Leviticus 9 8

Leviticus 9:8 kjv

Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.

Leviticus 9:8 nkjv

Aaron therefore went to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.

Leviticus 9:8 niv

So Aaron came to the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself.

Leviticus 9:8 esv

So Aaron drew near to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.

Leviticus 9:8 nlt

So Aaron went to the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself.

Leviticus 9 verses

Leviticus 9 8 Meaning

Leviticus 9:8 records Aaron's immediate compliance with the divine command to perform his initial priestly duties. As the newly consecrated High Priest, his first official act is to slaughter a calf as a sin offering specifically for himself. This crucial step demonstrates that even the chosen mediator between God and the people must first be cleansed and atoned for his own sins and imperfections before he can stand blamelessly before a holy God and officiate on behalf of the congregation. It underscores the indispensable necessity of personal purification for anyone approaching God in a mediatorial capacity under the Old Covenant.

Leviticus 9 8 Context

This verse is part of Leviticus chapter 9, which describes the climactic eighth day following the seven-day ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests (Lev 8). This eighth day marks the formal commencement of their official priestly ministry. Aaron, as the newly designated High Priest, is commanded by Moses (as per YHWH's instructions) to offer specific sacrifices—first for himself, then for the people—so that the glory of YHWH might appear. The historical context is Israel's establishment as a holy nation, guided by divine laws after their exodus from Egypt and the completion of the Tabernacle. This public act of worship, beginning with the High Priest's own cleansing, established the solemnity and divine order of the Israelite worship system. It emphasized the sacredness of God and the need for absolute purity in His presence, contrasting sharply with the often immoral and impure religious practices of surrounding nations, while still sharing the general ANE concept of sacred space and ritual action.

Leviticus 9 8 Word Analysis

• So (וַיִּקְרַב - wayyiqraḇ): This Hebrew conjunction waw (and) followed by the imperfect verb (yiqraḇ) acts as a consecutive "waw," indicating that Aaron immediately "drew near" in direct response to the preceding instructions. It denotes a sequential and obedient action, signaling the commencement of the official priestly ministry.

• Aaron (אַהֲרֹן - ʾAhărōn): The newly anointed High Priest. His name signifies his significant role as the head of the Aaronic priesthood. His actions here are foundational for all subsequent priestly service, embodying the role of mediator.

• drew near (וַיִּקְרַב - wayyiqraḇ): This verb (qarav) signifies an approach, often with a ceremonial or ritualistic intent. It implies a reverent and prescribed movement into the holy space of the altar, rather than just casual proximity. It underscores the formality and sacredness of the priestly act.

• to the altar (אֶל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - ʾel-hammizbēaḥ): Specifically, the bronze altar for burnt offerings in the Tabernacle court. This was the focal point for all animal sacrifices, symbolizing the place where propitiation and atonement for sin took place through blood. Its location "at the entrance to the tent of meeting" (Exod 40:6) was strategic, signifying the first point of contact with God's presence for the worshipper.

• and slaughtered (וַיִּשְׁחַט - wayyišḥaṭ): This verb (shaḥaṭ) is a specific technical term for the ritual slaughter of an animal. It refers to cutting the animal's throat or neck, which ensured that the blood (representing the life) was drained in a prescribed manner. This act was critical, as atonement for sin was intricately linked to the shedding of blood (Lev 17:11; Heb 9:22).

• the calf (אֶת-הָעֵגֶל - ʾet-hāʿēgel): A young bull, specifically chosen according to the divine instructions for the High Priest's sin offering (Lev 4:3). A calf represented a valuable and substantial sacrifice, signifying the gravity of sin, particularly when committed by the highest priestly figure. Its purity was paramount.

• of the sin offering (הַחַטָּאת - haḥaṭṭāʾṯ): The Hebrew term chatta't literally means "sin," but in this context refers to a specific type of offering designed to cleanse from defilement and provide atonement for sin, often unintentional sins or ritual impurities that disrupted one's standing before a holy God. It was not primarily punitive but purgative and restorative.

• which was for himself (אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ - ʾašer-lō): This pivotal phrase emphasizes the personal nature of this initial sacrifice. It signifies that Aaron, despite his divine appointment and anointing, shared in the fallen human condition and therefore required atonement for his own sins and ritual impurities before he could intercede for the people. It highlights the inherent limitation of the Levitical priesthood—that even the priests were imperfect men in need of a perfect mediator.

• Words-group Analysis: "Aaron drew near to the altar and slaughtered the calf... for himself": This phrase concisely depicts the foundational ritual act for the entire priestly system. It shows that personal purity and atonement precede priestly mediation. The sequence—drawing near, slaughtering, specifically for himself—lays bare the necessary self-cleansing of the officiant before he can facilitate others' access to God. This truth about the human priest’s own sinfulness strikingly anticipates the necessity of a truly sinless High Priest in the New Covenant.

Leviticus 9 8 Bonus Section

The act of Aaron first making atonement for himself provided an ongoing object lesson for Israel, illustrating the absolute holiness of God. It prevented the perception of the priests as inherently pure or divine, separating them from the idolatrous practices of neighboring cults where priests were often considered extensions of their deities. This continuous need for the priest to make sacrifice for himself also highlighted the conditional nature of the Old Covenant system and the provisional quality of the atonement it offered. Unlike Aaron, whose service was temporarily suspended by sin and ultimately ended by death, the High Priesthood of Christ is eternal and perfectly efficacious because He is inherently without sin and His life is everlasting (Heb 7:23-25).

Leviticus 9 8 Commentary

Leviticus 9:8 marks the initiation of the official Aaronic priesthood, highlighting the paradox inherent in a human mediatorial system: the priest, though divinely appointed, remains a fallen man in need of divine grace. Aaron's immediate action, slaughtering his own sin offering, is profoundly significant. It confirms the universal reach of sin, impacting even the most consecrated individuals. The purpose of the chatta't was not merely about punishment, but purification from the defilement that sin caused, enabling restored fellowship with a holy God. This repeated need for priests to atone for themselves, particularly emphasized on the annual Day of Atonement (Lev 16), continuously pointed to the inadequacy of the Old Covenant system to provide a final solution for sin. It prepared the way for understanding the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the sinless High Priest (Heb 7:26-28), who offered Himself once and for all (Heb 9:26-28), rendering any further sacrifices for sin unnecessary. Aaron's act, while essential under the Law, serves as a poignant shadow, directing the eyes of faith toward the one who could truly cleanse.