Exodus 29:10 kjv

And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock.

Exodus 29:10 nkjv

"You shall also have the bull brought before the tabernacle of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the bull.

Exodus 29:10 niv

"Bring the bull to the front of the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.

Exodus 29:10 esv

"Then you shall bring the bull before the tent of meeting. Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull.

Exodus 29:10 nlt

"Bring the young bull to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where Aaron and his sons will lay their hands on its head.

Exodus 29 verses

Exodus 29 10 Meaning

Exodus 29:10 initiates the central act of the sin offering required for the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests. It describes the priests-to-be bringing a bull to the tent of meeting and collectively laying their hands on its head. This act signifies the identification of Aaron and his sons with the sacrificial animal, symbolizing the transfer of their uncleanness and sin onto the bull, making it a substitute to bear the consequences for their ritual purity before they could commence their holy service. It underscores the absolute necessity of atonement and cleansing before approaching and serving a holy God.

Exodus 29 10 Context

Exodus 29 stands at a crucial juncture in Israel's theological and historical narrative, immediately following the detailed instructions for building the tabernacle and designing priestly garments (Exod 25-28). The chapter outlines the precise, elaborate seven-day consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons, establishing the Levitical priesthood for Israel. This was indispensable because for a holy God to dwell among His people, a mediation system through a consecrated priesthood was necessary. The immediate context of verse 10 focuses on the initial sacrifice—the bull for the sin offering (chatta’t). This sacrifice was paramount to purify the priests from their inherent defilement, making them ceremonially fit to serve in the presence of a holy God within the tabernacle, representing the people before Him. Without this intricate and commanded purification, their service would be invalid and dangerous. The entire process emphasizes the absolute holiness of God, the defiling nature of sin, and the divine provision for atonement and access.

Exodus 29 10 Word analysis

• Then you shall bring (וְהִקְרַבְתָּ֣ - vəhiqravta): The Hebrew verb qārab means "to bring near," "to offer," or "to present." In this cultic context, it refers to the act of bringing an animal for sacrifice. The phrasing emphasizes it as a divine command for Moses ("you," singular, referring to Moses as the one orchestrating the ceremony) to initiate the presentation of the sacrificial animal. It signifies a solemn, formal act of drawing close to God with an offering.
• the bull (הַפָּ֗ר - happar): The definite article "the" indicates a specific, previously mentioned bull designated for the sin offering, as instructed in Exod 29:1 ("one bull for a sin offering"). A "bull" (par) was a large, valuable animal, signifying the weighty nature of the offering, suitable for the high importance of a priestly consecration and representing a significant expense and sacrifice for atonement, far more substantial than other animals, reflecting the grave need for cleansing.
• before the tent of meeting (אֹ֤הֶל מוֹעֵד֙ - 'ohel mo'ed): Literally "tent of appointed time" or "tent of assembly." This is the divinely ordained sacred space where God specifically met with His people and where the covenant was ratified and maintained. Placing the sacrifice before it signifies that the act of atonement must happen in the prescribed place and manner where God's presence resides, indicating the need for all worship and sacrifice to be God-centered and according to His terms, rather than human convenience or design. It also highlights the public, ceremonial nature of the event.
• and Aaron and his sons (אַהֲרֹ֣ן וּבָנָיו֮ - 'aharon uvanav): Identifies the specific individuals who are the recipients of the consecration and the direct participants in this sacrificial ritual. Their collective action underlines their unified purpose and shared spiritual state as they enter priestly service together.
• shall lay their hands (וְסָמְכ֣וּ... יְדֵיהֶם֮ - vəsaməḵu... yədêhem): The verb samak (סָמַךְ) means "to lean on," "to rest," or "to support." In sacrificial rituals, this act signifies total identification. By leaning their full weight onto the animal's head, Aaron and his sons symbolically transferred their unholiness, guilt, and the potential defilement that could hinder their service onto the innocent animal. It visually represented the substitutionary nature of the sacrifice – the bull would die for them, bearing their uncleanness, so they might be pure enough to serve. It's an outward sign of an inward acknowledgment of sin and a desperate reliance on God's provided means of atonement.
• on the head of the bull (רֹ֤אשׁ הַפָּ֗ר - ro'sh happar): The head is often seen as representing the whole being or identity. Laying hands on the head specifically reinforces the idea of the transfer of identity or agency. The bull's death, as it now carries their imputed defilement, becomes a propitiatory act before God, making their purification possible.

Exodus 29 10 Bonus section

The laying on of hands in ancient Israelite cultic practice had multiple applications (ordination, blessing, judicial verdicts, punishment), but in the context of sacrifice, especially the sin offering, it primarily signified the imputation of sin. This means the individual’s moral and ritual impurity was symbolically transferred to the victim. The efficacy of the sacrifice was tied to this act, as the animal became the designated bearer of the offerer’s transgressions. This principle is vital for understanding the concept of imputation both in the Old Testament sacrificial system and its fulfillment in Christ’s work on the cross. The very phrase "tent of meeting" is not merely a descriptive name but highlights that this place was designated for a specific appointment (mo'ed) between God and humanity, underscoring God's initiative in providing a way to connect with His covenant people.

Exodus 29 10 Commentary

Exodus 29:10 captures a foundational truth regarding holiness, sin, and access to God. The prescribed act of Aaron and his sons laying their hands upon the bull destined for a sin offering is far more than a simple touch; it is a profound ritual of identification and substitution. Before God’s designated priests could undertake their holy service, representing Israel to a holy God, they themselves had to be cleansed of sin. This verse highlights that no one, regardless of their calling, can approach God on their own merits or purity. The bull, an expensive and significant animal, signifies the gravity of sin and the high cost of atonement. The laying on of hands visually and symbolically transferred their spiritual impurities, unholiness, and culpability onto the blameless animal, which would then be slain, its blood providing covering and cleansing. This entire ordination process, beginning with purification through the sin offering, was a divinely instituted prerequisite, establishing a vital theological precedent that separation from sin and a divinely provided atonement are non-negotiable for drawing near to God. This physical ritual foreshadows the ultimate spiritual reality of Christ, the sinless sacrifice upon whom the sins of humanity were "laid" (Isa 53:6; 2 Cor 5:21), allowing sinful humanity to be reconciled to God and access Him through His perfect atonement.