Leviticus 8:8 kjv
And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.
Leviticus 8:8 nkjv
Then he put the breastplate on him, and he put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastplate.
Leviticus 8:8 niv
He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece.
Leviticus 8:8 esv
And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim.
Leviticus 8:8 nlt
Then Moses placed the chestpiece on Aaron and put the Urim and the Thummim inside it.
Leviticus 8 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Priestly Garments & Role | ||
| Exod 28:15 | "You shall make a breastpiece of judgment..." | Details the breastplate construction |
| Exod 28:29-30 | "Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel... and the Urim and the Thummim shall be upon Aaron's heart..." | Priestly representation and divine counsel |
| Exod 39:8, 21 | "...he made the breastpiece, embroidered work... they put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece..." | Account of breastplate's construction & placement |
| Exod 40:12-15 | "You shall bring Aaron and his sons...and put on Aaron the holy garments." | Part of the full consecration of the priesthood |
| Lev 8:7-9 | The immediate preceding and succeeding verses detail Aaron's dressing. | Context of Aaron's priestly attire |
| Heb 4:14-16 | "Since then we have a great high priest...let us with confidence draw near..." | Jesus as the Great High Priest |
| Heb 7:24 | "...because Jesus continues forever, has a permanent priesthood." | Jesus' enduring high priestly role |
| Function of Urim & Thummim (Divine Guidance/Judgment) | ||
| Exod 28:30 | "And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim...to bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart continually before the Lord." | Specifies purpose of divine judgment for Israel |
| Num 27:21 | "...he shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord." | Joshua's reliance on priestly counsel |
| Deut 33:8 | "...Your Thummim and Your Urim are with Your holy one..." | Levite connection to divine revelation |
| 1 Sam 14:41 | "Therefore Saul said, 'O LORD God of Israel, give Thummim.'" | Saul's use (implied) for divine guidance |
| 1 Sam 23:9-10 | "...David said to Abiathar the priest, 'Bring the ephod.' Then David said, 'O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard...'" | David's inquiry through the priest/ephod |
| 1 Sam 28:6 | "...the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets." | Indicates legitimate means of divine communication |
| Ezra 2:63 | "...until there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim." | Indicates absence post-exile for definitive rulings |
| Neh 7:65 | "The governor said...until there should be a priest with Urim and Thummim." | Same as Ezra, emphasizes lost access to direct divine decree |
| New Covenant Guidance & Revelation | ||
| Psa 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | God's Word as guidance in the new covenant |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching..." | Scripture's authority and sufficiency for life |
| John 1:1, 14 | "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...the Word became flesh..." | Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God |
| Heb 1:1-2 | "God...in these last days has spoken to us by his Son..." | Jesus as the final and complete revelation |
| John 14:26 | "...the Holy Spirit...will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." | The Holy Spirit's guidance in truth |
| John 16:13 | "...when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." | The Spirit's role in leading believers |
| Contrast to Pagan Practices | ||
| Deut 18:10-12 | "There shall not be found among you anyone who...practices divination...for whoever does these things is an abomination..." | Direct contrast to pagan methods of seeking guidance |
Leviticus 8 verses
Leviticus 8 8 Meaning
Leviticus 8:8 describes Moses' specific act during the ordination of Aaron as the high priest, placing the sacred breastplate upon him, and then carefully inserting the Urim and the Thummim within the breastplate. This verse highlights the essential components for the high priest's role in seeking divine revelation and judgment on behalf of the Israelites.
Leviticus 8 8 Context
Leviticus Chapter 8 details the solemn and meticulous consecration ceremony of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, as commanded by God through Moses in Exodus 28. This elaborate seven-day ritual established the Aaronic priesthood, central to Israel's worship and covenant relationship with God. Verse 8 is a critical step within this ceremony, specifically describing the moment Aaron is vested with the Breastplate of Judgment (Hebrew: Choshen Mishpat), which housed the mysterious Urim and Thummim. Historically and culturally, this event marks the divine establishment of the only authorized means for Israel to seek God's direct guidance on critical national and judicial matters, distinct from pagan divination methods common among surrounding nations. This act signified God’s intention to communicate His will to His people through His appointed High Priest.
Leviticus 8 8 Word analysis
- And he put: Moses, as God's representative and the one commissioning Aaron, performs this action. It highlights Moses' unique role in carrying out God's precise instructions for the priestly investiture. This act is not Aaron dressing himself, but a divine installation through Moses.
- upon him: Refers to Aaron, who is being consecrated as the first High Priest of Israel. This designation is entirely of divine choosing, not human election.
- the breastplate (Hebrew: choshen - חֹשֶׁן): More precisely, the "breastplate of judgment" (choshen mishpat). This was a richly embroidered, square pouch made of the same materials as the ephod, folded in two to form a pocket. It bore twelve precious stones, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel, symbolizing the high priest bearing the twelve tribes upon his heart before God. Its purpose, explicitly named "judgment," relates directly to the Urim and Thummim it contained.
- and he put in the breastplate: This action indicates the specific, secure placement of the Urim and Thummim within the pocket of the breastplate, ensuring they were concealed yet immediately accessible and intrinsically linked to the breastplate's function. The Urim and Thummim were not merely worn, but housed inside for their operational use.
- the Urim and the Thummim (Hebrew: Urim - אוּרִים, Thummim - תֻּמִּים): The exact nature and function of these objects are debated by scholars.
- Urim: Potentially derived from a root meaning "lights" or "curses." It could refer to shining objects or represent a positive/negative answer.
- Thummim: Potentially derived from a root meaning "perfections," "completeness," or "integrity." It could represent an unambiguous answer or truth.
- Function: Generally understood to be a divine means of revelation or discernment, particularly for "yes/no" questions or critical judicial rulings from God concerning the nation of Israel. They served as an oracle to guide the High Priest in making decisions that truly reflected God's will. Their mechanism might have involved casting lots or some other form of divine signaling, always operated by the High Priest. They symbolize God's direct involvement in the leadership and jurisprudence of Israel. This stands in stark contrast to the divination methods of other ancient Near Eastern peoples, emphasizing Israel's unique covenant with a speaking God.
Leviticus 8 8 Bonus section
The Urim and Thummim were a unique form of divine communication specific to the High Priesthood in ancient Israel. After the period of the monarchy, their active use appears to decline, likely coinciding with the rise of the prophetic ministry, which became the primary means of direct divine revelation. By the post-exilic period (as seen in Ezra and Nehemiah), they were seemingly lost, signifying the cessation of this particular direct oracular means of discerning God's will. The expectation of a priest with Urim and Thummim in the future (Ezra 2:63) suggests a longing for restored divine communication. Ultimately, in the New Covenant, God's perfect revelation comes through His Son, Jesus Christ, and guidance is provided by the Holy Spirit living within believers and through the infallible written Word of God. The transition from physical objects of divination to spiritual discernment and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit reflects the progressive revelation and the maturing of God's covenant with humanity.
Leviticus 8 8 Commentary
Leviticus 8:8 encapsulates the practical manifestation of divine guidance within ancient Israel. The meticulous placement of the breastplate, symbolic of the High Priest bearing the twelve tribes upon his heart, and the subsequent insertion of the Urim and Thummim within it, underline the sacredness of the High Priest's role as a mediator. It highlights that God, not man, would provide the ultimate discernment for the nation. The Urim and Thummim served as divinely appointed instruments, enabling the High Priest to seek God's will for Israel, particularly in matters of national crisis, war, and judicial decision-making. This process solidified the theocratic nature of Israel, where God directly ruled His people through the designated High Priest, distinguishing them from other nations reliant on human wisdom or pagan forms of divination. This provision also prefigured the perfect and ultimate revelation found in Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, through whom God has spoken definitively, and whose Spirit now guides believers through His completed Word.