FocusConsecration and holy responsibility
Connection to the wholeThe consecration and beginning of priestly service lead to an account of judgment, emphasizing the seriousness of distinguishing holy from common.
interpretation Leviticus 9:2
KJVAnd he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.
Read it in context
Aaron’s First Offerings
Start reading at Leviticus 9:1 (Leviticus 9:1 to Leviticus 9:24).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
The consecration and beginning of priestly service lead to an account of judgment, emphasizing the seriousness of distinguishing holy from common.
- 9:1 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;
- 9:2 And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.
- 9:3 And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;
- 9:4 Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.
- 9:5 And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.
- 9:6 And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.
- 9:7 And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.
- 9:8 Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
- 9:9 And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:
- 9:10 But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.
- 9:11 And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.
- 9:12 And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.
- 9:13 And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.
- 9:14 And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.
- 9:15 And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.
- 9:16 And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.
- 9:17 And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.
- 9:18 He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,
- 9:19 And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:
- 9:20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
- 9:21 And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.
- 9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
- 9:23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.
- 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Moses is the traditional author, with the laws presented as the LORD's instructions given through him. Aaron and his sons are key recipients of priestly instructions, not alternate named authors. Biblical references: Leviticus 1:1; Leviticus 27:34. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Leviticus 9:1–10:20): Aaron, his sons, Moses, and the congregation are involved in the beginning of priestly service. Nadab and Abihu's death leads to further instructions for the surviving priests. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? Israel under the Sinai covenant. Some instructions address the whole congregation; others specifically address Aaron and the priests. Biblical references: Leviticus 1:2; Leviticus 6:9; Leviticus 19:2. stated in the text
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? Aaron’s First Offerings. Read Leviticus 9:1 through Leviticus 9:24 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? The consecration and beginning of priestly service lead to an account of judgment, emphasizing the seriousness of distinguishing holy from common. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? The laws and priestly narratives are set in Israel's Sinai sanctuary setting. A modern date of composition is not given by a publication statement in the text. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? The tabernacle and Israel's camp form the main setting. Instructions about priests, offerings, houses, and the land have different immediate objects. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in Aaron’s First Offerings (Leviticus 9:1 to Leviticus 9:24). Start reading at Leviticus 9:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Hebrews explicitly relates the sacrificial and priestly order to Christ's priesthood and offering. Read the comparison in Hebrews rather than assigning an unsupported meaning to each ritual detail. See Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 10:1, Hebrews 10:10. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Take worship, holiness, and the treatment of others seriously. Distinguish ritual uncleanness, moral wrongdoing, and the specific duties of priests; they are not interchangeable categories. interpretation
Cited: Leviticus 9:1, Leviticus 9:24, Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 10:1, Hebrews 10:10
Who wrote it, and how we know
Moses (traditional)
Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe book presents its laws as the LORD speaking to Moses, from beginning to end.
Leviticus 1:1Leviticus 27:34
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition names Moses.
What is debatedCritical scholars commonly assign this material to a later priestly collection.
Related passages
- a young Lev 9:7-8 Lev 4:3 Lev 8:14 Exod 29:1 2 Cor 5:21 Heb 5:3 Heb 7:27 Heb 10:10-14
- and a ram Lev 8:18
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Leviticus 9
Leviticus presents the LORD's instructions to Moses for Israel, including priestly duties. A command's immediate audience, sanctuary setting, and covenant purpose should remain visible. The opening identifies Moses as the recipient of speech, not by itself as the narrator of every line. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Leviticus 1:1 Leviticus 1:2 Leviticus 27:34
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Leviticus
Leviticus presents the LORD's instructions to Moses for Israel, including priestly duties. A command's immediate audience, sanctuary setting, and covenant purpose should remain visible. The opening identifies Moses as the recipient of speech, not by itself as the narrator of every line.
Leviticus 1:1 Leviticus 1:2 Leviticus 27:34
Offerings and their administration
Leviticus 1:1–7:38FocusApproaching God in worship
Connection to the wholeThe offerings and priestly responsibilities establish the sacrificial framework assumed by the following accounts and laws.
interpretation FocusConsecration and holy responsibility
Connection to the wholeThe consecration and beginning of priestly service lead to an account of judgment, emphasizing the seriousness of distinguishing holy from common.
interpretation Clean and unclean
Leviticus 11:1–15:33FocusBodies, food, and the camp
Connection to the wholeThese distinctions order Israel's life around the sanctuary; ritual uncleanness should not automatically be equated with a personal moral offense.
interpretation The day of atonement
Leviticus 16:1–34FocusCleansing the sanctuary and the people
Connection to the wholeThe chapter brings priestly access, blood, and cleansing together in a recurring observance within the covenant's sacrificial order.
interpretation Holiness in daily and priestly life
Leviticus 17:1–22:33FocusWorship, relationships, and conduct
Connection to the wholeInstructions concerning blood, relationships, justice, and priests extend the call to holiness through the life of the people.
interpretation Sacred times and the land
Leviticus 23:1–25:55FocusSabbaths, feasts, and release
Connection to the wholeThe appointed times and land arrangements connect worship, rest, provision, and the treatment of fellow Israelites.
interpretation Covenant outcomes and dedicated things
Leviticus 26:1–27:34FocusResponsibility and consecration
Connection to the wholeBlessings and warnings state covenant consequences, followed by regulations concerning vows and things dedicated to the LORD.
interpretation Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.