates from the peace and burnt offerings sacrificed moments earlier (Ex 24:5). This blood is sacred, representing life (Lev 17:11) given in exchange for the sins or consecration of the offeror, here sealing the covenant.
• and threw it on the people:
  • threw (zaraq - זָרַק): Implies scattering or sprinkling widely, not merely anointing a few. This signifies a broad, inclusive application, affecting everyone present.
  • on the people: This is a unique and profound action. Blood was typically thrown only on the altar, representing God. Here, the blood binds the people directly to God in a covenant relationship, signifying their cleansing, consecration, and mutual commitment. It marks them as set apart and brings them into a direct, though mediated, communion with the divine presence.
• and said, 'Behold the blood of the covenant:
  • Behold: A strong declarative word, calling for immediate attention and understanding of the significance of the moment. It emphasizes the profound nature of what is being revealed.
  • the blood (dam - דָּם): The visible, tangible element that seals the spiritual reality of the agreement. It symbolizes life given, guilt covered, and sacred purification.
  • of the covenant (berit - בְּרִית): A solemn, binding agreement, establishing a relationship between God and His people. It's not a mere contract but a relationship of obligation and blessing, initiated by God. The blood here is the confirmation or ratification sign.
• that the Lord has made with you:
  • the Lord (Yahweh - יְהוָה): Emphasizes the divine initiator and ultimate authority of this covenant. This is not a humanly devised agreement, but a sovereign act of God.
  • has made with you: Highlights God's active role in establishing this bond. Israel is the recipient, yet they actively assented ("All that the Lord has spoken we will do," Ex 24:3, 7).
• in accordance with all these words':
  • in accordance with: The covenant is contingent upon and defined by what precedes it.
  • all these words: Refers directly to the "Book of the Covenant" (Ex 20:1-23:33), which includes the Ten Commandments and subsequent statutes given by God. It signifies that Israel's relationship with God is intrinsically tied to obedience to His laws. This covenant has conditions, obligations, and expectations for both parties, particularly Israel.

• Moses took the blood and threw it on the people: This specific act underscores Moses' mediating role in bringing the two parties (God and Israel) into sacred agreement. The blood application signifies both the people's purification for divine proximity and their binding oath of allegiance, with their very lives being on the line if the covenant were broken.
• Behold the blood of the covenant: This declarative phrase presents the blood as the irrefutable visual and spiritual sign of the binding relationship established. It's a clear pronouncement that the covenant, a serious, life-altering bond, is now sealed. The people are not just hearers of words but participants in a sacred transaction.
• that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words: This statement emphasizes the divine origin and structured nature of the covenant. It is God's initiative, extended to Israel, and defined by the precise terms and statutes He has provided. This sets the framework for their national and spiritual identity, entirely centered on divine revelation and law.

Exodus 24 8 Bonus section

The act of Moses throwing blood on the people, while alien to modern sensibilities, was profoundly meaningful in the ancient world, representing an unbreakable bond forged in life. It signaled that Israel, as a whole, was now brought under the authority and blessing of God's law. This physical manifestation was a potent declaration of their separation from other nations and their unique status as a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Ex 19:6). This ceremony transformed a collection of liberated slaves into a consecrated national entity, bound to Yahweh through a sacred covenant relationship. The vivid application of blood also communicated the high cost of this relationship – life given for covenant. Furthermore, this solemn moment at Sinai underscores God's willingness to commit to humanity and establish a relationship based on revealed truth and sacrificial provision, pointing towards His greater plan of redemption.

Exodus 24 8 Commentary

Exodus 24:8 stands as the culmination of the covenant ratification ceremony at Mount Sinai, profoundly defining Israel's identity as a consecrated people of God. The sprinkling of sacrificial blood on the people, following its application to the altar, symbolizes several critical aspects. Firstly, it represents the sanctification and purification of the nation, preparing them to enter into a direct relationship with a holy God. Secondly, it signifies their commitment and binding obligation to uphold the "words" of the covenant—the entire body of law, from the Ten Commandments to civil statutes, just received. This was not a passive reception; it was an active embrace of responsibility under divine promise. Thirdly, the blood, symbolizing life (Lev 17:11), sealed the life-or-death seriousness of this covenant, where disobedience could bring divine judgment.

This pivotal event prefigures the New Covenant, not merely by parallel but by intentional design, demonstrating God's consistent way of establishing relationships through sacrifice and declaration. The Mosaic Covenant, sealed with animal blood, was a foundational, yet conditional, agreement. It set the stage for understanding humanity's need for atonement and a deeper spiritual reality. In the New Testament, Jesus' blood on the cross, the "blood of the new covenant" (Mt 26:28), serves as the ultimate ratification. His perfect sacrifice brings not just outward purification but internal spiritual regeneration, offering forgiveness and new life. Where Israel was outwardly bound to laws by sprinkled animal blood, believers in Christ are internally transformed and reconciled to God through the infinitely more potent and everlasting blood of the Son, receiving a covenant written on hearts, empowered by the Holy Spirit (Jer 31:31-34, Heb 9:11-14). This demonstrates a shift from a provisional, physical administration to a final, spiritual fulfillment in Christ, allowing for direct access to God and enduring covenant participation.