Numbers 8:12

Complete Jewish Bible

The L'vi'im will lay their hands on the heads of the bulls; the one you will offer as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to Adonai to make atonement for the L'vi'im.

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.

King James Version
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.

Lexham English Bible
And the Levites will lay their hands on the head of the one bull and offer it as a sin offering and the other one as a burnt offering to Yahweh, to make atonement for the Levites.

New Century Version
"The Levites will put their hands on the bulls' heads—one bull will be a sin offering to the Lord , and the other will be a burnt offering, to remove the sins of the Levites so they will belong to the Lord .

New English Translation
When the Levites lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, offer the one for a purification offering and the other for a whole burnt offering to the Lord , to make atonement for the Levites.

Amplified Bible
"Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, then you are to offer the one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.

New American Standard Bible
"Now the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls; then you are to offer the one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And the Leuites shall put their handes vpon the heades of the bullockes, and make thou the one a sinne offring, and the other a burnt offring vnto the Lorde, that thou mayest make an atonement for the Leuites.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls; then offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to Yahweh, to make atonement for the Levites.

Contemporary English Version
After this, the Levites are to place their hands on the heads of the bulls. Then one of the bulls will be sacrificed for the forgiveness of sin, and the other to make sure that I am pleased.

Darby Translation
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, to Jehovah, to make atonement for the Levites.

Easy-to-Read Version
"Tell the Levites to put their hands on the heads of the bulls. One bull will be a sin offering and the other bull will be used as a burnt offering to the Lord . These offerings will make the Levites pure.

English Standard Version
Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the Lord to make atonement for the Levites.

George Lamsa Translation
And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.

Good News Translation
The Levites shall then put their hands on the heads of the two bulls; one is to be offered as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, in order to perform the ritual of purification for the Levites.

Christian Standard Bible®
Next the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls. Sacrifice one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord, to make atonement for the Levites.

Literal Translation
And the Levites shall lay their hands on the head of the bulls. And you shall offer the one for a sin offering, and one a burnt offering to Jehovah, to atone for the Levites.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the Leuites shall laye their handes vpon the heedes of the bullockes, and the one shalbe made a synnofferynge, the other a burntofferinge vnto the LORDE, to make an attonement for the Leuites.

American Standard Version
And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and offer thou the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, unto Jehovah, to make atonement for the Levites.

Bible in Basic English
And the Levites are to put their hands on the heads of the oxen, and one of the oxen is to be offered for a sin-offering and the other for a burned offering to the Lord to take away the sin of the Levites.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the Leuites shal put their handes vpon the heades of the bullockes: and thou shalt offer the one for a sinne offeryng, and the other for a burnt offeryng vnto the Lorde, that thou mayest make an attonement for the Leuites.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks; and offer thou the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, unto the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.

King James Version (1611)
And the Leuites shall lay their hands vpon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sinne offering, and the other for a burnt offering vnto the Lord, to make an atonement for the Leuites.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the calves; and thou shalt offer one for a sin-offering, and the other for a whole-burnt-offering to the Lord, to make atonement for them.

English Revised Version
And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and offer thou the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.

Berean Standard Bible
And the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and offer to the LORD one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, to make atonement for the Levites.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Also the Leuytis schulen sette her hondis on the heedis of the oxun, of whiche oxun thou schalt make oon for synne, and the tother in to brent sacrifice of the Lord, that thou preye for hem.

Young's Literal Translation
`And the Levites lay their hands on the head of the bullocks, and make thou the one a sin-offering, and the one a burnt-offering to Jehovah, to atone for the Levites,

Update Bible Version
And the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bullocks: and he [Aaron] shall make of one of them a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, to Yahweh, to make atonement for the Levites.

Webster's Bible Translation
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, to the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.

World English Bible
The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering to Yahweh, to make atonement for the Levites.

New King James Version
Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls, and you shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.

New Living Translation
"Next the Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls. Present one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord , to purify the Levites and make them right with the Lord .

New Life Bible
The Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the bulls. They will give one for a sin gift and the other for a burnt gift to the Lord, to pay for the sins of the Levites.

New Revised Standard
The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and he shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the Lord , to make atonement for the Levites.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, the Levites, shall lean their hands upon the head of the bullocks; then make thou of the one a sin-bearer and of the other an ascending-sacrifice unto Yahweh, to put a propitiatory-covering over the Levites.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The Levites also shall put their hands upon the heads of the oxen, of which thou shalt sacrifice one for sin, and the other for a holocaust to the Lord, to pray for them.

Revised Standard Version
Then the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bulls; and you shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.

THE MESSAGE
"Have the Levites place their hands on the heads of the bulls, selecting one for the Absolution-Offering and another for the Whole-Burnt-Offering to God to make atonement for the Levites. Then have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and present them as a Wave-Offering to God . This is the procedure for setting apart the Levites from the rest of the People of Israel; the Levites are exclusively for my use.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Now the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls; then offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.

Contextual Overview

⁵ Adonai said to Moshe, ⁶ "Take the L'vi'im from among the people of Isra'el and cleanse them. ⁷ Here is how you are to cleanse them: sprinkle the purification water on them, have them shave their whole body with a razor, and have them wash their clothes and cleanse themselves. ⁸ Then they are to take a young bull with its grain offering, which is to be fine flour mixed with olive oil; while you take another bull for a sin offering. ⁹ You are to present the L'vi'im in front of the tent of meeting, and assemble the entire community of the people of Isra'el. ¹⁰ You will present the L'vi'im before Adonai , the people of Isra'el will lay their hands on the L'vi'im, ¹¹ and Aharon will offer the L'vi'im before Adonai as a wave offering from the people of Isra'el, so that they may do Adonai 's service. ¹² The L'vi'im will lay their hands on the heads of the bulls; the one you will offer as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to Adonai to make atonement for the L'vi'im. ¹³ You are to place the L'vi'im before Aharon and his sons, and offer them as a wave offering to Adonai . ¹⁴ In this way you will separate the L'vi'im from the people of Isra'el, and the L'vi'im will belong to me.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Levites: Exodus 29:10, Leviticus 1:4, Leviticus 8:14, Leviticus 16:21

the one: Numbers 8:8, Numbers 6:14, Numbers 6:16, Leviticus 5:7, Leviticus 5:9, Leviticus 5:10, Leviticus 8:14, Leviticus 8:18, Leviticus 9:7, Leviticus 14:19, Leviticus 14:20, Leviticus 14:22, Hebrews 10:4-10

atonement: Leviticus 1:4, Leviticus 4:20, Leviticus 4:35, Leviticus 8:34, Leviticus 16:6, Leviticus 16:11, Leviticus 16:16-19, Hebrews 9:22

Reciprocal: Numbers 8:21 - Aaron made

Cross-References

Genesis 8:2
Also the fountains of the deep and the windows of the sky were stopped, the rain from the sky was restrained,

Genesis 8:3
and the water came back from completely covering the earth. It was after 150 days that the water went down.

Genesis 8:5
The water kept going down until the tenth month; on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains were seen.

Genesis 8:6
After forty days Noach opened the window of the ark which he had built;

Genesis 8:7
and he sent out a raven, which flew back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth.

Genesis 8:8
Then he sent out a dove, to see if the water had gone from the surface of the ground.

Genesis 8:10
He waited another seven days and again sent the dove out from the ark.

Psalms 27:14
Put your hope in Adonai , be strong, and let your heart take courage! Yes, put your hope in Adonai !

Isaiah 8:17
I will wait for Adonai , who is hiding his face from the house of Ya‘akov; yes, I will look for him.

Isaiah 25:9
On that day they will say, "See! This is our God! We waited for him to save us. This is Adonai ; we put our hope in him. We are full of joy, so glad he saved us!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 make the atonement for them, Numbers 8:21, for which purpose these sacrifices were offered, particularly the first; and the latter by way of thanksgiving for atonement made by the former: so it follows,

to make an atonement for the Levites; who could not be admitted to service until their sins were expiated; as no man is worthy to be employed in the work of God, but such for whom reconciliation for their sins is made by the blood and sacrifice of Christ, by which they are purged from dead works to serve the living God.

s על ראש "super caput", Tigurine version. Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The Levites could only undertake their duties Numbers 3:0; Numbers 4:0 after the formal exchange of the Levites for the first-born Numbers 3:44-51.

The distinction between the “consecration” of the priests Leviticus 8:0 and the less solemn “purification” Numbers 8:21 of the Levites is marked. These rites of purification are similar to those incumbent on the priests of Egypt.

Numbers 8:7

Water of purifying - literally, “sin water:” i. e. water to cleanse from sin; no doubt taken from the laver of the sanctuary, which was used by the priests for purification before they went into the tabernacle to minister (compare Numbers 5:17; Exodus 30:18 ff).

The “sprinkling” of so large a body of men could have been only general, but tokens of individual purification are specified (compare also Leviticus 14:8).

Numbers 8:8

The two bullocks were “to make an atonement for the Levites,” and therefore are presented in their name. These offerings are similar to those prescribed in Leviticus 8:14 ff at the consecration of the priests, except that the burnt-offering was on that occasion a ram. The larger victim corresponds to the larger number of the Levites.

Numbers 8:10

The children of Israel - i. e. through the heads of their tribes, who Numbers 7:2 no doubt acted for their tribesmen. This act, the distinguishing feature of the ceremony, represented the transfer to the Levites of the sacred duties originally incumbent on the whole people.

Numbers 8:11

Offer ... offering - Compare the margin Aaron pointed to the Levites, and then waved his hands, indicating (compare Leviticus 7:30 note) that the offering was dedicated to God, and, again, by grant from Him, withdrawn for the use of the priests.

Numbers 8:19

Make an atonement for the children of Israel - i. e. by performing those services which were due from the children of Israel; the omission of which by the children of Israel would, but for the interposition of the Levites, have called down “wrath” from God, or Numbers 1:53 “plague.” The institution of the Levites was an extension of that mediatorial system which the people themselves, terrified at the direct manifestations to them of the divine presence, desired; see Deuteronomy 5:25. Further, it is suggested to us here as an act of mercy on the part of God; yet even the priests and Levites themselves were not always sufficiently heedful and reverent. Compare Numbers 17:10; Leviticus 10:1 ff; 2 Samuel 6:6 following.

Numbers 8:21

Were purified - Rather, purified themselves; as directed in Numbers 8:7.