Leviticus 6:27

KJV

Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.

KJV (with Strong's)

Whatsoever shall touch {H5060} the flesh {H1320} thereof shall be holy {H6942}: and when there is sprinkled {H5137} of the blood {H1818} thereof upon any garment {H899}, thou shalt wash {H3526} that whereon it was sprinkled {H5137} in the holy {H6918} place {H4725}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Whatever touches its flesh will become holy; if any of its blood splashes on any item of clothing, you are to wash it in a holy place.

Berean Standard Bible

Anything that touches its flesh will become holy, and if any of the blood is spattered on a garment, you must wash it in a holy place.

American Standard Version

Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy; and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in a holy place.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 6:27 provides meticulous instructions for the handling of the sin offering's flesh and blood, emphasizing the profound holiness inherent in these sacrificial elements. This verse reveals stringent regulations designed to prevent defilement, maintain ritual purity, and instill reverence for God's sacred presence within the tabernacle system of ancient Israel. It highlights the principle that contact with consecrated items imparted holiness, necessitating careful management to preserve the sanctity of the sacrificial act and the holy place.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the "law of the sin offering" (*Torat HaChattat*), specifically [Leviticus 6:24-30](/leviticus/6-24-30 "Leviticus 6:24-30 - The Law of the Sin Offering for Priests"). This section provides detailed, priestly instructions that build upon the general regulations for the sin offering found in [Leviticus 4](/leviticus/4 "Leviticus 4 - Regulations for the Sin Offering"). The preceding verses (Leviticus 6:24-26) describe the slaughtering of the offering and the priest's consumption of its flesh in a holy place. Following [Leviticus 6:27](/leviticus/6-27 "Leviticus 6:27 - Handling the Sin Offering's Holiness"), verses [Leviticus 6:28-30](/leviticus/6-28-30 "Leviticus 6:28-30 - Further Regulations for the Sin Offering") further elaborate on the purification of cooking vessels and the ultimate disposal of any remaining flesh, underscoring the extreme care required for elements that had become consecrated through their role in atonement. The entire passage emphasizes the profound sacredness of the sin offering and the necessity of its proper management.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the tabernacle served as the dwelling place of Yahweh among His people, a sacred space where the holy and the common intersected under strict divine protocols. The concept of "holiness" (Hebrew: *qodesh*) was paramount, denoting that which was set apart for God's exclusive use and presence. The sacrificial system, especially the sin offering, was the divinely ordained means for addressing sin and maintaining the covenant relationship. The instructions in [Leviticus 6:27](/leviticus/6-27 "Leviticus 6:27 - Handling the Sin Offering") reflect a worldview where holiness was not merely an abstract concept but a tangible quality that could be transferred through contact. The flesh of the sin offering, having been presented to God for atonement, became intensely holy. Similarly, the blood, representing life and serving as the primary agent of atonement (as articulated in [Leviticus 17:11](/leviticus/17-11 "Leviticus 17:11 - The Life is in the Blood")), was considered supremely sacred. The requirement to wash garments in the "holy place" (likely the tabernacle courtyard, a designated sacred area) underscored the need to contain and manage this transferred holiness, preventing it from defiling common spaces or being treated irreverently. These regulations instilled a profound respect for God's purity and the seriousness of approaching Him.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within Leviticus and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **God's Absolute Holiness**, which permeates the entire book, demanding a clear distinction between the sacred and the profane. The principle of **Contagious Holiness** is vividly illustrated, showing how proximity to the divine or divinely consecrated objects imparts a sacred status, requiring careful handling. This ties into the theme of **Ritual Purity**, which is essential for maintaining the covenant relationship and allowing God to dwell among His people without defilement. The instructions also reinforce the **Gravity of Sin** and the **Necessity of Atonement**, as the sin offering itself, and its components, are treated with such extreme reverence due to their role in mediating forgiveness. Finally, the meticulous details underscore the theme of **Divine Order and Precision** in worship, emphasizing that God's way of approach is specific and non-negotiable.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Flesh (Hebrew, בָּשָׂר, _bâsâr'_):** This term refers to the meat of the sacrificial animal. In the context of the sin offering, the flesh was consecrated to God and, in specific portions, was to be eaten by the priests within the holy place as part of their participation in the atonement process (cf. [Leviticus 6:26](/leviticus/6-26 "Leviticus 6:26 - Priests Eat the Sin Offering")). Its holiness derived from its dedication to God and its role in bearing the sin of the offerer, making its contact with other objects a matter of significant ritual consequence, as it could transfer its sacred status.
* **Touch (Hebrew, נָגַע, _nâgaʻ'_):** This primitive root signifies physical contact, ranging from a gentle touch to a violent strike. In this verse, it specifically denotes any physical contact with the consecrated flesh of the sin offering. The implication is that even incidental contact was sufficient to transfer holiness, highlighting the potent and pervasive nature of the sacred within the Israelite cultic system. This required extreme vigilance from those handling the offering to prevent unintentional consecration of common items.
* **Holy (Hebrew, קָדַשׁ, _qâdash'_):** This verb means "to be clean," "to be set apart," or "to be consecrated." When applied to an object that touches the sin offering's flesh, it indicates that the object becomes ritually dedicated to God. This transferred holiness did not imply moral purity but a change in ritual status, meaning the item was now subject to the same strict regulations as the offering itself. This principle underscores the contagious nature of the sacred in the Israelite cult and the necessity of careful handling to prevent its profanation or misuse.
* **Sprinkled (Hebrew, נָזָה, _nâzâh'_):** This primitive root means "to spirt" or "to besprinkle," particularly in the context of applying blood for expiation or purification. The accidental sprinkling of sacrificial blood onto a garment was a serious matter, as blood was the very essence of atonement (H1818, *dâm*). The instruction to wash the garment in the holy place underscores the extreme sanctity of the blood and the need to contain its ritual power within the sacred precincts, preventing its defilement or its sanctifying influence from extending inappropriately into common areas.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy":** This clause establishes a fundamental principle of contagious holiness within the Israelite sacrificial system. The flesh of the sin offering, having been consecrated to God and bearing the weight of atonement, possessed a potent sacred quality. Any object, person, or even another animal that came into direct contact with this consecrated flesh would itself become "holy," meaning it was ritually set apart and subject to the same strict regulations as the offering itself. This rule was designed to prevent the casual handling or defilement of sacred items and to reinforce the profound reverence due to God's dedicated things, emphasizing the strict separation between the sacred and the common.
* **"and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment":** This part addresses the accidental spattering of the sin offering's blood onto clothing. Given the supreme sanctity of blood as the life force and the primary agent of atonement (cf. [Leviticus 17:11](/leviticus/17-11 "Leviticus 17:11 - The Life is in the Blood")), any contact with it, even accidental, was treated with utmost seriousness. The blood was not to be treated as common or allowed to profane common items or spaces, as it carried immense ritual significance and power. This highlights the meticulousness required in handling the most sacred element of the offering.
* **"thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place":** This final instruction mandates that any garment stained with the sacrificial blood must be washed within the confines of the "holy place," specifically the tabernacle courtyard. This was not merely about cleaning the garment but about containing the sacredness. By washing it in the holy place, any residual holiness or ritual potency from the blood was kept within the consecrated area, preventing its transfer to common ground or its profanation by being removed from the sacred precinct. This emphasized the absolute separation required between the holy and the common, reinforcing the reverence due to God's presence and His consecrated elements.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 6:27 employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological and practical implications. **Legal Instruction** is the overarching genre, characterized by precise, prescriptive language detailing ritual procedures and prohibitions. The verse uses **Metonymy**, where "flesh" and "blood" stand in for the entire sin offering and its atoning efficacy. The phrase "shall be holy" utilizes **Transference**, a key theological concept where a quality (holiness) is passed from one object to another through contact, creating a chain of sacredness. This highlights the **Symbolism** of the sin offering's components: the flesh symbolizes the offering's dedication and the burden of sin it carries, while the blood symbolizes life and the power of atonement. The meticulous nature of the instructions, particularly the washing in the "holy place," serves as a **Didactic** tool, teaching the Israelites about the absolute purity of God, the seriousness of sin, and the meticulous care required in His worship, emphasizing the strict boundary between the sacred and the profane.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 6:27 profoundly illustrates the absolute holiness of God and the meticulous standards required for approaching Him. The principle of contagious holiness, where contact with sacred elements imparts holiness, underscores the radical separation between the divine and the common. It reveals that God's presence and His dedicated things are not to be treated lightly but with utmost reverence and careful adherence to His commands. This verse, along with the broader sacrificial system, teaches the gravity of sin, demonstrating that atonement required a costly and precise ritual, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice. It also highlights the importance of purity and the need for meticulous cleansing when the sacred comes into contact with the ordinary, emphasizing the need for a mediator and a defined space for interaction with a holy God.

* [Exodus 29:37](/exodus/29-37 "Exodus 29:37 - Altar Consecration")
* [Haggai 2:12](/haggai/2-12 "Haggai 2:12 - Contagious Holiness vs. Uncleanness")
* [Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Without Shedding of Blood")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific ritual practices of the Old Testament sacrificial system are no longer observed due to the completed work of Christ, the underlying principles of Leviticus 6:27 remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's unapproachable holiness and the seriousness with which He regards sin. It calls us to a life of reverence, recognizing that we are now, through Christ, brought into intimate contact with the Holy One. Our worship, our service, and our daily lives should reflect this profound respect for God's sacred character. We are called to be holy because He is holy, not through ritualistic contact with physical objects, but through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and our union with Christ. The meticulous care prescribed in this verse should inspire us to approach all spiritual matters with intentionality, purity of heart, and a deep appreciation for the immense cost of our redemption. It challenges us to consider how we handle the "holy things" of God in our lives—His Word, His presence, His church, our fellow believers, and our own bodies as temples of the Spirit.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the concept of "contagious holiness" in Leviticus 6:27 deepen your understanding of God's absolute purity and separation from sin?**
* **In what ways does the meticulous care for the sin offering's flesh and blood challenge our modern tendency towards casualness in spiritual matters?**
* **Considering that we are now "holy" in Christ, how should this truth impact our daily conduct and our approach to worship and service?**

### FAQ

**Why was the flesh of the sin offering considered "holy" and what did that imply?**

Answer: The flesh of the sin offering was considered "holy" (Hebrew: *qodesh*) because it had been consecrated to God and played a vital role in the atonement process for unintentional sins. This holiness was a ritual status, not a moral one, meaning it was set apart for God's exclusive use and subject to His strict regulations. It implied that anything touching this flesh would also become ritually set apart and sacred, necessitating extremely careful handling. This rule prevented the sacred from being treated casually or profaned, reinforcing the strict separation between the holy and the common that was central to Israelite worship and their understanding of God's character. It ensured that the profound significance of the offering was maintained.

**Why was a garment sprinkled with blood required to be washed specifically "in the holy place"?**

Answer: A garment sprinkled with the sin offering's blood was required to be washed "in the holy place" (likely the tabernacle courtyard) due to the supreme sanctity of the blood. Blood represented life and was the primary means of atonement and purification in the Old Covenant (as seen in [Leviticus 17:11](/leviticus/17-11 "Leviticus 17:11 - The Life is in the Blood")). The blood was considered so potent and sacred that any contact with it, even accidental, transferred its holiness. By washing the garment within the consecrated area, any residual sacredness or ritual potency from the blood was contained within the holy precincts. This prevented the transfer of holiness to common ground or its defilement by being taken outside the sacred space. It was a meticulous measure to preserve the purity and integrity of the tabernacle and its sacred elements, emphasizing the absolute distinction between the holy and the common.

**Are these specific laws still relevant for believers today?**

Answer: While the specific ritual laws of the sin offering are no longer practiced by believers today, due to the [ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice"), the underlying theological principles of Leviticus 6:27 remain profoundly relevant. This verse teaches us about God's absolute holiness, the seriousness of sin, and the meticulous care required in approaching Him. It underscores the immense cost of atonement and foreshadows the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. For believers, these laws serve as a powerful backdrop for understanding the New Covenant, reminding us of the reverence due to God and the sanctifying power of Christ's blood, which has made us holy and set apart for Him (as described in [1 Peter 1:16](/1_peter/1-16 "1 Peter 1:16 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy")). We are called to live lives that reflect the holiness imparted to us through Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 6:27, with its stringent regulations concerning the holiness of the sin offering's flesh and the sanctity of its blood, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament sacrificial system, including the sin offering, was a shadow pointing to the reality found in Christ. Jesus is the ultimate and perfect sin offering, whose body was truly "holy" and offered once for all (cf. [Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through the Offering of Jesus Christ")). The meticulous care taken to prevent defilement of the sin offering's flesh and blood foreshadows the absolute purity and blamelessness of Christ, the spotless [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), who knew no sin yet became sin for us ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). The requirement to wash garments stained with blood in the "holy place" symbolizes the necessity of Christ's perfect blood, which, unlike animal blood, truly cleanses us, not just ritually but spiritually, from all sin and defilement. His blood was shed, not in an earthly tabernacle, but in the heavenly sanctuary, securing an eternal redemption (cf. [Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). Through His sacrifice, we who were once alienated and hostile in mind are now reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present us holy and blameless and above reproach before Him (cf. [Colossians 1:21-22](/colossians/1-21-22 "Colossians 1:21-22 - Reconciled in Christ")). The holiness that was once contagious and dangerous to common things is now graciously imputed to believers through faith in Christ, making us truly holy and set apart for God's purposes, not by external contact, but by internal transformation through His Spirit and His precious blood (cf. [1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18-19 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redemption Through Christ's Blood")).

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

Exodus 29:37

Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.

Leviticus 11:32

And upon whatsoever [any] of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether [it be] any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel [it be], wherein [any] work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.

2 Corinthians 7:11

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, [what] clearing of yourselves, yea, [what] indignation, yea, [what] fear, yea, [what] vehement desire, yea, [what] zeal, yea, [what] revenge! In all [things] ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Haggai 2:12

If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.

Exodus 30:29

And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.

Leviticus 6:18

All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. [It shall be] a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.

Matthew 9:21

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.