Question 1

What does Exodus 29:35 mean?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 29:35 explains that Moses is to carry out everything God has instructed for Aaron and his sons, repeating these actions for seven days to set them apart as priests. The verse highlights that this consecration process is not a one-time event, but a week-long ceremony following God’s detailed commands. God is speaking to Moses, giving him instructions for how Aaron and his sons are to be made ready for their roles as priests. The setting is at Mount Sinai, where God is giving Moses the law and instructions for worship. The verse makes clear that the consecration is thorough and repeated, emphasizing the seriousness and completeness of preparing the priests for their service.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Exodus 29:35

Accepted Answer

The word "do" (עָשָׂה, ʿasah) means to make or perform, showing that Moses is to actively carry out all the steps God has commanded, not just oversee them. "Commanded" (צָוָה, tsavah) means to order or instruct, underlining that these rituals are not optional but required by God’s direct command. "Seven" (שֶׁבַע, shevaʿ) and "days" (יֹום, yom) together stress the completeness and sacredness of the consecration period, since seven days often symbolizes wholeness or perfection in the Bible. "Consecrate" (מָלֵא, maleʾ; יָד, yad) literally means "to fill the hand," a phrase used for ordaining priests, suggesting that Aaron and his sons are being fully equipped and authorized for their priestly duties.

Question 3

Why Exodus 29:35 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse clarifies that priestly consecration was a careful, multi-day process, not a single ritual, which shows the importance God placed on preparing leaders for worship. The repetition of the instructions for seven days emphasizes the seriousness and completeness of the priests’ dedication to their new role. Understanding the original phrase for "consecrate" ("to fill the hand") helps readers see that the ceremony was about equipping Aaron and his sons for service, not just a symbolic act.

Exodus 29:35 (KJV)