Leviticus 8:21

And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it [was] a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savour, [and] an offering made by fire unto the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.

And he washed {H7364} the inwards {H7130} and the legs {H3767} in water {H4325}; and Moses {H4872} burnt {H6999} the whole ram {H352} upon the altar {H4196}: it was a burnt sacrifice {H5930} for a sweet {H5207} savour {H7381}, and an offering made by fire {H801} unto the LORD {H3068}; as the LORD {H3068} commanded {H6680} Moses {H4872}.

When the inner organs and the lower parts of the legs had been washed with water, Moshe made the entire ram go up in smoke on the altar; it was a burnt offering giving a fragrant aroma, an offering made by fire to ADONAI - as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.

He washed the entrails and legs with water and burned the entire ram on the altar as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

And he washed the inwards and the legs with water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt-offering for a sweet savor: it was an offering made by fire unto Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.

Commentary

Commentary on Leviticus 8:21 (KJV)

Leviticus 8:21 describes a crucial step in the consecration ceremony of Aaron and his sons for the priesthood, as commanded by God through Moses. This verse focuses on the meticulous preparation and burning of the second ram, designated as a burnt offering (olah).

Context

This verse is part of a detailed seven-day ritual outlined in Leviticus chapter 8, where Moses consecrated Aaron and his sons according to the LORD's instructions. Following the sin offering (Leviticus 8:14-17), the ram for the burnt offering was presented. The actions described—washing the inwards and legs, and burning the whole ram—were specific requirements for this type of sacrifice, emphasizing purity and complete dedication before God. These rituals were foundational for the newly established Levitical priesthood and tabernacle worship.

Key Themes

  • Holiness and Purity: The washing of the animal's inwards and legs signifies the necessity of internal and external cleanliness when approaching a holy God. This foreshadows the spiritual purity required of those who serve Him.
  • Complete Dedication: The burnt offering (Hebrew: olah, meaning "that which goes up") was entirely consumed by fire on the altar, leaving nothing for the offerer or priests. This symbolized a complete, unreserved surrender and dedication of the worshipper (or in this case, the priests being consecrated) to the LORD. It was a picture of total devotion.
  • Divine Acceptance: The phrase "a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savour" indicates God's acceptance and pleasure in the offering. It signifies that the sacrifice, performed according to His command and with the right heart, was pleasing to Him.
  • Obedience to God's Commands: The repeated phrase "as the LORD commanded Moses" throughout Leviticus 8, and specifically in this verse, underscores the absolute necessity of adhering precisely to God's revealed will in worship and service. Divine instruction was the sole authority for these sacred rites.

Linguistic Insights

The term "sweet savour" translates the Hebrew phrase reah nihoah (רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ), which literally means "a soothing aroma" or "a restful fragrance." This expression is used multiple times in Leviticus and other books of the Pentateuch to describe sacrifices that were acceptable and pleasing to God. It doesn't imply that God literally smells an odor, but rather that the offering, performed in obedience and as an act of devotion, brought Him satisfaction and delight, symbolizing His acceptance of the worshipper and the atonement or dedication being made.

Practical Application

While animal sacrifices are no longer practiced by believers today because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, the principles behind them remain profoundly relevant:

  • Total Consecration: Just as the burnt offering symbolized complete dedication, believers are called to offer their lives as a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1), dedicating their entire being—body, mind, and spirit—to God's service.
  • Purity in Worship: The washing rituals remind us that our worship and service to God should stem from a pure heart and a life cleansed by His Word and Spirit.
  • Obedience is Key: Our service and devotion must always be rooted in obedience to God's commands, not in human traditions or preferences.
  • Christ, Our Perfect Sacrifice: The concept of a "sweet savour" finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice on the cross was a perfect and acceptable offering to God, "an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour" (Ephesians 5:2). He perfectly fulfilled all the requirements of the Old Testament offerings, making them obsolete.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ephesians 5:2

    And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

  • Exodus 29:18

    And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it [is] a burnt offering unto the LORD: it [is] a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

  • Leviticus 1:17

    And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, [but] shall not divide [it] asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that [is] upon the fire: it [is] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

  • Genesis 8:21

    And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart [is] evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

  • Leviticus 2:9

    And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn [it] upon the altar: [it is] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
← Back