Exodus 29
Read Exodus 29 (WEB)+
1“This is the thing that you shall do to them to make them holy, to minister to me in the priest’s office: take one young bull and two rams without defect, 2unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil: you shall make them of fine wheat flour. 3You shall put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bull and the two rams. 4You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall wash them with water. 5You shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the coat, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastplate, and clothe him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod; 6and you shall set the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban. 7Then you shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head, and anoint him. 8You shall bring his sons, and put coats on them. 9You shall clothe them with belts, Aaron and his sons, and bind headbands on them: and they shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute: and you shall consecrate Aaron and his sons. 10“You shall bring the bull before the Tent of Meeting: and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. 11You shall kill the bull before Yahweh, at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 12You shall take of the blood of the bull, and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; and you shall pour out all the blood at the base of the altar. 13You shall take all the fat that covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar. 14But the meat of the bull, and its skin, and its dung, you shall burn with fire outside of the camp: it is a sin offering. 15“You shall also take the one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. 16You shall kill the ram, and you shall take its blood, and sprinkle it around on the altar. 17You shall cut the ram into its pieces, and wash its innards, and its legs, and put them with its pieces, and with its head. 18You shall burn the whole ram on the altar: it is a burnt offering to Yahweh; it is a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh. 19“You shall take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. 20Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood, and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood around on the altar. 21You shall take of the blood that is on the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron, and on his garments, and on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be made holy, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him. 22Also you shall take some of the ram’s fat, the fat tail, the fat that covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, the fat that is on them, and the right thigh (for it is a ram of consecration), 23and one loaf of bread, one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before Yahweh. 24You shall put all of this in Aaron’s hands, and in his sons’ hands, and shall wave them for a wave offering before Yahweh. 25You shall take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar on the burnt offering, for a pleasant aroma before Yahweh: it is an offering made by fire to Yahweh. 26“You shall take the breast of Aaron’s ram of consecration, and wave it for a wave offering before Yahweh: and it shall be your portion. 27You shall sanctify the breast of the wave offering, and the thigh of the wave offering, which is waved, and which is heaved up, of the ram of consecration, even of that which is for Aaron, and of that which is for his sons: 28and it shall be for Aaron and his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel; for it is a wave offering: and it shall be a wave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, even their wave offering to Yahweh. 29“The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, to be anointed in them, and to be consecrated in them. 30Seven days shall the son who is priest in his place put them on, when he comes into the Tent of Meeting to minister in the holy place. 31“You shall take the ram of consecration, and boil its meat in a holy place. 32Aaron and his sons shall eat the meat of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 33They shall eat those things with which atonement was made, to consecrate and sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat of it, because they are holy. 34If anything of the meat of the consecration, or of the bread, remains to the morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire: it shall not be eaten, because it is holy. 35“You shall do so to Aaron, and to his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. You shall consecrate them seven days. 36Every day you shall offer the bull of sin offering for atonement: and you shall cleanse the altar, when you make atonement for it; and you shall anoint it, to sanctify it. 37Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar, and sanctify it: and the altar shall be most holy; whatever touches the altar shall be holy. 38“Now this is that which you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old day by day continually. 39The one lamb you shall offer in the morning; and the other lamb you shall offer at evening: 40and with the one lamb a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil, and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink offering. 41The other lamb you shall offer at evening, and shall do to it according to the meal offering of the morning, and according to its drink offering, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh. 42It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tent of Meeting before Yahweh, where I will meet with you, to speak there to you. 43There I will meet with the children of Israel; and the place shall be sanctified by my glory. 44I will sanctify the Tent of Meeting and the altar: Aaron also and his sons I will sanctify, to minister to me in the priest’s office. 45I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. 46They shall know that I am Yahweh their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them: I am Yahweh their God.
World English Bible (public domain)
“And you shall consecrate the priests, and you shall make them wear their garments, and anoint them and fill their hand, and they shall serve me as priests. And you shall say to the people of Israel, 'This is the food that you shall offer to the Lord.'”
Exodus 29:1
Summary
Exodus chapter 29 outlines the instructions for consecrating the priests, particularly Aaron and his sons, for their sacred duties. The chapter details the elaborate process of ordination, which includes the offerings of animals—specifically a bull and two rams. These offerings are representative of atonement and total devotion to God, highlighting the significance of purity and dedication in approaching the holy role of priesthood. The priestly garments are also described, emphasizing their beauty and the significance of symbolizing both the glory of God and the responsibility of the priests to represent the people before Him. Furthermore, the chapter presents a divine promise of God's presence among the Israelites, signifying that the consecration of the priests is not only about ritual but also about establishing a relationship between God and His people. This calling is both a privilege and a weighty responsibility, with the priests acting as mediators in the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The repetitive nature of the consecration actions underscores the seriousness of being set apart for service and the holiness required in worship. The chapter closes with the assurance that the offerings presented will make atonement, pointing to the consistent theme of sacrifice throughout the biblical narrative. The theological significance is palpable, as it foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Christ and underscores the call to holiness in both the Old and New Testaments. Thus, Exodus 29 serves as a foundational text for understanding the role of leadership in spiritual matters and God's desire for faithful worship from His people.
Go deeper
Ask the AI about Exodus 29
Bring your question about the chapter, the key verse, or how this passage fits the rest of Scripture.
Daily Scripture study
Get a short devotional by email
One passage, one reflection, and one practical question for the day.
Subscribe free and instantly get “Depth Without Seminary” — our step-by-step study guide (PDF).
One short email each morning. Unsubscribe anytime.
Studying Exodus with a print Bible beside you? See our picks for the best study Bibles for women.
Chapter outline
How Exodus 29 unfolds
Exodus 29:1–4 Instructions for Consecration
God instructs Moses on consecrating Aaron and his sons as priests, emphasizing the need for specific offerings and rituals to make them holy.
Exodus 29:5–9 Clothing the Priests
Moses is to dress Aaron in sacred garments, symbolizing his role and authority as the high priest, while Aaron's sons are also clothed.
Exodus 29:10–21 Sin Offering Ritual
Aaron and his sons participate in the sin offering by laying hands on the bull, which is then sacrificed, with blood applied to the altar.
Exodus 29:22–30 Consecration of Offerings
The second ram is sacrificed for the consecration, with blood applied to Aaron and his sons, marking their sacred status.
Exodus 29:31–34 Eating the Consecrated Portions
Aaron and his sons are instructed to eat the ram's meat and bread, signifying their participation in the sacred offerings.
Exodus 29:35–46 Ongoing Atonement and Divine Promise
Moses is commanded to conduct the consecration rituals for seven days, establishing a continual relationship between God and Israel, with promises of divine presence.
Key verses
Exodus 29:1Exodus 29:1 encapsulates the chapter's focus on the consecration and responsibilities of the priests, highlighting their role in God's service.
Main themes in Exodus 29
Consecration
Consecration is a central theme as seen in the ritual instructions in verses 1-9. The elaborate process of anointing and clothing signifies the importance of being set apart for sacred service. This establishes a foundational understanding of holiness and dedicates the priests to their roles in mediating between God and the people.
Sacrifice
The theme of sacrifice is prominent in verses 10-21, with detailed descriptions of the offerings made for atonement. Each offering serves a specific purpose in the sacrificial system, emphasizing the need for purity and devotion. This foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, linking the Old Testament practices with future fulfillment.
Priesthood
The theme of priesthood is prominently featured in Exodus 29, particularly in verses 5-9 where Aaron and his sons are consecrated. This consecration ceremony emphasizes their appointed roles as mediators between God and the people of Israel, illustrating the importance of spiritual leadership in the community. Through this chapter, the text establishes the foundational responsibilities and spiritual authority that the priesthood holds, which is crucial for the covenant relationship between God and Israel.
Divine Presence
The promise of divine presence is articulated in verses 42-46, where God assures His dwelling among Israel. This assurance is tied to the rituals of consecration, indicating that holiness and proper worship are essential for God’s presence. This theme underscores the covenantal relationship and the importance of establishing a holy community.
Cross-references
Passages that echo Exodus 29
- 2 Corinthians 6This passage connects through its call for holiness and separation, echoing the themes of consecration found in Exodus.
- Leviticus 8Leviticus develops the theme of priestly ordination, detailing similar rituals for consecrating Aaron and his sons.
- Leviticus 1Leviticus connects by providing foundational instructions on offerings, paralleling the sacrificial elements in Exodus 29.
- Leviticus 4The sin offering in Leviticus echoes the blood rituals described for atonement in Exodus 29.
- Leviticus 7Leviticus develops the themes of holiness and offerings, which are central to the consecration rituals in Exodus.
- Leviticus 3This passage connects through its emphasis on peace offerings, linking the themes of sacrifice in both texts.
Study questions
Questions for studying Exodus 29
- What specific rituals are involved in the consecration of the priests?
- How does the clothing of Aaron and his sons signify their roles?
- What is the significance of the blood in the consecration process?
- In what ways does God promise to dwell among the Israelites?
- How does the theme of sacrifice manifest in this chapter?
- What does the chapter reveal about the nature of holiness?
Exodus 29: frequently asked questions
What is Exodus 29 about?+
What is the key verse in Exodus 29?+
What are the main themes of Exodus 29?+
Related chapters