Exodus 29:12 kjv

And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar.

Exodus 29:12 nkjv

You shall take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour all the blood beside the base of the altar.

Exodus 29:12 niv

Take some of the bull's blood and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest of it at the base of the altar.

Exodus 29:12 esv

and shall take part of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and the rest of the blood you shall pour out at the base of the altar.

Exodus 29:12 nlt

Put some of its blood on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest at the base of the altar.

Exodus 29 verses

Exodus 29 12 Meaning

Exodus 29:12 describes a crucial step in the consecration of the altar during the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests. It details the precise application and disposal of the blood from the bull offered as a sin offering (also known as a purification offering). This act was designed to cleanse and purify the brazen altar, rendering it sacred and fit for God's holy service, making atonement on behalf of the altar itself.

Exodus 29 12 Context

Exodus 29 is central to the establishment of the Israelite priesthood and the Tabernacle worship system. This chapter outlines the detailed divine instructions for the ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons, Nadab and Abihu, as priests, and for the consecration of the Tabernacle's altar. The entire chapter emphasizes holiness, purification, and the separation of priests and sacred spaces for exclusive service to God. The specific act described in verse 12, applying the blood of a sin offering to the brazen altar, is part of this elaborate eight-day ritual. This ceremony transforms the altar from a mere construct into a holy vessel dedicated for making atonement, allowing the priests to legitimately offer sacrifices to a holy God on behalf of the people. It demonstrates God's meticulous care in setting up a clean and pure approach for humanity to come into His presence, contrasting sharply with chaotic or idolatrous worship practices of surrounding cultures.

Exodus 29 12 Word analysis

• You (אַתָּה, attah): Refers directly to Moses. Moses, as God's chosen intermediary and prophet, performs the specific actions of consecration, demonstrating that these rituals are not human innovations but divine commands administered through appointed leadership.
• shall take (וְלָקַחְתָּ, v'lakachtah): An imperative verb, signifying a direct command from God, highlighting the authoritative and necessary nature of this specific action.
• some of the blood (מִדַּם הַפָּר, middam ha-par): Not all the blood, but a portion selected for specific ritual application. This precision underscores the ritualistic significance of blood's use for specific purposes, rather than a mere, wasteful act. It signifies the potent, life-giving essence designated for atonement and purification.
• of the bull (הַפָּר, ha-par): This refers to the bull designated as a sin offering (also chatta't), highlighting its role in covering unintentional sin and ritual impurity. A bull was a significant and costly sacrifice, signifying the gravity of sin and the comprehensive nature of the purification.
• and put it (וְנָתַתָּה, v'natattah): Implies deliberate and careful application, not just an arbitrary splashing.
• on the horns (עַל־קַרְנוֹת, 'al qarnot): The four prominent extensions on the corners of the brazen altar. Horns in ancient cultures often symbolized power, strength, or dignity. In a sacred context, they might represent the altar's authority, points of intercession, or a focal point for the altar's inherent sacredness. Application of blood here concentrates purification and consecration to these significant parts, vital for future atoning rituals.
• of the altar (הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, ha-mizbeakh): The altar of burnt offering, where animal sacrifices are consumed. This is the primary point of encounter between humanity and God through sacrifice. Its cleansing is paramount for all subsequent holy acts performed upon it.
• with your finger (בְּאֶצְבָּעֶךָ, b'etsba'ekha): A simple, direct tool, emphasizing a precise, controlled, and personal application of the blood, guided by divine instruction. It also signifies the sacred duty performed by Moses.
• and pour out (וְאֶת־כָּל־הַדָּם הַנּוֹתָר תִּשְׁפֹּךְ, v'et-kol-ha-dam ha-notar tishpakh): Signifies the disposal of the remainder, preventing any ritual contamination or misuse. This demonstrates thoroughness and completeness of the blood's sacred purpose in the offering, symbolizing its complete appropriation.
• all the rest of the blood (כָּל־הַדָּם הַנּוֹתָר, kol-ha-dam ha-notar): Emphasizes the totality. Every part of the sacred blood had a specific function or disposal, nothing was to be handled carelessly. This underscores the sanctity of life (in the blood) offered to God.
• at the base of the altar (אֶל־יְסוֹד הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, el-yesod ha-mizbeakh): The bottom or foundation of the altar. Pouring the blood here completes the cleansing, perhaps allowing it to return to the earth as a means of 'cleansing the ground' or fully permeating the entire structure with the purification power, symbolizing thorough dedication from top to bottom.

Exodus 29 12 Bonus section

The specific choice of the bull (par) for the sin offering in priestly ordination and on the Day of Atonement signifies its comprehensive nature, typically reserved for major sin offerings involving the High Priest or the entire community. This choice indicates the profound gravity of purifying the altar for future access to God. The act of blood on the horns was also associated with asylum (1 Ki 1:50, 2:28), where a fugitive could cling to the horns for sanctuary. While not directly tied to atonement, this further highlights the altar's multifaceted sacred significance as a place of refuge and divine encounter. The life principle contained in the blood (Lev 17:11) consecrated the structure upon which the shedding of life (sacrifice) would subsequently occur, creating a consecrated pathway for interaction between sinful humanity and a holy God. This precise ceremonial law also acted as a strong polemic against pagan worship where blood was often used in manipulative, superstitious, or violent ways. Here, blood's application is entirely ordained by God, for atonement, purification, and the consecration of instruments used to approach Him, ensuring purity and preventing misuse of such a potent symbol.

Exodus 29 12 Commentary

Exodus 29:12 is a detailed instruction concerning the initial purification and sanctification of the brazen altar during the consecration ceremony of Aaron and his sons. The act of applying the bull's blood to the horns of the altar with a finger symbolizes a concentrated act of cleansing, removing impurity, and imparting holiness to the very structure through which future atonement would be made. The horns, often symbolizing strength and defense, become focal points for this spiritual transformation. The remaining blood, then poured out at the altar's base, ensures the complete disposal of the sacred element, preventing any contamination while extending the purification to the altar's entirety and its immediate surroundings. This meticulous ritual underscores God's absolute demand for holiness in all approaches to Him, making the altar truly fit as a dwelling for His presence and a means for His people to find forgiveness. The elaborate nature of these rituals prefigures the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Christ, whose single, definitive shedding of blood sanctifies once for all those who come to God through Him (Heb 9-10), rendering the continuous animal sacrifices and altar cleansing ceremonies unnecessary.