Exodus 29:17 kjv

And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and wash the inwards of him, and his legs, and put them unto his pieces, and unto his head.

Exodus 29:17 nkjv

Then you shall cut the ram in pieces, wash its entrails and its legs, and put them with its pieces and with its head.

Exodus 29:17 niv

Cut the ram into pieces and wash the internal organs and the legs, putting them with the head and the other pieces.

Exodus 29:17 esv

Then you shall cut the ram into pieces, and wash its entrails and its legs, and put them with its pieces and its head,

Exodus 29:17 nlt

Cut the ram into pieces, and wash off the internal organs and the legs. Set them alongside the head and the other pieces of the body,

Exodus 29 verses

Exodus 29 17 Meaning

Exodus 29:17 describes a crucial step in preparing the ram for the burnt offering during the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests. It details the specific actions required: meticulously cutting the ram into pieces, and then washing its internal organs and legs. These cleansed parts, along with the head (as implied by the Hebrew text), were then placed back with the other cut pieces, signifying a thorough preparation for the complete dedication and consumption by fire on the altar. This ritual purification emphasized the holiness required in all aspects of divine service.

Exodus 29 17 Context

Exodus chapter 29 outlines the detailed, divine instructions for consecrating Aaron and his sons as priests. This lengthy ordination ceremony established the foundational rituals and sacred requirements for ministering before Yahweh, highlighting the extreme holiness of God and the need for purity in approaching Him. Verse 17 is specifically part of the procedure for the first sacrifice, the burnt offering (Hebrew: 'olah), a ram which was to be wholly consumed by fire on the altar. The careful cutting, washing, and arrangement of the ram symbolized the comprehensive dedication required of those who served God and the completeness of the offering presented to Him, leaving no part of the animal un-offered. Historically, this event inaugurated the Levitical priesthood, setting a paradigm for sacred service in ancient Israel.

Exodus 29 17 Word analysis

• You shall cut (וְנִתַּחְתָּ֣, və·nittachtā): The Hebrew verb implies cutting precisely, dismembering, or dissecting. This was not a chaotic or haphazard tearing, but a commanded, systematic division of the animal. It signified meticulous preparation and a thorough inspection of every part before offering, indicating that God requires order, diligence, and full transparency in worship and service.
• the ram (הָאַיִל֙, hā·'a·yil): Refers to a male sheep, typically mature. Rams were commonly used in significant offerings due to their value and symbolic representation of strength. Here, it is specifically designated for the 'olah (burnt offering), symbolizing complete dedication to God.
• into pieces (לִנְתָחֶ֔יהָ, lin·tā·chei·hā): This phrase emphasizes the complete breakdown of the ram. It ensures that every part of the sacrifice, however small, is prepared and considered. This detailed dissection underscored the requirement for an absolute and whole surrender in the offering, holding nothing back from God.
• and wash (וְרָחַצְתָּ֧, və·rachatz·tā): To cleanse thoroughly with water. This action was critical for ritual purity. Unwashed or defiled parts would render the sacrifice unacceptable. This washing signifies the imperative need for both moral and ritual cleansing, symbolizing purification from sin and impurity, before approaching a holy God. It signifies the removal of anything external that might taint the offering.
• its entrails (קִרְבּ֣וֹ, qir·bō): The internal organs, intestines, or innermost parts. These would naturally be the most prone to contain waste and impurity. Symbolically, the entrails represent the deepest inner being, emotions, motives, and the core of one's being. Washing them signified the necessity of cleansing one's hidden intentions, affections, and internal spiritual state before God; He demands purity from within.
• and its legs (וּכְרָעָ֗יו, u·kə·rā·'āw): The lower limbs, which would often be dirty from walking on the ground. Symbolically, the legs represent one's walk, conduct, behavior, and movement in life. Washing them signified the need for purity and righteousness in one's actions and daily living, ensuring that outward conduct aligns with internal consecration.
• and put them with its pieces (וְנָתַתָּ֤ עַל־נְתָחָיו֙ וְעַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ, və·nā·ṯat·tāh al-nə·ṯā·ḥāw və·'al-rō·šō): The English translation is a simplification of the Hebrew, which explicitly states, "and you shall put [them] upon its pieces AND upon its head." This reassembly of the thoroughly cleansed parts, including the head (which often symbolizes leadership, thought, or the top-most part), upon the rest of the cut pieces signifies that despite the detailed dissection for cleansing and examination, the sacrifice is presented as a complete and integrated whole to God. It represents a unified, unblemished, and total offering, with every part consecrated.

Exodus 29 17 Bonus section

• Polemics against Paganism: This verse implicitly stands in stark contrast to pagan sacrificial practices prevalent in ancient Near Eastern cultures. These practices often involved haphazard killings, eating of parts considered unholy by Israelite standards, or offerings made for divination and personal gain without a focus on purity or total dedication to a holy deity. The strict, ordered, and clean procedure for the burnt offering under Mosaic Law underscored the unique, transcendent, and holy nature of Yahweh compared to the chaotic and morally ambiguous rituals of surrounding nations.
• Theology of Purity: The detailed washing emphasizes that mere outward participation in worship is insufficient. God’s demand is for internal purification (of "entrails" representing inner affections and hidden thoughts) as well as external righteousness (of "legs" representing behavior and conduct). This wholistic view of purity extends to the believer in the New Covenant, where spiritual cleansing is wrought by Christ's blood and the indwelling Spirit, leading to purity of heart and holy living.
• Priestly Responsibility: This verse, part of the ordination ceremony, highlights the immense responsibility placed on the priests to handle sacred things precisely as commanded by God. Any deviation would imply disrespect for God's holiness and potentially invalidate the offering. It served as a practical lesson to Aaron and his sons about their ongoing duty to maintain strict standards of purity and order in their sacred service.

Exodus 29 17 Commentary

Exodus 29:17 reveals the painstaking care and profound symbolism embedded in Old Testament sacrifices, particularly the burnt offering during the priestly ordination. The act of cutting the ram into pieces, followed by the rigorous washing of its entrails and legs, underscores God's absolute demand for holiness and perfection in divine service. The dissection allowed for thorough inspection and removal of impurity, while the washing symbolized purification – addressing both internal defilement (entrails, reflecting hidden motives and the heart's condition) and external conduct (legs, representing one's walk and actions). Reassembling these purified parts, including the head, emphasizes that despite the deconstruction for cleansing, the offering must be presented as a whole, unblemished entity. This prefigures Jesus Christ, the ultimate spotless Lamb, whose perfect, once-for-all sacrifice fulfilled these types. He offered Himself wholly, without blemish, achieving a purification that goes beyond ritual washing to cleanse our consciences and innermost beings, enabling us to become a "living sacrifice" (Rom 12:1) through His atoning work.