Leviticus 16:19 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 16:19 mean?

Leviticus 16:19 describes the priest sprinkling blood on the altar seven times with his finger to cleanse and set it apart from the impurity brought by the Israelites. This act is part of a ritual to purify the altar and make it holy after it has been affected by the people's uncleanness.

In this verse, God is giving instructions to Moses for Aaron, the high priest, on the Day of Atonement. The ritual involves using blood as a symbol of purification, with the number seven often representing completeness in the Hebrew Bible. The focus is on removing ritual impurity from the altar so that it can continue to serve its sacred purpose in Israel’s worship.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 16:19

• "Sprinkle" (נָזָה, nazah): This word means to scatter or spatter, usually referring to a ritual act. The action is deliberate and symbolic, not just a casual gesture.
• "Cleanse" (טָהֵר, taher): This word means to make clean or pure, especially in a ritual sense. The cleansing is about restoring the altar’s suitability for holy use.
• "Hallow" (קָדַשׁ, qadash): This word means to set apart as holy. The altar is not just cleaned but dedicated again for God’s service.
• "Uncleanness" (טֻמְאָה, tum’ah): This refers to ritual impurity, not physical dirt, and represents anything that would separate the people or objects from God’s holiness.

Why Leviticus 16:19 matters

• Leviticus 16:19 clarifies that even the altar, a sacred object, could become ritually unclean because of the people’s actions, showing the seriousness of impurity in Israel’s worship.
• The verse highlights the importance of ritual acts in maintaining the relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing that holiness required ongoing attention and specific actions.
• This verse connects to the larger Day of Atonement ceremony, showing how every part of the sanctuary needed to be purified, not just the people themselves.