Exodus 29:10-14 · Bible study
Exodus 29:10-14 Commentary: Sin Offering & Laying on of Hands
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the sin offering in priestly consecration: laying on of hands, blood on altar, burning outside camp. Significance for atonement and Christ's priesthood.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The consecration of priests begins with a sin offering, where identification, blood atonement, and disposal outside the camp prefigure the work of Christ.
- Key words: samakh (lay hands), dam (blood), chata’at (sin offering), chuts (outside), mizbeach (altar).
- Main debate: Whether the burning outside camp signifies the total removal of sin or the insufficiency of the old covenant sacrifices to fully cleanse.
- Theological theme: Atonement requires identification with a substitute, blood applied in God’s presence, and sin removed from the community.
- Best use: Teaching the typology of Christ as high priest and sacrifice, and the necessity of cleansing before service.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
10You 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.
11And you shall slaughter the bull before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
12Take 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.
13Take all the fat that covers the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar.
14But burn the flesh of the bull and its hide and dung outside the camp; it is a sin offering.
WEB World English Bible 2000
10“You shall bring the bull before the Tent of Meeting; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull.
11You shall kill the bull before Yahweh at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
12You shall take of the blood of the bull, and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; and you shall pour out all the blood at the base of the altar.
13You shall take all the fat that covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar.
14But the meat of the bull, and its skin, and its dung, you shall burn with fire outside of the camp. It is a sin offering.
KJV King James Version 1769
10And 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.
11And thou shalt kill the bullock before the Lord, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
12And 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.
13And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.
14But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
10And thou shalt bring the bullock before the tent of meeting: and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock.
11And thou shalt kill the bullock before Jehovah, at the door of the tent of meeting.
12And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger; and thou shalt pour out all the blood at the base of the altar.
13And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul upon the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.
14But the flesh of the bullock, and its skin, and its dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin-offering.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
10and hast brought near the bullock before the tent of meeting, and Aaron hath laid--his sons also--their hands on the head of the bullock.
11`And thou hast slaughtered the bullock before Jehovah, at the opening of the tent of meeting,
12and hast taken of the blood of the bullock, and hast put it on the horns of the altar with thy finger, and all the blood thou dost pour out at the foundation of the altar;
13and thou hast taken all the fat which is covering the inwards, and the redundance on the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat which is on them, and hast made perfume on the altar;
14and the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, thou dost burn with fire at the outside of the camp; it is a sin-offering.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
10And thou shalt present the bullock before the tent of meeting; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock;
11and thou shalt slaughter the bullock before Jehovah, at the entrance of the tent of meeting;
12and thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it on the horns of the altar with thy finger, and shalt pour all the blood at the bottom of the altar.
13And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the net of the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.
14And the flesh of the bullock, and its skin, and its dung, shalt thou burn with fire outside the camp: it is a sin-offering.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
10Thou shalt present also the calf before the tabernacle of the testimony. And Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon his head,
11And thou shalt kill him in the sight of the Lord, beside the door of the tabernacle of the testimony.
12And taking some of the blood of the calf, thou shalt put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and the rest of the blood thou shalt pour at the bottom thereof.
13Thou shalt take also all the fat that covereth the entrails, and the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and shalt offer a burn offering upon the altar:
14But the flesh of the calf, and the hide and the dung, thou shalt burn abroad, without the camp, because it is for sin.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 29:10
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this sin offering inaugurates the consecration of Aaron and his sons. The laying on of hands (v. 10) transfers identification with the victim. Adam Clarke notes that the rite “consecrated the animal to God” and signified that the offerer’s life was forfeit due to sin. The blood applied to the altar’s horns (v. 12) brings the offering near to God; the Cambridge Bible explains that blood, as the seat of life, “made atonement” when brought into God’s presence. The fat is burned on the altar as God’s portion. The flesh, skin and dung are burned outside the camp (v. 14). Wesley states that this disposal “signified the imperfection of the legal dispensation” and pointed forward to a better high priest and sacrifice. The sin offering must precede the burnt offering and peace offering; as Jamieson-Fausset-Brown puts it, “until guilt be removed, no acceptable service can be performed.”
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The passage prescribes a sin offering for the consecration of priests, involving identification through hand-laying, blood atonement on the altar, and disposal of the remains outside the camp.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Laying on of hands | All traditions see this as an act of identification and transfer of sin or guilt. | Some emphasize confession accompanying the act (Clarke cites Mishnaic practice); others focus on the symbolic transfer without specifying confession. |
| Blood applied to horns of altar | Blood makes atonement by being brought near to God. | The precise significance of the horns, whether they represent refuge, strength, or the point of contact with God, varies among commentators. |
| Disposal outside the camp | The burning outside camp removes impurity and sin from the sanctuary community. | Whether this signifies the imperfection of the Levitical system (Wesley) or primarily ritual purity (Cambridge) is a matter of emphasis. |
| Necessity of sin offering for priests | Priests, being sinful, must be cleansed before they can mediate for others. | Catholics see this as supporting priestly holiness and confession; Protestants emphasize that even the best human priesthood points to Christ, the only sinless mediator. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The setting is the consecration of the priesthood, a seven-day ceremony at the Tent of Meeting. The bull is a sin offering, distinct from the burnt offering and the ram of consecration that follow (vv. 15-22). The ritual actions carry deep meaning.
First, the laying on of hands (סָמַךְ, samakh) by Aaron and his sons. This verb means to lean or rest upon, indicating a transfer of identity and guilt. Later practice (described in the Mishnah) included verbal confession (Clarke). The animal becomes the bearer of the priests’ sin.
Second, the blood. The bull is slain “before Yahweh” at the Tent’s entrance (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה). Its blood is applied to the horns of the altar, the corners that represent strength and refuge. This act brings the blood, the life, near to God, making atonement (Cambridge). The rest of the blood is poured at the base of the altar, symbolizing the complete outflow of life.
Third, the disposal. The fat covering the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and the kidneys are burned on the altar as “the food of God,” the choicest parts. But the rest of the bull, flesh, skin, dung, is burned “outside the camp.” This pattern is consistent with sin offerings for priests and the community (Lev 4:11-12, 21). The camp boundary marks the sphere of God’s sanctified presence; what is impure is removed from it. Wesley notes this points to “the imperfection of the legal dispensation,” since the priests’ own sin offering could not fully cleanse. The author of Hebrews later uses this very detail to show Christ “suffered outside the gate” (Heb 13:11-13), offering a once-for-all cleansing.
The entire ceremony underscores that even the priests, who will mediate between God and Israel, must first be cleansed. Their sin is real, and only a sacrificial substitute can address it.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this passage. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the ancient versions (Septuagint, Targums) reflect the same ritual sequence with only minor differences in wording.
Reception History
The passage has been read throughout church history as a type of Christ’s sacrifice. The author of Hebrews explicitly connects the burning outside the camp to Jesus suffering “outside the gate” (Heb 13:11-13). Early Christian writers saw the sin offering as pointing to Christ, the sinless one who bore our sins. Later interpreters, such as Wesley, emphasized that the disposal outside the camp “signified the imperfection of the legal dispensation” and the need for a better high priest. Modern scholarship examines the ritual’s function in establishing priestly purity and its theological significance within the Pentateuch.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Identification, Aaron and his sons lay their hands on the bull, confessing sin and transferring guilt. The minister of God must first acknowledge his own need of atonement.
- Application, The blood is applied to the altar’s horns and poured at its base. Atonement is not abstract; it is brought into God’s presence at the point of contact between heaven and earth.
- Removal, The remains are burned outside the camp. Sin is taken away entirely, yet the burning outside signals that this sacrifice does not fully perfect the worshiper, it points beyond itself.
Five-point outline
- Presentation (v.10a), The bull is brought before the Tent of Meeting, into God’s presence. The sacrifice must be brought to where God dwells.
- Hands laid (v.10b), Aaron and his sons lean on the victim. They identify with it; their sins are symbolically transferred.
- Slaughter and blood (vv.11-12), The bull is killed. Blood, the life, is applied to the altar’s horns and poured out, atonement is made visible.
- Fat burned (v.13), The best parts go up in smoke to God, acknowledging that all belongs to Him and that the offering is acceptable.
- Outside the camp (v.14), The remainder is burned away from the sanctuary. Sin is removed from God’s presence, but the disposal outside points to the incompleteness of the old covenant.
Illustration hooks
- A surgical team scrubbing in before an operation: the cleansing ritual must happen before any work on the patient.
- A coach who has to submit to the same training rules as every athlete, no one is exempt from meeting the standard.
- Signing a transfer document for a car: the physical act of signing transfers ownership, just as laying on of hands transferred guilt.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did the priests need to offer for themselves before they could offer for the people? Does that mean leaders are more sinful?
- What does it mean that the sin offering was burned outside the camp? How does that apply to us today?
- How does this passage help us understand Jesus’ priesthood as described in Hebrews?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows that even those chosen to lead worship need cleansing. It raises questions about sin, substitution, and the limits of the old covenant. As you discuss, consider how these rituals prepare us for the perfect sacrifice of Christ.
Discussion questions
- Read Exodus 29:10-14. What actions are commanded, and who performs each one?
- Why do Aaron and his sons lay their hands on the bull’s head? What does this act communicate about sin and substitution?
- Why is the blood put on the horns of the altar and poured at its base? What does blood represent in the Old Testament? (See Leviticus 17:11)
- What parts of the bull are burned on the altar, and what parts are burned outside the camp? Why the difference?
- The priests must offer this sin offering before they can minister. What does this teach about the nature of sin and the need for atonement?
- How does the disposal “outside the camp” point forward to Jesus’ crucifixion? (See Hebrews 13:11-13)
- If even the priests needed a sin offering, what does that tell us about our own approach to God? How does Christ’s sacrifice meet this need once and for all?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 29:15 | “You shall also take the one ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. |
| Exodus 29:19 | “You shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. |
| Leviticus 1:4 | He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. |
| Leviticus 3:2 | He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar. |
| Leviticus 8:14 | He brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. |
| Leviticus 8:18 | He presented the ram of the burnt offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. |
| Leviticus 16:21 | Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is ready. |
| Isaiah 53:6 | All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights the verbal confession that accompanied the hand-laying ritual: the offerer explicitly declared his sins and his intent to make atonement. The hands set the animal apart as a substitute, bearing the offerer's guilt so that its life could redeem his life from deserved death.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Before their consecration is complete, the priests are treated as laity, so the blood is applied to the outer altar's horns and its base rather than the inner sanctuary. The commentator also identifies the "caul upon the liver" as the lobus caudatus, a small lobe singled out for burning because of its importance in ancient divination practices.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Moses, not Aaron or his sons, killed the bullock because they were not yet fully consecrated to serve as priests. He treats the laying on of hands as a vicarious act placing the priests' sins on the animal, which prefigures the imputation of sin to Christ. Every detail—the blood applied to the altar, the fat burned, and the carcass destroyed outside the camp—points to Christ's substitutionary suffering and death.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights the deliberate order of the consecration sacrifices: the sin offering must come first because guilt must be removed before any service can be acceptable. He also notes the unique treatment of the peace offering's blood, applied to the priests' extremities, signifying that atonement covers the whole person.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the command to consecrate the priests appears in Exodus before its execution in Leviticus because the prophetic office must take the lead. Moses, as prophet, consecrates Aaron, showing the initiative belongs to prophecy, not priesthood. The tabernacle must be built first, establishing God's dwelling, before the priests can serve.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights that under the law, even priests had to offer a sin offering for themselves before they could atone for others, showing their own infirmity. He notes that burning the entire offering outside the camp signaled the old covenant's inability to remove the priests' sins, pointing ahead to a better high priest and sacrifice.