Leviticus 8 13

Leviticus 8:13 kjv

And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Leviticus 8:13 nkjv

Then Moses brought Aaron's sons and put tunics on them, girded them with sashes, and put hats on them, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Leviticus 8:13 niv

Then he brought Aaron's sons forward, put tunics on them, tied sashes around them and fastened caps on them, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Leviticus 8:13 esv

And Moses brought Aaron's sons and clothed them with coats and tied sashes around their waists and bound caps on them, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Leviticus 8:13 nlt

Next Moses presented Aaron's sons. He clothed them in their tunics, tied their sashes around them, and put their special head coverings on them, just as the LORD had commanded him.

Leviticus 8 verses

Leviticus 8 13 Meaning

Leviticus 8:13 describes Moses completing the ceremonial outfitting of Aaron's sons, establishing them as common priests. This act, precisely following God's earlier directives, signified their formal investiture and dedication for service in the Tabernacle. The clothing represented their designated status, readiness for divine service, and distinction from the laity, emphasizing the foundational principle of obedience to God's specific commands for worship and ministry.

Leviticus 8 13 Context

Leviticus chapter 8 details the ceremonial consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests, an event commanded by the LORD in Exodus 29. Moses, acting as God's representative, meticulously follows every step: gathering the assembly, bringing the candidates, cleansing them with water, clothing them in their designated priestly garments, anointing them with oil, and performing specific sin offerings, burnt offerings, and offerings of ordination. This elaborate eight-day ritual formally established the Aaronic priesthood, distinguishing them as servants set apart for specific holy functions in the newly erected Tabernacle. Verse 13 specifically focuses on the sons of Aaron receiving their common priestly garments, which distinguished them from Aaron (the High Priest) who had distinct vestments described earlier in the chapter. The historical setting is the wilderness, shortly after the Tabernacle's construction and just prior to the Israelites embarking from Sinai, establishing the covenant cult foundational to Israel's national identity and relationship with God.

Leviticus 8 13 Word analysis

• Then Moses brought: The Hebrew verb Qrb (קָרַב) means to "bring near," "present," or "draw close." It signifies Moses' role as the divinely appointed agent responsible for formally presenting the priestly candidates before the LORD for their ordination. His direct involvement underscores the official, divinely-sanctioned nature of the ceremony.

• the sons of Aaron: These are Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. They were designated by God as the future lineage of the common priesthood, subordinate to their father Aaron, the High Priest. This phrase emphasizes the hereditary nature of the Aaronic priesthood as established by God.

• and clothed them: The Hebrew verb Labaš (לָבַשׁ) means "to put on clothing" or "to be clothed." This act of putting on specified garments was not merely practical; it was a highly significant ritual act that transformed the individuals from ordinary Israelites into consecrated ministers. The clothing signified their new status, role, and authority.

• with tunics: The Hebrew kutonet (כֻּתֹּנֶת). These were the basic inner garments of linen, made of fine twisted linen (Exod 39:27). While tunics were common attire, for the priests they were consecrated garments, symbolic of purity and righteousness, worn close to the body, indicating their inner disposition of holiness. They covered from the neck to the ankles.

• girded them with sashes: The Hebrew ḥagar (חָגַר) means "to gird" or "fasten around." The ʾabneṭ (אַבְנֵט), or sash, was a long, embroidered piece of linen wound around the waist, likely also of fine linen with blue, purple, and scarlet material (Exod 39:29). Girding signified readiness and preparation for service, as it would tuck in loose garments for active work.

• and fastened caps on them: The Hebrew verb ḥabaš (חָבַשׁ) means "to bind," "to wrap," or "to fasten." The migba'ot (מִגְבָּעוֹת) were distinctive rounded or turban-like caps (Exod 39:28). Unlike Aaron's special turban (mitznefet), these were for the common priests. The head covering signified dignity, authority, and possibly humility or reverence before God.

• Moses brought the sons of Aaron: This phrase highlights Moses' mediating role. He is not merely presenting, but officially ushering them into their priestly office according to divine command, establishing the lineage for priestly service.

• clothed them with tunics, girded them with sashes, and fastened caps on them: This specific sequence and description of vestments emphasize the systematic and detailed nature of God's instructions for worship. Each piece of clothing carried symbolic weight, signifying the priests' sanctification, their role as representatives before God, and their preparedness for sacred duties. The meticulousness reveals God's demand for order and purity in His service.

• as the LORD had commanded Moses: This concluding phrase (ka'ašer ṣiwwāh Yahweh et-Moshe) is a critical and recurring motif throughout Leviticus 8 and the Tabernacle narratives. It emphasizes divine authority, human obedience, and the non-negotiable nature of God's instructions for worship and holy service. Every act was derived from God's explicit word, establishing a pattern for all future priestly ministry. It refutes any notion of human innovation in divine service.

Leviticus 8 13 Bonus section

The specific linen materials for the priests' garments emphasized purity and simplicity, distinct from the more elaborate, multi-colored garments of Aaron, the High Priest, but equally holy and required. These vestments, being the prescribed uniform for divine service, provided protection for the priests' modesty and prevented common dust from clinging to their flesh, symbolically reinforcing the separation of the sacred from the common during ministry. The careful observance of this ritualistic dressing prevented presumptuous access or irreverent service, establishing a paradigm where one could only approach God in the manner He appointed. The absence of pockets in priestly garments is often noted by scholars, signifying that the priests served not for personal gain but purely to facilitate the worship and reconciliation between God and His people.

Leviticus 8 13 Commentary

Leviticus 8:13 is a precise historical record of the execution of God's specific command for the inauguration of the common priesthood in ancient Israel. The elaborate vesting of Aaron's sons was more than merely putting on clothes; it was a transformative ritual. Each garment—the pure linen tunic, the intricate sash, and the distinct cap—symbolically consecrated them, denoting purity, service-readiness, and unique spiritual authority granted by God. This detail underlines the biblical truth that ministry to God must always occur on His terms, reflecting His holiness and not human ingenuity or preference. The repeated phrase, "as the LORD had commanded Moses," acts as a constant theological refrain, underscoring the divine origin and mandatory obedience required for all sacred acts. The Levitical priesthood, thus consecrated, became the necessary mediating bridge between a holy God and an unholy people, foreshadowing the ultimate, perfectly consecrated High Priest, Jesus Christ, who clothed humanity in righteousness by His single, definitive work.