But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

1 CHRONICLES 6:49KJV
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1 Chronicles 6:49 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 6:49 mean?

1 Chronicles 6:49 explains that Aaron and his sons were responsible for offering sacrifices on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense, carrying out all the duties in the most holy place, and making atonement for Israel as Moses had commanded. The verse highlights their unique role in the worship and spiritual life of Israel, following God’s instructions through Moses.

This verse is part of a larger section listing the duties of the Levites and priests. The writer is describing how Aaron’s family, unlike other Levites, had the special task of performing sacrifices and rituals in the tabernacle’s most sacred areas. The focus is on their obedience to the commands given by Moses, showing the importance of following God’s specific instructions for worship.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 6:49

  • "offered" (קָטַר, qatar): This word means to burn incense or offer sacrifices by fire. It emphasizes that Aaron and his sons were the ones actually performing the rituals, not just overseeing them.
  • "altar" (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeach): Used for both the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense, this word points to the physical places where sacrifices and incense were offered, highlighting the central role of these objects in Israel’s worship.
  • "atonement" (כָּפַר, kaphar): This word means to cover or make reconciliation. It shows that the priests’ work was about restoring the relationship between God and Israel, not just performing rituals.
  • "most holy" (קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים, qodesh haqqodashim): This phrase refers to the innermost and most sacred part of the tabernacle, underlining the seriousness and exclusivity of the priests’ duties.

Why 1 Chronicles 6:49 matters

  • This verse clarifies that only Aaron and his sons—not all Levites—were allowed to perform the most sacred rituals and sacrifices, setting them apart for a unique priestly role.
  • The verse connects the priestly work directly to the commands given by Moses, reinforcing the idea that worship in Israel was not invented by people but was carefully prescribed by God.
  • By focusing on atonement and the most holy place, the verse highlights the seriousness of sin and the need for a mediator between God and the people, a theme that runs throughout the Old Testament.

Where else these words appear

“incense” Hebrew H7004 · used in 58 verses

  • Exodus 25:6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
  • Leviticus 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
  • Numbers 16:18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

“atonement” Hebrew H3722 · used in 94 verses

  • Genesis 6:14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
  • Leviticus 14:21 And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil;
  • Numbers 25:13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.

“offered” Hebrew H6999 · used in 112 verses

  • Exodus 29:13 And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.
  • Leviticus 9:20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
  • 2 Chronicles 28:4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

“work” Hebrew H4399 · used in 149 verses

  • Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
  • Numbers 28:26 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:
  • 2 Chronicles 24:13 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.