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Monday, June 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 5 / Ordinary 10
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Easy-to-Read Version

Numbers 8:12

"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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Levites;   Offerings;   Priest;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Burnt Offering, the;   Levites, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Levites;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Levite;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Building;   Laying on of Hands;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jephthah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Bull;   Cattle;   Ordination, Ordain;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Numbers, Book of;   Priests and Levites;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Hands, Laying on of;   Levites ;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Government of the Hebrews;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Events of the Encampment;   Priesthood, the;   Moses, the Man of God;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Hafṭarah;  

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.
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.
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.
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 The Lord said to Moses, 6 "Separate the Levites from the other Israelites. Make these Levites clean. 7 This is what you should do to make them clean: Sprinkle the special water from the sin offering on them. This water will make them clean. Then they must shave their bodies and wash their clothes. This will make their bodies clean. 8 "They must take a young bull and the grain offering that must be offered with it. This grain offering will be flour mixed with oil. Then take another young bull for a sin offering. 9 Bring the Levites to the area in front of the Meeting Tent. Then bring all the Israelites together at that place. 10 Bring the Levites before the Lord . The Israelites will put their hands on them. 11 Aaron will give the Levites to the Lord as an offering from the Israelites. Then the Levites will be ready to do their special work for the Lord . 12 "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. 13 Tell the Levites to stand in front of Aaron and his sons. Then give the Levites to the Lord . They will be like an offering. 14 This will make the Levites holy. They will be different from the other Israelites. The Levites 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
Rain stopped falling from the sky, and water stopped flowing from under the earth.
Genesis 8:3
The water that covered the earth began to go down. After 150 days the water was low enough that the boat touched land again. The boat stopped on one of the mountains of Ararat. This was the 17th day of the seventh month.
Genesis 8:5
The water continued to go down, and by the first day of the tenth month, the tops of the mountains were above the water.
Genesis 8:6
Forty days later Noah opened the window he had made in the boat.
Genesis 8:7
Then he sent out a raven. The raven flew from place to place until the ground was dry and the water was gone.
Genesis 8:8
Noah also sent out a dove. He wanted it to find dry ground. He wanted to know if water still covered the earth.
Genesis 8:10
After seven days Noah again sent out the dove.
Psalms 27:14
Wait for the Lord 's help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord 's help.
Isaiah 8:17
The Lord has turned away from the family of Jacob. But I will wait for him. I trust that he will come to save us.
Isaiah 25:9
At that time people will say, "Here is our God! He is the one we have been waiting for. He has come to save us. We have been waiting for our Lord . So we will rejoice and be happy when he saves 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.


 
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