Exodus 29:25

And thou shalt receive them of their hands, and burn [them] upon the altar for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour before the LORD: it [is] an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

And thou shalt receive {H3947} them of their hands {H3027}, and burn {H6999} them upon the altar {H4196} for a burnt offering {H5930}, for a sweet {H5207} savour {H7381} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}: it is an offering made by fire {H801} unto the LORD {H3068}.

Then take them back; and burn them up in smoke on the altar, on top of the burnt offering, to be a pleasing aroma before ADONAI; it is an offering made to ADONAI by fire.

Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar atop the burnt offering as a pleasing aroma before the LORD; it is an offering made by fire to the LORD.

And thou shalt take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar upon the burnt-offering, for a sweet savor before Jehovah: it is an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

Commentary

Context of Exodus 29:25

Exodus chapter 29 details the elaborate and sacred ritual for the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests, setting them apart for service in the Tabernacle. This was a foundational moment for the Levitical priesthood, establishing the procedures for mediating between God and Israel. Verse 25 specifically describes a crucial step in the offering of the "ram of consecration." Prior to this, certain portions of the ramโ€”the fat, the right shoulder, and specific cakes of breadโ€”were placed in the hands of Aaron and his sons and "waved" before the LORD as a wave offering (Exodus 29:24). This act symbolized the offering being presented directly to God by the priests themselves.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Complete Dedication and Consecration: The act of burning these specific portions "upon the altar for a burnt offering" signifies a complete surrender and dedication to God. Unlike some peace offerings where parts were returned to the offerer, a burnt offering (`olah` in Hebrew, meaning "that which ascends") was entirely consumed by fire, symbolizing total devotion and ascent to God. This ritual underscored the absolute dedication required of those set apart for God's service.
  • Acceptable Worship: The phrase "for a sweet savour before the LORD" indicates God's acceptance and pleasure in this act of obedience and worship. It signifies divine approval, not merely of the physical aroma, but of the spiritual act of consecration and the obedience demonstrated.
  • Divine Ordination: This verse is part of a larger narrative establishing the divinely appointed priesthood. The meticulous steps outlined by God demonstrate the holiness and seriousness with which He viewed the role of His chosen mediators.

Linguistic Insights

The term "burnt offering" translates the Hebrew word olah (ืขึนืœึธื”), which literally means "that which goes up" or "ascends." This refers to the smoke of the sacrifice ascending to God, symbolizing the offering's complete consumption and dedication. It emphasizes the entirety of the offering being given over to God.

The phrase "sweet savour" comes from the Hebrew reah nihoah (ืจึตื™ื—ึท ื ึดื™ื—ึนื—ึท), meaning "a soothing aroma" or "pleasing fragrance." This expression is used numerous times throughout the Pentateuch to describe sacrifices that were acceptable and pleasing to God. It conveys God's satisfaction and approval of the offering and the heart behind it, signifying that the act of worship was received favorably by Him.

Practical Application

While animal sacrifices are no longer required under the New Covenant, the principles embedded in Exodus 29:25 remain profoundly relevant for believers today:

  • Total Dedication: Just as the priestly portions were completely consumed, believers are called to present their entire lives as a "living sacrifice," holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). This involves dedicating our talents, time, resources, and will to His service.
  • Acceptable Worship: Our acts of worship, obedience, and service, when offered in faith and sincerity through Christ, are a "sweet savour" to God. The ultimate act of acceptable worship was Christ's sacrifice for us, described as offering Himself "for a sweet-smelling savour" to God (Ephesians 5:2).
  • Consecration for Service: Like Aaron and his sons, believers are consecrated by God through the Holy Spirit to serve Him. We are called to live lives set apart for His purposes, reflecting His holiness in the world.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 8:28

    And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt [them] on the altar upon the burnt offering: they [were] consecrations for a sweet savour: it [is] an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

  • Exodus 29:41

    And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

  • Leviticus 3:3

    And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that [is] upon the inwards,

  • Leviticus 7:29

    Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.

  • Leviticus 7:31

    And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'.

  • Leviticus 7:5

    And the priest shall burn them upon the altar [for] an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it [is] a trespass offering.

  • Psalms 99:6

    ยถ Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
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