Exodus 29:19 — The Ram of Consecration
Setting Apart the Priesthood for God's Service
"And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram."
Introduction
Exodus 29:19 introduces an important part of the consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons. God had chosen them to serve as priests in the Tabernacle, but before beginning their sacred responsibilities, they were required to undergo a ceremony of cleansing, sacrifice, and consecration.
The LORD instructed Moses to take a second ram and have Aaron and his sons place their hands upon its head. This action preceded the sacrifice known as the ram of consecration.
The laying on of hands visibly identified Aaron and his sons with the animal being offered. The ceremony emphasized that their appointment to the priesthood required more than wearing priestly garments or possessing the correct family ancestry. They were being formally set apart for service before a holy God.
The events that follow in Exodus 29 reveal the significance of this sacrifice. Blood from the ram was applied to the priests' right ears, right thumbs, and right great toes. Portions of the sacrifice were then presented before the LORD.
These actions belonged to the ceremonial requirements of the Levitical priesthood under the Mosaic covenant.
For Christians, the passage also provides an opportunity to consider the priesthood of Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice accomplished what the repeated animal sacrifices could not permanently achieve.
The central message of Exodus 29:19 is that those appointed to serve before God must approach Him according to His instructions, recognizing the holiness of their calling and the necessity of consecration.
Historical and Biblical Background
1. Israel at Mount Sinai
The events of Exodus 29 take place during Israel's wilderness journey after the LORD delivered the people from Egyptian bondage.
God had brought Israel to Mount Sinai, where He established His covenant with the nation.
He gave Moses commandments concerning worship, holiness, justice, and the responsibilities of His covenant people.
The LORD also instructed Moses to construct the Tabernacle.
Exodus 25:8 (KJV)
"And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them."
The Tabernacle was the appointed place where God's presence would dwell among Israel and where the priests would carry out their sacred responsibilities.
Its construction, furnishings, sacrifices, and priestly service were governed by divine instructions.
2. Aaron and His Sons Were Chosen for the Priesthood
God selected Aaron, the brother of Moses, and Aaron's sons to serve as priests.
Exodus 28:1 (KJV)
"And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons."
Aaron was appointed as high priest, while his sons were appointed to serve in the priesthood.
Their responsibilities included offering sacrifices, maintaining the sacred service of the Tabernacle, and ministering according to God's commandments.
They were not permitted to approach the LORD in whatever manner they personally preferred.
Their ministry had to conform to His instructions.
3. The Consecration Ceremony
Exodus 29 describes the ceremony through which Aaron and his sons were to be consecrated.
The Hebrew verb associated with consecration, qadash, means to make holy or set apart.
The ceremony included washing with water, putting on the priestly garments, anointing, and presenting sacrifices.
The prescribed offerings included a young bullock for a sin offering and two rams.
The first ram was offered as a burnt offering.
The second ram, introduced in Exodus 29:19, was the ram of consecration.
Its sacrifice formed part of the ceremony through which Aaron and his sons were formally installed in their priestly responsibilities.
4. Why Was Consecration Necessary?
The priesthood was a sacred responsibility.
Aaron and his sons would minister before the LORD on behalf of the people of Israel.
Yet the priests themselves were human and needed atonement and cleansing.
The consecration ceremony demonstrated that priestly ancestry and sacred garments were not sufficient by themselves.
They had to approach God according to the means He had established.
The ceremony also emphasized that their lives and service were devoted to the LORD.
Exposition of Exodus 29:19
1. "And thou shalt take the other ram"
God instructed Moses to take the second ram prepared for the consecration ceremony.
This ram had a different ceremonial purpose from the first.
The first ram was offered as a burnt offering, as recorded in Exodus 29:15–18.
The second was designated as the ram of consecration.
Exodus 29:22 (KJV)
"Also thou shalt take of the ram the fat and the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder; for it is a ram of consecration:"
The second ram was part of the ceremony that formally established Aaron and his sons in their priestly office.
Its sacrifice emphasized the seriousness of their responsibilities.
The Meaning of Consecration
The Hebrew expression associated with priestly installation literally conveys the idea of filling the hands.
This expression is connected with the formal appointment of priests to their sacred duties.
Later in the ceremony, portions of the ram and bread were placed in the hands of Aaron and his sons and presented as a wave offering before the LORD.
Their hands were being filled for the service God had appointed.
The ceremony therefore communicated both separation unto God and appointment to priestly responsibility.
Observation: Consecration involves being set apart for God's purposes and accepting the responsibilities He has entrusted to us.
2. "And Aaron and his sons"
The LORD specifically identified those who were to participate in the ceremony.
Aaron and his sons had been chosen for the priesthood.
Their participation in the sacrifice demonstrated that even those appointed to sacred service were required to approach God according to His instructions.
Aaron's appointment as high priest did not make him independent of the LORD's commandments.
Neither did his sons possess authority to establish their own methods of worship.
Their priesthood existed under God's covenant with Israel.
A Sacred Calling Requires Accountability
The priestly office involved both privilege and responsibility.
Aaron and his sons were appointed to minister before God, but they were also accountable for how they performed their duties.
Their calling did not place them above God's law.
This principle is important for understanding spiritual responsibility.
Those who minister in God's name must not assume that their position exempts them from obedience, holiness, or accountability.
Observation: Spiritual responsibility does not eliminate the need for obedience. Those entrusted with sacred duties remain accountable to God.
3. "Shall put their hands upon the head of the ram"
Aaron and his sons were commanded to place their hands upon the head of the ram.
The laying on of hands was an established action in several Old Testament sacrificial ceremonies.
In this context, it visibly identified the priests with the animal being presented for their consecration.
Identification with the Sacrifice
The action expressed a connection between those offering the sacrifice and the animal being offered.
The priests were not simply watching Moses perform a ceremony on their behalf.
They actively participated in the prescribed act.
The ram would subsequently be slaughtered, and its blood would be used in the consecration ceremony.
The laying on of hands should not automatically be understood as transferring sin in every sacrificial context. Its meaning depends upon the particular offering and the instructions associated with it.
Here, the action is part of the priests' identification with the ram of consecration.
Obedience to God's Instructions
God specified the animal, the participants, and the action to be performed.
Moses was responsible for carrying out these instructions.
The priests were responsible for participating in the ceremony as commanded.
Their consecration was not based upon personal preference or human invention.
It was established according to God's revealed will.
Observation: Approaching God requires reverence and obedience rather than substituting our own preferences for His revealed instructions.
The Significance of the Ram of Consecration
To understand Exodus 29:19 more fully, we must examine the verses that follow.
The second ram was not an ordinary sacrifice.
It formed part of the ceremony through which Aaron and his sons were installed in their priestly responsibilities.
1. Blood Applied to the Right Ear, Thumb, and Great Toe
Exodus 29:20 (KJV)
"Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about."
The blood of the ram was applied to three specific parts of the priests' bodies.
The text does not explicitly explain the individual symbolism of each body part.
However, these actions have traditionally been understood as representing the dedication of the priests' hearing, actions, and conduct to God's service.
The right ear: The priest was responsible for hearing and obeying the commandments of the LORD.
The right thumb: The priest's hands were involved in carrying out the sacred responsibilities entrusted to him.
The right great toe: The priest's conduct and manner of life were to remain consistent with his sacred calling.
These are useful devotional applications, but they should be distinguished from the explicit ceremonial instructions recorded in Exodus.
The central biblical emphasis is that the priests were being consecrated for God's service.
2. Blood and Anointing Oil
Exodus 29:21 (KJV)
"And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him."
The blood and anointing oil were applied to Aaron, his sons, and their garments.
The ceremony emphasized their consecration to the LORD.
Their garments were also set apart for sacred service.
The priests were being formally prepared to minister according to God's covenant instructions.
3. Their Hands Were Filled for Service
Exodus 29:24 (KJV)
"And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them for a wave offering before the LORD."
Portions of the ram and bread were placed in the priests' hands.
They were then presented before the LORD as a wave offering.
This action was closely connected with their installation into priestly service.
Their hands were being filled with the offerings associated with the responsibilities they were appointed to perform.
The ceremony emphasized that their priesthood was established by God's command.
The Ram of Consecration and Jesus Christ
The consecration of Aaron and his sons belongs to the priestly system established under the Mosaic covenant.
The New Testament teaches that Jesus Christ is our great High Priest.
His priesthood differs from the Levitical priesthood because He is sinless and His sacrifice is sufficient.
Jesus Christ, Our Great High Priest
Hebrews 4:14 (KJV)
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession."
Aaron and his sons required sacrifices for their own sins.
Jesus Christ did not.
He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin.
Hebrews 7:27 (KJV)
"Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself."
The repeated sacrifices of the Levitical priesthood pointed toward the need for a greater and sufficient sacrifice.
Jesus Christ fulfilled that need through His death and resurrection.
Believers Are Called to Holy Service
Through Jesus Christ, believers are called to offer themselves to God.
Romans 12:1 (KJV)
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
Christians do not repeat the consecration ceremony of Aaron and his sons.
Neither do we require the blood of an animal to establish our relationship with God.
Through Jesus Christ, we have access to the Father.
Our response should be a life devoted to holiness, obedience, and faithful service.
1 Peter 2:5 (KJV)
"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."
The consecration of the Levitical priests helps us appreciate the holiness of God and the significance of Christ's completed sacrifice.
Key Observations
God established the requirements for priestly consecration. Aaron and his sons were required to follow His instructions.
The second ram had a specific purpose. It was designated as the ram of consecration.
Aaron and his sons actively participated in the ceremony. They placed their hands upon the head of the ram.
The laying on of hands identified the priests with the sacrifice. Their consecration involved a prescribed act of participation.
Spiritual responsibility requires obedience. The priests' appointment did not place them above God's commandments.
Consecration involves dedication to God's service. Aaron and his sons were formally set apart for their sacred responsibilities.
The blood of the sacrifice was central to the ceremony. It was applied to the priests and used according to God's instructions.
The priesthood required preparation. Aaron and his sons could not simply assume their duties without consecration.
Jesus Christ is our perfect High Priest. His sacrifice accomplished what the repeated animal sacrifices could not permanently achieve.
Believers are called to holy living. Through Christ, we are to present ourselves to God and serve Him faithfully.
Personal Application
Exodus 29:19 challenges me to examine my understanding of consecration and my willingness to serve God according to His Word.
Aaron and his sons were chosen for sacred responsibilities, but they were still required to undergo the consecration ceremony established by the LORD.
This reminds me that spiritual responsibility is not merely a matter of receiving a title, holding a position, or possessing particular gifts.
My relationship with God must remain the foundation of everything I do in His service.
The laying on of hands upon the ram also reminds me that consecration involves personal participation and obedience.
I cannot depend entirely upon the faithfulness of others.
I must respond to God's Word and take responsibility for my own conduct.
As I consider the blood applied to the priests' ears, hands, and feet in the following verse, I am reminded to dedicate my hearing, actions, and daily walk to the LORD.
I must be willing to hear His Word, obey His commandments, and demonstrate His character in my conduct.
Most importantly, the ram of consecration directs my attention toward Jesus Christ.
Unlike Aaron and his sons, Jesus did not require a sacrifice for His own sins.
He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice through which believers receive forgiveness and access to the Father.
Because of His sacrifice, I should not approach ministry casually or depend upon my own righteousness.
I must remain grateful for His grace and devoted to His service.
My desire should be to live as one who belongs to God, hears His Word, obeys His commandments, and serves Him faithfully through Jesus Christ.
Reflection Questions
What was the purpose of the second ram in Exodus 29:19?
Why were Aaron and his sons required to undergo a consecration ceremony before beginning their priestly responsibilities?
What did the laying on of hands communicate within this sacrificial ceremony?
How did the ram of consecration differ from the first ram offered as a burnt offering?
What instructions did God give concerning the blood of the second ram?
What devotional lessons can we draw from the blood being applied to the priests' right ears, right thumbs, and right great toes?
Why is it important to distinguish the explicit meaning of a biblical ceremony from possible symbolic applications?
How did the consecration ceremony emphasize the holiness of God?
In what ways does the priesthood of Jesus Christ differ from the Levitical priesthood?
How does Hebrews 7:27 explain the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice?
Am I treating the responsibilities God has entrusted to me with reverence, humility, and obedience?
What practical steps can I take to dedicate my hearing, actions, and daily conduct more fully to the service of Jesus Christ?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for Your holiness and for the instructions You gave concerning the consecration of Aaron and his sons.
Through Your Word, teach me to understand the seriousness of approaching You and serving according to Your will.
Father, I recognize that my relationship with You is not established through religious titles, outward ceremonies, or personal accomplishments.
It is through the grace and sacrifice of Jesus Christ that I have received forgiveness and access to Your presence.
Thank You for sending Your Son to become our great High Priest and to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin.
Lord, consecrate my heart to Your service.
Help me to hear Your Word with understanding and respond with obedience.
Guide the work of my hands so that everything I do will bring glory to Your name.
Direct my steps and help me to walk in righteousness.
Remove pride, selfish ambition, and every attitude that would hinder my fellowship with You.
Holy Spirit, strengthen me to fulfill the responsibilities God has entrusted to me.
May I never approach ministry carelessly or depend upon my own strength.
Teach me to serve with humility, reverence, faithfulness, and love.
Let my life become a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto You through Jesus Christ.
May my words, actions, and daily conduct reflect the holiness of the One who has called me.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
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