Numbers 8:12

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.

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Word by word — the Hebrew

Word	Hebrew	Strong’s	Meaning
Levites	וְהַלְוִיִּם֙ ve.hal.vi.Yim	H3881	a Levite or descendant of Levi · conjunction + definite article + noun, gentilic masculine plural absolute
lay	יִסְמְכ֣וּ yis.me.Khu	H5564	to prop (literally or figuratively) · verb, qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine plural
hands	יְדֵיהֶ֔ם ye.dei.Hem	H3027	a hand (the open one (indicating power · noun, common both genders dual construct + pronominal suffix, 3rd person masculine plural
heads	רֹ֣אשׁ rosh	H7218	the head (as most easily shaken) · noun, common masculine singular construct
bullocks	הַפָּרִ֑ים ha.pa.Rim	H6499	a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength · definite article + noun, common masculine plural absolute
offer	וַ֠עֲשֵׂה Va.'a.seh	H6213	to do or make · conjunction + verb, qal imperative, 2nd person masculine singular
one	הָאֶחָ֨ד ha.'e.Chad	H259	properly · definite article + cardinal number, feminine singular absolute
offering	חַטָּ֜את cha.Tat	H2403	an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness) · noun, common feminine singular absolute
other	הָאֶחָ֤ד ha.'e.Chad	H259	properly · definite article + cardinal number, feminine singular absolute
offering	עֹלָה֙ 'o.Lah	H5930	a step or (collectively · noun, common feminine singular absolute
LORD	לַֽיהוָ֔ה la.Yah.weh	H3068	Jehovah · preposition + proper noun, a title
atonement	לְכַפֵּ֖ר le.kha.Per	H3722	to cover (specifically with bitumen) · preposition + verb, piel infinitive construct
Levites	הַלְוִיִּֽם hal.vi.Yim	H3881	a Levite or descendant of Levi · definite article + noun, gentilic masculine plural absolute

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Hebrews 10:4-10 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Exodus 29:10 And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon th…
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Leviticus 1:4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
Leviticus 8:14 And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering.
Numbers 8:8 Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a…
Leviticus 4:20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atone…
Leviticus 4:35 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest s…

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Numbers 8:5–end

We read before of the separating of the Levites from among the children of Israel when they were numbered, and the numbering of them by themselves (Num 3:6, Num 3:15), that they might be employed in the service of the tabernacle. Now here we have directions given for their solemn ordination (Num 8:6), and the performance of it, Num 8:20. All Israel must know that they took not this honour to themselves, but were called of God to it; nor was it enough that they were distinguished from their neighbours, but they must be solemnly devoted to God. Note, All that are employed for God must be dedicated to him, according as the degree of employment is. Christian musts be baptized, ministers must be…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 8:11

And Aaron shall offer the Levites--Hebrew, "as a wave offering"; and it has been thought probable that the high priest, in bringing the Levites one by one to the altar, directed them to make some simple movements of their persons, analogous to what was done at the presentation of the wave offerings before the Lord. Thus were they first devoted as an offering to God, and by Him surrendered to the priests to be employed in His service. The consecration ceremonial was repeated in the case of every Levite who was taken (as was done at a later period) to assist the priests in the tabernacle and temple. (See on Ch2 29:34).

John Gill on Numbers 8:12

And the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bullocks,.... Or "on the head" (s); on the head of everyone of them, as Aben Ezra, thereby, as it were, transferring their sins to them, for these were to make atonement for them, as the latter part of the verse shows; and this was a figure of the imputation of sin to Christ, and taught that doctrine, and led the faith of the offerers to the sin bearing and sin atoning Saviour: and thou shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the Lord; that is, shall order to be offered; for not Moses, but Aaron, offered these offerings, as Aben Ezra observes, of which this is a proof, that Aaron is said to ma…

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Dictionary and topics

Burnt Offering, The · Guilt transferred to, by imposition of hands — Guilt transferred to, by imposition of hands
Levites · Consecration of — Consecration of
Levites, The · Ceremonies at consecration of: Making a sin-offering for — Ceremonies at consecration of: Making a sin-offering for

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Numbers 8:12

Word by word — the Hebrew

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Numbers 8:5–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 8:11

John Gill on Numbers 8:12

Dictionary and topics

Numbers 8:12

Word by word — the Hebrew

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Numbers 8:5–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 8:11

John Gill on Numbers 8:12

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on Numbers 8:5-19

Keil & Delitzsch on Numbers 8:12-19

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Numbers 8:12-22

Rashi on Numbers 8:11