Leviticus 9:22 - Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from offering the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Leviticus 9:22" mean?
Leviticus 9:22 describes a pivotal moment in the establishment of the priesthood and the worship of God according to the Law given to Moses. Let's break down the verse and its significance:
"Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them...": This is a crucial act of priestly blessing. Aaron, as the first High Priest, is acting as a mediator between God and the people. By lifting his hands, he is invoking God's favor and protection upon the Israelites. This blessing would have been a formal, spoken benediction, likely similar to the priestly blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26 ("The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."). The lifted hands were a visible symbol of prayer and intercession.
"...and he came down from offering the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.": This indicates that Aaron has just completed performing a series of sacrifices as part of the consecration of the tabernacle and the ordination of the priesthood.
Sin Offering: This sacrifice was offered to atone for unintentional sins and purify the sanctuary from defilement.
Burnt Offering: This was a sacrifice of complete devotion to God. The entire animal was burned on the altar (except for the skin, which belonged to the priest).
Peace Offerings (or Fellowship Offerings): These were offerings of thanksgiving, fellowship, and atonement. Part of the offering was burned on the altar, part was given to the priests, and part was eaten by the one making the offering and their family and friends. It was a communal meal before God, signifying peace and reconciliation.
Meaning and Significance:
Successful Inauguration: The verse signifies the successful completion of the first official sacrifices performed by Aaron as High Priest. These sacrifices were crucial for consecrating the tabernacle, the altar, and the priesthood, and for atoning for the sins of the people.
Mediatorial Role: Aaron's blessing after the sacrifices underscores his role as a mediator between God and the people. He has performed the necessary rituals to purify them and then invokes God's favor upon them.
Establishment of Worship: This verse is a cornerstone in the establishment of the Levitical sacrificial system. It demonstrates the prescribed way for the Israelites to approach God, seek forgiveness, and express their devotion.
Transition from Preparation to Service: Aaron's "coming down" from the altar signifies a transition from the preparatory acts of sacrifice to the ongoing service of the priesthood in ministering to the needs of the people.
Acceptance by God: The fact that Aaron is able to bless the people after offering the sacrifices suggests that God has accepted the offerings and that the people are now in a state of reconciliation with Him. This is further confirmed in the following verses (9:23-24) by the appearance of God's glory and the consuming fire.
In essence, Leviticus 9:22 encapsulates the establishment of the divinely ordained system of worship in Israel, with Aaron serving as the first High Priest, mediating between God and the people through sacrifice and blessing. It's a pivotal moment demonstrating God's provision for atonement and the means by which the Israelites could draw near to Him.
Leviticus 9:22 - Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from offering the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.
What does "Leviticus 9:22" mean?
Leviticus 9:22 describes a pivotal moment in the establishment of the priesthood and the worship of God according to the Law given to Moses. Let's break down the verse and its significance:
"Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them...": This is a crucial act of priestly blessing. Aaron, as the first High Priest, is acting as a mediator between God and the people. By lifting his hands, he is invoking God's favor and protection upon the Israelites. This blessing would have been a formal, spoken benediction, likely similar to the priestly blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26 ("The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."). The lifted hands were a visible symbol of prayer and intercession.
"...and he came down from offering the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.": This indicates that Aaron has just completed performing a series of sacrifices as part of the consecration of the tabernacle and the ordination of the priesthood.
Sin Offering: This sacrifice was offered to atone for unintentional sins and purify the sanctuary from defilement.
Burnt Offering: This was a sacrifice of complete devotion to God. The entire animal was burned on the altar (except for the skin, which belonged to the priest).
Peace Offerings (or Fellowship Offerings): These were offerings of thanksgiving, fellowship, and atonement. Part of the offering was burned on the altar, part was given to the priests, and part was eaten by the one making the offering and their family and friends. It was a communal meal before God, signifying peace and reconciliation.
Meaning and Significance:
Successful Inauguration: The verse signifies the successful completion of the first official sacrifices performed by Aaron as High Priest. These sacrifices were crucial for consecrating the tabernacle, the altar, and the priesthood, and for atoning for the sins of the people.
Mediatorial Role: Aaron's blessing after the sacrifices underscores his role as a mediator between God and the people. He has performed the necessary rituals to purify them and then invokes God's favor upon them.
Establishment of Worship: This verse is a cornerstone in the establishment of the Levitical sacrificial system. It demonstrates the prescribed way for the Israelites to approach God, seek forgiveness, and express their devotion.
Transition from Preparation to Service: Aaron's "coming down" from the altar signifies a transition from the preparatory acts of sacrifice to the ongoing service of the priesthood in ministering to the needs of the people.
Acceptance by God: The fact that Aaron is able to bless the people after offering the sacrifices suggests that God has accepted the offerings and that the people are now in a state of reconciliation with Him. This is further confirmed in the following verses (9:23-24) by the appearance of God's glory and the consuming fire.
In essence, Leviticus 9:22 encapsulates the establishment of the divinely ordained system of worship in Israel, with Aaron serving as the first High Priest, mediating between God and the people through sacrifice and blessing. It's a pivotal moment demonstrating God's provision for atonement and the means by which the Israelites could draw near to Him.