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.

EXODUS 29:20KJV
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Exodus 29:20 (KJV)

What does Exodus 29:20 mean?

Exodus 29:20 describes a ritual where Moses is told to kill a ram and place some of its blood on the right ear, right thumb, and right big toe of Aaron and his sons, then sprinkle the rest of the blood around the altar. This act is part of the ceremony to set apart Aaron and his sons for their special role as priests.

In this passage, God is instructing Moses on how to consecrate Aaron and his sons for service in the tabernacle. The specific placement of blood on the ear, thumb, and toe is a symbolic way to dedicate their hearing, actions, and walk to God. Sprinkling blood on the altar connects their service to the central place of worship and sacrifice.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 29:20

  • "blood" (דָּם, dam): The use of blood here is significant because in Hebrew tradition, blood represents life and is central to rituals of atonement and dedication.
  • "tip" (תְּנוּךְ, tenukh): This word refers to the outermost part of the ear, thumb, or toe, emphasizing the idea of a complete and visible dedication.
  • "right" (יָמִין, yamin): The right side in Hebrew culture often symbolizes strength, favor, or authority, so marking the right ear, thumb, and toe highlights the importance and honor of the priestly role.

Why Exodus 29:20 matters

  • This verse helps clear up that the consecration of priests in ancient Israel involved physical, symbolic actions that touched every part of their service—what they hear, what they do, and where they go.
  • The detailed ritual shows the seriousness and sacredness of the priesthood, making clear that serving as a priest was not a casual or ordinary job.
  • Understanding this verse helps connect the ceremony in Exodus 29 to the broader biblical theme of dedication and holiness, showing how the priests’ lives were set apart for God’s purposes.