Leviticus 8:15
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse highlights that the altar itself needed purification and atonement before it could be used for God's service. Even this sacred object, designed for worship, had to be cleansed by blood to be fit for its holy purpose. This shows us that nothing—not even the instruments of worship—is inherently pure enough to approach God without the shedding of blood.
And he killed it, and Moses took the blood, and with his finger put it on the horns of the altar around it and purified the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it to make atonement for it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses is in the midst of a critical ceremony: the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests. Following the anointing of the Tabernacle and the priests themselves, this verse details the purification of the altar using the blood of the sin offering, which immediately precedes the consecration rites for the rams. This step is essential to make the altar, and thus all future sacrifices offered upon it, acceptable to God.
Why did Moses dip his finger in blood and smear it on the altar's horns? It wasn't just a random splatter; it was a profound statement about sin and God's holiness.
The altar, like the priests, needed to be consecrated. In this ritual, Moses applies the blood of the sin offering to the four horns of the altar.
After the horns, Moses poured the remaining blood at the altar's base. What's the significance of this final act?
The ritual didn't stop with the horns. The blood poured at the base of the altar represented the complete cleansing and dedication of the entire structure.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
dam · Hebrew Noun
The life-force of a creature, which in biblical sacrifice is offered to God to ransom or cover the life of the sinner; it is the essential element of atonement.
chata · Hebrew Verb
To make ceremonially clean or remove defilement, often through ritual washing or the application of sacrificial blood, enabling access to God's presence.
kaphar · Hebrew Verb
The act of covering sin or satisfying the demands of divine justice, whereby God graciously provides a means to remove the barrier between Himself and sinful humanity.
This verse describes the same ritual action of applying blood to the horns of the altar, emphasizing that it's a sin offering for atonement, directly paralleling the action in Leviticus 8:15.
Hebrews 9:22The New Testament author explains that under the old covenant, almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, highlighting the theological significance of the blood on the altar described in Leviticus 8:15.
Ezekiel 43:20This passage shows a later iteration of the same ritual, where blood is applied to the horns of the altar for atonement, demonstrating the continuity of this purification practice for Israel's worship.
Leviticus 1:5While Leviticus 8:15 describes Moses performing the act, this verse shows the offerer himself sprinkling the blood around the altar, illustrating the general practice that the ritual blood application was meant to purify the place of worship.
1 Peter 1:2This verse speaks of sanctification by the Spirit and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ, providing a New Testament fulfillment and understanding of how the ancient blood rituals on the altar ultimately point to Christ's atoning work.
calvinLeviticus 8:4-36: "And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."
Et fecit Moses quemadmodum praecperat ei Jehova. Et congregatus est coetus ad ostium tabernaculi conventionis.
And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done.
Tunc dixit Moses ad congregaionem, Hoc est verbum quod praecepit Jehova facere.
And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washe…
barnesLeviticus 8:15: "And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it."
Purified the altar ... sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it - The altar had been sanctified by the anointing oil Leviticus 8:11 like the priests who were to officiate at it; it was now, like them, sanctified by blood, in acknowledgment of…
This verse highlights that the altar itself needed purification and atonement before it could be used for God's service. Even this sacred object, designed for worship, had to be cleansed by blood to be fit for its holy purpose. This shows us that nothing—not even the instruments of worship—is inherently pure enough to approach God without the shedding of blood.
Moses is in the midst of a critical ceremony: the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests. Following the anointing of the Tabernacle and the priests themselves, this verse details the purification of the altar using the blood of the sin offering, which immediately precedes the consecration rites for the rams. This step is essential to make the altar, and thus all future sacrifices offered upon it, acceptable to God.
Moses is in the midst of a critical ceremony: the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests. Following the anointing of the Tabernacle and the priests themselves, this verse details the purification of the altar using the blood of the sin offering, which immediately precedes the consecration rites for the rams. This step is essential to make the altar, and thus all future sacrifices offered upon it, acceptable to God.
"And he killed it, and Moses took the blood, and with his finger put it on the horns of the altar around it and purified the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it to make atonement for it." — This verse highlights that the altar itself needed purification and atonement before it could be used for God's service. Even this sacred object, designed for worship, had to be cleansed by blood to…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
