And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.

EXODUS 29:9KJV
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Exodus 29:9 (KJV)

What does Exodus 29:9 mean?

Exodus 29:9 describes the public setting apart of Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Their special clothing marks their new role, and the verse establishes the priest’s office as an ongoing appointment for them and their family line.

God is giving Moses instructions for the ceremony. After Moses dresses Aaron in the preceding verses, he is to fasten sashes around Aaron and his sons and place head coverings on them. The KJV word “bonnets” refers to those head coverings, not to a particular modern style of hat.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 29:9

  • “consecrate” — מָלֵא (maleʾ) and יָד (yad): These words mean “fill” and “hand.” Together they form an expression used for formally installing someone in an office. Here, Moses is to set Aaron and his sons in place as priests.
  • “perpetual” — עוֹלָם (ʿolam): This word often refers to a long or continuing period. In this verse, it gives the appointment a lasting character rather than treating it as a duty for one occasion.
  • “statute” — חֻקָּה (ḥuqqah): This word means an established rule or requirement. It presents the priestly office as something formally assigned, not merely arranged for the ceremony.

Why Exodus 29:9 matters

  • The appointment includes both Aaron and his sons. The repeated phrase “Aaron and his sons” makes clear that the priestly role belongs to the family, not to Aaron alone.
  • Clothing is one part of a larger ceremony. The instructions that follow include offerings, showing that dressing the priests is not the whole process of setting them apart.

Where else these words appear

“bonnets” Hebrew H4021 · used in 4 verses

  • Exodus 28:40 And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
  • Exodus 39:28 And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,
  • Leviticus 8:13 And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.

“girdles” Hebrew H73 · used in 9 verses

  • Exodus 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
  • Exodus 28:40 And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
  • Leviticus 8:13 And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.

“office” Hebrew H3550 · used in 12 verses

  • Exodus 40:15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.
  • Numbers 18:1 And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
  • 1 Samuel 2:36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

“put” Hebrew H2280 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
  • 1 Kings 13:23 And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.
  • Isaiah 30:26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.