Leviticus 6 10

Leviticus 6:10 kjv

And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.

Leviticus 6:10 nkjv

And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen trousers he shall put on his body, and take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.

Leviticus 6:10 niv

The priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments next to his body, and shall remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar.

Leviticus 6:10 esv

And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen undergarment on his body, and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar.

Leviticus 6:10 nlt

In the morning, after the priest on duty has put on his official linen clothing and linen undergarments, he must clean out the ashes of the burnt offering and put them beside the altar.

Leviticus 6 verses

Leviticus 6 10 Meaning

Leviticus 6:10 provides a specific divine command regarding the required attire and duty of the priest (Kohen) when handling the ashes of the consumed burnt offering. It specifies that the priest must wear a special linen garment and linen breeches, which are holy vestments, to ensure his ritual purity and reverence when removing the ashes from the altar, thereby preventing defilement in the sacred space and maintaining the sanctity of the act of worship.

Leviticus 6 10 Context

Leviticus 6:10 is part of the section dealing with the priestly instructions for handling the sacrifices, specifically the burnt offering (Olah). Following the regulations given to the common Israelites concerning their offerings, chapters 6 and 7 detail the priests' specific duties and portions. Verses 8-13 of Leviticus 6 describe the "Law of the Burnt Offering," outlining what the priest must do from night to morning with the continuously burning fire on the altar, to removing the ashes. This verse specifically addresses the priest's attire for the task of ash removal, emphasizing the importance of purity and distinction even in mundane aspects of sacred service. Historically, this aligns with the meticulous demands for holiness and ritual cleanliness essential to the worship of Yahweh in the Tabernacle system, contrasting sharply with the often less strict or even promiscuous practices found in surrounding pagan cults.

Leviticus 6 10 Word analysis

• And the priest:
  • vəhakōhēn (וְהַכֹּהֵן): "And the priest." The definite article "the" indicates a specific priest, or the priest who is currently on duty. The Hebrew term kohen signifies one who stands before God, performs sacred service, and mediates for the people. His office demands a specific standard of conduct and attire due to his proximity to the divine presence. This highlights the delegated authority and unique role within Israelite society.
• shall put on:
  • Lābhaš (לָבַשׁ): To put on, clothe, array oneself. This verb indicates a deliberate and intentional action. It's not passive, but an active donning of specific clothing for a specific sacred task, underscoring the purpose-driven nature of the vestments.
• his linen garment:
  • Middo bad (מִדּוֹ בַד): "His garment of linen."
    • Middo (מִדּוֹ): "His garment" or "his measured garment." Refers to an outer, body-covering tunic. This was one of the key elements of the priest's uniform, distinct from everyday wear.
    • Bad (בַּד): Linen. This material is consistently prescribed for priestly garments (Ex 28:42, 39:27-28; Lev 16:4). Linen, being derived from plants and relatively simple to process compared to wool (which came from animals and could harbor mites/pests), was considered a pure and clean material in the ancient world. It absorbed sweat well, preventing stickiness. It symbolized purity, simplicity, and unadorned righteousness. Wearing linen indicated a clean, undefiled approach to God.
• and linen breeches:
  • umiknəsē bhaddū (וּמִכְנְסֵי בַדּוּ): "and breeches of linen."
    • Miknəsē (מִכְנְסֵי): Breeches or undergarments. These were short trousers extending from the waist to the thigh (Ex 28:42), specifically designed to ensure the priest's modesty, covering his "nakedness" (Ex 20:26) to prevent indecent exposure during his service at the altar where he might be visible to those below. This highlights the importance of modesty and sacred decorum even in less visible aspects of service.
    • Baddū (בַדּוּ): Again, indicating "of linen," reiterating the prescribed pure material.
• shall he put on upon his flesh:
  • ʻal bəśarō (עַל־בְּשָׂרוֹ): "upon his flesh." This specifies that the linen garments were to be worn directly on the priest's body, serving as his under-garments (unlike some outer garments which could be worn over other clothing). This close contact reinforces the idea of personal holiness and purity required of the priest as an individual in sacred service. It implies a complete covering, a distinct barrier between the priest’s body and the world, symbolizing consecration.
• and he shall take up:
  • Hērîm (הֵרִים): A Hiphil verb from Rûm (רוּם), meaning "to lift," "to take up," "to raise." The Hiphil conjugation denotes a causative or active role, indicating the priest’s active duty to remove the ashes, rather than allowing them to accumulate or remain indefinitely. It implies a deliberate, reverent handling.
• the ashes:
  • Haddesen (הַדֶּשֶׁן): "The fat ashes," referring to the residual ash, the consumed remains of the sacrifice, particularly from the fatty portions that were entirely burned up. While ashes themselves are unclean and a product of decomposition, these ashes from the holy altar were specific remains of a divine act, requiring special handling. They were the evidence of the consummation of the burnt offering, signifying its acceptance.
• into which the fire has consumed:
  • ʼăšer ʻāklāh hāʼēš (אֲשֶׁר אָכְלָה הָאֵשׁ): "into which the fire has eaten/consumed." This emphasizes the completeness of the burning, the total consumption of the burnt offering. The fire is seen as an agent, a metaphor for divine acceptance and processing. It underscores that these are not merely ordinary ashes, but the sacred remains of what was wholly given to God and accepted by Him.
• the burnt offering:
  • haʻōlāh (הָעֹלָה): The burnt offering, literally "that which goes up" or "ascends." This was a sacrifice entirely consumed by fire, symbolizing complete surrender, devotion, and propitiation. The ashes are the physical remnant of this ultimate act of worship.
• on the altar:
  • ʻal hammizbēaḥ (עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ): "upon the altar." The bronze altar (Ex 27:1-8) was the central place for sacrifices, marking it as holy ground. The ashes remaining on the altar itself underscore their sacred origin.
• and he shall place them beside the altar:
  • wəśāmā mēʾēṣel hammizbēaḥ (וְשָׂמָם מֵאֵצֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ): "and he shall put them beside the altar." This instructs the priest to move the sacred ashes from their initial position on the altar to a designated place beside it. This action signifies a controlled removal within the sacred precinct before they are eventually carried outside the camp (Lev 6:11), maintaining order and sanctity within the holy space.

Leviticus 6 10 Bonus section

The transition from the specific "linen garment" and "linen breeches" for removing ashes beside the altar to "other garments" for carrying ashes outside the camp (Lev 6:11) is significant. The "linen" priestly garments were for specific tasks within the holy precincts due to their inherent purity, reflecting the sanctity required when dealing with holy things (like the fire-consumed burnt offering). Once the task shifted to transporting the ashes outside the sacred area (the camp was considered common/unclean ground for certain items), the priest changed into "other garments," which were less sacred or regular clothes, so as not to defile the holy linen garments by exposing them to potentially unclean ground or handling. This demonstrates the strict boundaries between the sacred and the common, even in the priest's clothing and the very location of his duties. This layered approach to purity underscores God's meticulous demands for ceremonial cleanness in His presence.

Leviticus 6 10 Commentary

Leviticus 6:10 outlines a precise ritualistic instruction for the priest responsible for the continuous burnt offering, emphasizing the integral relationship between priestly attire and purity in divine service. The linen garments signify the purity, humility, and complete dedication required for those approaching the holy God, distinguishing the sacred from the common. These instructions reinforce the reverence due to Yahweh and His dwelling place, even when handling the physical remnants of worship, ensuring that every detail, even ash removal, is done in accordance with divine command and with utmost respect. It exemplifies the broader biblical principle that God's people are called to holiness in all aspects of life, mirroring His own nature. This foreshadows the spiritual purity expected of believers who, as a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9), offer spiritual sacrifices and are called to "put on the new self" (Eph 4:24) in righteousness and holiness.