Exodus 29:12

And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar.

And thou shalt take {H3947} of the blood {H1818} of the bullock {H6499}, and put {H5414} it upon the horns {H7161} of the altar {H4196} with thy finger {H676}, and pour {H8210} all the blood {H1818} beside {H413} the bottom {H3247} of the altar {H4196}.

Take some of the bull's blood, and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; pour out all the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; then pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger; and thou shalt pour out all the blood at the base of the altar.

Commentary

Exodus 29:12 is a pivotal verse within the detailed instructions given by God to Moses for the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests, and for the consecration of the Tabernacle itself. This specific act describes a critical step in the sin offering ritual, emphasizing purification and atonement.

Context

This verse is part of a longer passage (Exodus 29:1-37) outlining the elaborate, seven-day ceremony for setting apart Aaron and his sons for priestly service. Before they could minister, they, and the instruments of worship, had to be thoroughly cleansed and sanctified. The "bullock" mentioned here is designated as the first sin offering for their purification (Exodus 29:14). The "altar" refers to the brazen altar (altar of burnt offering) located in the Tabernacle courtyard, which was central to Israel's sacrificial system.

Key Themes

  • Consecration and Purification: The application of blood was central to consecrating both the priests and the altar itself. Even holy objects and those called to sacred service needed to be purified to be fit for God's presence. This act purified the altar, making it acceptable for future sacrifices for the people's sins.
  • Atonement through Blood: The blood of the sacrifice symbolized life given for life, making expiation for sin possible. The act of putting blood on the altar's horns and pouring it at its base signified a complete covering and cleansing. This foreshadows the ultimate shedding of blood for the remission of sins, as articulated in the New Testament.
  • Symbolism of the Horns: The "horns of the altar" (Hebrew: qarnot hammizbeach) were prominent protrusions at each corner, often symbolizing strength, power, and refuge. Applying blood to these horns consecrated the very power and authority of the altar to mediate between God and man, dedicating its function fully to the Lord.
  • Thoroughness of Ritual: The meticulous instructions for handling the blood—applying some to the horns with the finger and pouring the rest at the base—underscore the precision and reverence required in approaching a holy God. No part of the ritual was arbitrary; each detail carried profound spiritual significance.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "altar," mizbeach (מִזְבֵּחַ), is derived from a root meaning "to slaughter" or "to sacrifice," highlighting its primary function. The phrase "horns of the altar" refers to specific, distinct projections, indicating their symbolic importance in the sacrificial rites, a detail repeated in other instructions for sin offerings (e.g., Leviticus 4:7).

Practical Application

While these Old Testament rituals are no longer practiced, they offer timeless truths. They powerfully illustrate the absolute necessity of purification and atonement to approach a holy God. The intricate details of the sin offering point forward to the perfect and singular sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His blood, shed once for all, provides complete and eternal cleansing, making it unnecessary for us to offer animal sacrifices (see Hebrews 10:10). Today, we are called to approach God through faith in Christ's finished work, recognizing the profound holiness required to enter His presence, yet with confidence because of the blood of the new covenant.

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

  • Exodus 27:2

    And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.

  • Leviticus 9:9

    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 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.

  • Exodus 30:2

    A cubit [shall be] the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits [shall be] the height thereof: the horns thereof [shall be] of the same.

  • Leviticus 4:7

    And the priest shall put [some] of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which [is] in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which [is at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • Leviticus 4:25

    And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.

  • Exodus 38:2

    And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass.
← Back