Leviticus 8 2

Leviticus 8:2 kjv

Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;

Leviticus 8:2 nkjv

"Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, the anointing oil, a bull as the sin offering, two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;

Leviticus 8:2 niv

"Bring Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams and the basket containing bread made without yeast,

Leviticus 8:2 esv

"Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread.

Leviticus 8:2 nlt

"Bring Aaron and his sons, along with their sacred garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of bread made without yeast,

Leviticus 8 verses

Leviticus 8 2 Meaning

This verse initiates the command for Moses to gather all necessary components for the formal consecration and ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests. It details the specific individuals, garments, and sacrificial offerings required to perform the divinely instituted ritual, marking the foundational establishment of the Aaronic priesthood. The meticulous inventory underscores the sacredness and precision demanded in approaching and serving a holy God, setting the stage for their unique mediatorial role in the covenant.

Leviticus 8 2 Context

Leviticus 8 begins the execution of God’s meticulous commands given earlier in Exodus 28 and 29 regarding the ordination of the Aaronic priesthood. Following the completion and consecration of the Tabernacle in Exodus 40, Leviticus details the sacrificial system and laws for the holy people, with the priesthood as central mediators. This chapter specifically records the week-long ceremony conducted by Moses, as commanded by the Lord, to formally set apart Aaron and his sons for their sacred service. Verse 2 initiates the process by listing the necessary implements and offerings, highlighting that access to a holy God is predicated on divine instruction, purification, and proper representation. Historically, this event took place at Mount Sinai, immediately after the giving of the Law and the Tabernacle's erection, signifying a pivotal moment in the establishment of Israel’s worship system.

Leviticus 8 2 Word analysis

• Take (לָקַח - laqach): This Hebrew verb signifies to "take," "fetch," "receive," or "acquire." In this context, it implies an authoritative command for Moses to assemble and bring forth the specific items and individuals, emphasizing divine mandate and precise obedience in preparation for a sacred act.
• Aaron (אַהֲרֹן - Aharon): Moses’ brother, specially chosen by God to be the first High Priest. His name means "mountain of strength" or "enlightened one." He represents the human figure designated by God to mediate between Him and the Israelites.
• and his sons (וּבָנָיו - u'banav): Refers to Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. This highlights the hereditary nature of the Aaronic priesthood, emphasizing that the priestly lineage was divinely established and maintained for future generations of mediators.
• with him (אִתּוֹ - itto): Signifies their collective involvement in the ordination. They were consecrated alongside Aaron to serve as priests, though in a subordinate capacity to the High Priest.
• the garments (הַבְּגָדִים - habegadim): Refers to the elaborate, divinely designed priestly vestments detailed in Exodus 28. These garments symbolized purity, holiness, beauty, glory, and served to identify the priests, endowing them with official capacity before God and the people.
• and the anointing oil (וְאֵת שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה - v’et shemen hamishchah): A specially compounded holy oil (Exo 30:22-33). It was used to sanctify persons and objects for sacred service. The anointing symbolized the divine setting apart, consecration, and endowment with God's Spirit for a specific office, pointing ultimately to Christ, the "Anointed One."
• and the bull (וְאֵת פַּר - v’et par): A male bovine. In the Mosaic sacrificial system, a bull was a significant and costly animal, often used for substantial sin offerings, particularly for priests or the entire congregation.
• of the sin offering (הַחַטָּאת - hachatta't): Refers to the "chatta't" sacrifice, which was primarily for purification from sin, unintended transgression, and ritual uncleanness. This offering was crucial for purging defilement, underscoring the necessity of atonement even for those entering God's service. It points to Christ as the ultimate sin offering.
• and the two rams (וְאֵת הָאֵילִם שְׁנֵי - v’et ha'eilim shnei): Rams were also common sacrificial animals. In this specific ordination, one ram was for the burnt offering (whole devotion), and the other for the ram of consecration/ordination (a shared offering to mark their sacred service).
• and the basket (וְאֵת סַל - v’et sal): A container or wicker basket. Used specifically for holding the various bread types prescribed for the ordination ceremony.
• of unleavened bread (הַמַּצּוֹת - hamatsot): Bread made without yeast, symbolizing purity, absence of corruption, and readiness to depart (Exo 12). Used in various grain offerings and the Passover, signifying purity and readiness to receive God's blessings and covenant.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Take Aaron and his sons with him": This phrase establishes the direct, divine selection of specific individuals for a unique sacred office, underscoring God's initiative in appointing mediation rather than human election.
• "and the garments, and the anointing oil": These items are fundamental for identifying and consecrating the priests. The garments represent their official status and the purity required for divine service, while the anointing oil signifies their sacred endowment and the setting apart by the Spirit for their functions. They are symbols of divine enablement and authority.
• "and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams": This grouping of animals specifies the expiatory and dedicatory aspects of the ordination. The sin offering deals with purification from impurity and sin (even for the priests), while the two rams represent complete devotion (burnt offering) and the initiation into their dedicated, consecrated service. This highlights that atonement and consecration are inseparable from priestly service.
• "and the basket of unleavened bread": This final item, typically part of a grain offering or peace offering, represents purity, integrity, and sustenance. Its inclusion emphasizes the necessity of ceremonial purity and their shared participation in a covenant meal that signifies their pure relationship and service before God.

Leviticus 8 2 Bonus section

• The seven-day duration of the ordination ceremony (Lev 8:33-35) reinforced its profound significance and provided ample time for thorough spiritual preparation and consecration. This long period signified a complete and dedicated transformation, unlike a simple administrative appointment.
• The distinct types of offerings (sin, burnt, and consecration) within the ordination ceremony reveal the multifaceted aspects of approaching God: cleansing from impurity, total surrender, and active participation in divine service. Each has a unique theological function.
• The requirement for Moses, as the primary mediator of the Old Covenant, to conduct the ordination underscores that all authority for the priesthood originated solely from God, not from human initiative or tradition.
• The emphasis on specific divine instructions (implied by "as the Lord commanded Moses" throughout Leviticus 8) sets a crucial precedent for worship. It rejects any form of worship or service devised by human ingenuity or personal preference, strongly contrasting with the self-styled worship common in pagan cultures.
• This ritual established a framework for future generations of priests, providing a constant reminder of the high standards of holiness and obedience required for those who minister before God.

Leviticus 8 2 Commentary

Leviticus 8:2 acts as the ceremonial preamble to the formal institution of the Aaronic priesthood, precisely executing the divine blueprints previously laid out in Exodus. Every element listed – the specific individuals, their unique vestments, the holy anointing oil, and the variety of sacrificial animals and pure bread – is crucial. The garments visually distinguished them as God's representatives, while the anointing oil ritually infused them with divine sanction for their sacred tasks, symbolically empowering them. The specified offerings addressed the vital need for sin atonement (the bull) even for the priests themselves, demonstrating the pervasiveness of sin, while the rams represented wholehearted devotion and their full consecration to divine service. The unleavened bread emphasized purity in their communion and service. This meticulous process profoundly underlines that access to a holy God is not casual but requires specific divine appointment, rigorous purification, and precise obedience to covenant stipulations, ultimately foreshadowing Jesus Christ, our perfect High Priest who fulfilled every shadow by offering His pure, singular sacrifice and forever sanctifying His people.