◄ Exodus 24:8 ►
So Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."
Study Bible
So Moses took the blood
The act of taking blood is deeply rooted in the sacrificial system established by God. The Hebrew word for blood, "דָּם" (dam), signifies life and atonement. Blood was a critical element in ancient covenants, symbolizing the seriousness and binding nature of the agreement. In this context, Moses acts as a mediator between God and the Israelites, emphasizing the gravity of the covenant being established.

sprinkled it on the people
Sprinkling blood on the people is a powerful ritual act, signifying purification and consecration. The Hebrew practice of sprinkling blood was a means of sanctifying and setting apart the people for God. This act foreshadows the New Testament understanding of Christ's blood, which purifies believers and establishes a new covenant. The communal aspect of this act highlights the collective responsibility and participation of the Israelites in the covenant.

and said, 'This is the blood of the covenant
The phrase "blood of the covenant" is pivotal in understanding the relationship between God and His people. The covenant, or "בְּרִית" (berit) in Hebrew, is a solemn agreement that involves promises and obligations. The blood signifies the life-giving and life-binding nature of this agreement. This phrase is echoed in the New Testament during the Last Supper, where Jesus refers to His own blood as the blood of the new covenant, thus fulfilling and expanding upon the covenant made with Israel.

that the LORD has made with you
The covenant is initiated by the LORD, "יְהוָה" (Yahweh), the personal name of God, emphasizing His sovereignty and faithfulness. The use of "made" or "כָּרַת" (karat) in Hebrew, which literally means "to cut," reflects the ancient practice of cutting a covenant, often involving a sacrifice. This highlights God's active role in establishing a relationship with His people, underscoring His commitment and the seriousness of the covenant.

in accordance with all these words
The phrase "all these words" refers to the laws and commandments given by God to Moses, which are recorded in the preceding chapters. This underscores the importance of obedience and adherence to God's instructions as part of the covenant relationship. The words of the covenant are not arbitrary but are divinely ordained, providing a framework for living in harmony with God's will. This highlights the comprehensive nature of God's covenant, encompassing both spiritual and practical aspects of life.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The central figure in this passage, Moses acts as the mediator between God and the Israelites. He is responsible for conveying God's laws and establishing the covenant through the ritual of blood sprinkling.

2. The Israelites
The people of Israel, who are the recipients of the covenant. They have agreed to follow God's laws as given through Moses.

3. The Blood
Symbolizes the sealing of the covenant between God and the Israelites. It represents purification and the seriousness of the commitment being made.

4. The Covenant
A solemn agreement between God and the Israelites, signifying their commitment to follow God's laws and His promise to be their God.

5. Mount Sinai
The location where the covenant is established, a significant place of divine revelation and law-giving.
Teaching Points
The Seriousness of Covenants
Covenants with God are not to be taken lightly. They require commitment and obedience, as demonstrated by the Israelites' acceptance of God's laws.

The Role of Mediators
Moses serves as a mediator between God and the people, foreshadowing the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ, who establishes a new covenant through His blood.

The Symbolism of Blood
Blood is a powerful symbol of life and purification. In the Old Testament, it signifies the seriousness of the covenant, while in the New Testament, it represents the ultimate sacrifice for sin.

Obedience to God's Word
The Israelites' agreement to follow God's laws highlights the importance of obedience in our relationship with God. It is through obedience that we honor our covenant with Him.

The Continuity of God's Plan
The covenant at Sinai is part of God's unfolding plan of redemption, which finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Understanding this continuity helps us appreciate the depth of God's love and commitment to His people.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the act of sprinkling blood in Exodus 24:8 foreshadow the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the New Testament?

2. In what ways does Moses' role as a mediator between God and the Israelites parallel the role of Jesus as our mediator?

3. What does the concept of covenant mean in your personal relationship with God, and how can you live out this commitment in your daily life?

4. How does understanding the significance of blood in the Old Testament enhance your appreciation for the sacrifice of Jesus?

5. Reflect on a time when you made a commitment to God. How can the seriousness of the covenant in Exodus 24:8 inspire you to renew or strengthen that commitment?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Hebrews 9:19-22
This passage in the New Testament references the sprinkling of blood by Moses and connects it to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the necessity of blood for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:28
Jesus refers to His blood as the "blood of the covenant," drawing a parallel between the Old Covenant established through Moses and the New Covenant established through His sacrifice.

Leviticus 17:11
Highlights the significance of blood in atonement, reinforcing the idea that life is in the blood and it is given for atonement on the altar.
Sermons
Belief and DisobedienceExodus 24:1-8
God's Covenant with IsraelJ. E. Twitchell.Exodus 24:1-8
The Blood of the CovenantJ. M. Sherwood, D. D.Exodus 24:1-8
The CovenantJ. W. Burn.Exodus 24:1-8
The Sealing of the CovenantH. T. RobjohnsExodus 24:1-8
The Sprinkling of BloodJ. Vaughan, M. A.Exodus 24:1-8
The Strictness of God's LawS. S. ChronicleExodus 24:1-8
The Covenant MadeH.T. Robjohns Exodus 24:1, 2, 9-11
The Vision of God for the Selected FewD. Young Exodus 24:1-2, 9-11
A Vision of GodJ. Orr Exodus 24:1, 2, 9-12
The Terms of the Covenant AcceptedD. Young Exodus 24:3-8
The Ratification of the CovenantJ. Orr Exodus 24:3-9
ConsecrationJ. Orr Exodus 24:7, 8
People
Aaron, Abihu, Hur, Israelites, Joshua, Moses, Nadab
Places
Mount Sinai
Topics
Accordance, Agreement, Behold, Blood, Covenant, Sign, Sprinkled, Sprinkleth, Taketh, Threw
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 24:8

     1352   covenant, the new
     5103   Moses, significance
     7021   church, OT anticipations
     7454   sprinkling

Exodus 24:1-8

     5467   promises, divine

Exodus 24:3-8

     1443   revelation, OT
     7135   Israel, people of God

Exodus 24:4-8

     1346   covenants, nature of
     7316   blood, OT sacrifices

Exodus 24:4-18

     4269   Sinai, Mount

Exodus 24:5-8

     1349   covenant, at Sinai

Exodus 24:7-8

     7263   theocracy

Library
Sin and Forgiveness
'... Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty....'--EXODUS xxiv. 7. The former chapter tells us of the majesty of the divine revelation as it was made to Moses on 'the mount of God.' Let us notice that, whatever was the visible pomp of the external Theophany to the senses, the true revelation lay in the proclamation of the 'Name'; the revelation to the conscience and the heart; and such a revelation had never before fallen on mortal ears. It is remarkable …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'The Love of Thine Espousals'
'And He said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. 2. And Moses alone shall come near the Lord; but they shall not come nigh, neither shall the people go up with him. 3. And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do. 4. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Blood of the Covenant
"Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you."--EX. xxiv. 8; HEB. ix. 20. "This cup is the new covenant in My blood."--1 COR. xi. 25; MATT. xxvi. 28. "The blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified."--HEB. x. 29. "The blood of the everlasting covenant."--HEB. xiii.21. THE blood is one of the strangest, the deepest, the mightiest, and the most heavenly of the thoughts of God. It lies at the very root of both Covenants, but specially of the New Covenant. The difference …
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

The Blood of the Testament
BLOOD IS ALWAYS a terrible thing. It makes a sensitive mind shudder even to pronounce the word; but, to look upon the thing itself causes a thrill of horror. Although by familiarity men shake this off, for the seeing of the eye and the hearing of the ear can harden the heart, the instinct of a little child may teach you what is natural to us in referer to blood. How it will worry if its finger bleeds ever so little, shocked as the sight, actually there be no smart. I envy not the man whose pity would …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 58: 1912

The Blood of Sprinkling
Our apostle next tells us what we are come to. I suppose he speaks of all the saints after the death and resurrection of our Lord and the descent of the Holy Ghost. He refers to the whole church, in the midst of which the Holy Spirit now dwells. We are come to a more joyous sight than Sinai, and the mountain burning with fire. The Hebrew worshipper, apart from his sacrifices, lived continually beneath the shadow of the darkness of a broken law; he was startled often by the tremendous note of the …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

The Birth of Jesus Proclaimed by Angels to the Shepherds.
(Near Bethlehem, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke II. 8-20. ^c 8 And there were shepherds in the same country [they were in the same fields from which David had been called to tend God's Israel, or flock] abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. [When the flock is too far from the village to lead it to the fold at night, these shepherds still so abide with it in the field, even in the dead of winter.] 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them [He stood upon the earth at their side, and did …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Lord's Supper Instituted.
(Jerusalem. Evening Before the Crucifixion.) ^A Matt. XXVI. 26-29; ^B Mark XIV. 22-25; ^C Luke XXII. 19, 20; ^F I. Cor. XI. 23-26. ^a 26 And as they were eating, ^f the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; 24 and when he had given thanks, { ^b blessed,} ^f he brake it, ^a and he gave to the disciples, and said, ^b Take ye: ^a Take, eat; this is my body. ^f which is ^c given ^f for you: this do in remembrance of me. [As only unleavened bread was eaten during the paschal supper, …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Writings of St. Ambrose.
The extant writings of St. Ambrose may be divided under six heads. I. Dogmatic; II. Exegetic; III. Moral; IV. Sermons; V. Letters; VI. A few Hymns. I. Dogmatic and Controversial Works. 1. De Fide. The chief of these are the Five Books on the Faith, of which the two first were written in compliance with a request of the Emperor Gratian, a.d. 378. Books III.-V. were written in 379 or 380, and seem to have been worked up from addresses delivered to the people [V. prol. 9, 11; III. 143; IV. 119]. This …
St. Ambrose—Works and Letters of St. Ambrose

Things Pertaining to the Kingdom.
"Now is there solemn pause in earth and heaven; The Conqueror now His bonds hath riven, And Angels wonder why He stays below; Yet hath not man his lesson learned, How endless love should be returned." Hitherto our thoughts about "The Kingdom of Heaven" have been founded on the teaching of the King respecting His Kingdom recorded in the Gospels. But we must not forget to give attention to the very important time in the life of our Lord extending between His Resurrection and Ascension, during which …
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it?

The Last Supper
189. On Thursday Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem for the last time. Knowing the temper of the leaders, and the danger of arrest at any time, Jesus was particularly eager to eat the Passover with his disciples (Luke xxii. 15), and he sent two of them--Luke names them as Peter and John--to prepare for the supper. In a way which would give no information to such a one as Judas, he directed them carefully how to find the house where a friend would provide them the upper room that was needed …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

Brief Outline of Ancient Jewish Theological Literature
The arrangements of the synagogue, as hitherto described, combined in a remarkable manner fixedness of order with liberty of the individual. Alike the seasons and the time of public services, their order, the prayers to be offered, and the portions of the law to be read were fixed. On the other hand, between the eighteen "benedictions" said on ordinary days, and the seven repeated on the Sabbaths, free prayer might be inserted; the selection from the prophets, with which the public reading concluded--the …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus] …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
ONLY those who have made study of it can have any idea how large, and sometimes bewildering, is the literature on the subject of Jewish Proselytes and their Baptism. Our present remarks will be confined to the Baptism of Proselytes. 1. Generally, as regards proselytes (Gerim) we have to distinguish between the Ger ha-Shaar (proselyte of the gate) and Ger Toshabh (sojourner,' settled among Israel), and again the Ger hatstsedeq (proselyte of righteousness) and Ger habberith (proselyte of the covenant). …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Exodus 24:8 NIV
Exodus 24:8 NLT
Exodus 24:8 ESV
Exodus 24:8 NASB
Exodus 24:8 KJV

Exodus 24:8 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Exodus 24:7
Top of Page
Top of Page