Bible Strands
Numbers 8:21
The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes, and Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the LORD. Aaron also made atonement for them to cleanse them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses, Aaron, and the Israelite congregation have just finished executing the Lord’s command concerning the Levites (Numbers 8:20). This verse records the specific purification and presentation actions that immediately precede the Levites’ entry into Tent of Meeting service (Numbers 8:22).
The words — וַ/יִּֽתְחַטְּא֣וּ (va/i.yit.cha.te.'U) means "and they purified themselves," and וַ/יָּ֨נֶף (va/i.Ya.nef) means "and he waved." Aaron performs the waving of the Levites as a תְּנוּפָ֖ה (te.nu.Fah), a designated wave offering.
The thread — The cleansing procedure mirrors the water sprinkling command in Numbers 8:7, while Aaron’s presentation fulfills the wave offering directive in Numbers 8:11. This sequence directly enables the Levites to begin their assigned duties as outlined in Numbers 8:15.
Why it lands — The text records that physical cleansing and priestly presentation must occur before the Levites can perform their service. It requires readers to note that ritual preparation and mediated atonement are the stated prerequisites for entering the Tent of Meeting.
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 the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the Lord; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.
Cross-references
- Numbers 8:7 This is what you must do to cleanse them: Sprinkle them with the water of purification. Have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.
- Numbers 8:11 Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the sons of Israel, so that they may perform the service of the LORD.
- Numbers 8:15 After you have cleansed them and presented them as a wave offering, they may come to serve at the Tent of Meeting.
- Numbers 19:19 The man who is ceremonially clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day. After he purifies the unclean person on the seventh day, the one being cleansed must wash his clothes and bathe in water, and that evening he will be clean.
- Numbers 3:12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me,
- Numbers 19:12 He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean.