Exodus 29:18
New International Version
Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the LORD.

New Living Translation
then burn the entire animal on the altar. This is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a pleasing aroma, a special gift presented to the LORD.

English Standard Version
and burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD. It is a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
Then burn the entire ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

King James Bible
And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the LORD: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

New King James Version
And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
And you shall offer up in smoke the whole ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD: it is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

NASB 1995
“You shall offer up in smoke the whole ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD: it is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

NASB 1977
“And you shall offer up in smoke the whole ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD: it is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
You shall offer up in smoke the whole ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to Yahweh: it is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
and you shall burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD: it is a sweet and soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
Then burn the whole ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD. It is a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then burn the whole ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD. It is a pleasing aroma, a fire offering to the LORD.”

American Standard Version
And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt-offering unto Jehovah; it is a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
Then make sure that the whole animal goes up in smoke with a smell that pleases me.

English Revised Version
And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the LORD: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then burn the whole ram on the altar. It's a burnt offering, a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

Good News Translation
Burn the whole ram on the altar as a food offering. The odor of this offering pleases me.

International Standard Version
and send up the whole ram in smoke on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD; it's a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
Then burn the entire ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

NET Bible
and burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a soothing aroma; it is an offering made by fire to the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
You shall burn the whole ram on the altar: it is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt-offering to the LORD: it is a sweet savor, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

World English Bible
You shall burn the whole ram on the altar: it is a burnt offering to Yahweh; it is a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you have made incense with the whole ram on the altar. It [is] a burnt-offering to YHWH, a refreshing fragrance; it [is] a fire-offering to YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast made perfume with the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt-offering to Jehovah, a sweet fragrance; a fire-offering it is to Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And burn all the ram upon the altar: this a burnt-offering to Jehovah: this a sacrifice, a smell of a sweet odor to Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou shalt offer the whole ram for a burnt offering upon the altar: it is an oblation to the Lord, a most sweet savour of the victim of the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall offer the entire ram as a burnt offering upon the altar. It is an oblation to the Lord, a most sweet odor of the victim of the Lord.

New American Bible
Then you shall burn the entire ram on the altar, since it is a burnt offering, a sweet-smelling oblation to the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
and turn the whole ram into smoke on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall burn the whole ram upon the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And offer up the whole ram on the altar; it is a sacrifice to LORD JEHOVAH for a sweet savor offering to LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And thou shalt make the whole ram smoke upon the altar; it is a burnt-offering unto the LORD; it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt offer the whole ram on the altar, a whole burnt-offering to the Lord for a sweet-smelling savour: it is an offering of incense to the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Order of the Sacrifices
17Cut the ram into pieces, wash the entrails and legs, and place them with its head and other pieces. 18Then burn the entire ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD. 19Take the second ram, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head.…

Cross References
Leviticus 1:9
The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:13
The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall present all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:17
He shall tear it open by its wings, without dividing the bird completely. And the priest is to burn it on the altar atop the burning wood. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 3:5
Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 3:16
Then the priest is to burn the food on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.

Leviticus 8:21
He washed the entrails and legs with water and burned the entire ram on the altar as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Leviticus 9:24
Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Numbers 28:2
“Command the Israelites and say to them: See that you present to Me at its appointed time the food for My food offerings, as a pleasing aroma to Me.

Numbers 28:6
This is a regular burnt offering established at Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD.

Numbers 28:8
And offer the second lamb at twilight, with the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning. It is a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Numbers 28:13
and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with each lamb. This is a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD.

Numbers 28:24
Offer the same food each day for seven days as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It is to be offered with its drink offering and the regular burnt offering.

Numbers 29:2
As a pleasing aroma to the LORD, you are to present a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

Numbers 29:8
Present as a pleasing aroma to the LORD a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

Numbers 29:13
As a pleasing aroma to the LORD, you are to present a food offering, a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar: it is a burnt offering to the LORD: it is a sweet smell, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

a burnt offering

Genesis 22:2,7,13
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of…

Leviticus 9:24
And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

1 Samuel 7:9
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

sweet savour

Genesis 8:21
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Leviticus 1:17
And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Jump to Previous
Altar Aroma Burn Burnt Burnt-Offering Fire Fire-Offering Fragrance Odor Odour Offer Offering Perfume Pleasant Pleasing Ram Savor Savour Smell Smoke Soothing Sweet Whole
Jump to Next
Altar Aroma Burn Burnt Burnt-Offering Fire Fire-Offering Fragrance Odor Odour Offer Offering Perfume Pleasant Pleasing Ram Savor Savour Smell Smoke Soothing Sweet Whole
Exodus 29
1. The sacrifice and ceremonies of consecrating the priests and the altar
38. The continual burnt offerings
45. God's promise to dwell among the children of Israel














Then burn
The Hebrew word for "burn" here is "קָטַר" (qatar), which means to offer up in smoke. This act of burning signifies complete dedication and surrender to God. In the ancient Near Eastern context, burning was a common method of offering sacrifices, symbolizing the transformation of the physical into the spiritual, as the smoke ascends to the heavens.

the whole ram
The ram, a mature male sheep, was often used in sacrificial offerings due to its value and significance. The "whole" ram indicates totality, suggesting that nothing is withheld from God. This act of offering the entire animal underscores the concept of complete devotion and the idea that God deserves our all.

on the altar
The altar, or "מִזְבֵּחַ" (mizbeach) in Hebrew, was a sacred place where offerings were made to God. It represents a point of contact between the divine and the human. Historically, altars were central to worship practices, serving as a physical reminder of God's presence and the need for atonement.

It is a burnt offering
The term "burnt offering" comes from the Hebrew "עֹלָה" (olah), meaning "that which goes up." This offering is entirely consumed by fire, symbolizing the worshiper's complete submission and the desire for the offering to ascend to God. It reflects the idea of purification and consecration.

to the LORD
The use of "LORD" in all caps signifies the divine name "YHWH" (Yahweh), the covenant name of God. This emphasizes the personal relationship between God and His people, reminding them of His faithfulness and their obligation to live in obedience to His commands.

a pleasing aroma
The phrase "pleasing aroma" translates the Hebrew "רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ" (reyach nichoach), which conveys the idea of satisfaction and acceptance by God. In ancient cultures, the aroma of sacrifices was believed to be pleasing to the deities, symbolizing divine favor and acceptance.

an offering made by fire
This phrase highlights the method of the offering, emphasizing the transformative power of fire. Fire in the Bible often represents God's presence, purification, and judgment. The offering made by fire signifies the purifying and consuming nature of God's holiness.

to the LORD
Reiterating the recipient of the offering, this phrase underscores the purpose and direction of the sacrifice. It is not merely a ritualistic act but a meaningful expression of worship and devotion to Yahweh, the one true God. This repetition reinforces the centrality of God in the life and worship of His people.

(18) Thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar.--A burnt offering, as representing self- sacrifice, was entirely acceptable to God; the whole might be consumed upon the altar. It was otherwise with sin offerings, of which only certain parts could be thus offered. (Comp. above, Exodus 29:14; and see Leviticus 4:12; Leviticus 4:21, &c.)

A sweet savour.--Comp. Genesis 8:21 and Note ad loc. It was a general heathen notion that the gods were actually delighted with the odour of the sacrifices offered to them; but there are no just grounds for taxing the Hebrews with such coarse and materialistic ideas. The expression, as used in this place, in Genesis 8:21, and in Leviticus and Numbers repeatedly, is metaphorical. (Comp. Exodus 5:21.) . . .

Verse 18. - Thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar. This became the general law of the burnt-offering (Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17). It indicated that self-sacrifice was wholly acceptable to God; whereas in sin-offerings there was a taint of evil which rendered all but certain parts of the victim unacceptable (ver. 14). A sweet savour. This is not to be understood in the coarse sense in which heathen writers used similar expressions, meaning by them (as it would seem) that the gods were really pleased with the odour of sacrifices. No candid mind can ascribe to the Hebrews such anthropomorphism. Evidently no more is meant than that the offering would be pleasing to God. See Genesis 8:21; Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17, etc.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then burn
וְהִקְטַרְתָּ֤ (wə·hiq·ṭar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

the entire
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

ram
הָאַ֙יִל֙ (hā·’a·yil)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 352: Strength, strong, a chief, a ram, a pilaster, an oak, strong tree

on the altar;
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה (ham·miz·bê·ḥāh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

it
ה֖וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is a burnt offering
עֹלָ֥ה (‘ō·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5930: Whole burnt offering

to the LORD,
לַֽיהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

a pleasing
נִיח֔וֹחַ (nî·ḥō·w·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5207: A quieting, soothing, tranquilizing

aroma,
רֵ֣יחַ (rê·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7381: To smell, perceive odor

an offering made to the LORD by fire.
אִשֶּׁ֥ה (’iš·šeh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 801: A burnt-offering, a sacrifice


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OT Law: Exodus 29:18 You shall burn the whole ram (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 29:17
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