“Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While the list names specific offerings, the crucial detail is that the "garments" and "anointing oil" are mentioned before the sacrifices. This highlights that the priests' identity and divine empowerment, signified by these elements, were foundational to their ministry, preceding even the atonement for their sins and the people's.
“Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses is receiving God's direct instructions for the formal installation of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. This isn't just a casual appointment; it's a sacred ceremony involving specific garments, anointing oil, and a series of sacrifices and offerings to set them apart for their holy duties. The details here echo previous commands given in Exodus, emphasizing that this momentous occasion is about to be enacted according to God's precise plan before all the people.
Why does God emphasize bringing Aaron and his sons? It wasn't their idea to become priests; it was God's direct command.
The very first action God commands in this chapter, before any rituals are performed, is to 'Take Aaron and his sons.' This isn't a suggestion; it's an imperative. It highlights that the priesthood, and by extension, any ministry to God, originates from His call and His initiative. Aaron and his sons weren't seeking this role out of personal ambition; they were being called and appointed by God Himself. This sets a crucial precedent: all service to God must be rooted in His sovereign choice and command, not our own desires or estimations.
The verse lists specific items: garments, oil, a bull, two rams, unleavened bread. What do these seemingly random objects signify for approaching God?
God meticulously outlines the specific items needed for Aaron and his sons' consecration. These aren't just props; they are symbols of the sacred work they were about to undertake:
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Together, these elements paint a picture of a holiness that is both divinely given and ceremonially enacted, preparing individuals to stand between God and His people.
Understand the original words
beged · Hebrew Noun
A covering or vestment worn by the priests to signify their office, holiness, and the glory required for serving in the presence of God. These garments set them apart from the rest of the congregation.
shemen · Hebrew Noun
Oil mixed with spices used to consecrate people or objects, setting them apart exclusively for God’s service and indicating the presence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
chattat · Hebrew Noun
A sacrificial animal offered to God to make atonement for sins and restore the relationship between God and His people, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.
matstsah · Hebrew Noun
Bread made without leaven, representing purity and the removal of corruption, often used in sacrificial contexts to signify holiness and sincerity before God.
This passage directly parallels Leviticus 8:2, detailing the specific instructions from God to Moses to prepare Aaron and his sons, along with the necessary garments and sacrifices for their consecration as priests.
Hebrews 5:4This New Testament passage speaks to the divine calling of the high priest, echoing the Old Testament requirement that Aaron and his sons were not to assume the priestly role on their own but were to be specifically appointed and consecrated by God, as Leviticus 8 describes.
Exodus 30:22-29This section describes the specific preparation of the anointing oil mentioned in Leviticus 8:2, highlighting that these sacred elements were divinely prescribed and essential for the consecration of both the priests and the Tabernacle itself.
Leviticus 8:6This verse immediately follows Leviticus 8:2 and shows the practical application of the instructions, with Moses bringing Aaron and his sons forward and washing them, demonstrating the ceremonial washing as part of the priests' purification for service.
clarkeLeviticus 8:2: "Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;"
Take Aaron and his sons - The whole subject of this chapter has been anticipated in the notes, Exodus 28:1 (note), etc., and Exodus 29:1 (note), etc., in which all the sacrifices, rites, and ceremonies have been explained in considerable detail; and to those notes the reader is referred. It is only necessary to observe th…
calvinLeviticus 8:1-3: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
- And the Lord spake. It is well known that in conjunction with the sacrifices there was an offering, which they call minha, but we shall elsewhere see that this was also used separately; for it was lawful without a victim to offer either plain meal, or cakes, or wafers seasoned with oil. Therefore, besides the sacrifice of consecration, of which Moses has already treated, this second offering is required from the priest, that he should…
While the list names specific offerings, the crucial detail is that the "garments" and "anointing oil" are mentioned before the sacrifices. This highlights that the priests' identity and divine empowerment, signified by these elements, were foundational to their ministry, preceding even the atonement for their sins and the people's.
Moses is receiving God's direct instructions for the formal installation of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. This isn't just a casual appointment; it's a sacred ceremony involving specific garments, anointing oil, and a series of sacrifices and offerings to set them apart for their holy duties. The details here echo previous commands given in Exodus, emphasizing that this momentous occasion is about to be enacted according to God's precise plan before all the people.
Moses is receiving God's direct instructions for the formal installation of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. This isn't just a casual appointment; it's a sacred ceremony involving specific garments, anointing oil, and a series of sacrifices and offerings to set them apart for their holy duties. The details here echo previous commands given in Exodus, emphasizing that this momentous occasion is about to be enacted according to God's precise plan before all the people.
"“Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread." — While the list names specific offerings, the crucial detail is that the "garments" and "anointing oil" are mentioned before the sacrifices. This highlights that the priests' identity and divine emp…
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Last reviewed October 2026