Leviticus 9 9

Leviticus 9:9 kjv

And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:

Leviticus 9:9 nkjv

Then the sons of Aaron brought the blood to him. And he dipped his finger in the blood, put it on the horns of the altar, and poured the blood at the base of the altar.

Leviticus 9:9 niv

His sons brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger into the blood and put it on the horns of the altar; the rest of the blood he poured out at the base of the altar.

Leviticus 9:9 esv

And the sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar.

Leviticus 9:9 nlt

His sons brought him the blood, and he dipped his finger in it and put it on the horns of the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

Leviticus 9 verses

Leviticus 9 9 Meaning

Leviticus 9:9 describes a crucial action performed by Aaron, the High Priest, assisted by his sons, during the inaugural sacrifices for the people of Israel. It details the precise ritual handling of the blood from the sin offering: applying some to the horns of the burnt offering altar and pouring the rest at its base. This ritual was fundamental for purification, atonement, and establishing a path for a holy God to dwell among an unholy people, demonstrating the sanctity and necessity of blood for atonement under the Old Covenant.

Leviticus 9 9 Context

Leviticus chapter 9 marks a pivotal moment: the official inauguration of Aaron and his sons into the priestly service and their first performance of sacrifices on behalf of the people of Israel. Chapter 8 describes their consecration by Moses according to God's precise instructions. Chapter 9, therefore, is the culmination of this extensive ordination process.

The verses leading up to Leviticus 9:9 describe God's command for Aaron to offer specific sacrifices – a sin offering and a burnt offering for himself, and then for the congregation, a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb for burnt offerings, and a peace offering, all to enable God's glory to appear among His people (Lev 9:6-7). This particular verse, Lev 9:9, details a crucial step in processing the blood of the sin offering, underscoring the seriousness of handling the sacrificial elements and the sacred space of the tabernacle. The historical context involves Israel at Mount Sinai, having recently received the Mosaic Law, and preparing to journey towards the Promised Land. These elaborate rituals establish how a holy God can dwell among His people, offering a way for sin to be dealt with through divinely instituted atonement.

Leviticus 9 9 Word analysis

• And the sons of Aaron (וּבְנֵ֨י אַהֲרֹ֜ן, uvene Aharon): Signifies the priestly lineage designated by God to assist the High Priest. Their role here highlights the collaborative nature of priestly service, with the High Priest taking the lead in applying the blood.
• brought the blood (הִקְרִ֤יבוּ אֵלָיו֙ אֶת־הַדָּ֔ם, hiqrivu elav et-haddam): The Hebrew verb hiqrivu (from qarab) means "to bring near," emphasizing that the sons brought the vital substance for the most critical part of the offering directly to Aaron, indicating its extreme importance and his ultimate authority in the ritual. The "blood" (dam) is consistently presented throughout Leviticus as the very essence of life (Lev 17:11) and the exclusive medium for atonement.
• to him: Refers specifically to Aaron, the High Priest. This stresses his central, authoritative role in executing the commands of God, particularly during this inaugural and highly significant set of sacrifices for the people.
• and he dipped his finger (וַיִּטְבֹּ֥ל אֶצְבָּעוֹ֙, vayitbol etsba'o): The verb taval means "to dip" or "to immerse." This specific action demonstrates precision and control in handling the sacred blood. Using "his finger" highlights Aaron's direct, personal, and meticulous involvement, emphasizing the care and exactitude required for the atonement ritual.
• in the blood: Reiterates the nature of the substance being handled. The meticulousness in preparing and handling the blood points to its sacredness and the seriousness of dealing with sin.
• and put it on the horns of the altar (וַיִּתֵּ֥ן עַל־קַרְנֹ֣ת הַֽמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ, vayitten al-qarnot hammizbeach):
  • put it: The verb natan simply means "to give" or "to put."
  • horns (qeren): These projections on the four corners of the burnt offering altar (Exod 27:2) symbolized strength, power, and sacred authority. In sin offerings (Lev 4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34), applying blood to the horns purified the altar from the uncleanness of the people's sins, ritually cleansing the space where God met His people. It also signifies an act of supplication and making the altar sacred for its ongoing function in dealing with sin.
  • of the altar: Refers to the altar of burnt offering in the Tabernacle courtyard, the central point for community sacrifices.
• and poured out the blood (וְאֶת־הַדָּ֣ם שָׁפַךְ֩, ve'et-haddam shafach): The verb shafach means "to pour out" or "to spill." This action denotes a complete discharge or emptying. It shows that the remaining blood was not casually disposed of but was handled in a prescribed, reverent manner, fully dedicated to God. It highlights that no part of the sacrificial blood should be wasted or consumed inappropriately; it belongs to God entirely.
• at the base of the altar (אֶל־יְס֥וֹד הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ, el-yesod hammizbeach): The "base" or "foundation" (yesod) of the altar. Pouring the remaining blood here signifies a thorough sanctification and cleansing of the entire altar structure, acknowledging God's sovereignty over the very foundation of atonement. It also functions as a respectful disposal of the highly potent ritual blood, returning it to the ground, reinforcing that it represents life offered back to the Giver of life. This also prevented its use for common purposes or profanation.

Word-Group Analysis

• "And the sons of Aaron brought the blood to him": This phrase emphasizes the hierarchical and cooperative structure of the Aaronic priesthood. The sons provided the blood to Aaron, affirming his unique high priestly role in conducting the critical atoning ritual.
• "he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar": This action is specific to sin offerings where the blood purified or consecrated the altar. It shows the careful, direct, and limited application of the most sacred element to the most sacred part of the altar for ritual cleansing and dedication.
• "and poured out the blood at the base of the altar": This second action describes the complete and reverent disposal of the remainder of the blood. This indicates that the life (blood) represented by the offering was fully consecrated and returned to the earth as a tribute to God, symbolizing that all of its atoning power had been fully given for the purification needed.

Leviticus 9 9 Bonus Section

• The particular handling of the blood in Lev 9:9 is consistent with the hatta't (sin offering) ritual as outlined in Lev 4. For individual or priestly sin offerings, blood was also sprinkled before the veil or applied to the altar of incense (e.g., Lev 4:6-7), depending on the status of the offerer. The treatment described in Lev 9:9 for the sin offering of the whole congregation signifies purification of the communal altar.
• The ritual demonstrates the immediate practical implication of atonement for the worshiper, albeit in a shadow form. Sin was addressed, and the way was made for God's presence (as indicated by the subsequent appearance of God's glory in Lev 9:23-24).
• The emphasis on "his finger" also subtly connects to God's "finger" writing the law (Exod 31:18, Deut 9:10) and the work of the Holy Spirit (Lk 11:20), suggesting a divine sanction and precise, holy touch in the application of atonement.

Leviticus 9 9 Commentary

Leviticus 9:9 captures the meticulousness required for proper worship and atonement under the Mosaic covenant. Aaron's precise handling of the sin offering's blood underscores its profound significance: "the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life" (Lev 17:11). Applying blood to the horns of the altar symbolically cleanses it from the defilement introduced by the sins of the people, making the altar ritually pure for continued sacred use. The subsequent pouring of the remaining blood at the altar's base further emphasizes its sanctity; it is not for common use, nor is it consumed, but it is wholly given back to God as part of the complete surrender and dedication for atonement. This ritual provided a tangible way for the Israelites to grasp the gravity of sin and the cost of redemption. These animal sacrifices, while providing temporary covering for sin, inherently pointed forward to the perfect, ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His blood, shed once for all on the cross, cleanses not just an altar but the conscience of the believer from dead works, truly atoning for all sin and providing eternal redemption (Heb 9:11-14; 10:10). The precision of the Levitical rituals underscores God's holiness and His detailed provision for forgiveness, foreshadowing the comprehensive nature of Christ's perfect sacrifice.