Exodus 29:33
They shall eat those things with which atonement was made at their ordination and consecration, but an outsider shall not eat of them, because they are holy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The crucial point here is that the priests themselves had to eat from the very sacrifices that atoned for their own imperfections. This wasn't just a symbolic meal; it meant they were personally partaking in the atonement required to set them apart for holy service.
Following a series of complex sacrificial rites to install Aaron and his sons as priests, these instructions clarify that the meat from the specific sacrifices used for their ordination, which symbolically represented their atonement and purification, was to be eaten by them alone. This signifies that only those formally consecrated into the priesthood could partake in these holy portions, setting them apart from ordinary Israelites.
Why did priests have to eat specific parts of sacrifices? It wasn't just a perk; it was deeply symbolic.
In Exodus 29, the sacrifices made during the priests' ordination were special. The priests were commanded to eat portions of these sacrifices – the very things 'wherewith the atonement was made.' This act of eating was not merely sustenance; it was a crucial part of their consecration. It signified their intimate connection with the atonement and their role in representing the people before God. By consuming these holy foods, they were, in a sense, internalizing the atonement and becoming set apart for their sacred duties. This was a privilege reserved only for those God had called to serve.
The Bible is clear: 'an outsider shall not eat of them.' But who exactly was this 'outsider'?
The term 'outsider' or 'stranger' (Hebrew: zar) in this context doesn't refer to someone from a foreign nation. Instead, it specifically means someone not of the priestly lineage of Aaron. Even fellow Israelites or Levites who were not priests were considered 'outsiders' regarding these specific holy foods. This restriction underscores the sacredness of the priestly role and the holiness of the sacrifices associated with their ordination. It established clear boundaries, emphasizing that access to God's presence and the means of atonement were mediated through specific, divinely appointed individuals.
The reason given is simple: 'because they are holy.' What does this holiness truly mean for us today?
The holiness mentioned here means 'set apart for God's exclusive use.' These sacrifices were consecrated for a specific, holy purpose – the ordination and sanctification of priests. This holiness created a strict boundary; they were not common food. This concept of holiness is foundational to understanding God's presence and His will. It means that things dedicated to God are distinct from the ordinary and demand reverence. While Old Testament priests ate these specific portions, the ultimate meaning points to Christ, who is uniquely holy and whose sacrifice is for all. The principle remains: holiness calls for distinction, respect, and an understanding that what belongs to God is sacred.
Understand the original words
kippurim · Hebrew Noun
The act of reconciliation between God and humanity, involving the covering or removal of sin through a ritual sacrifice, ultimately finding its fulfillment in the work of Jesus Christ.
zar · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A person who does not belong to the priesthood or the covenant community, and is therefore prohibited from participating in the sacred rites or consuming sacrificial portions restricted to the holy priesthood.
This verse continues the theme of holiness and restricted consumption, specifying that the unleavened bread portion of certain offerings, eaten by priests, is also holy and not for common consumption.
Numbers 18:7This passage reiterates the exclusivity of priestly service and consumption of holy things, emphasizing that only Aaron and his sons, the priests, were permitted to approach the altar and eat from the offerings, with severe consequences for outsiders.
Ezekiel 44:23In a future restoration, Ezekiel describes priests teaching the people the difference between the holy and the common, and discerning between the unclean and the clean, highlighting the ongoing importance of maintaining sanctity in sacred things and service.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17Paul draws a parallel between participating in Old Testament sacrificial meals and sharing in the Lord's Supper, illustrating how participation in sacred meals signifies fellowship and communion with the holy.
Hebrews 13:10This New Testament passage contrasts the Old Testament altar, from which priests ate, with the sacrifice of Christ, suggesting that believers have a spiritual altar and sustenance that outsiders cannot partake of in the same way.
gillExodus 29:33: "And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy."
And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made,.... For the sins of Aaron and his sons, for they were men of infirmity, and needed sacrifice for sin themselves; and herein Christ their antitype excelled them, that he had no sin of his own, and needed not to offer first for them, and then for the sins…
clarkeExodus 29:33: "And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy."
But a stranger shall not eat thereof - That is, no person who was not of the family of Aaron - no Israelite, and not even a Levite.
The crucial point here is that the priests themselves had to eat from the very sacrifices that atoned for their own imperfections. This wasn't just a symbolic meal; it meant they were personally partaking in the atonement required to set them apart for holy service.
Following a series of complex sacrificial rites to install Aaron and his sons as priests, these instructions clarify that the meat from the specific sacrifices used for their ordination, which symbolically represented their atonement and purification, was to be eaten by them alone. This signifies that only those formally consecrated into the priesthood could partake in these holy portions, setting them apart from ordinary Israelites.
Following a series of complex sacrificial rites to install Aaron and his sons as priests, these instructions clarify that the meat from the specific sacrifices used for their ordination, which symbolically represented their atonement and purification, was to be eaten by them alone. This signifies that only those formally consecrated into the priesthood could partake in these holy portions, setting them apart from ordinary Israelites.
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"They shall eat those things with which atonement was made at their ordination and consecration, but an outsider shall not eat of them, because they are holy." — The crucial point here is that the priests themselves had to eat from the very sacrifices that atoned for their own imperfections. This wasn't just a symbolic meal; it meant they were personally part…
