Numbers 8:12

And the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and offer to the LORD one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, to make atonement for the Levites.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Moses during the consecration of the Levites, directing them to undergo a ritual that prepares them for temple service.

The words — The Hebrew verb יִסְמְכוּ (yis'mechu) translates as "they will lay," describing the Levites placing their hands (יְדֵיהֶם, y'deihem) on the heads (רֹאשׁ, rosh) of the young bulls (הַפָּרִים, ha'parim).

The thread — The text commands the Levites to present one bull as a sin offering and another as a burnt offering for their atonement, a ritual pattern seen in Exodus 29:10 and Leviticus 1:4, while Hebrews 10:4 states the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.

Why it lands — The passage requires the Levites to perform the physical act of laying hands on the sacrifices before they can be formally presented to the LORD as a wave offering.

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

וְהַלְוִיִּם֙ve./ha/l.vi.Yimand/ the/ Levites יִסְמְכ֣וּyis.me.Khuthey will lay אֶת־'et-<obj.>יְדֵיהֶ֔םye.dei./Hemhands/ their עַ֖ל'alon רֹ֣אשׁrosh[the] head of הַפָּרִ֑יםha./pa.Rimthe/ young bulls וַ֠עֲשֵׂהVa./'a.sehand/ offer אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָאֶחָ֨דha./'e.Chadthe/ one חַטָּ֜אתcha.Tata sin offering וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הָאֶחָ֤דha./'e.Chadthe/ one עֹלָה֙'o.Laha burnt offering לַֽיהוָ֔הla./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh לְכַפֵּ֖רle./kha.Perto/ make atonement עַל־'al-on הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ha/l.vi.Yimthe/ Levites

King James Version

And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the Lord, to make an atonement for the Levites.

Cross-references

Hebrews 10:4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Exodus 29:10 You are to present the bull at the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head.
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.
Leviticus 8:14 Moses then brought the bull near for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.
Hebrews 9:22 According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Numbers 8:8 Then have them take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.
Leviticus 4:20 He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.
Leviticus 4:35 And he shall remove all the fat, just as the fat of the lamb is removed from the peace offerings, and he shall burn it on the altar along with the food offerings to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.
Leviticus 5:7 If, however, he cannot afford a lamb, he may bring to the LORD as restitution for his sin two turtledoves or two young pigeons—one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering.
Leviticus 5:9 then he is to sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood is drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.