Bible Strands
Leviticus 8:18
Then Moses presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses officiates the ordination ritual, presenting the ram for the burnt offering immediately after the sin offering bull is burned outside the camp.
The words — וַיּקְרֵב (va-yakrev) records Moses presenting the animal, while וַיִּסְמְכוּ (va-yismeku) describes Aaron and his sons leaning their hands on its head.
The thread — This physical gesture aligns with the explicit command in Exodus 29:15 and the atonement function outlined in Leviticus 1:4.
Why it lands — The text documents a preparatory ritual act before slaughter, requiring the reader to observe the sequence without importing later theological assumptions.
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
And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.
Cross-references
- Exodus 29:15 Take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.
- Leviticus 8:2 “Take Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread,
- Leviticus 1:4 He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.