Leviticus 6:11

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

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}.

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

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

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

Context of Leviticus 6:11

Leviticus 6:11 is part of a detailed set of instructions given by God to Moses concerning the various offerings and the duties of the priests. Specifically, this verse falls within the regulations for the burnt offering (Hebrew: 'olah, meaning "that which goes up" or "ascends," referring to the whole animal being consumed by fire). After the offering has burned through the night, the priest is commanded to remove the ashes from the altar. The preceding verses (Leviticus 6:9-10) describe the priest tending the altar fire and placing the ashes beside the altar.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Holiness and Purity: The meticulous instructions for handling the remnants of the sacrifice underscore the extreme importance of holiness in all aspects of worship and the daily lives of the Israelites, especially the priests. Even the disposal of ashes required adherence to divine mandates.
  • Ritual Separation: The act of the priest changing garments and carrying the ashes "without the camp" emphasizes the distinction between the sacred space of the tabernacle and the "unclean" outside. This separation was crucial for maintaining the ritual purity of the Israelite community, preventing contamination of the holy by the common.
  • Attention to Detail in Service: God's command to manage every detail of the offerings, from preparation to the disposal of waste, illustrates the call for thoroughness, reverence, and obedience in serving Him. No part of the worship process was to be treated casually.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "put off his garments, and put on other garments" signifies a change from the priest's special "holy garments" (worn for officiating at the altar, see Exodus 28:2) to more ordinary, yet still clean, attire for the task of ash removal. This was not because the ashes were inherently defiling, but to prevent the holy garments from being soiled by the ash and to distinguish between the most sacred acts performed at the altar and tasks performed outside the immediate sacred space.

The instruction to carry the ashes "without the camp" (Hebrew: mi'chutz la-machaneh, מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה) highlights the principle of removing potential sources of ritual impurity from the dwelling place of God's holy people. This concept is also seen in the disposal of certain sin offerings (Leviticus 4:12) and later finds theological resonance in the New Testament concerning Christ's suffering outside the city gate (Hebrews 13:11-12).

The ashes were to be taken "unto a clean place" (Hebrew: maqom tahor, מָקוֹם טָהוֹר). Even though outside the camp, the remnants of a holy offering were not to be discarded indiscriminately. This demonstrates an ongoing reverence for what had been offered to God, ensuring it was deposited respectfully in a ritually pure location.

Practical Application

Leviticus 6:11, while rooted in ancient ritual, offers timeless principles. It reminds us that our service to God involves not only the grand acts of worship but also the seemingly mundane or "cleanup" tasks. These too must be performed with diligence, respect, and a commitment to purity. Spiritually, it can symbolize the need to properly deal with the "ashes" or remnants of our spiritual sacrifices—our past sins, failures, or even completed works. We are called to maintain a pure "camp" (our lives, our communities, our hearts) by removing what is unclean or no longer serves a holy purpose, always seeking a "clean place" for disposal and ensuring that our actions, even the less glamorous ones, reflect reverence for God.

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

  • Leviticus 4:12 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

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

  • Leviticus 14:40 (1 votes)

    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 (1 votes)

    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 (1 votes)

    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.