Leviticus 8:18 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

Leviticus 8:18 kjv

And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.

Leviticus 8:18 nkjv

Then he brought the ram as the burnt offering. And Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram,

Leviticus 8:18 niv

He then presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.

Leviticus 8:18 esv

Then he presented the ram of the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.

Leviticus 8:18 nlt

Then Moses presented the ram for the burnt offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the ram's head,

Leviticus 8 18 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Ex 29:10	“Then you shall bring the bull before the tent of meeting...	Initial command for this specific bull offering.
Ex 29:14	“But the flesh of the bull...you shall burn...	Disposal of the sin offering for priestly consecration.
Lev 1:4	“He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering...	General principle of laying hands for identification.
Lev 4:3-4	“If the anointed priest sins...he shall bring for his sin...	A bull as a sin offering for a high priest's sin.
Lev 4:14-15	If the whole congregation of Israel sins...elders lay hands..	Congregation's sin offering with bull.
Lev 9:2	And he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for...	Aaron's first offering for himself after consecration.
Num 8:12	The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls;	Laying of hands on offerings for Levites' purification.
Num 15:25	...and it shall be forgiven them, for it was an error...	Forgiveness associated with sin offerings.
Isa 53:6	All we like sheep have gone astray...the LORD has laid on Him	Prophecy of Christ bearing sin, like laying on hands.
Ezek 43:19-22	You shall give a bull calf for a sin offering to the priests	Future sin offering for temple consecration.
Dan 9:24	...to bring in everlasting righteousness...	Christ's ultimate sin offering brings righteousness.
Heb 7:27	He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices...	Christ's sacrifice, no need for daily sin offerings.
Heb 9:12	He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means..	Christ's singular sacrifice replaces animal blood.
Heb 9:13	For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of...	Contrast of animal sacrifices with Christ's blood.
Heb 9:22	Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with...	Necessity of blood for purification.
Heb 10:4	For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to..	Inefficacy of animal blood to truly take away sin.
Heb 10:5-7	Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said...	Christ's perfect obedience fulfills sacrificial law.
Heb 10:10	And by that will we have been sanctified through the offer.	Christ's body offered once for all.
Heb 13:11	For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought...	Comparison to sin offering burned outside the camp.
Rom 6:6	We know that our old self was crucified with him in order..	Identification with Christ in His death.
2 Cor 5:21	For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that..	Christ made sin, ultimate sin offering.
Eph 5:2	...as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a frag..	Christ's self-sacrifice as a fragrant offering.
1 Pet 2:24	He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we..	Christ bearing sins, a parallel to identification.

Leviticus 8 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Leviticus 8 18 Meaning

Leviticus 8:18 describes the beginning of the consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons as priests, as instructed by God to Moses. Moses brings a bull designated as a sin offering (ḥaṭṭā't), and Aaron and his sons perform the significant ritual act of laying their hands on its head. This action symbolizes their identification with the animal, transferring their sin and imperfection onto it, prior to its sacrifice for their purification and expiation, making them ceremonially fit for divine service.

Leviticus 8 18 Context

Leviticus Chapter 8 details the solemn and foundational seven-day consecration ceremony of Aaron and his sons as priests, commanded by God to Moses in Exodus 29. This event takes place after the construction of the Tabernacle and precedes the commencement of its daily sacrificial services. The immediate context of verse 18 is the initial phase of this ordination ritual, where specific offerings are made to purify, sanctify, and dedicate the newly appointed priests. The bull for the sin offering is the very first animal brought forth in this process, highlighting the crucial need for expiation and ritual purity before the priests can enter into their sacred office and minister before a holy God. Historically, such an elaborate public ritual would serve to legitimize the newly established Aaronic priesthood and clearly distinguish it from surrounding pagan priesthoods, emphasizing YHWH's distinct and pure standards.

Leviticus 8 18 Word analysis

Then he brought: Vayyikrev (וַיַּקְרֵב). Literally "and he caused to approach/brought near." This refers to Moses, highlighting his role as the divinely appointed mediator of the covenant and the one authorized by God to perform this unique consecration. His action demonstrates obedience and precise adherence to divine instruction.
the bull: ha-par (הַפַּר). A young bull, a specific type of male cattle. In Israelite sacrificial practice, bulls represented significant value, strength, and purity, typically used for serious communal sins or the sins of a high priest. Its substantial nature signifies the grave necessity of cleansing before approaching God.
for the sin offering: la-ḥaṭṭā't (לַחַטָּאת). This prepositional phrase indicates the purpose of the animal. ḥaṭṭā't (חַטָּאת) refers not merely to "sin" but specifically to a "purification offering" or "expiation for sin." It signifies the removal of impurity and atonement for actions (both intentional and unintentional) that have disrupted the covenant relationship or profaned holiness. This type of offering makes ritual cleansing possible, enabling access to God.
Aaron and his sons: The designated individuals being consecrated. Their involvement is direct, emphasizing their personal need for purification despite their divine calling, and their active participation in the atonement process. This points to the inherent sinfulness of all humanity, even those appointed to sacred tasks.
laid their hands: sāmĕḵû (סָמְכוּ). Literally, "they leaned/rested (their hands) upon." This verb signifies more than just touching; it denotes an intentional and weighty act of support or transfer. In the context of sacrifice, it carries immense symbolic weight:
- Identification: The offerer identifies with the animal, acknowledging it as their representative.
- Transfer: It symbolically transfers guilt, impurity, or sin from the offerer onto the animal.
- Delegation/Appointment: Though primarily identification here, elsewhere laying on of hands also signifies commissioning or transfer of authority (as with Joshua).
on the head: rō'sh (רֹאשׁ). The head is the focal point, indicating a direct, personal, and complete identification with the animal. This specific contact highlights the unreserved nature of the symbolic transfer.
of the bull for the sin offering: A reiteration that reinforces the specific identity and purpose of the animal. This repetition underlines the importance and gravity of the ḥaṭṭā't in this consecration process, leaving no ambiguity as to the type of sacrifice and its role.

Leviticus 8 18 Bonus section

The ritual burning of this sin offering's body outside the camp (Ex 29:14, Lev 8:17) is significant. It symbolizes the impurity and abhorrence of sin being removed entirely from the community and sanctified space. This resonates profoundly with Christ, "who suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood" (Heb 13:11-12), emphasizing His complete removal of sin. The bull as a sin offering was the most substantial expiatory sacrifice, necessary because the High Priest and priests bore the collective responsibility of the entire nation, and their own impurity could defile the Tabernacle itself. This initial purification was paramount for establishing the sanctity and legitimacy of their new role, ensuring the divine service was acceptable to a holy God.

Leviticus 8 18 Commentary

Leviticus 8:18 marks a critical preparatory stage in the installation of Israel's priestly class. The bull for the sin offering underscores that even divinely appointed individuals like Aaron and his sons, intended to mediate between God and man, must first be purified from their own sin and impurity. The solemn act of laying hands on the animal's head symbolizes their identification with the offering and the symbolic transfer of their imperfections onto it. This was not a moral confession but a ritual cleansing to make them ceremonially pure to stand in God's presence and administer sacred duties. This specific act powerfully prefigures Christ, who, though sinless, became our ultimate ḥaṭṭā't by taking our sins upon Himself (2 Cor 5:21), a concept represented by this ancient ritual. Unlike animal blood, His once-for-all sacrifice truly removes sin, allowing His followers, who are now a kingdom of priests (1 Pet 2:9), to draw near to God without the need for endless sin offerings.