And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss here is the deliberate division of the blood. By putting half in basins and half on the altar, Moses isn't just performing a ritual; he's symbolically separating the covenant agreement itself. One portion represents God (the altar), and the other represents the people, illustrating that the covenant is a two-way street, with solemn obligations on both sides.
And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the people agreed to obey God's commands, Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord and then offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. This verse describes Moses taking the blood from these sacrifices, splitting it into two parts: one to be thrown against the altar and the other to be reserved for sprinkling on the people. This ritual act served to formally ratify the covenant between God and Israel, symbolizing their commitment and God's acceptance.
Why would Moses use blood in such a dramatic way to seal a covenant? It’s more than just a messy ritual; it’s a powerful symbol of commitment.
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, blood was a potent symbol of life itself. When blood was shared or sprinkled on parties involved in an agreement, it signified the ultimate commitment – life itself was pledged. This wasn't just about promises; it was about dedicating life to the terms of the covenant.
In this passage, Moses divides the blood into two parts:
This ritual dramatically sealed the agreement between God and Israel, making the covenant official and binding.
Why sprinkle blood on the altar? It wasn't just a stone structure; it represented God's very presence and authority in the covenant ceremony.
The altar in ancient Israel was more than just a place for sacrifices; it was a symbol of God's presence and the focal point of His covenant relationship with His people. When Moses sprinkled half the blood on the altar, it was a profound act signifying:
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Understand the original words
dam · Hebrew Noun
A vital fluid, which in biblical thought represents the life principle of a creature. Biblically, blood is the primary means of atonement and the sign of a covenant.
mizbeach · Hebrew Noun
A structure, usually of earth or unhewn stone, used for sacrifices and offerings to God. It symbolizes the place of meeting between God and man where sin is dealt with through substitutionary sacrifice.
This passage explicitly draws a parallel to the Old Testament covenant-making, highlighting that almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, echoing the significance of the blood sprinkled in Exodus 24.
1 Corinthians 10:16Paul describes the cup of blessing as a participation in the blood of Christ and the bread as a participation in His body, connecting the idea of shared covenant meals and blood to Christ's sacrifice, similar to how this blood sealed the covenant between God and Israel.
Jeremiah 34:18-20This passage describes a covenant ceremony where people passed between the pieces of a halved calf, symbolizing that the covenant breakers would be cut in two like the calf, illustrating the severe consequences of breaking covenant, a concept underscored by the blood ritual in Exodus 24.
In God's covenant with Abram, a similar ritual of sacrifice and division of animals occurred, with God Himself passing between the pieces as a smoking fire pot and flaming torch, demonstrating His commitment to the covenant, paralleling the blood ritual of God's symbolic presence on the altar.
bensonExodus 24:6: "And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar."
Exodus 24:6 . 1st, The blood of the sacrifice which the people offered, was (part of it) sprinkled upon the altar — Which signified the people’s dedicating themselves to God, and his honour. In the blood of the sacrifices, all the Israelites were presented unto God as living sacrifices, Romans 12:1 . 2d, The blood of the sacrifice which God owned and accepted was (the remainde…
calvinExodus 24:1-18: "And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off."
- Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu. Before Moses erected the tabernacle and consecrated it by a solemn ceremony, it was necessary for him to fetch the Tables of the Covenant, which were a pledge of God's favor; otherwise, if the ark had nothing in it, the sanctuary would have been in a manner empty. For this rea…
What's easy to miss here is the deliberate division of the blood. By putting half in basins and half on the altar, Moses isn't just performing a ritual; he's symbolically separating the covenant agreement itself. One portion represents God (the altar), and the other represents the people, illustrating that the covenant is a two-way street, with solemn obligations on both sides.
After the people agreed to obey God's commands, Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord and then offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. This verse describes Moses taking the blood from these sacrifices, splitting it into two parts: one to be thrown against the altar and the other to be reserved for sprinkling on the people. This ritual act served to formally ratify the covenant between God and Israel, symbolizing their commitment and God's acceptance.
After the people agreed to obey God's commands, Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord and then offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. This verse describes Moses taking the blood from these sacrifices, splitting it into two parts: one to be thrown against the altar and the other to be reserved for sprinkling on the people. This ritual act served to formally ratify the covenant between God and Israel, symbolizing their commitment and God's acceptance.
"And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar." — What's easy to miss here is the deliberate division of the blood. By putting half in basins and half on the altar, Moses isn't just performing a ritual; he's symbolically separating the covenant ag…
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Last reviewed October 2026