What is the meaning of Exodus 29:14?

But burn the flesh of the bull

– In ordaining Aaron and his sons, the LORD says, “But burn the flesh of the bull…” (Exodus 29:14).

– Nothing is to be eaten; the animal that bore the priests’ guilt must be consumed by fire.

– Fire pictures God’s holiness consuming sin (see Leviticus 4:12; Deuteronomy 4:24).

– Hebrews 13:11 reminds us that the bodies of sin-offering animals were burned, underlining how thoroughly sin must be judged.

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and its hide and dung

– Even the parts normally valuable (the hide) and the parts considered worthless (the dung) are added to the fire (compare Leviticus 8:17).

– God leaves no room for holding back a “souvenir” of sin; everything associated with guilt is destroyed.

– Paul echoes the idea by counting all earthly gain as “dung” in light of Christ’s worth (Philippians 3:8), showing that every residue of sin’s economy must go.

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outside the camp

– The burning happens “outside the camp,” away from Israel’s dwellings (Exodus 29:14; Leviticus 4:12).

– This physical distance underlines moral separation: sin must be removed from God’s people.

– Numbers 19:3 follows the same pattern for the red heifer, reinforcing the principle.

– Hebrews 13:11-13 draws the connection to Jesus, who suffered “outside the gate” so that believers might be cleansed and brought near.

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it is a sin offering

– The bull carries the priests’ sins symbolically; its life is given in their place (Leviticus 4:20).

– The term “sin offering” assures Israel that real, God-ordained atonement is being made (Leviticus 6:30).

– Ultimately, Christ fulfills every sin offering: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:21), providing complete forgiveness.

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summary

Exodus 29:14 shows God’s uncompromising remedy for sin: the substitute is totally consumed, every trace removed, and the whole act carried out away from the camp. These details point forward to the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus outside Jerusalem’s walls, who bore our sins completely so we can live close to God in holiness.