Leviticus 8:22 kjv
And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.
Leviticus 8:22 nkjv
And he brought the second ram, the ram of consecration. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram,
Leviticus 8:22 niv
He then presented the other ram, the ram for the ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.
Leviticus 8:22 esv
Then he presented the other ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.
Leviticus 8:22 nlt
Then Moses presented the other ram, which was the ram of ordination. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the ram's head,
Leviticus 8 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 29:1 | "Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them..." | Command for priestly ordination |
| Lev 1:4 | "He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering..." | General rule for laying on hands in sacrifice |
| Lev 4:4 | "...lay his hand on the head of the bull and kill the bull..." | Laying on hands in sin offerings |
| Lev 8:14 | "...Moses brought the bull for the sin offering..." | Preceding sin offering in priestly ordination |
| Lev 8:18 | "...He presented the ram for the burnt offering..." | Preceding burnt offering in priestly ordination |
| Lev 8:23-24 | "...Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear..." | Unique blood application for ordination |
| Lev 8:33 | "...you shall not go outside the entrance...for seven days..." | The seven-day period of priestly consecration |
| Num 3:3 | "...whom he consecrated to minister as priests." | Reinforces the act of consecration |
| Num 8:10 | "...the sons of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites..." | Laying on hands for Levite dedication |
| Deut 34:9 | "...Joshua...was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him..." | Laying on hands for commissioning and spiritual impartation |
| Isa 61:6 | "But you shall be called the priests of the LORD..." | Prophecy of spiritual priesthood |
| Joel 2:28-29 | "...I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh..." | Foreshadows New Covenant empowering |
| John 15:16 | "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you..." | God's sovereign choice for service |
| Heb 5:1-4 | "...no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God..." | Divine calling required for priesthood |
| Heb 5:5-6 | "...Christ also did not exalt himself to be made a high priest..." | Christ's High Priesthood by divine appointment |
| Heb 7:11-17 | "If perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood..." | Incompleteness of the Levitical system |
| Heb 7:27 | "...He has no need...to offer sacrifices daily..." | Christ's single, perfect sacrifice |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest...not by means of the blood of goats..." | Christ's superior blood and sacrifice |
| Heb 10:1-10 | "...For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come..." | Old Covenant sacrifices as a shadow of Christ |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood..." | New Covenant believers as spiritual priests |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..." | Believers' royal priesthood |
| Rev 1:6 | "...and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father..." | Believers' priestly role in New Covenant |
| Rev 5:10 | "...and made them a kingdom and priests to our God..." | Believers' priestly service in eternity |
| Acts 6:6 | "...they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them." | Laying on hands for ministry appointment |
| 1 Tim 4:14 | "Do not neglect the gift...given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you." | Laying on hands for spiritual gifts and commissioning |
Leviticus 8 verses
Leviticus 8 22 Meaning
Leviticus 8:22 describes a crucial moment in the elaborate ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons. Moses, acting as God's representative, presented a unique sacrifice, the "ram of ordination" or "consecration." The subsequent act of Aaron and his sons laying their hands upon the ram signified their personal identification with the offering, symbolizing their full dedication and investiture into their sacred office. This ritual officially installed them as priests, empowering and consecrating them for their divinely appointed role in serving God and His people.
Leviticus 8 22 Context
Leviticus chapter 8 presents a historical narrative detailing the meticulous seven-day ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons, fulfilling God's specific commands given in Exodus 29. This event immediately follows the completion and dedication of the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings. The precise procedures in this chapter were essential to set apart the chosen individuals—Aaron as High Priest and his sons as priests—who would minister within the newly consecrated dwelling place of God. This particular verse describes the presentation and identification with the "ram of ordination," a pivotal step that physically and symbolically consecrated them, equipping them with the necessary spiritual authority and ritual purity to mediate between a holy God and the Israelite community, thereby maintaining the integrity of the covenant relationship.
Leviticus 8 22 Word analysis
Then: Indicates the sequential nature of the events in the ordination ceremony, following the sin and burnt offerings.
he presented: Refers to Moses, who acted as the direct representative of God throughout the consecration. This emphasizes that the priesthood was a divine institution, appointed and validated by God, not by human initiative or self-selection.
the other ram: Distinguishes this sacrifice as the third animal used in the consecration sequence (after the bull for sin offering and the first ram for burnt offering). It highlights the specific, unique purpose of this particular animal in the elaborate ritual.
the ram of ordination: (Hebrew: ’ēl hammillu’îm – literally "ram of the fillings"). This is the distinct, pivotal sacrifice of the entire consecration. The Hebrew term millu’îm refers to "fillings" and is an idiom for "filling the hands" or "consecration," symbolizing the act of being fully invested with power, authority, and responsibility for an office. It specifically signified the installation of Aaron and his sons into the priestly office.
and Aaron and his sons: Specifies the recipients of this consecration, the designated individuals whom God had chosen to serve in the sacred role of priesthood, establishing the lineage for future generations of priests.
laid their hands: (Hebrew: sāmak yād) – A profound ritual gesture. In the context of sacrifices, it commonly signified identification between the offerer and the animal. Here, it conveys Aaron and his sons' complete identification with this particular sacrifice, signifying their personal dedication to the covenant God and their readiness to assume the responsibilities of their divinely appointed sacred office. It expresses their active participation in the ritual that set them apart for holy service.
"the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands": This grouping underscores the active involvement of the candidates in their own consecration. It symbolizes the sacred bond established through this unique offering, where the animal served as the consecrated instrument for their formal installation. The "filling of the hands" by means of this sacrifice not only conferred authority but also entailed an enduring commitment and accountability for the sacred duties they were to perform.
Leviticus 8 22 Bonus section
The significance of the "ram of ordination" is further underscored by the unique application of its blood, not only to the altar but also specifically to the lobe of Aaron’s and his sons’ right ear, the thumb of their right hand, and the great toe of their right foot (Lev 8:23-24). This specific anointing symbolized the consecration of their entire person to God's service: their hearing (ear) dedicated to obeying God's Word, their actions (hand) devoted to His work, and their walk (foot) directed in His paths. The entire seven-day consecration period, during which the priests were to remain at the Tabernacle entrance and eat specific offerings, completed this immersive process of spiritual cleansing and divine commissioning, setting an inviolable standard for purity and faithfulness in priestly service.
Leviticus 8 22 Commentary
Leviticus 8:22 captures the precise moment of investing Aaron and his sons with their sacred priestly office. The "ram of ordination" (Hebrew: millu’îm or "filling of the hands") was uniquely prescribed for this purpose, distinct from offerings for sin or general dedication. The laying on of hands by Aaron and his sons was a powerful act of self-identification, not of sin transfer, but of personal devotion and complete submission to God's calling and appointment. This ritual consecrated them, making them fit to minister in God's presence and to intercede for the people, emphasizing that priestly authority and effectiveness derived entirely from divine command and thorough ceremonial cleansing, rather than from human pedigree or ambition. The detailed ceremony meticulously performed by Moses, acting as God's representative, validated the legitimacy and divine origin of Israel's priesthood. Ultimately, this foundational ceremony anticipates the perfect and permanent priesthood of Jesus Christ, whose single, definitive sacrifice eternally consecrates and perfects all those He redeems, enabling New Covenant believers to serve as a royal and spiritual priesthood (1 Pet 2:9).