Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.

LEVITICUS 9:4KJV
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Leviticus 9:4 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 9:4 mean?

Leviticus 9:4 instructs the Israelites to bring a bull and a ram for peace offerings, along with a grain offering mixed with oil, to be sacrificed before the LORD, because on that day the LORD would visibly appear to them. This verse highlights a special moment when God promises to show His presence to the people as they worship through these specific offerings.

In this scene, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare for the first official sacrifices at the Tabernacle. The instructions are detailed, naming the types of animals and offerings required, and the reason is given: "for to day the LORD will appear unto you." This sets the stage for a significant encounter between God and His people, marking the beginning of their formal worship practices.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 9:4

  • "Peace offerings" uses the word שָׁלָם (shelem, H8002), which refers to offerings meant to express fellowship or well-being between the people and God. This word emphasizes that the sacrifices are not just for atonement, but also for celebrating restored relationship.
  • "Sacrifice" comes from זָבַח (zavach, H2076), meaning to slaughter or offer a sacrifice. This word is used for the act of ritual killing as part of worship, highlighting the seriousness and sacredness of the moment.
  • "Mingled" is from בָּלַל (balal, H1101), meaning to mix or blend. Here it describes how the grain offering is to be combined with oil, which was a common way to prepare offerings, making them richer and more pleasing.
  • "Appear" uses רָאָה (ra'ah, H7200), meaning to see or become visible. The promise that "the LORD will appear" means God’s presence would be made clear or manifest to the people in a special way.

Why Leviticus 9:4 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the offerings are not just ritual acts, but are directly connected to experiencing God’s presence; the people are told to expect a visible sign from God as they obey.
  • The specific mention of peace offerings and a grain offering shows that worship involved both animal and non-animal gifts, each with its own meaning and role in the relationship with God.
  • Leviticus 9:4 connects the preparations for worship with a promise of divine encounter, underlining that God’s presence is both a gift and a response to faithful obedience.

Where else these words appear

“mingled” Hebrew H1101 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 11:7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
  • Numbers 7:19 He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
  • Numbers 15:9 Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil.

“bullock” Hebrew H7794 · used in 69 verses

  • Genesis 32:5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
  • Leviticus 22:23 Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.
  • Judges 6:25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:

“offerings” Hebrew H8002 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
  • Leviticus 10:14 And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.
  • Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

“sacrifice” Hebrew H2076 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
  • 1 Samuel 2:13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
  • 2 Chronicles 15:11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.