Leviticus 6:11

KJV

And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he shall put off {H6584} his garments {H899}, and put on {H3847} other {H312} garments {H899}, and carry forth {H3318} the ashes {H1880} without {H2351} the camp {H4264} unto a clean {H2889} place {H4725}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then he is to remove those garments and put on others, before carrying the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.

Berean Standard Bible

Then he must take off his garments, put on other clothes, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place.

American Standard Version

And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 6:11 provides specific instructions for the priest regarding the disposal of ashes from the burnt offering, mandating a change of garments and the removal of the ashes "without the camp" to a "clean place." This seemingly mundane detail underscores profound theological principles of holiness, ritual purity, and the meticulous reverence required in all aspects of worship and service to God, emphasizing that even the remnants of sacrifice must be handled according to divine command.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of a larger section in Leviticus (chapters 6-7) detailing the laws of offerings, specifically for the priests. Following the general instructions for the burnt offering in [Leviticus 1](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus 1 - The Burnt Offering"), chapters 6 and 7 provide additional regulations for the priests concerning their duties in presenting these sacrifices. [Leviticus 6:8-13](/leviticus/6-8 "Leviticus 6:8-13 - Regulations for the Burnt Offering") focuses on the burnt offering, particularly the perpetual fire on the altar and the disposal of its ashes. The preceding verses, [Leviticus 6:9-10](/leviticus/6-9 "Leviticus 6:9-10 - Priest's Duties for the Burnt Offering"), describe the priest's responsibility to keep the altar fire burning through the night and to remove the ashes, placing them beside the altar in his linen garments. Verse 11 then specifies the next step: changing garments and carrying the ashes outside the camp. This sequence highlights a progression from the active offering to the careful management of its remnants.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the Tabernacle (and later the Temple) was the central dwelling place of God, symbolizing His holy presence among His people. Maintaining ritual purity was paramount for the community to dwell in God's presence without defilement. The camp itself was considered a sacred space, and anything that might ritually defile it, such as certain bodily discharges, carcasses, or indeed, the ashes of offerings (which, while originating from a holy act, were now considered waste), needed to be removed. The act of changing garments for specific tasks was common in ancient priestly traditions, signifying a shift in ritual status or function. The priest's "holy garments" (as described in [Exodus 28](/exodus/28 "Exodus 28 - Priestly Garments")) were reserved for officiating at the altar and in the holy place, and were not to be soiled by less sacred tasks like ash removal, even if the ashes themselves were not inherently defiling. This careful separation underscored the profound distinction between the sacred and the common, crucial for the Israelites' understanding of God's holiness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Garments (Hebrew, _beged'_):** The phrase "put off his garments, and put on other garments" (יִפְשַׁט אֶת־בְּגָדָיו וְלָבַשׁ בְּגָדִים אֲחֵרִים - *yipshaṭ et-bəḡāḏāw wə-lāḇaš bəḡāḏîm ’ăḥērîm*) signifies a deliberate change of attire. The initial garments were the priest's sacred linen garments worn for tending the altar (specified in [Leviticus 6:10](/leviticus/6-10 "Leviticus 6:10 - Priest's Linen Garments")). The "other garments" were still clean and appropriate for a priest, but not the specific holy vestments reserved for direct altar service. This change prevented the holy garments from being defiled by the ashes and marked a transition from the most sacred ritual act to a less sacred, though still ritually important, task.
* **Without the camp (Hebrew, _mi'chutz la-machaneh'_):** This phrase (מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה - *miḥūṣ lammaḥăneh*) indicates a physical removal from the consecrated space where the Israelites dwelt and where God's presence resided in the Tabernacle. This was a common instruction for anything considered ritually impure or waste, ensuring the purity of the community. While the ashes of a burnt offering were not considered "unclean" in the same way as a leper or a carcass, their removal signified a separation of the remnants of a holy act from the ongoing life and worship within the camp.
* **Clean place (Hebrew, _maqom tahor'_):** The destination for the ashes, "unto a clean place" (מָקוֹם טָהוֹר - *māqōm ṭāhôr*), emphasizes that even outside the camp, the ashes were not to be discarded indiscriminately. This place, though external to the camp's sacred boundaries, was ritually pure, demonstrating continued reverence for the remnants of an offering made to God. It highlights that even the "waste" from worship was to be treated with respect, reflecting the sanctity of the entire sacrificial process.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he shall put off his garments":** This command initiates a ritual change, requiring the priest to remove the sacred linen garments he wore while tending the altar and placing the ashes beside it. This action prevents the holy garments, consecrated for direct service before God, from being soiled by the mundane task of ash removal.
* **"and put on other garments":** The priest is then to don different attire. These "other garments" were still clean and suitable for a priest, but not the special vestments reserved for the most sacred duties. This distinction underscores the varying levels of holiness associated with different priestly functions.
* **"and carry forth the ashes":** This specifies the task: the physical removal of the remnants of the burnt offering. The ashes, though the result of a holy act, represented the consumed and residual elements of the sacrifice, requiring proper disposal.
* **"without the camp":** This directive mandates the physical location for disposal, outside the boundaries of the Israelite encampment. This practice was essential for maintaining the ritual purity of the community, separating anything considered waste or ritually less pure from the dwelling place of God's people.
* **"unto a clean place":** This final clause specifies the nature of the disposal site. Even though outside the camp, the ashes were not to be simply dumped anywhere, but in a ritually "clean" spot. This demonstrates an ongoing reverence for the materials that had been offered to God, ensuring their respectful and proper disposition.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 6:11 employs several literary devices to convey its message. **Symbolism** is prominent, with the changing of garments symbolizing a transition from the most sacred act of offering to the necessary, but less holy, task of disposal. The "garments" themselves symbolize the priest's office and the specific ritual context. The act of carrying the ashes "without the camp" is a powerful **symbol** of separation and purification, illustrating the meticulous care required to maintain the sanctity of the community in God's presence. There is also an element of **contrast** between the intense holiness of the altar where the offering is consumed and the "outside the camp" location where its remnants are deposited, yet this contrast is softened by the requirement of a "clean place," showing that even the waste from a holy act retains a measure of reverence. The detailed, step-by-step instructions themselves reflect a **didactic** purpose, emphasizing the importance of obedience and precision in all aspects of worship.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 6:11, though seemingly about a minor detail of ritual, profoundly illustrates the pervasive nature of God's holiness and the meticulous standards He requires for approaching Him. It teaches that holiness is not confined to the grand moments of sacrifice but extends to the mundane tasks of maintenance and disposal. The priest's change of garments and the removal of ashes outside the camp to a clean place underscore the principles of ritual purity, separation from defilement, and the ongoing reverence due to God and all things associated with Him. This passage reinforces the idea that every aspect of worship, from the most glorious offering to the disposal of its remnants, must be performed with intentionality, obedience, and a profound respect for God's sanctity.

* [Leviticus 4:12](/leviticus/4-12 "Leviticus 4:12 - Disposal of Sin Offering Outside the Camp")
* [Numbers 19:9](/numbers/19-9 "Numbers 19:9 - Ashes of the Red Heifer")
* [Hebrews 13:11-12](/hebrews/13-11 "Hebrews 13:11-12 - Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Leviticus 6:11 offers a powerful reminder that our service to God encompasses not only the grand, visible acts of worship but also the seemingly small, hidden, and even "dirty" tasks. Just as the priest meticulously handled the ashes, we are called to bring diligence, reverence, and a commitment to purity to every aspect of our lives and ministries. This includes dealing with the "ashes" of our spiritual journey—the remnants of past sins, failures, or even completed works that no longer serve a holy purpose. We are challenged to "carry forth" what is unclean or no longer beneficial from the "camp" of our hearts, minds, and communities, ensuring that our spiritual "disposal" is done with care and intentionality, always seeking a "clean place" for resolution and growth. This verse encourages a holistic approach to holiness, where even the aftermath of our spiritual sacrifices is managed with integrity and respect for God's ongoing work in us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "ashes" or remnants of past experiences (sins, failures, or even completed good works) do I need to "carry forth" from my spiritual "camp" today?**
* **In what areas of my life or ministry do I tend to neglect the "mundane" or "cleanup" tasks, and how can I approach them with greater diligence and reverence?**
* **How does the concept of a "clean place" for disposal challenge me to be intentional and respectful even in dealing with what I consider "waste" or "finished" in my spiritual life?**

### FAQ
**Why did the priest have to change his garments to remove the ashes?**

Answer: The priest was required to change his garments to maintain the sanctity of his "holy garments" (described in [Exodus 28](/exodus/28 "Exodus 28 - Priestly Garments")). These special linen garments were consecrated for direct service at the altar and in the holy place. While the ashes of the burnt offering were not inherently defiling, handling them was considered a less sacred task than officiating at the altar. Changing into "other garments" prevented the holy vestments from being soiled and distinguished between the most sacred priestly duties and the necessary, but less ritually intense, tasks of maintenance and disposal. This emphasized the meticulous care required in all aspects of Tabernacle service.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 6:11, with its command to remove the ashes "without the camp," finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. Just as the remnants of the burnt offering were taken outside the consecrated camp, so too was Jesus, our perfect sacrifice, led "outside the gate" to suffer and die (as highlighted in [Hebrews 13:11-12](/hebrews/13-11 "Hebrews 13:11-12 - Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate")). This act symbolizes the complete removal of sin and defilement from God's holy presence. Jesus, by bearing our sin and shame, became the ultimate "ash" or "waste" in the eyes of the world, discarded outside the city walls. Yet, His suffering outside the camp was not to a "clean place" of ritual purity, but to a place of utter rejection, thereby making it possible for us to be truly clean and to enter into God's presence. He took our uncleanness upon Himself, enduring the ultimate separation so that we might be brought near. Through His once-for-all sacrifice, the need for daily ash removal and ritual cleansing is superseded, as He has perfectly cleansed us from all sin, allowing us to draw near to God with a "true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" ([Hebrews 10:22](/hebrews/10-22 "Hebrews 10:22 - Draw Near to God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

Ezekiel 44:19

And when they go forth into the utter court, [even] into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.

Hebrews 13:11

For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

Hebrews 13:13

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Leviticus 14:40

Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague [is], and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city:

Leviticus 14:41

And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place:

Leviticus 16:27

And the bullock [for] the sin offering, and the goat [for] the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy [place], shall [one] carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.