Exodus 29:35 kjv
And thus shalt thou do unto Aaron, and to his sons, according to all things which I have commanded thee: seven days shalt thou consecrate them.
Exodus 29:35 nkjv
"Thus you shall do to Aaron and his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. Seven days you shall consecrate them.
Exodus 29:35 niv
"Do for Aaron and his sons everything I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them.
Exodus 29:35 esv
"Thus you shall do to Aaron and to his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. Through seven days shall you ordain them,
Exodus 29:35 nlt
"This is how you will ordain Aaron and his sons to their offices, just as I have commanded you. The ordination ceremony will go on for seven days.
Exodus 29 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 28:41 | "You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests." | Initial command for consecration. |
| Ex 29:1 | "Now this is what you shall do to them to hallow them for ministering to Me as priests..." | Beginning of consecration instructions. |
| Lev 8:33 | "You shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days... until the days of your consecration are completed." | Echoes the seven-day period. |
| Lev 8:35 | "Therefore you shall stay at the entrance of the tent of meeting day and night for seven days..." | Reiterates strict adherence to duration. |
| Lev 9:1 | "On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel." | Indicates completion of the 7-day period. |
| Num 3:3 | "These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he consecrated to minister as priests." | Mentions the fact of their consecration. |
| Deut 4:2 | "You shall not add to the word... nor take from it..." | Principle of obedience to divine command. |
| Deut 12:32 | "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take from it." | Strict adherence to God's statutes. |
| Ps 119:4 | "You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently." | General principle of divine commands. |
| Isa 6:7 | "And he touched my mouth with it and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.'" | Consecration/cleansing for service. |
| Ezek 43:26 | "Seven days they shall purify the altar and purge it, and thus consecrate it." | Seven days for purifying sacred things. |
| Heb 4:4 | "For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: 'And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.'" | Significance of the number seven. |
| Heb 5:1 | "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God..." | The divine appointment of priesthood. |
| Heb 7:27 | "who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself." | Christ's singular, perfect sacrifice (contrast with Levitical). |
| Heb 8:5 | "who serve the copy and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle." | Old Covenant rituals as shadows. |
| Heb 10:1 | "For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect." | The limited nature of the Old Covenant rites. |
| Heb 10:14 | "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." | Christ's one-time consecration. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood..." | Believers as spiritual priests. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people..." | The New Covenant priesthood of believers. |
| Jn 14:15 | "If you love Me, keep My commandments." | Obedience as a mark of devotion. |
| Matt 28:20 | "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you..." | Jesus' command for discipleship and obedience. |
| Rom 12:1 | "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." | Believer's spiritual offering. |
Exodus 29 verses
Exodus 29 35 Meaning
This verse provides a concluding directive for the installation ceremony of Aaron and his sons as priests. It emphasizes that Moses, acting under divine instruction, was to carry out the entire process of consecration with precise obedience, extending this dedication and preparation over a full seven-day period. This established their separation and readiness for service in God's holy tabernacle.
Exodus 29 35 Context
Exodus 29 outlines the meticulous instructions given by God to Moses for the consecration of Aaron and his sons for the priestly office. This chapter describes in detail the offerings, the anointing with oil, the dressing in sacred garments, and the specific rituals necessary to "hallow" them for service. These rituals were essential to bridge the gap between a holy God and His people, as the priests would mediate between them. Verse 35 serves as a crucial concluding statement for this elaborate ordination process, reiterating the necessity of strict adherence to the divine command and the complete duration of the consecration.
Historically and culturally, this event takes place shortly after the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai and the detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle. It signifies the formal establishment of a priestly class dedicated solely to God's service, setting Israel apart from surrounding pagan cultures. Unlike other nations whose priesthoods might involve various, often defiling, practices, God mandated a system built on purity, divine appointment, and exact adherence to His revealed will. This emphasized His uniqueness as the one true, holy God and distinguished Israel's worship from idolatrous practices. The intricate steps and the seven-day period underscored the gravity and sanctity of their role, ensuring their profound separation for holy duties.
Exodus 29 35 Word analysis
- "Thus" (כֵּן, ken): This Hebrew word means "in this manner," "so," or "just as." It links back directly to the preceding detailed instructions in Exodus 29:1-34, emphasizing that every step and specific ritual described previously for the consecration must be followed exactly. It underscores the precision required in executing God's commands for sacred service.
- "you shall do" (תַּעֲשֶׂה, ta'aseh): A direct command from God to Moses, in the imperative/future tense of the verb "to do" (עָשָׂה, 'asah). It indicates Moses's responsibility and direct agency in performing and overseeing the consecration. This action is a non-negotiable divine mandate, not a suggestion.
- "to Aaron and his sons" (אֶת אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת בָּנָיו, 'et Aharon wᵉ'et banaw): Explicitly identifies the recipients of the consecration. This establishes the foundation for the hereditary Aaronic priesthood, designating a specific lineage chosen by God to serve as mediators between Him and the Israelites. Their distinct role within the community is foundational.
- "according to all that I have commanded you" (כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי אֹתָךְ, kᵉkol 'asher tsivviti 'otakha): A vital reinforcement of divine authority and the necessity for strict obedience. "All" (כֹּל, kol) highlights the comprehensive nature of God's instructions – nothing is to be added or omitted. "Commanded" (צִוָּה, tsivvah) emphasizes that these are divine mandates, not human traditions, ensuring the purity and validity of the consecration.
- "you shall consecrate them" (תְּמַלֵּא יָדָם, tᵉmalle' yadam): This is a crucial Hebrew idiom literally meaning "you shall fill their hands." It refers to the ritual described in Exodus 29:24, where parts of the sacrifices were placed in the priests' hands, symbolizing their empowerment, installation, and ordination for their sacred office. It signifies divine commissioning, authority, and preparation for priestly duties, moving them from a common status to a uniquely sacred one.
- "seven days" (שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, shiv'at yamim): This specifies the duration of the consecration period. The number seven is deeply significant in the Bible, symbolizing completeness, perfection, spiritual fullness, and divine rest/completion (e.g., creation week, Sabbath). A seven-day process signifies a thorough and complete purification, dedication, and training period, ensuring the priests were fully prepared and consecrated for their lifetime role before beginning active service. It marks a period of intensive spiritual transformation.
- "Thus you shall do... according to all that I have commanded you": This phrase highlights the divine initiation and meticulous nature of the priestly service. It underscores that proper worship and holy service must always align precisely with God's revealed will, not human invention or preference. This principle of doing "all that I have commanded" is a recurring theme throughout the Mosaic Law, stressing obedience and fidelity to God's ordinances.
- "you shall consecrate them seven days": This clause encapsulates the core action of ordination and its prescribed, comprehensive duration. The "filling of the hand" signifies not just a symbolic act, but a tangible transfer of authority and equipping for service. The "seven days" ensures that this consecration is not a momentary event but a deep, complete, and sustained process, essential for someone designated to approach a holy God on behalf of His people. This thorough preparation conveys the gravity and holiness of the priestly office.
Exodus 29 35 Bonus section
The "filling of the hand" as an act of ordination is unique to the priestly office in the Old Testament, not found in the anointing of prophets or kings. This specificity highlights the distinct and exclusive divine authorization required for one to serve as a mediator in Israel's relationship with God. The repetition of the "seven days" of consecration across several verses (Lev 8:33, 35) underscores the divine insistence on a full and complete spiritual transformation before assuming the immense responsibility of standing before a holy God. This lengthy period could be viewed as an intensive spiritual bootcamp, emphasizing separation from the ordinary world and thorough immersion in God's ways. This intense, week-long process provided a physical and symbolic illustration of the profound purification and sustained dedication required for the priestly life, signifying a state of profound preparedness that contrasted sharply with pagan rituals which lacked divine blueprint or such profound moral and spiritual weight.
Exodus 29 35 Commentary
Exodus 29:35 provides a concise summary and concluding emphasis for the rigorous ordination of Aaron and his sons as the foundational priesthood for Israel. It underscores the paramount importance of divine command and absolute adherence to God's prescribed rituals. The phrase "according to all that I have commanded you" serves as a timeless principle: God's people must engage in worship and service precisely as He directs, without alteration or personal preference. The unique idiom "consecrate them" (literally, "fill their hand") signifies God's empowering of individuals for holy service, granting them the authority and responsibility for sacred duties. The stipulated "seven days" of consecration points to a thorough, complete, and divinely sanctioned period of preparation, symbolizing purification, dedication, and readiness for a lifetime of ministry. This detailed installation not only ensured the priests were ceremonially pure but also served as a profound object lesson on the seriousness and sanctity of their mediating role between a holy God and a sinful people. Ultimately, these intricate Levitical patterns foreshadowed the perfect, singular, and eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ (Heb 7:27), who, through His ultimate sacrifice, has perfectly and eternally consecrated those who are set apart for God in the New Covenant (Heb 10:14). It teaches us today about the gravity of our own call to spiritual service and purity as a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9).