Exodus 29 33

Exodus 29:33 kjv

And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.

Exodus 29:33 nkjv

They shall eat those things with which the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them; but an outsider shall not eat them, because they are holy.

Exodus 29:33 niv

They are to eat these offerings by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration. But no one else may eat them, because they are sacred.

Exodus 29:33 esv

They shall eat those things with which atonement was made at their ordination and consecration, but an outsider shall not eat of them, because they are holy.

Exodus 29:33 nlt

They alone may eat the meat and bread used for their purification in the ordination ceremony. No one else may eat them, for these things are set apart and holy.

Exodus 29 verses

Exodus 29 33 Meaning

Exodus 29:33 establishes a crucial detail of the priestly ordination: Aaron and his sons were commanded to eat specific portions of the sacrifices offered for their consecration. This act signified their full identification with the atonement made for them and solidified their sanctified status, completing their transition into the priesthood. The food they consumed was deemed holy due to its sacred purpose. Critically, the verse prohibits anyone who is not a consecrated priest—a "stranger" or outsider—from partaking of these holy offerings, reinforcing the exclusive and sacred nature of the priestly office and the divine requirement for holiness in worship.

Exodus 29 33 Context

Exodus chapter 29 forms a detailed manual for the seven-day ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons, preceding the construction and dedication of the Tabernacle itself. This chapter, along with surrounding texts in Exodus and Leviticus, delineates the precise steps for establishing the Aaronic priesthood—their vestments, anointing, and most importantly, the series of animal sacrifices necessary for their purification, consecration, and installation. Verse 33 specifically pertains to the consumption of parts from the "ram of ordination," a crucial sacrifice that "makes atonement" for them. This act of eating, following the anointing with blood and oil, signifies the completion and full activation of their priestly function, a process of solemn separation for God's service before they could minister in His sacred presence. This strict ritual purity was essential for the covenant community to approach a holy God.

Exodus 29 33 Word analysis

• And they shall eat: (וְאָכְלוּ, wə’āḵəlû). A direct command indicating a mandatory, prescribed ritual consumption. This was not for nourishment primarily, but an act of sacred identification, signifying the priests' internalization of the consecrated items and their participation in the completed atonement process.
• those things wherewith the atonement was made: (אֹתָם אֲשֶׁר כֻּפַּר בָּהֶם, ’otām ’ăšer kuppar bāhem). Refers specifically to the breast and shoulder of the ram of ordination (Exo 29:26-28), which were offerings. כֻּפַּר (kuppar) from כָּפַר (kāphar) signifies "to cover," "to purge," or "to atone." The atonement process here involves cleansing for the priests to make them acceptable to serve God.
• to consecrate: (לְמַלֵּא אֶת־יָדָם, ləmālē’ ’eṯ-yāḏām). Literally "to fill their hands." This is an ancient Near Eastern idiom for ordination or investiture. Eating the holy food formally completes their initiation, imbuing them with the authority and privilege of their new priestly office.
• and to sanctify them: (וּלְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתָם, ûləqaddēš ’otām). From קָדַשׁ (qāḏaś), meaning "to make holy" or "to set apart." This ritual eating further distinguishes the priests from all others, dedicating and purifying them specifically for divine service and setting them apart as belonging wholly to God.
• but a stranger: (וְזָר, wəzār from זָר [zār]). Not simply a foreigner, but any unauthorized or unconsecrated person who is "alien" to the priestly lineage and function. This underscores the exclusive nature of priestly access and responsibility.
• shall not eat thereof: (לֹא יֹאכַל, lo’ yo’ḵal). A categorical prohibition. Transgression would constitute desecration of the holy, potentially resulting in divine judgment due to the sacredness of the food and the violation of God’s established order.
• because they are holy: (כִּי קֹדֶשׁ הֵם, kî qōḏeš hēm). The definitive rationale. The meat, having been involved in the atonement and consecration rites, acquired an inherent holiness (קֹדֶשׁ, qōḏeš), becoming uniquely set apart for God. Its sanctity demanded exclusive handling by those who were themselves sanctified.

Exodus 29 33 Bonus section

The concept of "holy food" eaten only by the ritually clean and designated priests (cf. Lev 6:29; Num 18:9-10) was a constant visual and practical reminder to ancient Israel of God's distinctness and the sacred boundaries He established. This differed from many surrounding pagan cultures where less stringent or universal participation in ritual meals was common. The seven-day ordination, including this eating, symbolized a complete and thorough dedication, mirroring God's comprehensive plan for sanctification. The very act of physically ingesting the sacred validated their call and set them apart for the spiritual labor. This verse, therefore, lays groundwork for understanding concepts like communion and covenant meals, demonstrating the importance of intentional and ritually clean participation in spiritual realities.

Exodus 29 33 Commentary

Exodus 29:33 is a deeply significant instruction concerning the ordination of the Levitical priesthood. The command for Aaron and his sons to eat specific parts of the ram of ordination signifies their total embodiment and acceptance of the atoning sacrifice made on their behalf, a process that ritually prepares them for God's service. This act was a covenant meal, solidifying their newly conferred holy status and identity. The food became holy through its dedication, and partaking of it completed their "filling of the hands" for ministry, spiritually and ritually preparing them to handle the sacred things of the Tabernacle. The strict prohibition against any "stranger" eating these items emphasizes the absolute necessity of divine appointment and consecration for anyone to engage with God's holy presence and His dedicated objects. It guards against presumption and profane behavior, reinforcing God’s awesome holiness and the precise requirements for His worship. This principle anticipates Christ's one perfect sacrifice, through which believers, once alienated "strangers," are reconciled and constituted as a "holy priesthood" with access to God.