And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savour, and an offering made by fire unto the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
LEVITICUS 8:21KJVWhat does Leviticus 8:21 mean?
Leviticus 8:21 describes how Moses carefully washed the inner organs and legs of the ram with water before burning the entire animal on the altar as a burnt offering, which was considered a pleasing aroma to the LORD, just as God had commanded him. This verse shows the detailed steps Moses followed to carry out the sacrificial ritual exactly as instructed.
In this scene, Moses is overseeing the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests. The verse highlights the care taken in preparing the sacrifice, including washing the "inwards" (internal organs) and "legs" to ensure cleanliness before burning the whole ram. The act is described as a "burnt sacrifice" (meaning the whole animal is consumed by fire), which was a central part of Israelite worship and symbolized complete dedication to God.
The Hebrew behind Leviticus 8:21
- "washed" (רָחַץ, rachats): This word means to wash or bathe, and here it emphasizes the ritual cleansing of the animal parts before the offering, showing the importance of purity in worship.
- "inwards" (קֶרֶב, qerev): Refers to the inner organs, which were considered significant in sacrifices and needed to be clean before being offered.
- "burnt" (קָטַר, qatar): This verb means to burn or offer up in smoke, pointing to the act of turning the sacrifice entirely into smoke as an offering to God.
- "sacrifice" (עֹלָה, olah): This term refers to a whole burnt offering, where the entire animal is consumed by fire, symbolizing total surrender to God.
- "sweet" (נִיחוֹחַ, nichoach) and "savour" (רֵיחַ, reyach): Together, these words mean a "pleasing aroma," which is a common phrase in Leviticus to describe offerings that are accepted by God.
Why Leviticus 8:21 matters
- Leviticus 8:21 clears up that the sacrificial rituals were not random but followed specific, detailed instructions, highlighting the seriousness and orderliness of worship in ancient Israel.
- The verse emphasizes the idea that offerings to God were to be made with care and cleanliness, reflecting respect and reverence for God's holiness.
- By showing Moses following God's commands exactly, Leviticus 8:21 connects to the larger theme of obedience and faithfulness that runs throughout the book, especially in the context of setting apart the priests for their special role.