Exodus 29:7 kjv

Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

Exodus 29:7 nkjv

And you shall take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him.

Exodus 29:7 niv

Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.

Exodus 29:7 esv

You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him.

Exodus 29:7 nlt

Then anoint him by pouring the anointing oil over his head.

Exodus 29 verses

Exodus 29 7 Meaning

Exodus 29:7 details a pivotal step in the consecration of Aaron as the high priest: the application of holy anointing oil. This act symbolized divine appointment, setting him apart from all others for sacred service, and endowing him with spiritual authority and enablement for his high office. It established him as dedicated and made holy unto the Lord.

Exodus 29 7 Context

Exodus chapter 29 outlines the detailed, divine instructions for the ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons as priests. This elaborate seven-day ritual signifies their purification, dedication, and empowerment to serve in the tabernacle, mediating between God and His people. Following the establishment of the tabernacle's design and priestly garments, this chapter initiates the active installation of the priesthood. Verse 7 specifically addresses Aaron's unique anointing, setting him apart as the High Priest, distinct from his sons. Historically, this command initiated the Levitical priesthood, a system central to Israel's covenant relationship with God until the advent of the Messiah. It highlighted God's meticulous care for purity and proper access to His presence, setting Israel apart from surrounding nations who engaged in varied, often defiled, forms of worship.

Exodus 29 7 Word analysis

• Then (וְיָצַקְתָּ - v'yatzakta): A conjunction that denotes the sequence of actions within the ordination process. It follows the clothing of Aaron and precedes further consecration steps, emphasizing this act's specific placement in the ritual.
• you shall take (וְלָקַחְתָּ - v'lakaḥta): A direct command given to Moses by God. This indicates that Moses, acting as God's representative, was to perform this critical part of the anointing, underlining the divine authority behind the establishment of the priesthood.
• the anointing oil (אֵת שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה - et shemen hammishchah): This is not ordinary oil. It refers to a specially consecrated blend (Exo 30:23-25) of myrrh, cinnamon, aromatic cane, cassia, and olive oil. Its composition was divine in origin, not to be replicated for common use (Exo 30:31-33). Shemen (oil) universally symbolized blessing, prosperity, and joy, but when hammichshah (the anointing) is added, it specifies its sacred purpose of setting apart.
• and pour it (וְיָצַקְתָּ - v'yatzakta): The Hebrew verb yatzak signifies a forceful, intentional outpouring. This indicates a complete saturation rather than a mere sprinkling or daubing. The abundance of the pouring signified a full and overflowing measure of God's blessing and equipping for service.
• on his head (עַל־רֹאשׁוֹ - 'al-ro'sho): The head, being the highest and most prominent part of the body, signifies complete dedication and represents the entire person. The oil descending from the head symbolized the oil of divine favor and Spirit flowing down, as captured in Psalm 133:2, where the oil upon Aaron's head signifies blessing flowing from him to others. This also distinctly marks the High Priest from his sons, who were only to be sprinkled with the anointing oil and blood (Exo 29:21).
• and anoint him (וּמָשַׁחְתָּ אֹתוֹ - u'mashachta 'oto): The Hebrew verb mashach means "to smear, rub, anoint." This action is the purpose of the oil's application—to set apart someone for a special, holy office or purpose. The act of mashach in a biblical context invariably implies a divine appointment and consecration, connecting the one anointed directly to God's purpose and authority.
• anointing oil...pour it on his head and anoint him: This sequence of taking the holy oil, pouring it abundantly on Aaron's head, and thereby anointing him, collectively signifies a deep and irrevocable consecration. It signifies not merely a ceremonial wash but a spiritual enablement and dedication for the specific, weighty duties of the high priesthood, mediating between a holy God and His people. This comprehensive anointing was a singular act that visibly and spiritually separated Aaron for a life of consecrated service to Yahweh.

Exodus 29 7 Bonus section

The specific components of the holy anointing oil, detailed in Exodus 30:23-25, had unique symbolic values in the ancient Near East and within Israel. For example, myrrh was often used in embalming and perfumes, perhaps foreshadowing death and resurrection or signifying deep fragrance and bitterness. The precise recipe and the divine prohibition against its replication for common use (Exo 30:31-33) underscores its extreme sanctity and symbolic exclusivity for divine purpose. This "sacredness" elevated the High Priest to a unique position of intercession, symbolizing purity and separation from the mundane, while simultaneously emphasizing his divine equipping rather than inherent worthiness.

Exodus 29 7 Commentary

Exodus 29:7 provides a profound insight into the initiation of the Aaronic priesthood, emphasizing the divine origin of its authority. The act of pouring the specially consecrated anointing oil upon Aaron's head was more than a ceremonial gesture; it was a visible sign of an invisible, supernatural transaction. The oil, unique in its composition and exclusive in its use, symbolized God's Holy Spirit, divine approval, and empowerment for sacred service. This was a direct commissioning from the Almighty, designating Aaron as consecrated and separated for the crucial role of mediator.

This ancient ritual, with its meticulous details, pointed forward to the ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah (Hebrew: Mashiach, Greek: Christos), Jesus. Unlike Aaron, who needed an outward application of oil, Jesus was intrinsically "anointed" by God with the Holy Spirit without measure for His offices as the Prophet, Priest, and King. Aaron's anointing signified his office for the old covenant, whereas Christ's perfect anointing inaugurated the new, eternal covenant. Moreover, through Christ, believers are now spiritually "anointed" by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 1:21-22, 1 John 2:20, 2:27), empowering them for spiritual priesthood and service within God's kingdom, though not to mediate salvation. This verse highlights God's demand for holiness and His provision for His chosen servants to fulfill their divine calling.