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In the KJVVerse 2,858 of 31,102
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Commentary on Leviticus 6 verses 8–13
8 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
11 And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.
12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
Hitherto we have had the instructions which Moses was directed to give to the people concerning the sacrifices; but here begin the instructions he was to give to the priests; he must command Aaron and his sons, Lev 6:9. The priests were rulers in the house of God, but these rulers must be ruled; and those that had the command of others must themselves be commanded. Let ministers remember that not only commissions, but commands, were given to Aaron and his sons, who must be in subjection to them.
In these verses we have the law of the burnt-offering, as far as it was the peculiar care of the priests. The daily sacrifice of a lamb, which was offered morning and evening for the whole congregation, is here chiefly referred to.
I. The priest must take care of the ashes of the burnt-offering, that they be decently disposed of, Lev 6:10, Lev 6:11. He must clear the altar of them every morning, and put them on the east side of the altar, which was furthest from the sanctuary; this he must do in his linen garment, which he always wore when he did any service at the altar; and then he must shift himself, and put on other garments, either such as were his common wear, or (as some think) other priestly garments less honourable, and must carry the ashes into a clean place without the camp. Now, 1. God would have this done, for the honour of his altar and the sacrifices that were burnt upon it. Even the ashes of the sacrifices must be preserved, to testify the regard God had to it; by the burnt-offering he was honoured, and therefore thus it was honoured, and therefore thus it was honoured. And some think that this care which was taken of the ashes of the sacrifice typified the burial of our Saviour; his dead body (the ashes of his sacrifice) was carefully laid up in a garden, in a new sepulchre, which was a clean place. It was also requisite that the altar should be kept as clean as might be; the fire upon it would burn the better, and it is decent in a house to have a clean fire-side. 2. God would have the priests themselves to keep it so, to teach them and us to stoop to the meanest services for the honour of God and of his altar. The priest himself must not only kindle the fire, but clean the hearth, and carry out the ashes. God's servants must think nothing below them but sin.
II. The priest must take care of the fire upon the altar, that it be kept always burning. This is much insisted on here (Lev 6:9, Lev 6:12), and this express law is given: The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar, it shall never go out, Lev 6:13. We may suppose that no day passed without some extraordinary sacrifices, which were always offered between the morning and evening lamb; so that from morning to night the fire on the altar was kept up of course. But to preserve it all night unto the morning (Lev 6:9) required some care. Those that keep good houses never let their kitchen fire go out; therefore God would thus give an instance of his good house-keeping. The first fire upon the altar came from heaven (Lev 9:24), so that by keeping that up continually with a constant supply of fuel all their sacrifices throughout all their generations might be said to be consumed with that fire from heaven, in token of God's acceptance. If, through carelessness, they should ever let it go out, they could not expect to have it so kindled again. Accordingly the Jews tell us that the fire never did go out upon the altar, till the captivity in Babylon. This is referred to Isa 31:9, where God is said to have his fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem. By this law we are taught to keep up in our minds a constant disposition to all acts of piety and devotion, an habitual affection to divine things, so as to be always ready to every good word and work. We must not only not quench the Spirit, but we must stir up the gift that is in us. Though we be not always sacrificing, yet we must keep the fire of holy love always burning; and thus we must pray always.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 8–13. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Leviticus 6:8 serves as a pivotal divine pronouncement, marking a significant transition in the book of Leviticus. This concise introductory phrase underscores the absolute divine origin and authority of the subsequent laws, shifting the focus from the general regulations for the people regarding various offerings (Leviticus 1-5) to the precise, detailed duties and responsibilities incumbent upon the Aaronic priesthood in maintaining the Tabernacle cultus and the sanctity of the sacred space.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The most prominent literary device in Leviticus 6:8 is Repetition, specifically the Divine Speech Formula. The precise phrase "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying" (or very similar variations like "The LORD spoke to Moses") appears hundreds of times throughout the Pentateuch, especially in Leviticus and Numbers. This consistent repetition serves several crucial functions: it constantly reminds the reader of the divine origin and absolute authority of the laws, reinforcing that these are not human inventions but God's direct commands. It also acts as a structural marker, signaling the beginning of a new set of instructions, a new divine discourse, or a shift in the recipient of the commands (e.g., from the people to the priests). This formula establishes a clear chain of authority: God speaks, Moses hears and records, and the people are to obey. It imbues the text with an undeniable sense of gravitas, divine imperative, and unwavering truthfulness.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 6:8 profoundly underscores the fundamental theological theme of divine revelation and the absolute authority of God's Word. It reminds us that true worship, righteous living, and the proper approach to a holy God are not based on human ingenuity, cultural trends, or personal preferences, but solely on God's explicit commands, communicated directly to His chosen representatives. This verse sets the stage for understanding that every detail of the sacrificial system and priestly service was divinely ordained, reflecting God's meticulous care for holiness, purity, and the proper approach to His sacred presence. It establishes a pattern of divine initiative in guiding His people, a pattern that culminates in the ultimate and final revelation of His will through His Son.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Though brief, Leviticus 6:8 carries immense theological and practical weight for contemporary believers. It serves as a powerful and enduring reminder that our faith, doctrine, and practice must be firmly rooted in the authoritative, divinely revealed Word of God, not in fleeting cultural trends, personal opinions, or pragmatic convenience. Just as the ancient Israelites were bound to obey every meticulous detail of God's commands delivered through Moses, so too are we called to submit to the full counsel of Scripture as our ultimate rule for faith and life. This verse invites us to cultivate a posture of profound humility, attentive listening, and unwavering obedience, recognizing that God still speaks authoritatively through His written Word, providing comprehensive guidance for every aspect of life and worship. It challenges us to approach the Bible not merely as a historical document or a collection of moral principles, but as the living, active voice of the Almighty, demanding our careful study, faithful application, and obedient response. Our reverence for God is directly proportional to our reverence for His revealed truth.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is this seemingly simple introductory phrase so important in the book of Leviticus?
Answer: This phrase, "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying," is profoundly crucial because it unequivocally establishes the divine authority and origin of all the laws and instructions that follow. It emphasizes that the commands in Leviticus are not human inventions, cultural traditions, or Moses's personal wisdom, but direct, infallible revelations from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This divine authorship makes the laws supremely authoritative and absolutely binding for the people, underscoring the principle that God's Word is to be obeyed without deviation (Deuteronomy 4:2). Furthermore, it highlights Moses's unique and indispensable role as God's chosen prophet and mediator, through whom God communicated His precise will, setting the stage for the detailed priestly regulations that begin immediately in Leviticus 6:9. It is a constant reminder that the entire system of worship is divinely mandated, not humanly conceived.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Leviticus 6:8 highlights God's direct and authoritative communication to Moses as the foundational basis for the Old Covenant's intricate sacrificial system and priestly duties, it ultimately points forward to the ultimate and final revelation of God in the person of Jesus Christ. The meticulous instructions given through Moses underscored the profound holiness of God and the desperate need for a perfect mediator and a perfect sacrifice, which the Levitical system, though divinely ordained, could only foreshadow and temporarily address. The author of Hebrews powerfully articulates this progression: "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son" (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus is the incarnate Word, the ultimate and definitive communication from God to humanity, the very embodiment of divine truth and revelation (John 1:14). He is the Lamb of God who perfectly fulfills all the sacrificial requirements, taking away the sin of the world once and for all (John 1:29). Moreover, He is our great High Priest, whose perfect, once-for-all sacrifice and eternal intercession fulfill and supersede all the Levitical offerings and priestly duties, making direct access to God possible for all believers (Hebrews 7:27 and Hebrews 10:1-18). Thus, the divine authority proclaimed in Leviticus 6:8 finds its ultimate, most profound, and eternally sufficient expression in the person and redemptive work of Christ, through whom God has spoken His final and complete word of salvation and reconciliation.