Leviticus 8 11

Leviticus 8:11 kjv

And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.

Leviticus 8:11 nkjv

He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the laver and its base, to consecrate them.

Leviticus 8:11 niv

He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them.

Leviticus 8:11 esv

And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them.

Leviticus 8:11 nlt

He sprinkled the oil on the altar seven times, anointing it and all its utensils, as well as the washbasin and its stand, making them holy.

Leviticus 8 verses

Leviticus 8 11 Meaning

Leviticus 8:11 describes Moses' ritual actions to sanctify the altar of burnt offering and all its associated utensils, including the basin (laver) and its stand, for their holy service within the Tabernacle. This act involved both sprinkling them seven times with anointing oil and fully anointing them with the same sacred oil. The explicit purpose was "to consecrate them," setting them apart as holy and dedicated solely for divine worship and the priestly ministry according to God's precise instructions.

Leviticus 8 11 Context

Leviticus chapter 8 details the ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons as priests and the consecration of the Tabernacle, meticulously fulfilling the commands given by God in Exodus 29 and 40. This verse marks a pivotal moment where Moses, acting as commanded by the Lord, systematically anoints and sprinkles the Tabernacle's articles. Prior to this, Moses gathered the congregation and presented Aaron and his sons. The actions described in verse 11 are part of a broader sequence (Lev 8:10-12) to consecrate every item used for worship, establishing a physical space of divine holiness amidst the Israelites' camp. The historical context is the newly formed nation of Israel at Sinai, transitioning from slavery to a covenant relationship with Yahweh, where purity and strict adherence to God's regulations for worship were essential for His holy presence to dwell among them. This ceremony contrasts starkly with surrounding pagan rituals, emphasizing divine instruction, comprehensive consecration, and the relational holiness imparted by God's decree, not magical rites.

Leviticus 8 11 Word analysis

• And he sprinkled some of it: (וַיַּז אֲלֵיהֶם – vayyaz alehem from נָזָה, nazah - to spatter, sprinkle, dash) This is not a random application but a precise ritual act. It indicates purification and setting apart. The agent of sprinkling is Moses, carrying out God's specific command for consecration.
• on the altar: (הַמִּזְבֵּחַ – hammizbeakh) Refers to the bronze altar of burnt offering, located in the outer court of the Tabernacle, central to animal sacrifices. Its sanctification was crucial as it was where the offerings for atonement were presented to God.
• seven times: (שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים – sheva pe'amim) The number seven signifies completeness, perfection, divine activity, and holiness in the Hebrew Bible. This repetitive act underscores the thoroughness and divine establishment of the altar's consecration, marking it as utterly complete in its sacred status.
• and anointed: (וַיִּמְשַׁח – vayyimshakh from מָשַׁח, mashakh - to smear, anoint) This refers to applying the holy anointing oil (mentioned in v. 10). Anointing signifies designation, setting apart for sacred purpose, and imparting authority or holiness for service. It suggests saturation and permeation.
• the altar and all its utensils: (אֶת-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְאֶת-כָּל-כֵּלָיו – et-hammizbeakh v’et-kol-kelav) "Utensils" (כֵּלָיו, kelav) refers to all the implements and tools used in sacrificial worship, such as shovels, pans, forks, and fire holders. This emphasizes that everything associated with sacred service had to be consecrated.
• both the basin and its stand: (וְאֶת-הַכִּיּוֹר וְאֶת-כַּנּוֹ – v'et-hakkiyor v'et-kanno) The basin (כִּיּוֹר, kiyor, laver) was a large bronze vessel used by priests for washing their hands and feet before ministering, signifying ritual purity. Its stand supported it. Its inclusion emphasizes the necessity of purity even for mundane priestly actions.
• to consecrate them: (לְקַדְּשָׁם – lekadd'sham from קָדַשׁ, qadash - to be holy, set apart) This states the ultimate purpose of all these actions: to make the items holy, designating them exclusively for God's service and forbidding their common use. This highlights that holiness is conferred by God through obedient action, not inherent in the object itself.

Words-group analysis:

• "sprinkled... and anointed... to consecrate them": These phrases together highlight two distinct, yet complementary, methods of sanctification—ritual purification (sprinkling) and setting apart (anointing)—all aimed at achieving complete holiness for divine service. This dual action ensured comprehensive purification and designation for the objects.
• "the altar and all its utensils, both the basin and its stand": This comprehensive list shows that every single component of the worship infrastructure, from the primary altar to the smallest implement and even the cleansing station, required explicit consecration. No part of God's worship was considered common or allowed to be less than fully sanctified.

Leviticus 8 11 Bonus section

The act of anointing and sprinkling in Leviticus 8:11 establishes a pattern of mediated holiness in the Old Testament. The Tabernacle objects were not inherently holy, but their holiness was relational, imputed through the specific ritual acts performed by Moses as God's authorized agent. This points to the need for divine intervention and appointed means for humanity and its elements to draw near to a holy God. This precise obedience to divine instruction regarding even inanimate objects highlights a profound theological truth: God dictates the terms of His worship. This stands in direct contrast to pagan practices where deities might be manipulated or appeased by human inventions. Instead, the focus here is on divine holiness permeating specific spaces and instruments to allow for the possibility of a pure covenant relationship with a holy God.

Leviticus 8 11 Commentary

Leviticus 8:11 powerfully demonstrates the absolute necessity of holiness and separation in all matters pertaining to God's presence and worship. By divine command, Moses executes a dual ritual of sprinkling and anointing, applying sacred oil to the Tabernacle's key elements: the altar and all its implements, down to the laver. This was not a magical act, but a covenantal declaration, visibly marking these objects as belonging exclusively to Yahweh and setting them apart from common use. The sevenfold sprinkling emphasizes thoroughness and divine completion, ensuring their perfect dedication for holy purposes. This rigorous consecration underscores God's purity and the principle that all approaches to Him, and all tools used in His service, must conform to His standards of holiness. It establishes the foundational truth that worship is not arbitrary but divinely ordained, demanding intentional consecration of all elements involved. This principle spiritually foreshadows the New Covenant reality where believers, sanctified by Christ's blood and the Holy Spirit, become spiritual priests and temples, set apart for God's service (1 Pet 2:5,9; 1 Cor 6:19).