Leviticus 8:23

And he slew [it]; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put [it] upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.

And he slew {H7819} it; and Moses {H4872} took {H3947} of the blood {H1818} of it, and put {H5414} it upon the tip {H8571} of Aaron's {H175} right {H3233} ear {H241}, and upon the thumb {H931} of his right {H3233} hand {H3027}, and upon the great toe {H931} of his right {H3233} foot {H7272}.

After it had been slaughtered, Moshe took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aharon's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.

Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.

And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood thereof, and put it upon the tip of Aaron’s right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.

Commentary

Commentary on Leviticus 8:23 (KJV)

Leviticus 8:23 describes a precise and deeply symbolic moment within the seven-day ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons, consecrating them for their role as priests in Israel. This specific act, performed by Moses as commanded by God, underscores the sacredness and thoroughness required for those who would minister in the Lord's presence.

Context

This verse is part of the elaborate priestly consecration ritual detailed in Exodus 29 and enacted in Leviticus 8. After the sin offering and burnt offering, the "ram of consecration" (or "ram of ordination") is sacrificed. The blood from this ram is uniquely applied to specific parts of Aaron's body, signifying his complete dedication to God's service. This ceremony took place at the entrance of the Tabernacle, emphasizing the divine authority and holiness associated with the newly established priesthood.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Consecration and Holiness: The primary theme is the setting apart of Aaron for a holy office. The application of blood signifies purification and dedication, making him ceremonially clean and fit to mediate between God and the people. This ritual underscored that only those cleansed and consecrated could approach God.
  • Symbolism of the Blood: Blood in the Old Testament consistently represents life and atonement. Here, it is not for atoning for sin in the same way as the sin offering, but rather for sanctifying the priest for service, making him ceremonially pure and acceptable to God.
  • Symbolism of the Body Parts: The specific body parts chosen were highly symbolic:
    • Right Ear: Signified Aaron's readiness and commitment to hear and obey God's voice and commands (Deuteronomy 6:4). A priest must be attentive to divine instruction.
    • Right Thumb: Represented his hands being set apart for service, specifically for performing the priestly duties such as offering sacrifices, blessing the people, and handling holy objects. His work must be dedicated to God.
    • Right Great Toe: Indicated his feet being consecrated to walk in God's ways, to move within the holy precincts of the Tabernacle, and to carry out his ministry in paths pleasing to God. His walk must be holy.
    The emphasis on the right side typically denotes strength, prominence, and favor.
  • Divine Appointment and Obedience: Moses, acting under direct divine instruction, meticulously performs this rite, highlighting that the priesthood was not a human invention but a divine institution, established according to God's precise will.

Linguistic and Ritual Insights

The act of applying blood to the extremities of the body signified a complete and total dedication from head to toe, encompassing all aspects of a person's being—their hearing, their actions, and their walk. This was not a partial consecration but a holistic one, preparing Aaron to be a vessel for God's glory and service. This ritual foreshadowed the need for complete spiritual consecration in all who serve God.

Practical Application

While the Levitical priesthood and its rituals have been fulfilled in Christ, the principles of consecration and readiness for service remain highly relevant for believers today:

  • Called to Holiness: Just as Aaron was set apart, believers are called to be holy as God is holy. Our lives should be dedicated to Him, purified by the blood of Jesus Christ.
  • Readiness for Service: Spiritually, our "ears" should be open to hear God's Word, our "hands" ready to perform His will and serve others, and our "feet" prepared to walk in His righteous paths and carry the Gospel. This echoes the concept of presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice.
  • Christ, Our High Priest: This elaborate Old Testament ritual points forward to the perfect and eternal High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. His own blood, shed once for all, provides complete and eternal cleansing and consecration for all who believe (Hebrews 9:12). Through Him, we are made a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), consecrated to offer spiritual sacrifices and proclaim His excellencies.
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

  • Exodus 29:20

    Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put [it] upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.

  • Leviticus 14:17

    And of the rest of the oil that [is] in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering:

  • Leviticus 14:14

    And the priest shall take [some] of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put [it] upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:

  • 1 Corinthians 1:30

    But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

  • Philippians 1:20

    According to my earnest expectation and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death.

  • Romans 6:13

    Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:2

    Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
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