Exodus 29:11

And thou shalt kill the bullock before the LORD, [by] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

And thou shalt kill {H7819} the bullock {H6499} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}, by the door {H6607} of the tabernacle {H168} of the congregation {H4150}.

and you are to slaughter the bull in the presence of ADONAI at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

And you shall slaughter the bull before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

And thou shalt kill the bullock before Jehovah, at the door of the tent of meeting.

Commentary

Context of Exodus 29:11

Exodus 29 details the elaborate and sacred ceremony for the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests. This was not a casual appointment but a rigorous ritual designed to set them apart for holy service to God. The instructions highlight the immense significance of their role as mediators between God and the Israelites. This specific verse describes the killing of the first bullock, which served as a sin offering (as clarified in verse 14) for the priests themselves, symbolizing their need for purification before they could minister.

The location specified, "before the LORD, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation," is crucial. The Tabernacle was God's dwelling place among His people, the central point of their worship and interaction with the divine. Performing the sacrifice at its entrance emphasized that access to God's presence required a proper, divinely ordained approach, marked by atonement and holiness.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Holiness and Purity for Service: The primary message is that those who approach and serve God must be purified. Even Aaron and his sons, chosen by God, needed cleansing from sin before they could enter their priestly duties. This underscores God's absolute holiness and the necessity of purity for fellowship with Him.
  • Substitutionary Atonement: The killing of the bullock foreshadows the principle of an innocent life given to make amends for sin. The animal's death served as a temporary covering for the sins of the priests, making them acceptable to God. This ancient ritual pointed forward to the ultimate and perfect sacrifice.
  • Divine Ordinance and Order: God prescribed every detail of the Tabernacle service and the consecration rituals. This verse highlights the importance of following God's commands precisely in worship and service, demonstrating His authority and the need for human obedience.
  • Access to God: The act of sacrifice at the Tabernacle door signified that atonement was the gateway to God's presence and blessing. Without the shedding of blood, there was no remission of sin, and thus no communion with a holy God.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Before the LORD" (Hebrew: *liphnê YHWH*): This phrase emphasizes that the act was performed in God's immediate presence, under His direct observation and approval. It signifies the sacredness and seriousness of the ritual.
  • "Tabernacle of the congregation" (Hebrew: *'ohel mo'ed*): While often translated "Tabernacle of the congregation," a more precise meaning of *mo'ed* is "appointed meeting place" or "tent of meeting." This highlights its function as the specific place where God had appointed to meet with His people and where they would assemble.

Related Scriptures

The sacrificial system, as exemplified in Exodus 29:11, is foundational to understanding God's plan of redemption. This bullock, a sin offering for the priests, points forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament sacrifices, though necessary, were temporary and had to be repeated. The Book of Hebrews powerfully explains how these rituals were a shadow of the true sacrifice. For example, Hebrews 10:10 declares that we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Unlike the continuous need for animal sacrifices, Christ's death on the cross was a perfect, once-for-all atonement for sin, providing eternal redemption.

Practical Application

For believers today, Exodus 29:11 offers profound insights:

  1. Access through Christ: We no longer need animal sacrifices because Jesus Christ has fulfilled the sacrificial system. His sacrifice is the ultimate sin offering, granting us direct access to God's presence through faith in Him (Hebrews 10:19-22).
  2. Holiness in Service: While we don't offer animal sacrifices, the principle of approaching God with purity remains. As believers, we are called to be a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), offering spiritual sacrifices of praise, worship, and obedient living (Romans 12:1). This requires ongoing repentance and reliance on Christ's cleansing.
  3. Reverence for God: The meticulous nature of these ancient rituals reminds us of God's absolute holiness and the reverence due to Him. Even in the New Covenant, our worship and service should be marked by awe and respect for the God we serve.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 9:8

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

  • Leviticus 9:12

    And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.

  • Exodus 29:4

    And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.

  • Leviticus 8:15

    And he slew [it]; and Moses took the blood, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.

  • Leviticus 1:3

    ¶ If his offering [be] a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.

  • Leviticus 1:5

    And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that [is by] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
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