Leviticus 9 2

Leviticus 9:2 kjv

And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.

Leviticus 9:2 nkjv

And he said to Aaron, "Take for yourself a young bull as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.

Leviticus 9:2 niv

He said to Aaron, "Take a bull calf for your sin offering and a ram for your burnt offering, both without defect, and present them before the LORD.

Leviticus 9:2 esv

and he said to Aaron, "Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.

Leviticus 9:2 nlt

He said to Aaron, "Take a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without defects, and present them to the LORD.

Leviticus 9 verses

Leviticus 9 2 Meaning

This verse initiates the inaugural public offerings performed by Aaron as the newly consecrated High Priest. Moses instructs Aaron to personally procure a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both of which must be physically perfect and without any defect. These sacrifices were to be presented before the LORD, marking the official commencement of Aaron's priestly ministry and the Tabernacle's operation. The combination of these two specific offerings was crucial for purification from sin and consecration before God's holy presence.

Leviticus 9 2 Context

Leviticus chapter 9 marks a pivotal moment, signaling the completion of the Tabernacle's construction, the successful ordination of Aaron and his sons (detailed in Lev 8), and the inauguration of regular priestly service. For seven days, Aaron and his sons underwent a solemn consecration ritual at the Tent of Meeting, preparing them to serve before the LORD. This specific verse (9:2) introduces the first public offerings, prescribed by God through Moses, that Aaron, as High Priest, was to perform for himself and the people. This was not a general instruction, but the precise set of sacrifices required to allow God's glory to manifest, thereby validating the newly established Levitical priesthood and confirming God's dwelling among His people. Historically, this event signifies the practical establishment of the Mosaic covenant's cultic system, establishing the means by which a holy God could dwell in the midst of a sinful people.

Leviticus 9 2 Word analysis

• And he said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): This opening indicates the divine source of the instructions, as "he" refers to Moses, who is relaying God's command (as established in Lev 8:1, "The LORD spoke to Moses"). It highlights divine authority behind the Levitical practices.
• to Aaron (אֶל־אַהֲרֹן - el-Aharon): Specifically addressed to Aaron, who has just been consecrated as High Priest. This signifies his direct responsibility and the commencement of his official priestly duties.
• Take for yourself (קַח־לְךָ - qach-lekha): The verb "take" (qach) is an imperative, indicating a direct command. The suffix "for yourself" emphasizes Aaron's personal responsibility and involvement in procuring these specific sacrifices, underscoring that even the High Priest required atonement and purification for himself before officiating for the people. This isn't just about ritual, but personal ownership and identification with the need for purity.
• a young bull (עֵגֶל בֶּן־בָּקָר - egel ben-baqar): Literally "a calf, son of a bull." This denotes a young, specific male bovine. A bull was typically a very significant and costly animal, prescribed for the sin offerings of the high priest or the entire congregation (Lev 4:3, 14), signifying the gravity of sin when committed by those in positions of high spiritual authority or by the community as a whole.
• for a sin offering (לְחַטָּאת - lechattat): Hattat, commonly translated "sin offering," is more accurately understood as a "purification offering." Its primary function was not just to atone for specific sins, but to purify the sanctuary from defilement caused by the presence of sin, thereby enabling God to continue dwelling among His people without consuming them in His holiness. It restored ritual purity.
• and a ram (וְאֵיל - ve'eil): A male sheep, often a symbol of strength and commonly used for burnt offerings or peace offerings.
• for a burnt offering (לְעֹלָה - le'olah): The Olah or "burnt offering" (lit. "that which goes up") was entirely consumed on the altar by fire, symbolizing complete devotion, consecration, and propitiation (atonement) for general, unspecified sins. It signified the worshiper's total dedication and acceptance by God. Together with the sin offering, it represents purification from defilement and acceptance for worship.
• both without blemish (תְּמִימִם - temimim): Tamim (plural temimim) means "perfect," "whole," "complete," "sound," "without defect." This was an essential requirement for nearly all sacrifices to the LORD, highlighting the perfection and holiness of the God to whom the offering was made. Only perfect offerings were acceptable, foreshadowing the flawless sacrifice of Christ.
• and present them (וְהַקְרֵב - vehaqrev): From the root qarab, "to bring near." This is the priestly act of bringing the animal sacrifice into God's presence at the altar, signifying devotion and a seeking of reconciliation or communion.
• before the LORD (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - lifnei YHWH): "Before the face of Yahweh." This stresses that the entire ritual was conducted directly in the divine presence, at the very dwelling place of God's glory, making it a sacred encounter.

• "Take for yourself a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering": This phrase encapsulates the two critical types of offerings required for Aaron's inaugural service. The sin offering deals with purification from impurity, enabling proximity to God, while the burnt offering deals with atonement and dedication, establishing complete acceptance. The sequence is significant: purity (sin offering) before complete dedication/acceptance (burnt offering).
• "both without blemish": This phrase underscores the fundamental requirement for all acceptable sacrifices to a holy God. It teaches about God's standard of perfection and points to the sinless perfection of Christ as the ultimate sacrifice.
• "present them before the LORD": This emphasizes the purpose and direction of the sacrifice – it is directed towards God in His sacred space, acknowledging His ultimate authority and sovereign acceptance.

Leviticus 9 2 Bonus section

The careful choice of animals—a bull and a ram—for the specific sin and burnt offerings on this inaugural day for the priesthood reflects the detailed design of Israel's worship. The bull was a substantial and valuable animal, emphasizing the seriousness of sins that impacted the high priest or the community. The ram, too, represented significant worth. This specific set of offerings prepared Aaron and the Tabernacle for the momentous manifestation of God's glory at the end of the chapter (Lev 9:23-24). Without these proper initial offerings, God's holiness would have been a consuming fire rather than a revealing one. The passage highlights God's insistence on order and holiness in approaching Him, emphasizing that access to Him is always on His terms, established by His divine revelation.

Leviticus 9 2 Commentary

Leviticus 9:2 provides a precise blueprint for Aaron's first official act as High Priest, orchestrating a sequence of offerings critical for initiating public worship at the Tabernacle. The demand for a "young bull" for a sin offering underscores the gravity of impurity, especially for the High Priest who stands as mediator. This hattat addresses the contamination of sin, cleansing the sacred space to maintain God's presence among an imperfect people. Paired with this is a "ram for a burnt offering," an olah, which signifies total surrender, devotion, and general atonement for unintended sins. The burnt offering's complete consumption by fire visually communicates absolute dedication. The consistent command for animals to be "without blemish" establishes an inviolable standard for holy worship, prefiguring the unblemished perfection required of the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:19), who fully accomplishes what these animal sacrifices could only foreshadow. This verse is not merely an instruction for ritual; it's a foundational theological statement affirming the necessity of purification and complete devotion to approach a holy God, and it foreshadows Christ’s single, perfect sacrifice which fulfills all types of offerings by bearing sin and offering Himself entirely.