Exodus 29 29

Exodus 29:29 kjv

And the holy garments of Aaron shall be his sons' after him, to be anointed therein, and to be consecrated in them.

Exodus 29:29 nkjv

"And the holy garments of Aaron shall be his sons' after him, to be anointed in them and to be consecrated in them.

Exodus 29:29 niv

"Aaron's sacred garments will belong to his descendants so that they can be anointed and ordained in them.

Exodus 29:29 esv

"The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him; they shall be anointed in them and ordained in them.

Exodus 29:29 nlt

"Aaron's sacred garments must be preserved for his descendants who succeed him, and they will wear them when they are anointed and ordained.

Exodus 29 verses

Exodus 29 29 Meaning

Exodus 29:29 establishes the perpetuation of the Aaronic priesthood through hereditary succession. It declares that the sacred vestments specifically made for Aaron, the first high priest, are to be passed down to his male descendants. The purpose of this transfer is so that these succeeding priests may be properly consecrated and formally invested with the authority and duties of the priestly office, both through the anointing ritual and the unique "filling of their hands" ceremony. This verse underscores the divinely ordained and enduring nature of the priestly lineage in Israel, crucial for the nation's worship and covenant relationship with God.

Exodus 29 29 Context

Exodus chapter 29 outlines the elaborate and detailed process for consecrating Aaron and his sons to the priestly office, a pivotal moment in the establishment of Israel's national worship. This ordination ceremony marks the divine institution of the Aaronic priesthood, providing mediators between God and His people for sacrificial atonement and intercession. The chapter covers the rituals, sacrifices, and vestments essential for this sacred role. Verse 29 specifically focuses on the continuity of this priesthood. It transitions from Aaron's personal consecration to the hereditary principle of succession, ensuring that the elaborate preparations and sacred calling are passed down to future generations, thereby maintaining the proper and authorized approach to God under the Old Covenant. This principle of succession was vital for the ongoing spiritual life and governance of the nascent nation of Israel.

Exodus 29 29 Word Analysis

• The holy garments (בִּגְדֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ – bigde haqqōdeš): "Garments of the holiness." These were the specific, intricately designed vestments described in Exodus 28 (e.g., ephod, breastpiece, robe, tunic, turban). "Holy" signifies their being "set apart" exclusively for sacred service, not ordinary attire. Their purpose was "for glory and for beauty" (Ex 28:2), indicating they were meant to reflect the divine majesty and honor the office, visually distinguishing the priest and highlighting the solemnity of his role before God.
• of Aaron (לְאַהֲרֹן – ləʾahărōn): Pertaining to Aaron, indicating their initial and primary owner, designed uniquely for the first high priest.
• shall be (יִהְי֛וּ – yihyū): A simple future tense verb, establishing a divine ordinance. It indicates a permanent, lasting directive from God, emphasizing the perpetuity of the priesthood's requirements.
• for his sons (לְבָנָ֣יו – ləbānāw): Directly referring to his male offspring. This explicitly establishes the hereditary nature of the priesthood, limited to Aaron's specific lineage.
• after him (אַחֲרָ֑יו – ʾaḥărāw): Denotes chronological succession, reinforcing the generational aspect. It implies that these garments would literally be transferred upon Aaron's death or retirement from active priestly service, as seen with Eleazar taking over from Aaron (Num 20:28).
• that they may be anointed (לְמָשְׁחָ֣ה – ləmāšəḥāh): From the verb māšaḥ (to anoint). This denotes the purpose clause. Anointing with the sacred oil was a powerful symbolic act, signifying divine consecration, setting apart, and empowering for divine service. It was a tangible sign of the Holy Spirit's enablement in the Old Covenant context.
• and ordained (וּלְמַלֵּא אֶת־יָדָ֖ם – wūləmallēʾ ʾet-yāḏām): Literally "and to fill their hand" or "and to make full their hand." This is a key Hebrew idiom for consecration, ordination, or investing someone with authority and responsibility for an office or task. It points to a formal ceremony where portions of sacrificial offerings were placed into the hands of the priest, symbolizing their reception of authority, their duty to offer, and their share in the offerings. It's a comprehensive act of installing someone into their divinely appointed function.

Words-group analysis:

• "The holy garments...for his sons after him": This phrase group links the physical sacred attire directly to the continuous, generational succession of the priesthood. The garments were not just for one man, but foundational to an enduring institution, passed down as a tangible symbol of inherited sacred office and its divine backing.
• "that they may be anointed in them and ordained in them": This highlights the dual purpose and prerequisites for succession. The garments were essential for the ceremonies of anointing and ordination, not merely decorative. They signified the readiness and worthiness for these sacred rituals, emphasizing that the office was inextricably linked to proper attire, divine consecration, and formal installation into authority. This means the lineage itself wasn't enough; divine appointment via ritual was also essential.

Exodus 29 29 Bonus Section

The detail that the holy garments were passed down not only emphasizes the continuity of the office but also the divine continuity of the sacredness associated with the high priesthood. These specific garments were uniquely potent in the Old Covenant, representing atonement and the presence of God; they could not be defiled by unauthorized wearing or made by human whim. The practice of handing down these specific garments meant that each successive high priest literally stepped into the hallowed vestments of his predecessor, symbolically embodying the collective legacy and enduring divine favor upon the priestly line. This perpetual instruction highlights that access to God, even in the Old Testament, was not arbitrary but through divinely appointed means and persons, always requiring consecration and authorized representation. It foreshadows the New Testament concept that proper approach to God is always through an anointed, chosen, and authoritative Mediator – ultimately Christ himself, whose Priesthood is eternal and does not pass away or need succession (Heb 7:24).

Exodus 29 29 Commentary

Exodus 29:29 is a foundational statement on the continuity and authority of the Aaronic priesthood within the Mosaic covenant. It asserts that the high priest's distinct "holy garments," divinely designed for "glory and beauty" (Ex 28:2), were not transient attire but insignia to be passed down. This established a critical hereditary succession, ensuring that qualified descendants would perpetuate the essential priestly functions. The verse highlights two key ceremonial acts for such successors: "anointing," which physically represented divine consecration and enablement for sacred service, and "ordination," expressed through the unique idiom "filling their hand," signifying the formal investment of priestly authority and responsibilities. Together, these acts and the passing of the garments guaranteed that the future generations of priests were just as legitimately installed and empowered by God as Aaron himself, preserving the integrity and perpetual operation of Israel's divinely established worship system. The verse thus solidifies the perpetual nature of this particular mediation between God and His people, maintaining an unbroken line of intercession and sacrifice until Christ, the true and final High Priest, would come.