Exodus 29:15 - “You shall also take the one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram.

Generated Verse: Exodus 29:15

What does "Exodus 29:15" mean?


Exodus 29:15 describes a ritual act within the ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons as priests. Let's break down the meaning:

"You shall also take the one ram": This refers to one of the rams designated for the ordination sacrifices. This particular ram is called "the ram of consecration" in other verses within the chapter.

"and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram": This action of placing hands on the animal's head is a symbolic act of identification and transfer. It's more than just a physical touch. In this context, it signifies:

Identification: Aaron and his sons are identifying themselves with the ram.
Representation: The ram is acting as a representative sacrifice for them. The act of laying hands connects them to the animal's fate.
Transfer of Sin or Consecration: While the verse doesn't explicitly mention sin, in other sacrificial contexts, laying hands could symbolize a transfer of sin or imperfection onto the animal. In this case, given that it's an ordination ceremony, it more likely symbolizes a transfer of dedication or consecration from the priests-to-be onto the animal destined for sacrifice. It signifies that their complete self, their all, is dedicated to God and now symbolically being represented by this sacrifice.

In essence, this verse describes a crucial step in the ordination ritual where Aaron and his sons publicly and symbolically align themselves with the sacrificial offering, acknowledging the weight and importance of the priestly duties they are about to undertake and that they are now exclusively dedicated to God. The act of laying hands is a visual and tangible representation of their commitment and consecration to God.

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