Exodus 29 36

Exodus 29:36 kjv

And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.

Exodus 29:36 nkjv

And you shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement. You shall cleanse the altar when you make atonement for it, and you shall anoint it to sanctify it.

Exodus 29:36 niv

Sacrifice a bull each day as a sin offering to make atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it.

Exodus 29:36 esv

and every day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement. Also you shall purify the altar, when you make atonement for it, and shall anoint it to consecrate it.

Exodus 29:36 nlt

Each day you must sacrifice a young bull as a sin offering to purify them, making them right with the LORD. Afterward, cleanse the altar by purifying it ; make it holy by anointing it with oil.

Exodus 29 verses

Exodus 29 36 Meaning

Exodus 29:36 outlines a crucial step in the consecration of the altar, detailing the daily offering of a bullock as a purification offering during the seven-day ordination period. This offering serves to make atonement for the altar, cleansing it from all defilement and setting it apart for holy service to God. Following this cleansing, the altar is to be anointed, thereby being sanctified and rendered fit for its sacred function within the Tabernacle, enabling it to facilitate man's approach to a holy God.

Exodus 29 36 Context

Exodus chapter 29 details the elaborate, divinely instituted ceremony for consecrating Aaron and his sons as priests and sanctifying the Tabernacle and its furnishings, particularly the altar of burnt offering. This entire chapter is a directive from God to Moses regarding the precise procedures to establish a consecrated priesthood and a holy place where God would dwell among His people. Verse 36 falls within the seven-day ordination ritual (Ex 29:35), specifying the daily purification of the altar. It underscores the pervasive need for purification, not just for people, but even for sacred objects and places, before they can be used for worship in the presence of a perfectly holy God. This elaborate process emphasizes that proper, God-honoring worship must begin with radical purification from defilement and sacred dedication.

Exodus 29 36 Word analysis

• And thou shalt offer every day (וְעָשִׂיתָ יוֹם יוֹם, ve'asita yom yom): "Every day" emphasizes a continuous, consistent, and thorough action. It denotes the repetition of this specific rite over the entire seven-day consecration period, indicating the intensity and duration of purification needed to fully sanctify the altar for divine service.
• a bullock (פַּר, par): A young bull; a costly and substantial animal, signifying the gravity of the offering and the profound nature of the atonement being made. Its value underlines the importance God placed on the purity of the altar.
• for a sin offering (חַטָּאת, chattat): While often translated "sin offering," the primary meaning here, when applied to inanimate objects, is a "purification offering" or "de-sinning offering." It serves to purify the object from ceremonial defilement or latent impurity, making it suitable for contact with God's holiness. The verb חָטָא (hata) related to chattat, literally means "to purify," "to make clean." It suggests a ritual cleansing that counteracts inherent impurity or defilement.
• for atonement (לְכַפֵּר, lekapper): The verb כָּפַר (kaphar) means "to cover over," "to purge," "to make propitiation" or "reconciliation." In this context, it signifies rendering the altar ritually clean and acceptable for its holy function, establishing a reconciliation or purity where uncleanness previously lay. It covers the defilement that would otherwise prevent God's dwelling.
• and thou shalt cleanse the altar (וְחִטֵּאתָ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, vechitteta al-hammizbeach): The verb חָטָא (hata) here reiterates the action of purification. It literally means "to purge it from sin" or "to make it free from sin." It does not imply the altar sinned, but that any impurity, defilement, or the general effect of being in a world of sin would be removed, rendering it ritually pure for approaching God.
• when thou hast made an atonement for it (בְּכַפֶּרְךָ עָלָיו, bekapperekha alav): This reinforces the concept that the cleansing (חִטֵּאתָ, chitteta) is achieved through the atonement process (כָּפַר, kaphar), which involves the shedding of the bullock's blood as commanded. The atonement facilitates the cleansing.
• and thou shalt anoint it (וּמָשַׁחְתָּ אֹתוֹ, umashachta oto): To consecrate by pouring sacred oil upon it. Anointing signifies divine appointment and setting apart for sacred purpose, filling it with the holy character of its purpose.
• to sanctify it (לְקַדְּשׁוֹ, lekadesho): To make holy, to dedicate or set apart exclusively for God's possession and use. The combination of cleansing, atonement, and anointing culminates in the altar's complete sanctification, making it profoundly sacred and a fit channel for communication with God.

Exodus 29 36 Bonus section

The intense repetition of cleansing, atonement, and sanctification for an inanimate object during this foundational consecration week teaches profound theological lessons. It's a vivid demonstration that everything within the sacred sphere must be rendered wholly dedicated and free from even the slightest defilement to bear God's presence and facilitate communion. This commitment to holiness in every detail contrasts sharply with the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations, where ritual purity might be present, but often lacked true divine efficacy or derived from human-devised means rather than God's direct command. The "de-sinning" of the altar signifies that it becomes completely separated from any common or profane use, consecrated to serve solely as the focal point for meeting the divine.

Exodus 29 36 Commentary

Exodus 29:36 reveals the exacting nature of God's holiness and His demand for absolute purity in approaching Him. This verse details a daily, rigorous ritual spanning seven days during the altar's consecration: a bullock offered as a purification offering, its blood applied to cleanse the altar, making atonement for it, followed by anointing to further sanctify it. This extensive process underscores that even inanimate objects, destined for sacred service, could not stand in God's presence without thorough purification from the defilement inherent in a world tainted by sin.

The designation "sin offering" for the altar is highly significant. It is not that the altar "sinned" morally, but rather that it, and anything involved in worship, must be cleansed from any potential defilement or impurity associated with sin. This points to the pervasive nature of sin's corruption, even affecting the means by which humanity seeks to bridge the gap with a holy God. The repeated daily nature of this sacrifice highlights the persistent and profound need for God's prescribed means of cleansing and covering for all elements of His worship.

This meticulous preparation of the earthly altar foreshadows a greater reality. The temporary and repetitive nature of these Old Covenant sacrifices for both priests and the Tabernacle's articles underscored their insufficiency. They served as a shadow, continually pointing forward to the ultimate, perfect sacrifice. In the New Covenant, Jesus Christ becomes both the perfectly sanctified High Priest and the "altar" upon which He offered Himself (Heb 13:10). His single, once-for-all sacrifice cleanses not just ceremonial objects, but the human conscience (Heb 9:14), and by His blood, we have continuous access to the true holy place in heaven (Heb 10:19-22). Unlike the repeated bullocks needed to cleanse the Tabernacle altar, Christ's blood perfected for all time those who are being made holy.