But the bullock, and his hide, his flesh, and his dung, he burnt with fire without the camp; as the LORD commanded Moses.

LEVITICUS 8:17KJV
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Leviticus 8:17 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 8:17 mean?

Leviticus 8:17 describes how the remains of the bull—its hide, flesh, and dung—were burned outside the camp, just as the LORD had instructed Moses. This action was part of the ritual for ordaining priests, showing that certain parts of the sacrifice were not to be used but completely destroyed away from the community.

In this verse, Moses is carrying out God’s instructions during the ceremony to set apart Aaron and his sons as priests. The burning of the bull’s remains outside the camp marked a separation between what was holy (used in the ceremony) and what was not, following the LORD’s (יְהוָה, YHWH) command. This careful handling of the sacrifice highlighted obedience to God’s specific directions for worship and purity.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 8:17

  • "Without" (מִחוּץ, miḥuts) the camp (מַחֲנֶה, maḥaneh): These words show that the burning happened outside the main living area, emphasizing separation from everyday life and the community.
  • "Burnt" (שָׂרַף, saraph): This word means to completely consume by fire, not just dispose of. The total burning signified that nothing from this part of the sacrifice was to be kept or used.
  • "Hide" (עֹר, ‘or), "flesh" (בָּשָׂר, basar), and "dung" (פֶּרֶשׁ, peresh): Listing these parts makes it clear that the entire animal’s remains—not just select parts—were removed and destroyed, underlining thoroughness and ritual cleanliness.

Why Leviticus 8:17 matters

  • Leviticus 8:17 clarifies that not every part of a sacrificial animal was used in worship; some parts were intentionally set aside and destroyed, showing careful obedience to God’s instructions.
  • The verse highlights the importance of separating what is holy from what is not, a key theme in Leviticus and in the priestly system.
  • This detail connects to the broader passage about ordaining priests, showing that every step—even the disposal of remains—was done according to God’s command, reflecting the seriousness and orderliness of Israel’s worship.

Where else these words appear

“dung” Hebrew H6569 · used in 6 verses

  • Exodus 29:14 But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.
  • Leviticus 4:11 And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,
  • Numbers 19:5 And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:

“hide” Hebrew H5785 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
  • Leviticus 13:18 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,
  • Leviticus 15:17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

“burnt” Hebrew H8313 · used in 107 verses

  • Genesis 11:3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
  • Joshua 7:25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
  • Psalms 46:9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

“bullock” Hebrew H6499 · used in 119 verses

  • Genesis 32:15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
  • Numbers 7:63 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
  • Numbers 29:33 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: