Leviticus 9 14

Leviticus 9:14 kjv

And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.

Leviticus 9:14 nkjv

And he washed the entrails and the legs, and burned them with the burnt offering on the altar.

Leviticus 9:14 niv

He washed the internal organs and the legs and burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar.

Leviticus 9:14 esv

And he washed the entrails and the legs and burned them with the burnt offering on the altar.

Leviticus 9:14 nlt

Then he washed the internal organs and the legs and burned them on the altar along with the rest of the burnt offering.

Leviticus 9 verses

Leviticus 9 14 Meaning

Leviticus 9:14 describes a specific detail in the preparation of the burnt offering (the ram for Aaron's own atonement and consecration) during the inauguration of the tabernacle. It mandates that the entrails and legs of the sacrificial animal were to be thoroughly washed with water before High Priest Aaron burned them upon the altar with the other parts of the burnt offering. This meticulous act emphasized the complete ritual purity required for anything presented to the holy God, signifying that the offering, even its internal and lower parts, must be without defilement and wholly acceptable, representing an offering of complete dedication and cleanliness.

Leviticus 9 14 Context

Leviticus 9:14 is situated within the narrative of the formal inauguration of the Tabernacle and the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests (Leviticus 8-10). Following the detailed consecration rituals of chapter 8, chapter 9 records Aaron's first official acts as High Priest on the eighth day. This day marked a pivotal moment where Aaron offered specific sacrifices for himself (a sin offering and a burnt offering) and for the people (a sin offering, a burnt offering, and a peace offering), demonstrating the procedures for worship in the newly established Tabernacle. Verse 14 specifically pertains to the meticulous preparation of Aaron's own ram for the burnt offering, underscoring the high standards of purity and obedience required of the priest and for the sacrifices. This act was crucial for the legitimate operation of the divinely ordained sacrificial system, which served as a way for a holy God to dwell among His sinful people.

Leviticus 9 14 Word analysis

• But (וְאֶת - wə'eṯ): A conjunction, typically "and" or "now." Here, it marks a transition to a specific detail concerning the parts of the sacrifice. It continues the procedural description, highlighting a crucial step in preparing the burnt offering after the general instructions given.
• the entrails (הַקֶּרֶב - haqqerev): Refers to the internal organs or inwards of the animal. In ancient understanding, these were vital parts. Their washing signifies that even the hidden, inner aspects of the offering (symbolically, the worshipper's inner being) must be purified before being presented to God. This stands in contrast to common ancient pagan practices where such meticulous internal cleansing was not always observed.
• and the legs (וְאֶת־הַכְּרָעַיִם - wə'eṯ-hakra'ayim): The lower limbs or hindquarters of the animal. Legs are associated with movement, walking, and outward conduct. Their washing emphasizes that outward actions, too, must be clean and dedicated to God. This signifies purity in "going about" one's life.
• they washed (רָחַץ - raḥaṣ): To wash, bathe, cleanse, or rinse. This verb is key in ritual purification throughout the Old Testament. The active cleansing here ensures that any physical defilement—such as stomach contents or dirt from movement—is removed, making the offering ritually acceptable to God. This act speaks of the removal of defilement.
• with water (בַּמַּיִם - bammayim): The medium for purification. Water consistently symbolizes cleansing and purification in the Bible, both ritually and spiritually, foreshadowing spiritual cleansing offered through Christ.
• and Aaron burned them (וַיַּקְטֵר אַהֲרֹן אֹתָם - vayyaqṭer 'aharon 'otam):
  • Aaron: The High Priest, acting in his official consecrated capacity, fulfilling God's direct command. His personal involvement authenticates the offering.
  • burned them (yaqṭer): This specific Hebrew verb denotes causing something to "go up in smoke" as an offering. It implies an act of causing to ascend as a fragrance, distinct from merely consuming by fire. It represents making an offering palatable or acceptable to the deity, signifying devotion and submission.
• on the altar (עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - 'al-hammizbēaḥ): Specifically, the Altar of Burnt Offering in the Tabernacle courtyard. This was the consecrated place where atonement was made and communion with God established through sacrifice. It highlights that the offering was brought to God at His designated sacred space.
• with the burnt offering (עַל־הָעֹלָה - 'al-ha'olāh): The olah or "whole burnt offering." It signifies something that "goes up completely." The animal was entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing total dedication, complete surrender, and exclusive devotion to God. This specifies that the entrails and legs were part of this whole, comprehensive act of devotion.

Words-group Analysis:

• "the entrails and the legs they washed with water": This phrase encapsulates the stringent requirements for purity. It signifies that nothing offered to God could retain any aspect of impurity, either internally (entrails) or externally (legs, representing movement/conduct). It also subtly portrays God's demand for holistic dedication and purification, extending to all parts of life and being, not just outwardly presentable elements. This level of detail in instruction differentiates Yahweh worship from less scrupulous pagan practices.
• "Aaron burned them on the altar with the burnt offering": This group highlights the culmination of the offering, the high priest's role in mediation, and the essence of the burnt offering. The burning on the altar signifies divine acceptance and consumption, with the offering ascending as a pleasing aroma. The explicit connection to "the burnt offering" means these purified parts contributed to the olah's core meaning of total and unwavering commitment and surrender to God's will.

Leviticus 9 14 Bonus section

• The washing of the entrails and legs for the burnt offering (olah) is distinct from the sin offering where certain parts, including entrails, were taken outside the camp and burned (Lev 4:11-12, Lev 9:11). This difference underscores the distinct purpose of each offering: the olah emphasizing complete dedication requiring perfect internal and external cleanliness, while the sin offering dealt with impurity, having certain parts associated with sin removed from the holy space.
• This verse underscores God's insistence on absolute holiness and completeness in all worship and service. No part of the offering, no part of one's life dedicated to God, should be impure or withheld.
• The repetitive nature of such commands throughout Leviticus was vital to inculcate a deep understanding of holiness, sin's defilement, and the costly process of atonement. It fostered reverence and attention to divine detail in the early Israelite community.
• The phrase "pleasing aroma" (often associated with burnt offerings, Exod 29:18) implies God's acceptance and satisfaction with the perfectly prepared and offered sacrifice, a concept transferred to spiritual offerings in the New Testament (Phil 4:18).

Leviticus 9 14 Commentary

Leviticus 9:14 provides a concise yet profound illustration of the exacting standards God required for worship under the Old Covenant. It highlights the ritual purity demanded for sacrifices, emphasizing that even the internal and least aesthetically pleasing parts (entrails and legs) of the animal had to be thoroughly cleansed before being offered. This wasn't merely about physical cleanliness but carried deep symbolic weight, representing the need for an offering that was whole, undefiled, and completely acceptable to a holy God. The act performed by Aaron, the newly consecrated High Priest, underscore the necessity of obediently following divine commands in all their meticulous detail. The placement of these washed parts "on the altar with the burnt offering" reinforces that they were integral to the olah, the sacrifice signifying complete devotion and absolute surrender to God. This entire procedure serves as a foreshadowing, albeit imperfect, of Christ's perfect and complete self-sacrifice, where His entire being—internally and externally, in mind and action—was pure, acceptable, and completely devoted to God's will, securing ultimate cleansing and acceptance for all who believe.