Exodus 29:44 kjv
And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office.
Exodus 29:44 nkjv
So I will consecrate the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as priests.
Exodus 29:44 niv
"So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests.
Exodus 29:44 esv
I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests.
Exodus 29:44 nlt
Yes, I will consecrate the Tabernacle and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests.
Exodus 29 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 28:1 | “Bring near to you Aaron your brother and his sons... that they may minister to Me as priests.” | God initiates the appointment of priests for His service. |
| Exo 29:1 | "Now this is what you shall do... to consecrate them..." | Introduction to the elaborate priestly ordination rituals commanded by God. |
| Exo 29:36-37 | “You shall offer a bull... to make atonement... and so you shall purify the altar... so it shall be holy of holies.” | The altar's specific seven-day consecration process. |
| Exo 30:26-29 | “You shall anoint the tent of meeting... and all its furnishings, to consecrate them.” | God commands the anointing for consecration of the Tabernacle and its contents. |
| Exo 40:9-16 | “You shall anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furnishings... Moses did so...” | The fulfillment of the divine command to consecrate the Tabernacle and its priests. |
| Lev 8:10-12 | “Then Moses took the anointing oil... and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. He sprinkled... the altar... he poured... on Aaron's head, to consecrate him.” | Detailed ritual for the physical anointing and consecration. |
| Num 7:1 | “On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and consecrated it... he sprinkled on it the oil...” | Confirmation of the Tabernacle's established consecration. |
| Lev 21:15 | “...for I am the Lord who consecrates him.” | Reiterates God's singular authority as the source of priestly consecration. |
| Exo 31:13 | “...that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” | God reveals Himself as the ultimate sanctifier of His people. |
| Heb 9:21 | “And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels of the liturgy.” | New Testament affirmation of ceremonial consecration via blood. |
| Heb 10:10 | “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” | Believers' ultimate and definitive sanctification through Christ's sacrifice. |
| John 17:17 | “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” | Jesus prays for the sanctification of His disciples by divine truth. |
| Eph 5:26 | “...that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word...” | Christ's role in the sanctification and cleansing of His church. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | “...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices...” | Believers in Christ as a New Covenant spiritual priesthood. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession...” | Believers' corporate identity as God's consecrated royal priesthood. |
| Rev 1:6 | “...and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father...” | Believers' destiny as priests serving God and the Father. |
| Heb 4:14-16 | “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God...” | Introduction to Christ as the perfect, heavenly High Priest. |
| Heb 8:1-2 | “Now the main point... we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the true tabernacle...” | Christ's heavenly ministry in the ultimate, true tabernacle. |
| Exo 25:8 | “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” | The overarching purpose of the Tabernacle: God's desire to indwell among His people. |
| Exo 40:34-35 | “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle...” | Divine confirmation and indwelling of God's glory in the consecrated Tabernacle. |
| Rom 12:1 | “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice...” | Call for believers to personal consecration and living sacrifice. |
| 1 Thes 5:23 | “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely...” | God's comprehensive work of sanctifying believers holistically. |
| Jude 1:1 | “...to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ...” | Believers as divinely called and set apart. |
Exodus 29 verses
Exodus 29 44 Meaning
God emphatically declares His active role in sanctifying both the sacred spaces—the Tent of Meeting and the altar—and the appointed priestly personnel—Aaron and his sons. This consecration is entirely by divine will and power, setting them apart specifically for His exclusive service as priests. It is God's own doing that establishes the holiness and functionality of His ordained system of worship and mediation for His people.
Exodus 29 44 Context
Exodus chapter 29 outlines the meticulously detailed procedure for the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests and the concurrent consecration of the Tent of Meeting (Tabernacle) and its altar. These instructions precede the actual construction and functioning of the Tabernacle, emphasizing that the system of worship and approach to God is entirely on His terms, not initiated or authorized by humanity. The entire chapter specifies a sequence of purification rituals, offerings, and anointing ceremonies. Verse 44 serves as a divine assurance and concluding statement within these instructions, proclaiming that despite all the human actions involved in the rituals, it is God Himself who is the ultimate sanctifier and consecrator. This highlights His absolute sovereignty over His worship and His choice of who may minister to Him. This detailed, divinely instituted system of holy space and consecrated personnel was crucial for Israel to approach a holy God in a post-Fall world, distinguishing their pure monotheism and specific revelation from the various pagan cults of the ancient Near East which often involved human-initiated and idolatrous rituals.
Exodus 29 44 Word analysis
- "I will consecrate" (וְקִדַּשְׁתִּי, veqiddashti): This is a powerful, active declaration by God Himself. The Hebrew root qadash (קָדַשׁ) means to be holy, set apart, or dedicated. In this verbal form, God is the subject who causes the setting apart or the making holy. It's not a mere human declaration but a divine, efficacious act that imparts a sacred status, designating something exclusively for His holy purposes.
- "also the tent of meeting" (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, ohel mo'ed): Literally meaning "tent of appointed time" or "tent of rendezvous." This structure served as God's designated earthly dwelling place where He promised to meet with Israel (Exo 25:22). Its consecration rendered it ritually clean and sanctified, making it suitable for divine presence and holy encounter.
- "and the altar" (וְהַמִּזְבֵּחַ, vehammizbeach): Referring to the altar of burnt offering, the central point for sacrifice and atonement in the Tabernacle courtyard. Its consecration made it sacred, appropriate for receiving holy offerings and enabling the forgiveness of sins and fellowship with God through ritual sacrifice (cf. Matt 23:19).
- "also Aaron and his sons" (אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו, Aharon uvnav): These are the divinely chosen individuals who would constitute the priestly line for Israel. Their personal consecration signifies their separation from ordinary life and their enablement for specific, holy service. This underlines that religious leadership in Israel was based on divine selection and sanctification, not personal ambition or capability.
- "I will consecrate" (אֲקַדֵּשׁ, aqaddesh): The repetition of this verb, with the same root qadash, emphasizes and reinforces that the sanctification of the priests is equally and solely an act of God's sovereign will and power. It highlights the divine initiative and authority in commissioning individuals for sacred service.
- "to minister as priests to Me" (לְכַהֵן לִי, lekahen li): Lekahen (לְכַהֵן) means "to serve as a priest" or "to perform priestly functions." Li (לִי) signifies "to me" or "for my sake/purpose." This phrase articulates the exclusive and sacred purpose of their consecration: their entire ministry is dedicated directly to God. They serve as divinely authorized mediators, fulfilling ritual duties of atonement, intercession, and teaching, for the benefit of Israel in maintaining covenant relationship with the holy God.
Exodus 29 44 Bonus section
This verse establishes a crucial theological precedent that divine service is predicated upon divine consecration, not human initiative or merit. This concept serves as a direct polemic against all forms of man-made religion, where human efforts or rituals are presumed to make one acceptable to a deity. In the Old Testament, physical lineage and ritual purity were paramount because they served as a tangible representation of God's holiness and His precise requirements for relationship. This emphasis points to the need for a divinely provided Mediator and means of access. The Provisional nature of the Tabernacle and its priesthood, needing continuous atonement and meticulous adherence, underscores its role as a shadow pointing to the enduring, unblemished priesthood of Christ and the complete access secured in the New Covenant through His once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 9-10).
Exodus 29 44 Commentary
Exodus 29:44 articulates a foundational principle for Old Covenant worship: all legitimate holy space, ritual objects, and priestly personnel derived their sanctity and effectiveness directly from God's own active consecration. It is God, not human effort or dedication, who sets apart and enables what is holy for His service. This divine prerogative underpins the entire sacrificial system, guaranteeing its validity and efficacy in mediating between a holy God and a sinful people. This promise is not just a declarative statement but a divine commitment, ensuring that the Tabernacle would genuinely be the meeting place with God and the priesthood truly capable of standing before Him. The thoroughness of God's consecration for His service foreshadows the absolute perfection of Christ, our great High Priest, who fully sanctified Himself (John 17:19) and through whose single, perfect sacrifice, believers are now sanctified once for all (Heb 10:10), gaining direct access to God and becoming a holy, royal priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices (1 Pet 2:5, 9).