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Exodus 29:15-18 meaning

The LORD describes another sin offering requiring a ram.

The next sacrifice to be offered was that of one of the rams mentioned in verse 1. Moses was commanded to take the one ram. Remember that the LORD commanded that two rams be part of the ceremony (Exodus 29:1). Again, as with the bull, Aaron and his sons were told to lay their hands on the head of the ram as a visible indication that their sins were transferred to the ram and that it was going to be sacrificed in order to purify them from their sins for the priesthood.

This sacrifice was done as follows:

They were to slaughter the ram. The Hebrew word for slaughter (“shakhat”) is used almost always in reference to ritual sacrifices. They then needed to take its blood and sprinkle it around on the altar. This purifies the altar itself as a place of sacrifice to the LORD.

Next, they needed to cut the ram into its pieces.They were to wash its entrails and its legs. These were the dirtiest parts of the animals and needed cleaning the most. They were then commanded to put them with its pieces and its head.

Finally, they were to offer up in smoke the whole ram on the altar. With this sacrifice, there was to be nothing left at all. The whole sacrificial animal belonged to the LORD.

The last part of verse 18 summarizes the significance of this sacrifice. The LORD said that it is a burnt offering to the Lord. The Hebrew word for burnt offering (“‘ola”) means that the whole animal was to be consumed by fire as opposed to other sacrificial animals being partially consumed. The smoke from this burnt offering went upward and was a soothing aroma, making it a gift to the LORD. In this way, the ram was an offering by fire to the Lord. The Hebrew word “‘ola”could be more literally interpreted as “ascend.” The smoke ascends to God and is pleasing to Him. In this manner, Jesus was an “‘ola”offering. His sacrifice ascended to the Lord, and He Himself ascended to His Father.

Biblical Text:

¹⁵ “You shall also take the one ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram; ¹⁶ and you shall slaughter the ram and shall take its blood and sprinkle it around on the altar. ¹⁷ Then you shall cut the ram into its pieces, and wash its entrails and its legs, and put them with its pieces and its head. ¹⁸ You shall offer up in smoke the whole ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the Lord: it is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord.

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Additional Resources

Book Theme

The book of Exodus is the second book of the Torah (“law”). It continues the story of Genesis concerning the migration of the family of Jacob (the Israelites) to Egypt (Genesis 50). It describes the commissioning of Moses and Aaron as God’s representatives on earth to accomplish God’s deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt and lead them to the Promised Land (the land of Canaan). It also relates the miraculous deliverance from Egypt beginning with the plagues on Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea. It then describes the journey to Mount Sinai and the establishment of the Mosaic covenant with the Israelites. The last part of the book involves the specifications and building of the tabernacle – the place where the Lord Himself dwelt amongst His people.

In the book of Exodus, the focus shifts to the deliverance of God’s people.

Chapter Context

Exodus 29 is a detailed account of what should occur in the ritual for ordaining the priests into their service to the LORD. It was to last seven days, and during that time the priests were washed, anointed, and sacrifices were made. The ceremony itself is recorded in Leviticus 8.

Exodus 29 can be outlined as follows:

● The Ordination Ceremony of the Priests (29:1 – 35)
- o Preparation for Ordination (29:1 – 3)
- o Washing (29:4)
- o Anointing (29:5 – 9)
- o The Sin Offering (29:10 – 14)
- o The Burnt Offering (29:15 – 18)
- o The Peace Offering (29:19 – 26, 31 – 34)
- o The Wave and Heave Offerings (29:27 – 30)
- o The Ordination Ceremony’s Length (35)
● The Consecration of the Altar (29:36 – 37)
● The Dedication of the Daily Offerings (29:38 – 46)

The fact that the LORD described this ceremony in such detail shows how important it was to the nation. Israel was chosen by God to be in a special covenant relationship with Him, and Aaron and his sons were chosen to be the mediators of this covenant. Such a privileged position required a special ceremony to impress upon all of the people what the LORD required of them in terms of worship and service. It could also be a reminder to the people that they were called to serve as a priestly nation, serving as mediators to other nations (Exodus 19:5-6).

Exodus 29:15-18 meaning

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