Leviticus 8:27 kjv
And he put all upon Aaron's hands, and upon his sons' hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the LORD.
Leviticus 8:27 nkjv
and he put all these in Aaron's hands and in his sons' hands, and waved them as a wave offering before the LORD.
Leviticus 8:27 niv
He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and they waved them before the LORD as a wave offering.
Leviticus 8:27 esv
And he put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons and waved them as a wave offering before the LORD.
Leviticus 8:27 nlt
He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and he lifted these gifts as a special offering to the LORD.
Leviticus 8 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 29:22-24 | "You shall take from the ram the fat tail and the fat that covers the entrails… and put them all in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons." | Instructions for the ram of ordination wave offering. |
| Ex 29:26 | "Then you shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it as a wave offering before the LORD, and it shall be your portion." | Moses' portion from the ram's breast, also a wave offering. |
| Ex 29:27-28 | "And you shall consecrate the breast of the wave offering… from the rams of ordination of Aaron and his sons." | Permanent consecration of wave offering for priestly lineage. |
| Lev 7:30 | "His own hands shall bring the Lord’s food offerings… He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the Lord." | General instruction for peace offerings' wave offering. |
| Lev 7:34 | "For I have taken the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution from the people of Israel… to Aaron the priest and to his sons." | God's designated portions for the priests from offerings. |
| Lev 9:21 | "and the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved as a wave offering before the Lord, as Moses commanded." | Aaron's initial offerings for the people after ordination. |
| Num 6:20 | "And the priest shall wave them as a wave offering before the LORD. They are holy for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed." | Nazarite's offerings including a wave offering. |
| Ex 28:41 | "And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him… You shall ordain them and consecrate them and anoint them, that they may serve me as priests." | Ordination/Consecration of priests. |
| Heb 4:14 | "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession." | Christ as the ultimate High Priest. |
| Heb 7:27 | "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 singular and perfect self-offering. |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to 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 entry into God's presence through His blood. |
| Heb 10:10-14 | "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all... He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." | Christ's perfect, complete, and final sacrifice. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | Believers as a spiritual priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness..." | The corporate priesthood of all believers. |
| 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." | Believers offering themselves as living sacrifices to God. |
| Eph 5:2 | "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." | Christ's self-giving as the ultimate offering. |
| Phil 4:18 | "I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God." | Practical gifts as spiritual sacrifices to God. |
| Num 8:11 | "And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may be ready for the service of the Lord." | Levites dedicated as a "wave offering" for temple service. |
| Ex 35:22 | "So every man and woman whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work of the Lord… brought brooches, and earrings, and signet rings, and bracelets… every man brought a wave offering of gold to the Lord." | Voluntary offerings by people, brought as wave offerings. |
| 1 Sam 7:9 | "So Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him." | The act of offering before the Lord. |
Leviticus 8 verses
Leviticus 8 27 Meaning
Leviticus 8:27 details a crucial moment in the ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons as priests. Following specific instructions, Moses placed certain parts of the ram of ordination—namely, the fat tail, all the fat (from the inwards, kidneys, and liver lobe), and the right thigh, along with one unleavened loaf, one cake of oiled bread, and one thin wafer—into their hands. These items were then waved as a wave offering before the LORD, signifying a dedication and presentation to God, thereby setting apart the priests and their service. This act ceremonially sealed their qualification and commissioning for ministry in God's presence.
Leviticus 8 27 Context
Leviticus chapter 8 details the solemn and meticulous ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons, fulfilling the divine instructions given earlier in Exodus 29. This chapter is pivotal, establishing the priesthood—God's designated mediators—for the nascent nation of Israel. The ritual involves multiple sacrifices: a sin offering, a burnt offering, and the unique ram of ordination, all performed publicly at the entrance of the tent of meeting. Each step—anointing, dressing in priestly garments, anointing the tabernacle and its furnishings, and the various offerings—underscores the separation, purification, and consecration required for approaching God. Verse 27, specifically, highlights a symbolic act with parts of the ram of ordination (peace offering in essence) that represents the complete dedication of the priests to their divinely appointed roles. This historical setting emphasizes a carefully ordered worship system given directly by God, contrasting sharply with the chaotic and impure cultic practices of surrounding Canaanite and Egyptian peoples. It reinforces the holiness of God and the necessity of proper approach to Him, establishing a foundational model for authorized mediation between God and His people in the Old Covenant.
Leviticus 8 27 Word analysis
- And he put (וַיָּשֶׂם - vayyasem): From the verb שׂוּם (sum), meaning to put, set, place. This highlights Moses' active role in facilitating the ordination as directed by God. It implies careful arrangement and purposeful action in this sacred rite.
- all these (אֵת כָּל אֵלֶּה - ’ēt kōl ’elleh): Refers specifically to the prescribed parts of the ram of ordination mentioned in the preceding verse (Lev 8:26): the fat tail, all the fat on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys with their fat, and the right thigh. Additionally, the unleavened loaf, the cake of oiled bread, and the wafer. The inclusiveness of "all these" stresses the totality and adherence to God's precise instructions for the offering.
- in Aaron’s hands and in his sons’ hands (עַל כַּפֵּי אַהֲרֹן וְעַל כַּפֵּי בָנָיו - ‘al kappê ’ahărōn wě‘al kappê vanayv): "Hands" (kappot) denotes the hollowed palms, implying a reception and holding for presentation. The placing of the offering into the priests' hands symbolized the "filling of their hands" (millu'im), which is integral to the Hebrew concept of priestly ordination. This signifies their authorization and responsibility to carry out sacrificial duties; their hands are now "filled" for service to the Lord.
- and waved them (וַיָּנֶף אֹתָם - vayyānef ’ōtām): From the root נוּף (nuph), which signifies a swaying, waving, or lifting motion. This indicates the specific kinetic act of the "wave offering." The action, believed to be a horizontal back-and-forth movement, visually presented the offering before God, symbolizing a dedication, presentation, and transference of ownership to Him. It's a symbolic bringing of the object into God's immediate presence for His acceptance and claim.
- as a wave offering (תְּנוּפָה - těnûfāh): The noun form of the verb "to wave," designating the particular type of offering. A tenufah or "wave offering" was distinct from a burnt offering (ascending to God) or sin offering (atonement). It often represented things "presented" or "dedicated" to God, and frequently a portion was given back to the priests as God's provision for their service, signifying their divine support. In this ordination context, it signifies the presentation of the priests themselves through this consecrated offering.
- before the LORD (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - liphnê Yahweh): Literally "before the face of Yahweh." This phrase emphasizes that the act was performed in the direct sight and presence of God. It signifies divine acceptance and validation of the ordination. It is a declaration that the offerings and the priests consecrated through them are deemed acceptable and dedicated for service to the Holy God of Israel, acknowledging His ultimate authority and sovereignty.
Leviticus 8 27 Bonus section
The specific choice of the fat (especially the fat tail, unique to a certain breed of sheep prevalent in the ancient Near East), the right thigh, and particular bread offerings for the wave offering in Leviticus 8:26-27 carries rich symbolic weight. Fat was considered the LORD's portion in many offerings (Lev 3:16) due to its richness and the idea that it ascended readily in smoke. The right thigh, a prominent and strong limb, further symbolized strength and might, dedicating the best and most robust parts to God. The unleavened bread emphasized purity, separation from sin, and haste in deliverance. Together, these elements represent the presentation of the very best—the richness, strength, and purity—of the sacrificial system and, by extension, the dedicated lives of the newly ordained priests. This elaborate visual and kinetic ritual served to indelibly impress upon the priests and the observers the gravity and sanctity of the Aaronic calling, binding them irrevocably to the service of Yahweh.
Leviticus 8 27 Commentary
Leviticus 8:27 describes a climactic moment in the divine establishment of Israel's priesthood. The careful placement of the significant portions of the ram of ordination into the hands of Aaron and his sons, followed by the act of waving them "before the LORD," was more than mere ritual; it was a profound act of consecration and dedication.
The items presented—fat, prime parts of the animal, and unleavened bread—represent the choicest parts and vital provisions. By putting them into the priests' hands, they were effectively being charged with the very materials of sacrifice, symbolizing their full engagement and responsibility in sacred duties. This act of "filling their hands" signifies their commission, empowering them to mediate between God and the people. The accompanying tenufah or "wave offering" was not primarily about atonement or consumption by fire, but about presentation and dedication. It visually conveyed the offerings, and by extension, the priests themselves, into God's presence, indicating His full ownership and the priests' availability for His service. The physical motion of waving underscored a holistic offering: the horizontal movement suggesting an encompassing presentation before all aspects of the divine presence, implying both earthly dedication and heavenly reception.
"Before the LORD" highlights the divine witness and acceptance. God, who had commanded this intricate ceremony, now officially received and validated the men designated to serve Him. This verse solidifies their authority, purpose, and relationship to God, underscoring that their ministry flows from His specific appointment and is dependent upon His ongoing approval. This historical event laid the groundwork for all future Levitical service and foreshadowed the perfect self-offering of Jesus Christ, the ultimate High Priest, whose own unblemished sacrifice permanently opened access to God. While the ritual itself belongs to the Old Covenant, its principle of dedication and serving God with what He has placed in our hands remains eternally relevant for all who are called to be a "royal priesthood" in Christ.