Leviticus 9:16-21 · Bible study
Leviticus 9:16-21 Commentary: The Inaugural Sacrifices
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Aaron offers the first burnt, grain and peace offerings as high priest. What does 'according to the ordinance' mean for worship then and now?
Research Summary
- Meaning: The first full set of sacrifices establishes the pattern of atonement, dedication and communion, all done in obedience to God's commands.
- Key words: ordinance (H4941 mishpat, judgment, decree); peace offerings (H8002 shelem, covenant friendship); wave offering (H8573 tenufah, a swinging or presenting before the Lord).
- Main debate: Whether the wave offering is purely symbolic presentation to God or also designates the priestly portion for consumption.
- Theological theme: God provides a way for His people to draw near through substitutionary sacrifice and obedient worship.
- Best use: Teaching the structure of biblical worship as God's gift, not human invention, and pointing forward to Christ the true High Priest.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
16He presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the ordinance.
17Next he presented the grain offering, took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar in addition to the morning’s burnt offering.
18Then he slaughtered the ox and the ram as the people’s peace offering. His sons brought him the blood, and he sprinkled it on all sides of the altar.
19They also brought the fat portions from the ox and the ram—the fat tail, the fat covering the entrails, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver—
20and placed these on the breasts. Aaron burned the fat portions on the altar,
21but he waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses had commanded.
WEB World English Bible 2000
16He presented the burnt offering, and offered it according to the ordinance.
17He presented the meal offering, and filled his hand from there, and burned it upon the altar, in addition to the burnt offering of the morning.
18He also killed the bull and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people. Aaron’s sons delivered to him the blood, which he sprinkled around on the altar;
19and the fat of the bull and of the ram, the fat tail, and that which covers the innards, and the kidneys, and the cover of the liver;
20and they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burned the fat on the altar.
21Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh for a wave offering before Yahweh, as Moses commanded.
KJV King James Version 1769
16And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.
17And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.
18He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,
19And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:
20And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
21And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the Lord; as Moses commanded.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
16And he presented the burnt-offering, and offered it according to the ordinance.
17And he presented the meal-offering, and filled his hand therefrom, and burnt it upon the altar, besides the burnt-offering of the morning.
18He slew also the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron’s sons delivered unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,
19and the fat of the ox and of the ram, the fat tail, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul of the liver:
20and they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
21and the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave-offering before Jehovah; as Moses commanded.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
16and he bringeth near the burnt-offering, and maketh it, according to the ordinance;
17and he bringeth near the present, and filleth his palm with it, and maketh perfume on the altar, apart from the burnt-offering of the morning.
18And he slaughtereth the bullock and the ram, a sacrifice of the peace-offerings, which are for the people, and sons of Aaron present the blood unto him (and he sprinkleth it on the altar round about),
19and the fat of the bullock, and of the ram, the fat tail, and the covering of the inwards , and the kidneys, and the redundance above the liver,
20and they set the fat on the breasts, and he maketh perfume with the fat on the altar;
21and the breasts, and the right leg hath Aaron waved--a wave-offering before Jehovah, as He hath commanded Moses.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
16And he presented the burnt-offering and offered it according to the ordinance.
17And he presented the oblation, and took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar, besides the burnt-offering of the morning.
18And he slaughtered the bullock and the ram of the sacrifice of peace-offering which was for the people. And Aaron's sons delivered to him the blood, and he sprinkled it on the altar round about;
19and the pieces of fat of the bullock and of the ram, the fat tail and what covers [the inwards], and the kidneys, and the net of the liver;
20and they put the pieces of fat on the breast-pieces, and he burned the pieces of fat on the altar;
21and the breast-pieces and the right shoulder Aaron waved as a wave-offering before Jehovah, as Moses had commanded.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
16He offered the holocaust.
17Adding in the sacrifice the libations, which are offered withal, and burning them upon the altar, besides the ceremonies of the morning holocaust.
18He immolated also the bullock and the ram, and peace offerings of the people: and his sons brought him the blood, which he poured upon the altar round about.
19The fat also of the bullock, and the rump of the ram, and the two little kidneys with their fat, and the caul of the liver,
20They put upon the breasts. And after the fat was burnt upon the altar,
21Aaron separated their breasts, and the right shoulders, elevating them before the Lord, as Moses had commanded.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 9:16
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this passage records Aaron's first complete series of offerings as high priest, following the prescribed order. Barnes notes the threefold progression: sin offering for atonement, burnt offering for surrender of body, soul and spirit to Yahweh, and peace offering for communion with those who are justified and sanctified. The phrase "according to the ordinance" (v16) signals that every action matched the instructions God gave Moses. Gill emphasizes that Aaron did not innovate but followed "the judgment, ordinance, and appointment of God." Keil and Delitzsch observe that this inaugural service placed the congregation in its proper relation to the Lord. The peace offering for the people (v18) allowed them to experience restored fellowship, represented by the waving of the breasts and right thigh before Yahweh. The wave offering, as Cambridge notes, became the priest's portion, showing that those who serve God also receive from Him.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Aaron offered the sacrifices exactly as God had commanded through Moses, and the peace offering established fellowship between God and the people.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The order of sacrifices | All traditions recognize the sequence: sin offering, burnt offering, peace offering, as prescribed in Leviticus 1, 7. | Some emphasize a theological progression (atonement, dedication, communion), while others focus on ritual necessity without symbolic overlay. |
| The wave offering's purpose | The breasts and right thigh were presented before God in a gesture of offering. | Jewish tradition sees it as a dedication to God that then becomes the priest's portion. Christian readings sometimes see it as typologically pointing to Christ's presentation and our participation in Him. |
| The meaning of 'according to the ordinance' | Aaron strictly followed the instructions God gave through Moses. | Some see total ceremonial precision here; others emphasize the principle of obedience over innovation in worship. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The scene is the eighth day after Aaron's consecration (Leviticus 9:1). For seven days he and his sons remained at the tabernacle completing their ordination. Now Aaron acts as high priest for the first time in a public service, offering sacrifices on behalf of himself and the people. The tabernacle is fully operational, with the altar of burnt offering ready in the courtyard.
The morning burnt offering mentioned in v17 refers to the daily sacrifice instituted at Exodus 29:38-42. This regular offering was not set aside for the special ceremony; the new offerings were added alongside it. Wesley comments that "God will not have his ordinary and stated service swallowed up by extraordinary."
The peace offering (v18) was unique because it included a meal for the worshipper. After the fat was burned on the altar as God's portion, the meat was shared between priests and the people. It celebrated a restored relationship. The waving ceremony (v21) involved lifting the portions before the Lord in a gesture of presentation. The breast and right thigh, after being waved, became the priest's due (Leviticus 7:30-34).
This whole service led to a climactic moment: after Aaron blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared and fire consumed the offerings (Leviticus 9:23-24). The careful obedience to "the ordinance" prepared the way for God's visible presence.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries and critical apparatus note no significant textual variants for these verses. The Hebrew text is well-established across manuscript traditions. Lange's commentary mentions variants in surrounding verses (Leviticus 9:1) but not in the present passage.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, this passage has been read as the inauguration of the sacrificial system in the wilderness tabernacle, establishing the pattern for later temple worship. The emphasis on Aaron's obedience to Moses' commands underscores the authority of Torah instruction.
Christian interpreters have seen these verses as part of the larger narrative that finds its fulfillment in Christ. The order of offerings, atonement first, then dedication, then communion, prefigures the gospel: Christ's sacrifice makes peace with God possible, and believers are called to offer themselves wholly to God and to enjoy fellowship with Him. Hebrews 10:1 describes the law as "a shadow of the good to come," and this passage, with its careful ritual, points to the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ and the new access believers now have.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- There is an order to approaching God. Atonement comes first (sin offering), then total dedication (burnt offering), then communion (peace offering). You cannot enjoy the table without the cross.
- Obedience to God's instructions matters. "According to the ordinance" means Aaron did what God said, not what seemed right. Worship is God-defined, not self-defined.
- Worship leads to fellowship. The peace offering was a shared meal. God invites His people not only to be forgiven but to sit with Him and receive His provision.
Five-point outline
- Aaron offered the burnt offering exactly as commanded, total surrender to God.
- The grain offering followed, acknowledging God as the source of daily provision.
- The peace offering involved blood, fat and a meal, the best parts given to God, the rest shared among the people.
- The wave offering presented the priests' portion before God, acknowledging that even the gift is from Him.
- Every step was done "as Moses commanded", a pattern of obedience that welcomes God's glory.
Illustration hooks
- A new cook following a recipe exactly, measuring every ingredient, trusting the designer of the dish.
- A sports team executing a play exactly as the coach drew it up, resisting the urge to improvise.
- A child carefully setting the table according to a parent's instructions, eagerness to please, not suspicion of the command.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did God require so many types of sacrifices? What do they each mean for me?
- Does the order of worship really matter? What can we learn from this ancient pattern?
- How does an old covenant sacrifice connect to my relationship with God through Jesus?
Leading a Discussion
This passage describes Aaron's first public offerings as high priest. It may seem distant from our experience, but it shows a fundamental truth: meaningful relationship with God follows His instructions. The order of sacrifices, sin, burnt, peace, traces a path from atonement to surrender to communion. As you discuss, consider how this ancient service points forward to Christ and shapes our worship today.
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you in the repeated phrase "as Moses commanded"?
- Why do you think the peace offering came last in the sequence? What does that order suggest about fellowship with God?
- The waving ceremony (v21) involved lifting the breast and thigh before God. What does that physical gesture communicate about who is Lord?
- The fat and best parts were burned on the altar. What does this say about what we offer to God?
- The peace offering meal was shared between God, priests, and people. How does Jesus redefine that fellowship for the church (see Hebrews 10:22)?
- What does "according to the ordinance" mean for how we arrange our times of worship today?
- How does knowing that God wants communion, not just sacrifice, change the way you approach prayer this week?
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)
| Leviticus 1:1 | Yahweh called to Moses, and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying, |
| Leviticus 1:13 | but the innards and the legs he shall wash with water. The priest shall offer the whole, and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. |
| 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 8:21 | He washed the innards and the legs with water; and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses. |
| Leviticus 9:12 | He killed the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons delivered the blood to him, and he sprinkled it around on the altar. |
| Leviticus 9:14 | He washed the innards and the legs, and burned them on the burnt offering on the altar. |
| Hebrews 10:1 | For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near. |
| Hebrews 10:22 | let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our body washed with pure water, |
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
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights the deliberate sequence of the high priest's first complete series of offerings: atonement comes before surrender, and surrender before communion. The sin-offering clears the way, the burnt-offering dedicates the whole person to God, and only then does the peace-offering celebrate the fellowship granted to those made right with Him.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes a subtle Hebrew variation in how the handful from the meal-offering is taken here compared to Leviticus 2. It also questions whether the burnt offerings already made are considered the morning burnt offering or if that phrase is a later scribal addition. For the peace-offerings, the commentator observes that Aaron now retains both the breast and right thigh as priest, a change from the consecration ceremony where the thigh was burnt.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Aaron followed every step exactly as God commanded: the order of offerings, the handling of blood and fat, and which priest got which portion. The notes stress that nothing was left to human judgment—even the shaking of the breast and shoulder was done precisely as Moses had been told.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that the daily morning sacrifice was not set aside for these special offerings, preserving the proper order of worship. He explains the fat of the peace offerings was the Lord's portion, burned on the altar, while the breasts and right shoulders were waved before God then given to Aaron and his sons for their support, as commanded.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights a striking contrast: priests could eat part of the people's sin offerings, but they were forbidden to eat any of their own. Since they could not bear their own sins, the entire carcass of a priest's sin offering had to be burned outside the camp.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch observe that the blood of the congregation's sin-offering was not brought into the holy place because its purpose was not to expiate specific unatoned sins but to establish the people's sacrificial service in its proper relation to the Lord. They also note that the fat portions called "the covering" include two parts, as specified in the general rule.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes that Aaron first offered sacrifice for his own sin before approaching God for the people. This order teaches that even the appointed priest must be personally cleansed before he can serve effectively. Every ritual detail was performed exactly as the Lord commanded Moses, showing the importance of precise obedience.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the burnt-offering, like the sin-offering before it, was offered for the people, but it was also the regular morning sacrifice. He stresses that God will not allow an extraordinary offering to replace the ordinary daily worship. The phrase "fat that covers the inwards" simply identifies the part being described.