Exodus 29:14

But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it [is] a sin offering.

But the flesh {H1320} of the bullock {H6499}, and his skin {H5785}, and his dung {H6569}, shalt thou burn {H8313} with fire {H784} without {H2351} the camp {H4264}: it is a sin offering {H2403}.

But the bull's flesh, skin and dung you are to destroy by fire outside the camp; it is a sin offering.

But burn the flesh of the bull and its hide and dung outside the camp; it is a sin offering.

But the flesh of the bullock, and its skin, and its dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin-offering.

Commentary

Context

Exodus 29 is a pivotal chapter detailing the elaborate instructions for the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests, establishing the foundational rituals for the Israelite sacrificial system. Verse 14 specifically describes a crucial part of the first sin offering bullock, which was sacrificed on the first day of the seven-day consecration ceremony. This particular offering was unique because its blood was used for purification rituals within the Tabernacle, symbolizing the cleansing of the sacred space and the priests themselves, preparing them to serve a holy God.

Key Themes

  • Purification and Atonement: The instruction to burn specific parts of the bullock "without the camp" emphasizes the complete removal of defilement associated with sin. Unlike other offerings where parts were consumed or burned on the altar, the sin offering for the priests required the entire body (excluding the blood used for ritual cleansing) to be taken outside the consecrated area and utterly destroyed by fire. This act signified that sin, and its consequences, must be completely separated from God's holy presence and His people. It was a vivid object lesson in the gravity of sin and the necessity of atonement.
  • Holiness of God: The meticulous instructions for handling the sin offering underscore God's absolute holiness. Nothing defiled could remain within the camp where God's presence dwelt in the Tabernacle. This radical separation highlighted the chasm between a sinful humanity and a perfectly pure God, demanding strict adherence to divine commands for access and service.
  • Foreshadowing of Christ: The removal of the sin offering "without the camp" powerfully foreshadows the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The New Testament book of Hebrews 13:11-12 explicitly draws this parallel, noting that just as the animal's body was burned outside the camp, so too Jesus suffered outside the city gate to sanctify His people through His own blood. This underscores the ultimate and perfect sacrifice that cleanses from all sin, making the Old Testament ritual a profound type pointing to the antitype in Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "sin offering" is chattat (ื—ึทื˜ึธึผืืช). While it often refers to "sin" itself, in the context of offerings, it denotes a sacrifice made to atone for sin or ritual impurity. The specific instruction to burn the non-sacred partsโ€”the flesh, skin, and dungโ€”"without the camp" (mi-chutz la-machaneh) is a recurring instruction for particular sin offerings, especially those for the high priest or the entire community. This signifies a complete purging of the defilement associated with the sin, removing it entirely from the holy space where God's presence resided.

Significance and Application

Exodus 29:14, though rooted in ancient rituals, carries profound theological weight for believers today. It reminds us of:

  • The Seriousness of Sin: The burning of the sin offering outside the camp vividly illustrates that sin cannot coexist with God's holiness. It must be utterly removed and dealt with.
  • The Completeness of Christ's Sacrifice: We no longer offer bulls and goats, because Christ's single sacrifice was sufficient and complete. He bore our sin, being "made sin for us" (2 Corinthians 5:21), and was taken "outside the camp" to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  • Our Call to Holiness: Just as the camp was purified, believers are called to live lives of holiness, separated from the defilement of the world. We are to "go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach" (Hebrews 13:13), identifying with Christ in His suffering and separation from the world's ways, living in purity and devotion to God.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 4:11

    And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,

  • Leviticus 4:12

    Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.

  • Leviticus 4:21

    And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it [is] a sin offering for the congregation.

  • 2 Chronicles 29:24

    And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded [that] the burnt offering and the sin offering [should be made] for all Israel.

  • Ezra 8:35

    [Also] the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats [for] a sin offering: all [this was] a burnt offering unto the LORD.

  • Exodus 30:10

    And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it [is] most holy unto the LORD.

  • Leviticus 5:8

    And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer [that] which [is] for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide [it] asunder:
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