Leviticus 8:23 kjv
And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.
Leviticus 8:23 nkjv
and Moses killed it. Also he took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
Leviticus 8:23 niv
Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.
Leviticus 8:23 esv
And he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.
Leviticus 8:23 nlt
and Moses slaughtered it. Then Moses took some of its blood and applied it to the lobe of Aaron's right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the big toe of his right foot.
Leviticus 8 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 29:20 | "Then you shall take some of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tip of the right ear of his sons... and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar." | Original command for priestly ordination. |
| Lev 14:14 | "The priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot." | Similar ritual for cleansing lepers. |
| Lev 14:25 | "...the priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the tip of the right ear of the one to be cleansed..." | Repeat of the leper cleansing ritual. |
| Lev 17:11 | "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls..." | Blood signifies life and atonement. |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come... he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood..." | Christ's superior atoning sacrifice. |
| Heb 9:19-22 | "For when every commandment had been declared by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats... and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people... Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." | All purification requires blood. |
| Heb 10:4-7 | "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins... 'A body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you have taken no pleasure...'" | Animal blood's inability to fully atone. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession..." | Believers as a spiritual priesthood. |
| Rev 1:5-6 | "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father..." | Christ made believers priests. |
| Rom 12:1 | "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God..." | Believers' dedication through service. |
| Isa 50:4-5 | "The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens me morning by morning; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward." | Prophetic of obedience and hearing God (Christ). |
| Ps 40:6-8 | "In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear... then I said, 'Behold, I have come... I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.'" | Christ's delight in God's will (obedient ear). |
| Eph 2:10 | "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." | Believers called to good works (hands & feet). |
| Col 1:20 | "and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." | Reconciliation through Christ's blood. |
| Eph 1:7 | "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace..." | Redemption and forgiveness through blood. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | "...knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." | Ransom through Christ's precious blood. |
| Rev 7:14 | "They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." | Cleansing power of Christ's blood. |
| Heb 7:26-27 | "For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners... He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself." | Christ's perfect, one-time sacrifice. |
| 1 Cor 6:20 | "for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." | Believers belong to God (body is His). |
| John 10:27 | "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." | Discipleship involves hearing and following (ears/feet). |
| John 13:3-5 | "...rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments... and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him." | Christ's example of service and humility (feet). |
| Titus 2:14 | "who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." | Redemption unto good works. |
Leviticus 8 verses
Leviticus 8 23 Meaning
Leviticus 8:23 describes a pivotal moment in the ordination of Aaron as Israel's High Priest. Following the slaughter of the ram of consecration, Moses applied specific parts of its blood directly to Aaron's body: the tip of his right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the big toe of his right foot. This act symbolically consecrated Aaron's entire being – his hearing, his actions, and his walk – for exclusive service to God. It signified purification, dedication, and the transfer of divine authority necessary for priestly ministry, highlighting that his body, mind, and will were now set apart for holy purposes through the efficacy of the blood.
Leviticus 8 23 Context
Leviticus chapter 8 details the solemn and highly specific seven-day ceremony for the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests, as commanded by God in Exodus 29. This event immediately follows the completion of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, preparing the personnel who would minister within it. The ram of consecration, from which the blood was taken in verse 23, was one of three sacrifices offered during this ordination: a sin offering (for atonement), a burnt offering (for dedication), and the ram of consecration (for equipping and enabling priestly service). The blood application to specific body parts symbolized a comprehensive dedication and purification, setting apart Aaron's very being for sacred service before the start of his active ministry, emphasizing the holiness required to approach God.
Leviticus 8 23 Word analysis
- And Moses slaughtered it:
- slaughtered (שָׁחַט - shaḥaṭ): Refers to the specific act of killing for sacrifice. Moses, as God's designated leader and prophet, performs this ritual, underscoring the divine authorization behind the priestly office and the necessity of bloodshed for atonement and consecration in the old covenant. It is a violent act made sacred by God's command.
- This is not arbitrary but part of a divinely orchestrated ceremony.
- and took some of its blood:
- blood (דָּם - dam): In Hebrew thought, blood represents life (Lev 17:11). Its application in sacrifice is always about life offered, atonement made, or cleansing. It signifies purification and dedication, as life given to God enables one to draw near. This blood serves to sanctify.
- and put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear:
- tip (תְּנוּךְ - těnûḵ): The small, fleshy lobe of the ear. This precision highlights the exactness of divine instruction and the completeness of the consecration.
- right ear: The "right" side consistently symbolizes strength, skill, preference, and authority in biblical Hebrew. Application to the right ear signifies the priest's duty to hear and obey God's voice without error or distortion, to discern His will, and to correctly teach the Law. It represents full spiritual attentiveness.
- and on the thumb of his right hand:
- thumb (בֹּהֶן - bōhen): The most crucial digit for manipulation and action.
- right hand: Signifies effectiveness, skill, power, and readiness to perform sacred duties. Application here consecrates Aaron's actions, work, and service. His hands are dedicated to handling holy objects, offering sacrifices, and ministering blessings to the people, ensuring his work is done acceptably to God.
- and on the big toe of his right foot:
- big toe (בֹּהֶן - bōhen): Like the thumb, it's essential for balance, movement, and direction.
- right foot: Indicates the priest's walk, path, and direction in life. It means his consecrated feet are to walk in God's ways, enter only holy places according to divine protocol, and lead the people in righteousness. It symbolizes spiritual pilgrimage and unwavering obedience in his conduct.
Words-group analysis:
- "some of its blood... on the tip... on the thumb... on the big toe...": This triadic application of blood to the extremities of the body (ear, hand, foot) forms a profound symbolic unity. It represents the total consecration of the priest – encompassing his perceptive faculties (hearing God's voice, knowing His will), his active capabilities (performing holy service), and his entire way of life (walking according to God's commandments). The ritual demands that all of the priest's being be sanctified by the life-giving, purifying blood, dedicating him fully to God. It highlights a covenantal relationship where divine empowerment follows complete surrender and purification.
- "right ear... right hand... right foot": The repeated emphasis on the "right" side amplifies the significance of dedication to God with the priest's full strength, primary capabilities, and most vital faculties. It signifies an intentional, strong, and complete separation for sacred purpose, a consecration of ability and purpose to the LORD alone. This thorough consecration indicates that everything Aaron was and did would now be wholly God-focused and God-empowered for his high calling.
Leviticus 8 23 Bonus section
- The blood application ritual found in Leviticus 8:23 is paralleled only once more in the Mosaic Law for individuals: in Leviticus 14 for the cleansing and reinstatement of a healed leper. This parallel highlights the severity of defilement (leprosy was like a "living death") and the profound need for a complete spiritual cleansing and re-consecration back into the community, akin to a re-initiation or 'new birth' experience into the holy camp. The same symbolism of full-body dedication applies, but for a leper, it's about re-entering holiness; for Aaron, it's about entering into an office of supreme holiness.
- This ceremony contrasts sharply with the common pagan practices of divination or magic through blood. Here, the blood does not confer power to manipulate deities or foresee the future but signifies purification, consecration, and obedience to a holy and sovereign God, enabling service for Him rather than attempts to control Him.
- The ritual is a prophetic shadow, a typos, of the greater reality in Christ. Just as the blood physically set Aaron apart, Christ's perfect blood spiritually sets believers apart. It enables us to truly "hear" God's Word (Jn 10:27), to "do" good works prepared by God (Eph 2:10), and to "walk" in the newness of life (Rom 6:4), thus living out our spiritual priesthood.
Leviticus 8 23 Commentary
Leviticus 8:23 details a singular and precise ritual within Aaron's priestly ordination, signifying a complete setting apart. The application of blood from the ram of consecration to Aaron's ear, hand, and foot underscored that every aspect of his being—what he hears, what he does, and where he walks—was now wholly dedicated to God's service. This act of purification and enablement was essential because priests served as mediators, representing a holy God to an unholy people and vice versa. The shedding of blood was critical, symbolizing the giving of life for sanctification and empowering. This prefigured Christ, our High Priest, whose own shed blood consecrates believers for spiritual service. While the Old Testament ritual purified externally and temporarily, Christ's blood provides ultimate and eternal purification, enabling all believers to serve as a "royal priesthood," dedicated fully in hearing, doing, and walking in God's will.