Leviticus 8 7

Leviticus 8:7 kjv

And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.

Leviticus 8:7 nkjv

And he put the tunic on him, girded him with the sash, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him; and he girded him with the intricately woven band of the ephod, and with it tied the ephod on him.

Leviticus 8:7 niv

He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also fastened the ephod with a decorative waistband, which he tied around him.

Leviticus 8:7 esv

And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band.

Leviticus 8:7 nlt

He put the official tunic on Aaron and tied the sash around his waist. He dressed him in the robe, placed the ephod on him, and attached the ephod securely with its decorative sash.

Leviticus 8 verses

Leviticus 8 7 Meaning

Leviticus 8:7 describes Moses performing the crucial first step in Aaron's consecration as High Priest: dressing him in the specified priestly garments. Each item of clothing, put on in a specific order—the coat, girdle, robe, ephod, and its intricate girdle—signified Aaron's divinely appointed role, holiness, authority, and beauty required for ministering before the Lord on behalf of the Israelites. This action was a direct fulfillment of God's commands, establishing Aaron as the mediator between God and His people, marked by sacred attire for a holy office.

Leviticus 8 7 Context

Leviticus chapter 8 details the solemn consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests, as commanded by the Lord to Moses at Mount Sinai. This ceremony, which spans seven days (Lev 8:33), is crucial for establishing the legitimate Aaronic priesthood. It marks the transition from the portable Tabernacle's completion to the formal institution of the Levitical service. Verses 6-9 specifically describe Moses washing Aaron and dressing him in his ornate priestly attire. This act of putting on the sacred garments symbolizes Aaron's separation for a holy purpose, his empowerment, and his representation of the entire congregation before God. This was not a self-appointment but a divine calling and ordination through Moses, who acted as God's representative in this ritual. The intricate garments themselves, meticulously detailed in Exodus, were not merely decorative but functional, signifying aspects of purity, glory, beauty, and their specific mediatorial roles.

Leviticus 8 7 Word analysis

• And he put upon him the coat (kuttoneth - כֻּתֹּ֣נֶת): The innermost priestly garment, a long tunic made of fine linen, signifying purity and righteousness. This was a foundational layer, representing the essential moral and ceremonial cleanliness required for divine service. Its white linen was standard for priestly attire (Exod 28:4, 39:27).
• and girded him with the girdle ('avnet - אַבְנֵ֑ט): A woven sash or belt, made of fine linen with blue, purple, and scarlet (Exod 39:29). This girdle served both a practical purpose, holding the tunic in place for movement during service, and a symbolic one, denoting readiness, strength, and being prepared for God's work.
• and clothed him with the robe (me'il - מְעִ֣יל): An outer garment, usually blue, worn over the coat, reaching to the feet (Exod 28:31-34). This was the High Priest's distinctive upper garment, noted for its pomegranates and golden bells on the hem. The robe’s uniform blue color represented heaven, the divine nature, or perhaps Israel as a people set apart for God, echoing their special relationship. Its bells allowed his sound to be heard when entering/exiting the Most Holy Place, preventing death.
• and put the ephod upon him (ephod - אֵפֹ֔ד): A highly distinctive and ornate vest-like garment worn by the High Priest, made of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen (Exod 28:6). The ephod held the onyx stones on the shoulders with the names of the tribes of Israel, symbolizing the priest carrying the people before God. It also served as a backing for the breastplate which held the Urim and Thummim, tools for divine revelation. The ephod highlighted the High Priest's representative function and unique access to divine will.
• and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod (ḥēsheḇ ha’ephōḏ - חֵ֤שֶׁב הָֽאֵפֹד֙): An intricately woven band or belt, made of the same rich materials as the ephod (Exod 28:8), used to bind the ephod securely to the priest's body. The term ḥēsheḇ implies artistic, skillful work. Its function was not only to secure the ephod but to make it appear seamless and integral to the ephod itself, indicating the meticulous craftsmanship and precision required in God's service.
• and bound it unto him therewith (wĕya'ĕzōr ōṯōh bāhem - וַיַּֽאֲזׇר־אֹת֖וֹ בָּהֶֽם): This phrase emphasizes the secure fastening of the ephod with its special girdle, ensuring the High Priest's proper adornment for sacred service. It underscores the precision and completeness of the investiture ceremony, leaving no room for negligence or imperfection in God's sight.

Words-group analysis:

• "And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him...": This sequence of verbs ("put upon," "girded," "clothed") signifies the authoritative act of Moses, who acts under divine command, in carefully dressing Aaron. It illustrates a step-by-step process of sacred investiture, each garment adding another layer of representation and holy separation, moving from the essential inner purity to the outer garments signifying glory and mediatorial function.
• "...curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.": This phrase specifically details the securing of the most distinctive priestly garment, the ephod. The "curious girdle" highlights its unique, artistic construction (ḥēsheḇ). The emphasis on "binding it unto him" signifies that the ephod, representing the carrying of the tribes and the ability to discern God's will, was not loosely worn but firmly fixed, indicating that the High Priest’s role and burdens were truly borne upon him.

Leviticus 8 7 Bonus section

• Symbolism of "Glory and Beauty": The garments, while physically beautiful, primarily served to make the High Priest reflect the glory and beauty of God’s character and holiness as he ministered in the Tabernacle. This was a visible manifestation of Israel’s dedication and God's order.
• Passive Consecration: It is notable that Aaron does not dress himself, but Moses, acting on God’s behalf, clothes him. This highlights that priesthood and access to God are not self-derived but are granted by divine initiation and authority. It is God who sets apart and enables for service.
• Preparation for Sacrifice: The garments were integral for conducting the subsequent sacrifices and services, indicating that holy apparel was a prerequisite for holy worship. It spoke to the integrity and preparedness required for one who drew near to God.
• Foreshadowing of Christ: The High Priest’s garments prefigure Christ's own priestly perfection. While Aaron's garments symbolized a righteousness bestowed and mediated, Christ Himself embodies perfect righteousness, and by His sacrifice, He is our perfect, perpetual High Priest who requires no special garments but is clothed in divine glory. Believers, through Christ, are clothed in His righteousness (spiritual garments) and partake in a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9).

Leviticus 8 7 Commentary

Leviticus 8:7 concisely describes the ceremonial investiture of Aaron with four key priestly garments, executed precisely by Moses according to divine command. This act was not a human invention but a divinely ordained ritual, highlighting the sanctity and precision demanded in God's service. Each garment—the linen coat for purity, the girdle for strength and readiness, the blue robe for distinctiveness and heavenly representation, and the ephod with its specialized girdle for embodying the twelve tribes and facilitating divine counsel—collectively transformed Aaron into the consecrated High Priest.

The detailed dressing emphasizes the "glory and beauty" (Exod 28:2) inherent in the High Priest's office, not for human admiration but to reflect God's own holiness and majesty. It visually set Aaron apart from the common Israelite, identifying him as the appointed mediator who carried the burdens and interceded for the people before the Holy God. This deliberate act of "clothing" signified a change of status, a divine empowerment, and the bestowal of authority for sacred duties, foreshadowing the perfect High Priesthood of Christ, who uniquely carries His people and perfectly intercedes for them, clad in His own righteousness and authority, eternally fit for service. The sequence underscores the divine order and requirement for proper preparation and dedication in serving the Lord.