Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put [it] upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
Complete Jewish Bible:
and you are to slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on the lobe of Aharon's right ear, on the lobes of his sons' right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. Take the rest of the blood and splash it on all sides of the altar.
Berean Standard Bible:
Slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on the right earlobes of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Sprinkle the remaining blood on all sides of the altar.
American Standard Version:
Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of its blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
¶ [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.
And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that [is] in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD:
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.
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Commentary for Exodus 29:20
**Exodus 29:20 Summary and Historical Context:**
**Themes:**
- **Consecration and Purity:** The act of applying blood to the priests' ears, thumbs, and toes symbolizes the dedication of their entire being to God's service. It represents a commitment to hear and obey God's word, to perform sacred duties, and to walk in the ways of the Lord.
- **Atonement and Sacrifice:** The use of the ram's blood for anointing and sprinkling around the altar signifies atonement for sin. In the ancient Israelite sacrificial system, blood was seen as the life force and was essential for the forgiveness of sins and the cleansing of impurities.
- **Set Apart for Service:** The detailed ritual underscores the idea that the priests are set apart (holy) for their role as mediators between God and the people. This physical marking with blood emphasizes their special status and responsibilities.
**Historical Context:**
- **Mosaic Law and Worship:** This verse is part of the instructions given to Moses on Mount Sinai regarding the ordination of Aaron and his sons as the first priests of Israel. It reflects the intricate laws and rituals that governed Israelite worship and religious practice.
- **Transition to Priesthood:** The events in Exodus occur during the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The establishment of the priesthood was crucial for organizing worship and maintaining the religious life of the community as they transitioned from a group of freed slaves to a nation with a unique covenant relationship with God.
- **Covenant Renewal:** The elaborate consecration process also serves as a renewal of the covenant between God and Israel, with the priests playing a central role in upholding the covenant on behalf of the people.
In summary, Exodus 29:20 reflects the themes of consecration, atonement, and divine service within the historical context of establishing the Israelite priesthood and structuring worship according to the Mosaic Law during the formative years of the nation of Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H7819 There are 70 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שָׁחַט Transliteration: shâchaṭ Pronunciation: shaw-khat' Description: a primitive root; to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre); kill, offer, shoot out, slay, slaughter.
Strong's Number: H352 There are 256 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אַיִל Transliteration: ʼayil Pronunciation: ah'-yil Description: from the same as אוּל; properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree; mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.
Strong's Number: H3947 There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: לָקַח Transliteration: lâqach Pronunciation: law-kakh' Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
Strong's Number: H1818 There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: דָּם Transliteration: dâm Pronunciation: dawm Description: from דָּמַם (compare אָדַם); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood); blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent.
Strong's Number: H5414 There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: נָתַן Transliteration: nâthan Pronunciation: naw-than' Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
Strong's Number: H8571 There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: תְּנוּךְ Transliteration: tᵉnûwk Pronunciation: ten-ook' Description: perhaps from the same as אֲנָךְ through the idea of protraction; a pinnacle, i.e. extremity; tip.
Strong's Number: H241 There are 652 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֹזֶן Transliteration: ʼôzen Pronunciation: o'-zen Description: from אָזַן; broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man); [phrase] advertise, audience, [phrase] displease, ear, hearing, [phrase] show.
Strong's Number: H175 There are 480 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אַהֲרוֹן Transliteration: ʼAhărôwn Pronunciation: a-har-one' Description: of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron.
Strong's Number: H3233 There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יְמָנִי Transliteration: yᵉmânîy Pronunciation: yem-aw-nee' Description: from יָמַן; right (i.e. at the right hand); (on the) right (hand).
Strong's Number: H1121 There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: בֵּן Transliteration: bên Pronunciation: bane Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
Strong's Number: H931 There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: בֹּהֶן Transliteration: bôhen Pronunciation: bo'-hen Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to be thick; the thumb of the hand or great toe of the foot; thumb, great toe.
Strong's Number: H3027 There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יָד Transliteration: yâd Pronunciation: yawd Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
Strong's Number: H7272 There are 232 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: רֶגֶל Transliteration: regel Pronunciation: reh'-gel Description: from רָגַל; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda; [idiom] be able to endure, [idiom] according as, [idiom] after, [idiom] coming, [idiom] follow, (broken-)foot(-ed, -stool), [idiom] great toe, [idiom] haunt, [idiom] journey, leg, [phrase] piss, [phrase] possession, time.
Strong's Number: H2236 There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: זָרַק Transliteration: zâraq Pronunciation: zaw-rak' Description: a primitive root; to sprinkle (fluid or solid particles); be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew.
Strong's Number: H4196 There are 338 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: מִזְבֵּחַ Transliteration: mizbêach Pronunciation: miz-bay'-akh Description: from זָבַח; an altar; altar.
Strong's Number: H5439 There are 282 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: סָבִיב Transliteration: çâbîyb Pronunciation: saw-beeb' Description: or (feminine) סְבִיבָה; from סָבַב; (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around; (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side.