Leviticus 6 11

Leviticus 6:11 kjv

And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.

Leviticus 6:11 nkjv

Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.

Leviticus 6:11 niv

Then he is to take off these clothes and put on others, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean.

Leviticus 6:11 esv

Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.

Leviticus 6:11 nlt

Then he must take off these garments, change back into his regular clothes, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean.

Leviticus 6 verses

Leviticus 6 11 Meaning

Leviticus 6:11 instructs the priest, after performing the burnt offering, to remove his sacred linen garments and put on ordinary attire. He is then to carry the ashes, the consumed remains of the offering, outside the camp to a ceremonially clean and designated place. This command emphasizes the distinction between holy duties performed within the sanctuary and the proper, yet less sacred, disposal of sacrificial remnants, ensuring ritual purity, order, and reverence in all aspects of worship.

Leviticus 6 11 Context

Leviticus chapter 6 specifies the instructions for the priests regarding various offerings presented at the Tabernacle, elaborating on the laws established in Leviticus 1-5. Specifically, verses 8-13 detail the procedures for the daily burnt offering (Olah), which was to be kept burning continuously on the altar. Verse 10 described the priest's donning of linen garments for handling the offering. Verse 11 logically follows, detailing the next step: the proper disposal of the sacrifice's remains. Historically, these commands were given to Israel in the wilderness, establishing the precise rituals for their Tabernacle worship. This meticulousness contrasted sharply with the often chaotic and immoral religious practices of surrounding pagan nations, thereby establishing Israel as a distinct, holy people dedicated to a holy God who demanded order and purity in His presence.

Leviticus 6 11 Word analysis

• "Then he" (וְהוּא - vehu): The subject "he" directly refers back to the priest described in the previous verse (Lev 6:10) who was tasked with handling the burnt offering. This emphasizes the specific and delineated responsibilities of the priestly office.
• "shall take off" (פָּשַׁט - pashat): To strip off or divest. This action signifies a deliberate removal and separation. It implies that the sacred garments are not for common use or tasks, reinforcing their special, consecrated nature.
• "his garments" (בְּגָדָיו - begadav): Specifically, these are the "linen garment" (middô) and "linen breeches" (miknəse bād) mentioned in Leviticus 6:10. These were part of the sacred priestly attire (Ex 28:42-43), designated exclusively for service within the Tabernacle. They were holy and not to be defiled by interaction with the remains of the sacrifice, even though these ashes came from a holy offering.
• "and put on" (וְלָבַשׁ - velavash): To put on or clothe oneself. This denotes a deliberate act of changing, not just removal, highlighting a transition between states of service.
• "other garments" (בְּגָדִים אֲחֵרִים - begadim acherim): These refer to common, non-sacred clothing. The change signifies that carrying the ashes outside the camp, while a necessary part of the ritual, was not considered a "holy service" within the immediate precincts of the sanctuary, requiring the special sacred garments. This distinction underscored the boundaries of holiness and the reverence for consecrated items.
• "and carry" (וְהוֹצִיא - vehotzi): To bring out, lead out, or remove. This emphasizes the physical transportation of the ashes from the sacred area.
• "the ashes" (אֶת־הַדֶּשֶׁן - et-haddeshen): These are the thoroughly consumed remains of the burnt offering, indicating the completeness of the sacrifice where the entire animal (except its hide, per Lev 7:8) was offered to God. While resulting from a holy act, these ashes, representing the residue of sin having been dealt with, were considered ritually defiling to the sacred area and instruments.
• "outside the camp" (אֶל־מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה - el-mikhutz lammakhaneh): This phrase indicates the designated area for the removal of all ceremonial impurities, waste, and elements symbolizing sin that must be purged from the holy community where God dwells. It's a symbolic act of purifying the immediate divine presence.
• "to a clean place" (אֶל־מָקוֹם טָהוֹר - el-maqom tahor): This specifies a ritually pure and designated area for the ashes, demonstrating that even waste products from a holy act required careful, orderly, and reverent handling. This prevented indiscriminate disposal and maintained a standard of purity even beyond the immediate confines of the camp, reinforcing the meticulousness of God's commands regarding holiness.
• Words-group: "Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments": This pairing emphasizes the crucial separation between different categories of service and locations. The sanctity of the holy garments and the sanctuary interior had to be strictly maintained. Performing tasks associated with the "outside the camp" in the "inside the camp" attire would be a blurring of boundaries, an act of ritual impropriety. This teaches discernment between sacred functions and practical support tasks.
• Words-group: "and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place": This entire action signifies the complete removal and segregation of the elements that symbolize sin or its aftermath from the consecrated communal space. It visually conveys God's demand for total purity from His people and a proper, orderly disposition for all aspects of His worship, contrasting sharply with any haphazard approach.

Leviticus 6 11 Bonus section

The instructions in Leviticus 6:11 also carried a significant pedagogical function for the Israelites:

• Discernment and Separation: They taught the importance of discerning between the holy and the common, clean and unclean. This constant practice of distinguishing was vital for a nation chosen to represent a holy God to the world.
• The Weight of Sin: The necessity of utterly consuming and removing the sacrifice's remains from the camp taught the gravity of sin—it created a residue that could not remain in God's holy presence.
• The Sufficiency of Sacrifice: The burnt offering was fully consumed to ashes, indicating its completeness. Its removal demonstrated that once dealt with by the appointed means, the "waste" of sin was completely taken away, providing reassurance of full atonement for the worshipper.
• God's Sovereignty in Worship: The highly specific and seemingly granular nature of these commands illustrated that God dictates the terms of His worship. It was not for human innovation or convenience to decide how offerings were made or handled, but according to divine prescription, fostering obedience and submission.

Leviticus 6 11 Commentary

Leviticus 6:11, while seemingly a minor detail of ritual, encapsulates profound theological principles concerning holiness, purity, and the proper conduct of worship. The command for the priest to change garments highlights the absolute distinctiveness of consecrated items and spaces in relation to activities deemed common, even if those activities were part of a holy ritual's aftermath. The sacred priestly vestments were reserved solely for service within the Tabernacle, reflecting their divine appointment and the high calling of the priest. Handling the ashes, though a consequence of the burnt offering, occurred "outside the camp" and therefore did not warrant the use of sacred attire, preventing their defilement.

Furthermore, the act of removing the ashes "outside the camp to a clean place" serves as a vivid visual sermon. It illustrates the complete consumption and removal of sin, represented by the burnt offering. The ashes, the residue of sin fully dealt with, could not remain within the holy camp where God resided. Their systematic removal demonstrated that the effects of sin, once atoned for, are fully purged from the community. The specific instruction for a "clean place" for disposal further underscores God's demand for order and meticulous reverence in all matters, reinforcing that even waste from worship was handled with purpose, not disregard. This detailed command served to cultivate in Israel a profound understanding of God's perfect holiness, the pervasive nature of impurity, and the necessity of precise adherence to divine instruction for true reconciliation and communion.