And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.

EXODUS 29:21KJV
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Exodus 29:21 (KJV)

What does Exodus 29:21 mean?

Exodus 29:21 describes how Moses is to take some of the blood from the altar and some of the special anointing oil, and sprinkle them on Aaron, his sons, and their garments, setting them apart as holy for their priestly service. This act marks Aaron and his sons, along with their clothing, as dedicated to God’s service in a visible, physical way.

In this verse, God is instructing Moses during the ceremony to consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests. The blood and oil represent cleansing and the presence of God’s Spirit, and sprinkling them on the people and their garments shows that both the priests and everything connected to their service must be set apart for God. This ritual is part of a larger process described in Exodus 29, where the roles and responsibilities of the priests are being established.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 29:21

  • blood (דָּם, dam, H1818): The use of blood here points to the idea of purification and atonement, which is central to the priestly role. The blood comes from a sacrifice already offered on the altar, highlighting the connection between sacrifice and holiness.
  • anointing (מִשְׁחָה, mishchah, H4888) oil (שֶׁמֶן, shemen, H8081): The anointing oil is a specially prepared mixture used only for sacred purposes. Its application, along with the blood, shows that the priests are not only cleansed but also empowered and set apart by God’s presence.
  • sprinkle (נָזָה, nazah, H5137): This word means to scatter or spatter, and it is often used for rituals that mark something or someone as holy or purified. The act is deliberate and symbolic, not just a practical gesture.
  • hallowed (קָדַשׁ, qadash, H6942): This word means to make holy or set apart. The verse emphasizes that both the people and their garments are made holy through this ritual, underlining the total dedication required for serving as priests.

Why Exodus 29:21 matters

  • Exodus 29:21 clarifies that holiness in the priesthood is not just about personal character but also involves outward, physical actions and symbols, including garments and rituals.
  • The verse connects the ideas of sacrifice (blood) and God’s presence (anointing oil), showing that both are needed for someone to serve as a priest in Israel.
  • This instruction helps explain the seriousness and detail of Old Testament worship, where every step and object is given meaning, emphasizing the separation between the holy and the ordinary.

Where else these words appear

“sprinkle” Hebrew H5137 · used in 22 verses

  • Leviticus 4:6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.
  • Leviticus 14:16 And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD:
  • Numbers 19:4 And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times:

“anointing” Hebrew H4888 · used in 24 verses

  • Exodus 25:6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
  • Exodus 35:15 And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,
  • Leviticus 8:10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.