Leviticus 8:24 kjv
And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.
Leviticus 8:24 nkjv
Then he brought Aaron's sons. And Moses put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses sprinkled the blood all around on the altar.
Leviticus 8:24 niv
Moses also brought Aaron's sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. Then he splashed blood against the sides of the altar.
Leviticus 8:24 esv
Then he presented Aaron's sons, and Moses put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses threw the blood against the sides of the altar.
Leviticus 8:24 nlt
Next Moses presented Aaron's sons and applied some of the blood to the lobes of their right ears, the thumbs of their right hands, and the big toes of their right feet. He then splattered the rest of the blood against all sides of the altar.
Leviticus 8 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 29:20 | Then you shall kill the ram and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear... | Prescribes this exact ritual. |
| Exod 29:21 | Then you shall take some of the blood that is on the altar... sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments... | Completes the blood purification for priests. |
| Lev 14:14, 17 | ...put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed... then some of the oil... | Similar blood application for cleansing of leprosy. |
| Heb 9:19 | For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats... sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, | Blood rituals for covenant establishment. |
| Heb 9:22 | Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. | Universal principle of blood atonement. |
| Heb 10:10 | And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. | Christ's sacrifice is the ultimate consecration. |
| Heb 10:14 | For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. | Christ perfects priestly consecration. |
| Heb 12:24 | and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. | Christ's blood cleanses completely. |
| 1 Pet 1:2 | ...chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with His blood. | Believers sprinkled by Christ's blood. |
| Isa 50:4-5 | The Lord God has given me the tongue of disciples, 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 disciples. The Lord God has opened my ear... | Consecrated ear for hearing God. |
| Rom 10:17 | So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. | Importance of hearing God's word. |
| Psa 24:4 | He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false... | Dedicated hands for service. |
| Isa 1:15 | When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. | Unholy hands disqualify from service. |
| 1 Tim 2:8 | I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarrel. | New Testament call for holy hands. |
| Psa 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Consecrated feet for God's path. |
| Eph 6:15 | and your feet shod with the readiness of the gospel of peace; | Readiness to walk in the gospel. |
| Isa 52:7 | How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news... | Feet dedicated to bringing good news. |
| Exod 40:12-15 | You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water and put on Aaron the holy garments... | Moses' role in priestly ordination. |
| Lev 9:7 | Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering... make atonement for yourself and for the people." | Fulfillment of priestly consecration begins. |
| Heb 5:1-4 | For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God... | Purpose of earthly priesthood. |
| 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 royal priesthood. |
| 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, which is your spiritual worship. | Believer's holistic self-dedication. |
| Col 3:17 | And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. | All of life dedicated to God. |
Leviticus 8 verses
Leviticus 8 24 Meaning
Leviticus 8:24 describes a specific act during the seven-day ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons as priests. Following the sacrifice of the ram of consecration, Moses took some of its blood and applied it directly to the extreme parts of the high priest Aaron and his sons' right bodies: the tip of their right ear, the thumb of their right hand, and the great toe of their right foot. This particular ritual, coupled with sprinkling remaining blood on the altar, signified their holistic sanctification and dedication to Yahweh's service, purifying their hearing for God's word, their hands for sacred duties, and their feet for walking in God's paths. It also emphasized their complete separation from common life for their sacred role.
Leviticus 8 24 Context
Leviticus chapter 8 details the solemn consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, an event commanded by God in Exodus 29. This was not a self-appointment but an divine election and elaborate ritual signifying the separation of individuals for sacred service to Yahweh at the newly erected Tabernacle. The process involved cleansing with water, anointing with oil, donning sacred garments, and offering specific sacrifices: a sin offering, a burnt offering, and critically, a ram of consecration, which Leviticus 8:24 relates to. Historically, this event solidified the institutionalized worship in Israel and established the exclusive family line of high priests, centralizing the religious authority and sacrificial system that mediated between God and His people in the wilderness and later in the promised land. This consecration was foundational to the Levitical system, underscoring the holiness and divine appointment required for those who would approach God on behalf of others.
Leviticus 8 24 Word analysis
- And Moses took them: This highlights Moses' pivotal role as God's mediator in establishing the priesthood, directly following divine instructions (Exod 29). It signifies God's direct involvement in ordaining His servants.
- and put [it] upon: The "[it]" refers to the blood mentioned in the preceding verse (Lev 8:23). The Hebrew verb nathan (נָתַן), meaning "to give" or "to put," denotes a deliberate placement, indicating precise execution of a divine command.
- the tip of Aaron's right ear: The Hebrew phrase is tenûḵ ʾōzen hay-yəmānît (תְּנוּךְ אֹזֶן הַיְמָנִית). Tenûḵ specifically refers to the lobe or fleshy part. The "right ear" (and subsequent "right hand," "right foot") emphasizes a position of strength, importance, and readiness. This symbolizes the priest's hearing: consecrated to hear God's commands, divine instruction, and the pleas of the people for intercession, ensuring obedient service.
- and upon the thumb of his right hand: The Hebrew bōhen yādô hay-yəmānît (בֹּהֶן יָדֹו הַיְמָנִית) denotes the thumb, which is essential for dexterity and effective work. This symbolizes the priest's work: his actions, ministries, and offerings consecrated entirely to God's service, performing holy duties with sanctified intent and skill.
- and upon the great toe of his right foot: The Hebrew bōhen raḡlô hay-yəmānît (בֹּהֶן רַגְלוֹ הַיְמָנִית) refers to the great toe. This symbolizes the priest's walk: his conduct, path of life, and movements within the sacred precincts and beyond, dedicated to walking in righteousness and according to God's statutes.
- and he sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about: This act connects the priest's consecration directly to the sacrificial system. The altar represents the place of atonement, fellowship, and worship. Sprinkling the remaining blood on the altar not only reinforces the altar's own sanctity but also inextricably links the priests to the atoning work done there, demonstrating their cleansed status and dedicated role in facilitating reconciliation between God and humanity.
Leviticus 8 24 Bonus section
The repetitive emphasis on the "right" ear, hand, and foot is highly significant. It underlines the importance of a priest's strongest, most capable, and most prominent faculties being completely set apart for Yahweh. It highlights the full and effective dedication of their primary functions in service. This specificity serves as a teaching mechanism, indicating that divine service requires wholehearted devotion, not just partial commitment. The ritual also establishes a visual and tactile memory for the priests, perpetually reminding them that every aspect of their being is sanctified by blood for God's purposes. The detailed, meticulous nature of the ritual reflects God's own holiness and His precise requirements for approaching Him, leaving no room for casual or defiled service.
Leviticus 8 24 Commentary
Leviticus 8:24 vividly portrays a key moment in the consecration of the Levitical priesthood. The application of the ram's blood to specific right-side body parts of Aaron and his sons — ear, thumb, and great toe — signifies a complete, comprehensive, and public dedication of their entire being for service. This ritual was a potent symbolic act. The blood, representing life and purification, was placed on faculties essential for a priest: to hear and obey God's voice, to perform their sacred duties with sanctified hands (offering sacrifices, handling holy items), and to walk blamelessly in the Tabernacle and before the people. The right side typically denotes strength, priority, and favor in Hebrew thought, underscoring the decisive nature of this consecration. Furthermore, the act of sprinkling the remaining blood upon the altar underscores that their individual sanctification was inseparable from their ministry at the central place of worship and atonement. This precise and detailed ritual underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of approaching Him, serving as a foreshadowing of the perfect consecration achieved by the High Priest, Jesus Christ, through His own perfect blood. For believers today, called to be a "royal priesthood," this echoes the call to dedicate our hearing to God's Word, our hands to righteous deeds, and our walk to Christ's example, all empowered and purified by His shed blood.