Leviticus 8:15
New International Version
Moses slaughtered the bull and took some of the blood, and with his finger he put it on all the horns of the altar to purify the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. So he consecrated it to make atonement for it.

New Living Translation
and Moses slaughtered it. Moses took some of the blood, and with his finger he put it on the four horns of the altar to purify it. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. Through this process, he made the altar holy by purifying it.

English Standard Version
And he killed it, and Moses took the blood, and with his finger put it on the horns of the altar around it and purified the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it to make atonement for it.

Berean Standard Bible
Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.

King James Bible
And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.

New King James Version
and Moses killed it. Then he took the blood, and put some on the horns of the altar all around with his finger, and purified the altar. And he poured the blood at the base of the altar, and consecrated it, to make atonement for it.

New American Standard Bible
Next Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar, and purified the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make atonement for it.

NASB 1995
Next Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar, and purified the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make atonement for it.

NASB 1977
Next Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar, and purified the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make atonement for it.

Legacy Standard Bible
Next Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar and purified the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and set it apart as holy, to make atonement for it.

Amplified Bible
Next Moses killed it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar and purified it [from sin]. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make atonement for it.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Moses slaughtered it, took the blood, and applied it with his finger to the horns of the altar on all sides, purifying the altar. He poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement can be made on it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Moses slaughtered it, took the blood, and applied it with his finger to the horns of the altar on all sides, purifying the altar. He poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement can be made on it.

American Standard Version
And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement for it.

Contemporary English Version
After it was killed, Moses dipped a finger in the blood and smeared some of it on each of the four corners of the bronze altar, before pouring out the rest at the foot of the altar. This purified the altar and made it a fit place for offering the sacrifice for sin.

English Revised Version
And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement for it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When it was slaughtered, Moses took the blood and put it on the horns of the altar all around with his finger and cleansed the altar from sins. He poured the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar and declared it holy so that priests could use it to make peace with the LORD.

Good News Translation
Moses killed it and took some of the blood, and with his finger put it on the projections at the corners of the altar, in order to dedicate it. He then poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. In this way he dedicated it and purified it.

International Standard Version
So Moses slaughtered it, took the blood, and applied some of it at the horns of the altar and around it with his fingers, thus purifying the altar. Then he poured the blood at the base of the altar, thereby sanctifying it as a means to make atonement with it.

Majority Standard Bible
Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.

NET Bible
and he slaughtered it. Moses then took the blood and put it all around on the horns of the altar with his finger and decontaminated the altar, and he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and so consecrated it to make atonement on it.

New Heart English Bible
He killed it; and Moses took the blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement for it.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.

World English Bible
He killed it; and Moses took the blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement for it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and [one] slaughters, and Moses takes the blood, and puts [it] around the horns of the altar with his finger, and cleanses the altar, and he has poured out the blood at the foundation of the altar, and sanctifies it, to make atonement on it.

Young's Literal Translation
and one slaughtereth, and Moses taketh the blood, and putteth on the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and cleanseth the altar, and the blood he hath poured out at the foundation of the altar, and sanctifieth it, to make atonement upon it.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will slaughter; and Moses will take the blood and give upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and he will purify the altar, and he will sour out the blood at the foundation of the altar, and he will consecrate it to expiate upon it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He immolated it: and took the blood, and dipping his finger in it, he touched the horns of the altar round about. Which being expiated, and sanctified, he poured the rest of the blood at the bottom thereof.

Catholic Public Domain Version
he immolated it. And drawing the blood, and dipping his finger in it, he touched the horns of the altar all around. And when it was expiated and sanctified, he poured out the remainder of the blood at its base.

New American Bible
When it was slaughtered, Moses took the blood and with his finger he put it on the horns around the altar, thus purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. Thus he consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.

New Revised Standard Version
and it was slaughtered. Moses took the blood and with his finger put some on each of the horns of the altar, purifying the altar; then he poured out the blood at the base of the altar. Thus he consecrated it, to make atonement for it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he killed it; and Moses took some of the blood with his finger and sprinkled it upon the horns of the altar round about and purified the altar, and the rest of the blood he poured at the base of the altar and sanctified it to make atonement for it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Moshe slaughtered it and took from the blood with his finger and sprinkled on the horns of the altar as a circle and purified the altar and he poured the blood on the base of the altar and hallowed it and atoned for it.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And when it was slain, Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured out the remaining blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement for it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar round about with his finger; and he purified the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement upon it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Priests' Sin Offering
14Moses then brought the bull near for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 15Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it. 16Moses also took all the fat that was on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys and their fat, and burned it all on the altar.…

Cross References
Exodus 29:10-14
You are to present the bull at the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head. / And you shall slaughter the bull before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. / Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; then pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. ...

Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Exodus 30:10
Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. The altar is most holy to the LORD.”

Hebrews 9:12-14
He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. / For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, / how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

Leviticus 4:7
The priest must then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. And he is to pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

Hebrews 10:4
because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Leviticus 16:18-19
Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. / He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

Hebrews 9:7
But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

Hebrews 10:19-22
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, / by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, / and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ...

Leviticus 6:30
But no sin offering may be eaten if its blood has been brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place; it must be burned.

Romans 3:25
God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

Leviticus 9:9
The sons of Aaron brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and applied it to the horns of the altar. And he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Leviticus 14:14
The priest is to take some of the blood from the guilt offering and put it on the right earlobe of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.


Treasury of Scripture

And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation on it.

he slew it

Leviticus 1:5,11
And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation…

Leviticus 3:2,8
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about…

Exodus 29:10,11
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 the head of the bullock…

Moses

Leviticus 4:7,17,18,30
And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation…

Exodus 29:12,36,37
And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar…

Ezekiel 43:19-27
And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering…

to make

Leviticus 6:30
And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.

Leviticus 16:20
And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:

2 Chronicles 29:24
And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

Exodus 29:11
And thou shalt kill the bullock before the LORD, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

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Altar Atonement Base Blood Bottom Finger Horns Killed Moses Poured Purified Purify Reconciliation Remaining Rest Round Sanctified Slain Slew
Leviticus 8
1. Moses consecrates Aaron and his sons
14. Their sin offering
18. Their burnt offering
22. The ram of consecration
31. The place and time of their consecration














And Moses slaughtered the bull
The act of slaughtering the bull is a significant ritual in the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests. The Hebrew word for "slaughtered" is "שָׁחַט" (shachat), which implies a deliberate and sacred act of killing for sacrificial purposes. This act signifies the seriousness of the priestly office and the need for purification before approaching God. Historically, the bull was a symbol of strength and service, representing the need for a strong and pure mediator between God and His people.

took some of the blood
Blood in the Hebrew context, "דָּם" (dam), is a powerful symbol of life and atonement. The taking of the blood signifies the transfer of life and the covering of sin. In the sacrificial system, blood was essential for purification and sanctification, pointing forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, whose blood would be shed for the atonement of humanity's sins.

and put it on the horns of the altar with his finger
The "horns of the altar" were projections on each corner of the altar, symbolizing strength and power. By applying blood to the horns, Moses was sanctifying the altar, setting it apart for holy use. The use of the finger indicates a personal and direct application, emphasizing the intimate involvement of the priest in the atonement process. This act foreshadows the personal nature of Christ's sacrifice, where He directly intercedes for humanity.

to purify the altar
The Hebrew word for "purify" is "חִטֵּא" (chitte), meaning to cleanse or make ceremonially clean. The altar, as the place of sacrifice, needed to be purified to be acceptable for offerings to God. This purification process underscores the holiness required in worship and the need for cleansing from sin, a theme that runs throughout Scripture and finds fulfillment in the cleansing power of Jesus' sacrifice.

He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar
Pouring out the blood at the base of the altar signifies the complete offering of life to God. The base of the altar represents the foundation of worship, and the pouring out of blood symbolizes total surrender and dedication. This act is a precursor to the New Testament understanding of offering one's life as a living sacrifice, wholly devoted to God.

and consecrated it to make atonement for it
The term "consecrated" comes from the Hebrew "קָדַשׁ" (qadash), meaning to set apart as holy. The altar is consecrated to make it a suitable place for atonement, which is the reconciliation between God and humanity. The concept of atonement, "כִּפֶּר" (kaphar), involves covering or appeasing, pointing to the ultimate atonement made by Christ. This verse highlights the necessity of holiness and the provision of God for reconciliation through sacrifice, culminating in the redemptive work of Jesus.

(15) And he slew it.--Better, and he killed it, as it is rendered in the Authorised Version, in Leviticus 8:19. In ordinary cases the offerer himself slaughtered the victim (see Leviticus 1:5), but in the case before us Moses performed this act in accordance with the command in Exodus 29:11.

And Moses took the blood.--That is, having caught the blood in the bowl, he threw it upon the four corners of the altar, as described in Leviticus 1:5--not, however, on the horns of the altar of incense, or in the tabernacle, as in the case of the sin offering for the high priest and for the nation. (See Leviticus 4:7; Leviticus 4:16-18.) . . .

Verses 15-17. - And Moses took the blood. Moses continues still to act as priest, and the new sacrifice is once offered by him. He performs the priestly act of presenting the blood; but on this occasion, which is special, the blood is not dealt with in the manner prescribed for the high priest's offerings (Leviticus 4:6). The reason of this is that Aaron was not yet high priest, and also that the offering was made not only for Aaron, but also for his sons; and further, the blood as well as the anointing oil was required to purify the altar, and sanctify it (see Hebrews 9:21). Although the blood was not "brought into the tabernacle," yet the bullock was burnt with fire without the camp, not eaten according to the rule of Leviticus 7:26, 30. This was necessary, as there were as yet no priests to eat it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Moses
מֹשֶׁ֤ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

slaughtered [the bull],
וַיִּשְׁחָ֗ט (way·yiš·ḥāṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7819: To slaughter, beat

took
וַיִּקַּ֨ח (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

some of the blood,
הַדָּם֙ (had·dām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

and applied
וַ֠יִּתֵּן (way·yit·tên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

it with his finger
בְּאֶצְבָּע֔וֹ (bə·’eṣ·bā·‘ōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 676: Something to sieze with, a finger, a toe

to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

all [four]
סָבִיב֙ (sā·ḇîḇ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

horns
קַרְנ֨וֹת (qar·nō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 7161: A horn, a flask, cornet, an elephant's tooth, a corner, a peak, a ray, power

of the altar,
הַמִּזְבֵּ֤חַ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

purifying
וַיְחַטֵּ֖א (way·ḥaṭ·ṭê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

the altar.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

He poured out
יָצַק֙ (yā·ṣaq)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3332: To pour out, to melt, cast as metal, to place firmly, to stiffen, grow hard

the rest of the blood
הַדָּ֗ם (had·dām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

at
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the base
יְס֣וֹד (yə·sō·wḏ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3247: Foundation, base

of the altar
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

and consecrated it
וַֽיְקַדְּשֵׁ֖הוּ (way·qad·də·šê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated

so that atonement could be made
לְכַפֵּ֥ר (lə·ḵap·pêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel

on it.
עָלָֽיו׃ (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT Law: Leviticus 8:15 He killed it (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 8:14
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