Exodus 29:18 kjv
And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the LORD: it is a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Exodus 29:18 nkjv
And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.
Exodus 29:18 niv
Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the LORD.
Exodus 29:18 esv
and burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD. It is a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD.
Exodus 29:18 nlt
then burn the entire animal on the altar. This is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a pleasing aroma, a special gift presented to the LORD.
Exodus 29 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 8:20-21 | Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took... and offered burnt offerings... the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma. | First mention of pleasing aroma to God from sacrifice. |
| Lev 1:3 | If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd... he shall offer a male without blemish. | Details requirements for the olah. |
| Lev 1:9 | ...the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. | Defines the burnt offering as a "pleasing aroma". |
| Lev 9:24 | ...fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat. | God's acceptance by fire consuming the offering. |
| Num 15:3 | ...and you make an offering by fire to the LORD... for a pleasing aroma to the LORD. | General rule for fire offerings and pleasing aroma. |
| Deut 33:10 | They shall teach your rules to Jacob, and your law to Israel; they shall put incense before you, and whole burnt offerings on your altar. | Mentions whole burnt offerings by the priests. |
| Judg 13:16 | The angel of the LORD said to Manoah... if you prepare a burnt offering, you may offer it to the LORD. | Burnt offering as an exclusive act of worship to the Lord. |
| 1 Sam 7:9 | Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. | Example of a whole burnt offering for repentance and intercession. |
| Ps 20:3 | May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah | Prayer for God to accept the offerings. |
| Ps 51:19 | Then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. | God delights in sacrifices when they come from a righteous heart. |
| Prov 21:27 | The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent. | Not all sacrifices are acceptable to God. |
| Jer 6:20 | ...Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me. | God rejects offerings from unrepentant hearts. |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | Emphasizes obedience and righteousness over ritual. |
| Amos 5:21-22 | "I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies... I will not accept your burnt offerings..." | God's rejection of insincere worship, despite offerings. |
| Mk 12:33 | And to love him with all your heart... is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. | Moral and spiritual obedience outweigh ritual. |
| Jn 1:29 | The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" | Foreshadows Christ as the ultimate, blemish-free sacrifice. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | Application of "pleasing aroma" to Christian living. |
| Eph 5:2 | and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. | Christ's sacrifice as the ultimate pleasing aroma to God. |
| Phil 4:18 | I have received full payment, and more... a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. | Believers' good works and offerings are pleasing to God. |
| Heb 7:27 | He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. | Christ's once-for-all sacrifice replaces the daily temple offerings. |
| Heb 10:1-14 | For since the law has but a shadow... it can never, by the same sacrifices... make perfect those who draw near... For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. | Christ's single sacrifice supersedes all Old Testament offerings. |
Exodus 29 verses
Exodus 29 18 Meaning
Exodus 29:18 details the burnt offering (olah) of the ram of ordination for the priests, which was to be completely consumed by fire on the altar. This act signified total dedication, propitiation, and atonement, ascending to the Lord as a "pleasing aroma" (reah nichoah), indicating His divine acceptance and favor towards the offering and the priests being consecrated. It was designated as an "offering made by fire" (isheh), emphasizing the method of its presentation to God as part of the established covenant rituals.
Exodus 29 18 Context
Exodus 29:18 is part of the extensive instructions given by God to Moses for the consecration ceremony of Aaron and his sons as priests. The entire chapter focuses on the detailed ritual steps—purification, anointing, and sacrificial offerings—necessary to set apart Aaron and his lineage to minister before the Lord. This particular verse describes the "ram for the burnt offering" (olah), the second of three animals used in the ordination process (the first being a bull for a sin offering, the third another ram for the ordination offering). The precise steps and prescribed elements, like burning the whole ram, ensured that the priests were ritually purified and divinely sanctioned, underscoring the holiness of God and the sacredness of the priestly office. This ritual was not merely symbolic; it imparted the authority and holiness necessary for the priests to mediate between God and the Israelites within the tabernacle cultus.
Exodus 29 18 Word analysis
- Then you shall burn:
וְהִקְטַרְתָּ(vehikṭartā) - a Hiphil imperfect form ofקָטַר(qatar), meaning "to cause to go up in smoke," "to make an offering burn." This implies causing smoke to rise as an offering to God, signifying that the offering is for His reception. The active verb stresses a commanded priestly action. - the whole ram:
אֶת־הָאַ֨יִל֙ כֻּלּ֖וֹ(et-ha'ayi lkulloh) - "the ram, all of it/the whole of it."אַיִל('ayil) refers to a ram.כֻּלּוֹ(kulloh), derived fromכֹּל(kol), means "whole," "entire," emphasizing that the ram was completely consumed, unlike other offerings where portions might be kept or eaten. This speaks of totality, complete dedication, and no retention of any part for human benefit. - on the altar:
הַֽמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה(hammizbêḥâ) - fromמִזְבֵּחַ(mizbe'ah), the "place of sacrifice" or "altar." This refers to the bronze altar of burnt offering (Exod 27:1), the primary place where sacrifices were made to God in the tabernacle. It represents the point of mediation and purification. - It is a burnt offering:
עֹלָה֙ הִ֔וא('olâ hîw) -עֹלָה(olah), from the rootעָלָה('alah) "to ascend" or "go up." This particular type of sacrifice was completely consumed by fire, and its smokeascendedto God. Theolahsignifies complete dedication, surrender, and general atonement for unintended sins, offering propitiation and consecration. - to the Lord:
לַֽיהוָה(laYahweh) - designating Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, as the direct recipient of the sacrifice. This highlights that all ritual worship and devotion are exclusively directed towards Him, not to other deities. - a pleasing aroma:
רֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֑חַ(rêaḥ nîḥoaḥ) - Literally "a fragrance of rest" or "soothing aroma."רֵיחַ(reah) is "aroma," "scent."נִיחֹחַ(nichoah) derives from the verbנוּחַ(nuach), meaning "to rest," "settle down," "be appeased." This idiom signifies God's acceptance and pleasure in the offering; it brings "rest" or contentment to Him because the conditions for His acceptance have been met, establishing a right relationship. It is not that God needs food or literally smells, but that He is satisfied with the worship presented. This concept stands in contrast to pagan ideas where offerings were believed to feed or placate hungry gods. - a food offering presented to the Lord:
אִשֶּׁ֥ה לַֽיהוָ֖ה(iššeh laYahweh) -אִשֶּׁה(isheh) usually translated "offering made by fire" or "fire offering." The exact etymology is debated but widely connected to fire. It describes the mode of presentation, emphasizing that it's consumed by fire on the altar, dedicated through this process directly to God. It highlights that the sacrifice is for divine consumption in a spiritual sense, by means of fire.
Exodus 29 18 Bonus section
The specific offering of the burnt ram in Exodus 29 during the consecration ritual (Lev 8:18-21 describes the execution of this command) establishes a profound theological foundation. It underscores that any human service to God, especially priestly mediation, must be initiated and sustained by atonement and complete surrender. The consuming fire represents God's purifying holiness and judgment, yet when His ordained ritual is followed, it signifies His consuming acceptance and the transformation of the offering into something that can ascend to Him. The phrase "pleasing aroma" would have been particularly powerful for an ancient audience familiar with various cultic practices. While other Near Eastern religions conceived of their gods literally consuming offerings to sustain themselves, the biblical formulation clearly distinguishes Yahweh as self-sufficient and independent. His "pleasure" in the aroma denotes His relational satisfaction with His people's worship, offered in sincerity and obedience, setting the stage for the true and ultimate satisfaction found in Christ's offering of Himself.
Exodus 29 18 Commentary
Exodus 29:18 delineates a pivotal moment in the establishment of the Aaronic priesthood, emphasizing the nature and purpose of the olah or burnt offering. The burning of the whole ram (kulloh) signifies total consecration, highlighting the unreserved dedication required for those serving God. Every part of the ram ascends in smoke, symbolizing complete surrender and a life fully yielded to the divine will. The olah also served a propitiatory function, addressing the priests' need for atonement and acceptability before their holy God.
The description "a pleasing aroma" (reah nichoah) is key. It signifies God's gracious acceptance and favor, denoting His pleasure in the obedience and reconciliation conveyed by the sacrifice. It doesn't imply God has a physical need, but rather expresses His contentment when His requirements for holiness and access are met. This divine "rest" is the desired outcome of faithful worship. This ritual practice foreshadows the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself entirely (Ephesians 5:2), becoming the perfect "fragrant offering and sacrifice to God," pleasing to Him in every respect (Hebrews 10:5-7, 10-14). Just as the ram provided the way for human access to God through the consecrated priesthood, Christ provides the definitive access through His singular, total sacrifice.