Exodus 29:25 kjv

And thou shalt receive them of their hands, and burn them upon the altar for a burnt offering, for a sweet savor before the LORD: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Exodus 29:25 nkjv

You shall receive them back from their hands and burn them on the altar as a burnt offering, as a sweet aroma before the LORD. It is an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Exodus 29:25 niv

Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the LORD, a food offering presented to the LORD.

Exodus 29:25 esv

Then you shall take them from their hands and burn them on the altar on top of the burnt offering, as a pleasing aroma before the LORD. It is a food offering to the LORD.

Exodus 29:25 nlt

Afterward take the various breads from their hands, and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering. It is a pleasing aroma to the LORD, a special gift for him.

Exodus 29 verses

Exodus 29 25 Meaning

Exodus 29:25 describes a specific step in the elaborate ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons, detailing the burning of choice portions of the "ram of ordination" upon the altar. This act symbolizes God's acceptance of the priests and their sacrificial service. The burning of the fats and specific internal organs alongside the whole burnt offering transforms them into a "pleasing aroma" before the LORD, signifying divine approval, satisfaction, and the consecration of the priests through an act of complete dedication. This ritual confirms their appointment to sacred service and establishes the necessary purification and atonement for them to mediate between God and the people.

Exodus 29 25 Context

Exodus 29 is central to the establishment of the Levitical priesthood, detailing the meticulous and holy process of consecrating Aaron and his sons. This chapter, following the divine instructions for building the Tabernacle (Ex 25-28), focuses on the personnel who would serve within it. The ceremonies described, including the washings, anointings, and specific offerings, symbolize purification, divine empowerment, and the setting apart for holy service. Verse 25 falls within the ritual involving the "ram of ordination" (Ex 29:22-35), which is offered after the sin offering and burnt offering for the priests. This particular ram signifies the unique aspect of priestly consecration—dedication to service and communion with God, encompassing the idea of an entire life dedicated to God. The historical context for the original audience was Israel emerging from Egyptian polytheism, necessitating a clear, distinct, and holy system of worship for the one true God, YHWH. This structured worship provided a direct counter-narrative to pagan practices, emphasizing atonement, propitiation, and intentionality rather than chaotic, arbitrary, or morally corrupt rituals prevalent in surrounding cultures.

Exodus 29 25 Word analysis

• And you shall take (וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ və·lā·qaḥ·tā): From the root לָקַח (lakach), meaning "to take, to receive, to grasp." In this context, it implies a formal reception or acceptance of the sacrificial portions for their designated purpose. This is an instruction given to Moses, highlighting his role in overseeing the ritual precisely as commanded by God.
• them from their hands (מִיָּדָם֮ mi·yā·ḏām): From יָד (yad), meaning "hand," with the suffix "-am" meaning "their." The instruction for Moses to take the portions "from their hands" (Aaron and his sons) signifies that the offering has been symbolically presented by the priests-to-be, affirming their active participation and dedication. It's a transfer of what they have held as sacred and devoted to God.
• and burn them (וְהִקְטַרְתָּ֠ və·hiq·ṭar·tā): From the root קָטַר (qatar), which specifically means "to cause to ascend in smoke," often in the context of burning incense or fat on an altar. Unlike שָׂרַף (saraph, "to burn completely," often destructively), qatar emphasizes the rising smoke, making a fragrance, ascending to God, implying an act of worship and acceptance.
• on the altar (עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ ‘al-ham·miz·bê·aḥ): The altar (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeach) is the sacred structure, divinely appointed for offerings. It serves as the designated point of communion between God and man, where sacrifices are consumed by fire and accepted. Its placement and use underscore the sanctity and prescribed order of Israelite worship.
• beside the burnt offering (עַל־הָעֹלָֽה ‘al-hā·‘ō·lāh): The "burnt offering" (עֹלָה, ‘olah) is a sacrifice entirely consumed by fire, symbolizing complete dedication and atonement, as it "ascends" fully to God. The specified portions from the ram of ordination are burnt alongside this burnt offering, connecting their consecration with the completeness and acceptance symbolized by the ‘olah.
• for a pleasing aroma (רֵ֤יחַ נִיחֹ֙חַ֙ rê·aḥ nî·ḥō·aḥ): This significant phrase translates to "a scent of satisfaction" or "a soothing aroma." It's an anthropomorphism signifying God's divine pleasure, acceptance, and gracious satisfaction with the offering when presented in the prescribed manner and with a right heart. It implies that the offering, and by extension, the priests themselves, are acceptable to the LORD.
• before the LORD (לַיהוָה֙ la-YHWH): Literally "to YHWH" or "for YHWH." This specifies the sole recipient of the offering, emphasizing that all worship and service are directed towards the one true God, contrasting with the polytheistic practices of surrounding nations.
• it is an offering by fire (אִשֶּׁ֛ה ’iš·šeh): From אִשֶּׁה (ishsheh), a general term for any offering made by fire, highlighting its mode of consumption and purification. It confirms the type of sacrifice being performed, linking it to numerous other cultic rituals prescribed in the Torah.
• to the LORD (לַיהוָה֙ la-YHWH): A repetition of the recipient, reiterating the sacred dedication of this act. The repeated mention underscores that the entire process, from offering to acceptance, is solely in service and honor of YHWH.

Words-group analysis:

• "And you shall take them from their hands and burn them": This highlights the formal, ritualistic transfer and presentation. Moses acts on behalf of God, receiving what the priests-in-training have offered, symbolizing God's reception of their dedication. The action of "burning" (קָטַר, qatar) elevates the physical act into a spiritual offering, with smoke ascending as a prayer or tribute.
• "on the altar beside the burnt offering": Specifies both the location and the accompanying sacrifice. The altar signifies the sanctity and divine presence. Placing these fat portions "beside the burnt offering" links this specific part of the ordination ceremony to the concept of complete dedication (olah) and continuous communion, reinforcing that the priests' entire being, symbolized by the olah, and their specific ministry portions (fats/organs), are fully consecrated to God.
• "for a pleasing aroma before the LORD; it is an offering by fire to the LORD": This sequence reveals the divine purpose and reception of the offering. "Pleasing aroma" denotes divine acceptance and favor, not literally a physical smell. It expresses God's contentment when His commands are obeyed and His worship is rendered properly. The declaration "it is an offering by fire to the LORD" re-emphasizes the nature and sole beneficiary of the sacrifice, making clear its sacred and singular purpose for God alone.

Exodus 29 25 Bonus section

• The term "pleasing aroma" is often interpreted as an anthropomorphic expression of God's 'resting' or being 'satisfied' with the offering. It's not that God needs to literally smell something to be appeased, but rather a profound theological statement of His full approval and delight in His people's obedience and devotion through the prescribed channels.
• The selection of fat and specific internal organs (liver, kidneys) in offerings consistently represents the choicest, richest, and most vital parts of the animal. By offering these to God, it symbolizes offering the "best" and core of one's possession, or in this case, the core dedication of the priests.
• The ritualistic "laying on of hands" earlier in Exodus 29 for the ram of ordination (Ex 29:15, 19) is symbolically crucial. It transfers identification from the priests to the animal, making the animal a substitute for their dedication and purification. Therefore, when Moses takes "them from their hands" (Ex 29:25), it completes the cycle of identification and presentation initiated by the priests' touch.
• This ceremony establishes a profound link between the sacrifice and the consecrated priest, illustrating that the very basis of priestly service is dependent upon a divinely ordained, atoning sacrifice and the Lord's acceptance thereof. It lays the groundwork for the future need for Yom Kippur and continuous atonement.

Exodus 29 25 Commentary

Exodus 29:25 is a critical verse within the priestly ordination ritual, profoundly symbolic of divine acceptance and total dedication. The act of "taking from their hands" underscores the personal engagement of Aaron and his sons, whose lives are being set apart for divine service. Their voluntary participation, albeit under instruction, signifies their personal dedication. The "burning" (קָטַר, qatar) of the specified portions (fat and internal organs, representing the vital and richest parts) on the altar elevates these elements into an ascending offering. This is not mere disposal, but an act of making a pleasant smell for the LORD, signaling His approval.

The concept of a "pleasing aroma" (רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ) recurs throughout Levitical offerings. It is God's declaration that the sacrifice, and implicitly the one offering it, is accepted by Him. In the context of priestly ordination, it communicates God's affirmation of the priesthood itself—He accepts those He has chosen and consecrated. Furthermore, placing these portions "beside the burnt offering" signifies a deep theological connection. The olah, being entirely consumed, symbolizes absolute surrender and atonement. By adding parts of the ram of ordination to it, the ritual portrays the priests' lives and service as fully consumed for God's purposes, echoing the total dedication required for those who would stand between a holy God and His people.

Ultimately, this ancient ritual foreshadows the ultimate, perfect "fragrant offering" of Christ (Eph 5:2), whose self-sacrifice perfectly fulfilled all requirements for atonement and opened the way for all believers to become a "holy priesthood" (1 Pet 2:5), offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Him. The emphasis on proper procedure and divine acceptance points to the New Testament truth that true worship must be "in spirit and truth" (Jn 4:24), yielding a spiritual aroma pleasing to God.