Leviticus 16:4

He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself with water before he wears them.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God commands Aaron regarding the exact vestments required before he enters the Holy Place to perform the atonement ritual.

The words — The text specifies קֹדֶשׁ (Ko.desh) as holiness and בַּד (bad) as linen, defining the spiritual status and material composition of the prescribed garments.

The thread — This mandate for exclusive linen attire and ritual washing appears in Exodus 28:39 and Exodus 30:20, and is reiterated in Ezekiel 44:17 to restrict inner court access to linen alone.

Why it lands — The passage requires physical bathing and the donning of designated holy clothing before sacred service, establishing that approach to the divine demands strict preparatory separation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

Cross-references

Exodus 28:39 You are to weave the tunic with fine linen, make the turban of fine linen, and fashion an embroidered sash.
Exodus 30:20 Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the LORD, they must wash with water so that they will not die.
Ezekiel 44:17 When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen garments; they must not wear anything made of wool when they minister at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple.
Hebrews 7:26 Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
Leviticus 6:10 And the priest shall put on his linen robe and linen undergarments, and he shall remove from the altar the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed and place them beside it.
Leviticus 8:6 Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.
Exodus 39:27 For Aaron and his sons they made tunics of fine linen, the work of a weaver,
Exodus 28:2 Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, to give him glory and splendor.
Exodus 29:4 Then present Aaron and his sons at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water.
Exodus 40:12 Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water.