Bible Strands
Leviticus 8:21
He washed the entrails and legs with water and burned the entire ram on the altar as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses performs the washing and burning of the ram on the altar during the priestly ordination ceremony. He executes these actions precisely according to the direct commands the LORD gave him.
The words — The Hebrew verb רָחַץ (ra.Chatz) means he washed, describing the ritual cleansing of the sacrificial parts with water. The verb וַיַּקְטֵר (va/i.yak.Ter) translates as he made smoke, indicating the complete combustion of the offering on the altar.
The thread — This ritual pattern echoes Exodus 29:18, which commands the same complete burning of the ram as a burnt offering. The description of the offering as a pleasing aroma also parallels Genesis 8:21, where God acknowledges the fragrant smoke of a sacrifice.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that obedience to divine instruction governs the ritual. It establishes a pattern where complete submission to commanded worship precedes any subsequent spiritual application.
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 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.
Cross-references
- Exodus 29:18 Then burn the entire ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD.
- Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
- Genesis 8:21 When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.
- Leviticus 1:17 He shall tear it open by its wings, without dividing the bird completely. And the priest is to burn it on the altar atop the burning wood. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
- Leviticus 2:9 The priest is to remove the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.