Leviticus 8:9 kjv
And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Leviticus 8:9 nkjv
And he put the turban on his head. Also on the turban, on its front, he put the golden plate, the holy crown, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Leviticus 8:9 niv
Then he placed the turban on Aaron's head and set the gold plate, the sacred emblem, on the front of it, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Leviticus 8:9 esv
And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Leviticus 8:9 nlt
He placed the turban on Aaron's head and attached the gold medallion ? the badge of holiness ? to the front of the turban, just as the LORD had commanded him.
Leviticus 8 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 28:15 | "And you shall make a breastpiece of judgment..." | Details the construction of the breastpiece. |
| Exod 28:30 | "And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim..." | Divine command for placement within the breastpiece. |
| Exod 39:8-21 | Describes the making and assembly of the breastpiece and its stones. | Fulfillment of God's command regarding priestly garments. |
| Num 27:21 | "...he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord." | Urim used by the High Priest to seek guidance for leadership (Joshua). |
| Deut 33:8 | "Of Levi he said, 'Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one..." | Blessings for Levi, acknowledging their sacred oracle. |
| 1 Sam 14:41 | "Then Saul said, 'O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If this guilt is in me... give Urim...' " | Implied use of Urim and Thummim (or sacred lots) in seeking God's will. |
| 1 Sam 23:9-12 | David asks Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod (containing Urim and Thummim). | David using the priestly oracle to inquire of God for military strategy. |
| 1 Sam 30:7-8 | David asks Abiathar to bring the ephod again. | David consistently sought divine guidance through the priest. |
| Ezra 2:63 | "...until there should be a priest with Urim and Thummim." | Indicates the Urim and Thummim were no longer present post-exile, leading to uncertainty. |
| Neh 7:65 | Similar to Ezra 2:63, concerning priestly lineage without the Urim and Thummim. | Shows the post-exilic longing for and absence of these divine instruments. |
| Lev 8:8 | "...and he put the ephod on him, and bound him with the skillfully woven band..." | Immediate preceding verse, showing the breastpiece is the last major garment. |
| Exod 29:5 | Details putting the ephod, breastpiece, and sash on Aaron as part of his consecration. | Part of the broader instructions for the High Priest's vestments. |
| Isa 8:20 | "To the law and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no morning light." | Contrasts relying on diviners with seeking God's true word (Urim and Thummim represent divine light). |
| Jer 33:3 | "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things..." | Broader principle of God answering those who seek Him. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the Lord with all your heart... In all your ways acknowledge him..." | Emphasizes trusting God for guidance, superseding human wisdom. |
| Psa 25:4-5 | "Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths." | Prayer for divine instruction and guidance. |
| Heb 4:14-16 | "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God..." | Points to Christ as the ultimate High Priest, making the priestly office obsolete. |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "...Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come..." | Christ's perfect priestly work replaces the Levitical system, including the Urim and Thummim. |
| Heb 10:19-22 | "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus..." | Believers now have direct access to God, negating the need for an earthly mediator with oracular devices. |
| Jn 16:13 | "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." | The indwelling Holy Spirit provides divine guidance in the New Covenant. |
| Rom 8:14 | "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." | Believers are directly guided by the Holy Spirit. |
Leviticus 8 verses
Leviticus 8 9 Meaning
Leviticus 8:9 details a crucial moment in the anointing ceremony of Aaron as Israel's High Priest. It records Moses placing the sacred breastpiece onto Aaron, and within this breastpiece, he specifically placed the Urim and the Thummim. This action completed the vestment of Aaron in preparation for his priestly duties, highlighting the divine provision for seeking God's will and judgment on behalf of the Israelites. The presence of the Urim and Thummim underscored the High Priest's mediatory role not only in sacrifice and worship but also as the primary conduit for divine guidance for the nation.
Leviticus 8 9 Context
Leviticus chapter 8 details the solemn and meticulous consecration ceremony of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, commanded by God in Exodus 29. Moses performs each step precisely as instructed, signifying the establishment of Israel's divinely ordained worship system. This ceremony begins with purifying the priests, then vesting them with the specific holy garments. Verse 9 is part of the vesting sequence for Aaron, following the ephod (v.7) and preceding the anointing (v.10). Historically, this event marks the formal beginning of the Aaronic priesthood, which served as the intermediaries between God and Israel, responsible for sacrifices, rituals, and crucially, for seeking divine will for the nation through the Urim and Thummim. The meticulous detail underscores the sanctity of the priestly office and God's absolute sovereignty over the means of access and communication with Him, differentiating Israelite worship from contemporary pagan practices that involved unreliable or forbidden forms of divination.
Leviticus 8 9 Word analysis
- And he put (וַיִּתֵּן֙ - vayyitén): From the verb nathan, "to give, put, place." Here, it signifies Moses’ precise act of installation, as commanded by God (Exod 28:30). Moses is acting as God's representative, ensuring every detail of the divine blueprint for the priesthood is followed. This emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the High Priest's role and garments.
- the breastpiece (הַחֹ֥שֶׁן - haḥóšen): This is the "breastpiece of judgment" (Exod 28:15). It was an elaborate square pouch, worn over the ephod, set with twelve precious stones, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel (Exod 28:17-21, 29). It symbolized the High Priest carrying the burden and concerns, or "judgment" (mishpat), of the people into God’s presence. The term mishpat here means "decision," "discernment," or "just settlement," implying the High Priest's role in conveying God's righteous verdict or direction.
- on him (עָלָיו֙ - ‘aláyw): Specifically referring to Aaron. The High Priest alone was designated to wear the full breastpiece with the Urim and Thummim, signifying his unique mediatory function on behalf of the entire nation.
- and in the breastpiece (וְאֶל־הַחֹ֣שֶׁן - ve’el-haḥóšen): Indicates the internal pocket or pouch, confirming that the Urim and Thummim were not merely worn externally but contained within the breastpiece itself, making them an integral, concealed part of the High Priest’s capacity for divine counsel.
- he put (וַיִּתֵּן֙ - vayyitén): The repetition of the verb highlights the specific, deliberate, and important action of placing these distinct, vital items into their designated place. This wasn't a minor detail but a foundational element of the High Priest’s attire and function.
- the Urim and the Thummim (הָאוּרִים֙ וְאֶת־הַתֻּמִּ֔ים - ha’ûrim ve’et-hatummîm): These are the most enigmatic and sacred components.
- Urim (אוּרִים - ’Urím): Plural form, commonly understood to derive from "lights" or "revelation" (related to ’or, "light"). It suggested illumination, guidance, or the uncovering of truth.
- Thummim (תֻּמִּים - Tummím): Plural form, from tom or tamam, meaning "completeness," "perfection," "integrity," "truth." It suggested full and accurate divine judgment or revelation.
- Together: They functioned as a divine oracle, a sacred means by which God would reveal His will to the High Priest for the people of Israel (Exod 28:30). While their precise mode of operation is not explicitly detailed (possibly a form of sacred lots for "yes/no" or clear/unclear answers), they signified God's perfect light and complete truth for divine decision-making. Their use emphasized God's sovereignty over revelation and Israel's direct dependence on Him for direction in all major national matters, standing in sharp contrast to forbidden pagan forms of divination (Deut 18:9-12).
Leviticus 8 9 Bonus section
- Polemics against Pagan Practices: The divine institution of the Urim and Thummim stood in stark contrast to the diverse and often deceptive divination practices prevalent in surrounding ANE cultures. While other nations sought omens, interpreted livers, or relied on necromancy, Israel was commanded a specific, limited, and authorized means of divine inquiry through the High Priest, ensuring it was rooted in Yahweh's authority and not human manipulation or demonic influence. This highlighted the holiness and truth of God’s ways.
- Disappearance of Urim and Thummim: The lack of the Urim and Thummim after the Babylonian exile (as noted in Ezra 2:63 and Neh 7:65) marked a shift in how God's will was primarily communicated. While prophecy continued, this loss indicated a move towards different forms of revelation, preparing the way for a more direct, intimate revelation of God through His Son, Jesus, and the Spirit (Heb 1:1-2; Jn 16:13).
- Symbolic Burden: The breastpiece was not just a symbol of office but a representation of the High Priest bearing the "judgments" and concerns of the tribes of Israel before the Lord. Each gemstone representing a tribe served as a constant reminder of the priest's responsibility to carry the people's needs and sins into the divine presence, embodying their collective identity before God.
Leviticus 8 9 Commentary
Leviticus 8:9, though brief, describes a pivotal act in the High Priest's ordination. By placing the breastpiece adorned with the tribal stones onto Aaron and then, critically, depositing the Urim and Thummim within it, Moses concretized Aaron's unique role as the authorized channel for God's divine guidance. This ensured that decisions for the nation, whether in warfare, justice, or ritual purity, would not come from human wisdom alone but from the perfect "light" (Urim) and "truth" (Thummim) of God. This system emphasized God's initiative in revelation, His commitment to guide His people, and the necessity of a mediator between a holy God and His human worshipers. This earthly system of seeking divine will ultimately pointed forward to Jesus Christ, the perfect High Priest, who embodies God’s ultimate light and truth (Jn 1:9; 14:6) and through whom believers now have direct, unhindered access to God's presence and guidance by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Heb 10:19-22).