Leviticus 16:19 Study Bible: He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

Bible > Leviticus > Chapter 16 > Verse 19

◄ Leviticus 16:19 ►

He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

Study Bible

He is to sprinkle
The act of sprinkling blood is deeply symbolic in the Hebrew tradition, representing purification and atonement. The Hebrew word used here is "zaraq," which means to scatter or sprinkle. This action signifies the priest's role as a mediator between God and the people, emphasizing the need for divine intervention to cleanse sin.

some of the blood
Blood is a central element in the sacrificial system, symbolizing life and atonement. In Hebrew, "dam" refers to blood, which is considered sacred and powerful. The use of blood in rituals underscores the seriousness of sin and the cost of redemption, pointing forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ's blood in the New Testament.

on it with his finger
The use of the priest's finger to apply the blood is a personal and deliberate act, indicating precision and care in the ritual. The finger, in Hebrew "etsba," signifies the direct involvement of the priest in the atonement process, highlighting the personal nature of sin and the need for intentional purification.

seven times
The number seven in Hebrew culture, "sheva," symbolizes completeness and perfection. Sprinkling the blood seven times signifies a complete and perfect cleansing, reflecting God's perfect holiness and the thoroughness required to atone for sin.

to cleanse it
The Hebrew word "taher" means to purify or make clean. This cleansing is not merely physical but spiritual, representing the removal of sin and impurity. It underscores the necessity of holiness in approaching God and the transformative power of atonement.

and to consecrate it
"Qadash" is the Hebrew term for consecrate, meaning to set apart as holy. This act of consecration signifies dedicating the altar to God's service, making it a sacred space for worship and sacrifice. It reflects the call for believers to be set apart for God's purposes.

from the uncleanness
"Tum'ah" in Hebrew refers to impurity or defilement. This uncleanness is both physical and spiritual, representing the pervasive nature of sin. The need to cleanse from uncleanness highlights the barrier sin creates between humanity and God, necessitating atonement.

of the Israelites
The Israelites, or "Bnei Yisrael" in Hebrew, are God's chosen people, called to be a holy nation. This phrase emphasizes the communal aspect of sin and atonement, reminding believers of their collective responsibility to uphold God's standards and seek His forgiveness.

Persons / Places / Events

1. High Priest
The central figure in this passage, responsible for performing the rituals of atonement. In Leviticus 16, this role is fulfilled by Aaron, the brother of Moses.

2. The Altar
The place where the blood is sprinkled. It symbolizes the presence of God and the need for purification and consecration.

3. The Israelites
The people of God who are in need of atonement for their sins and uncleanness.

4. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
The annual event during which the high priest performs rituals to atone for the sins of the Israelites.

5. Blood
Represents life and is used for purification and consecration, symbolizing the seriousness of sin and the need for a sacrificial substitute.

Teaching Points

The Seriousness of Sin
Sin creates a barrier between humanity and God, necessitating a process of atonement and purification.

The Role of the Mediator
The high priest serves as a mediator between God and the people, prefiguring Christ as our ultimate High Priest who intercedes on our behalf.

The Power of Sacrifice
The use of blood in the sacrificial system underscores the cost of sin and the necessity of a life given for atonement, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus.

The Call to Holiness
Just as the altar is consecrated, believers are called to live lives that are set apart and holy, reflecting God's purity and righteousness.

The Importance of Ritual and Remembrance
The Day of Atonement serves as a reminder of God's provision for sin and the need for continual repentance and renewal.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the role of the high priest in Leviticus 16:19 foreshadow the work of Jesus Christ as described in the book of Hebrews?

2. In what ways does the concept of blood as a purifying agent in Leviticus connect to the New Testament teachings on the blood of Christ?

3. What does the repeated act of sprinkling blood seven times signify about the completeness and perfection of God's atonement?

4. How can the principles of atonement and consecration in Leviticus 16:19 be applied to our daily walk with God today?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced a need for spiritual cleansing. How can the practices described in Leviticus inform your understanding of repentance and forgiveness?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Hebrews 9
This chapter in the New Testament draws a parallel between the Old Testament sacrificial system and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement rituals in Christ's atoning work.

Exodus 30
Provides instructions for the construction and use of the altar, highlighting its significance in the worship and sacrificial system of Israel.

1 John 1:7
Discusses the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus, connecting the Old Testament practice of blood sprinkling to the New Testament understanding of spiritual purification.

Sermons

The Climax of Sacrificial Worship: the Day of Atonement	R.M. Edgar	Leviticus 16:1-34
The Great Day of Atonement	R.A. Redford	Leviticus 16:1-34
A Proffered Substitute	W. Thompson.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Christ Typified by the Two Goats	J. Burns, D. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Christian's Confession of Sin	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	Leviticus 16:3-34
Christ's Anesthesia for the Remembrance of Sin		Leviticus 16:3-34
Hindrances to Repentance Removed	J. Spencer.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Intercession of Christ	S. Thodey.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Lessons	A. Willet, D. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Moral Observations	A. Willet, D. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Moses and Christ; the Day of Atonement	W. Clarkson, B. A.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Need for the Great Atonement	J. Hamilton, D. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Sinners Always Ready to Conceal Their Sin	T. Adams.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Spiritual Significance of the Ceremonies on the Day of Atonement	T. M. Morris.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Annual Atonement	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Ceremonies of the Day of Atonement	F. E. Clark.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Climax of Sacrificial Worship	R. M.,Edgar, M. A.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Day of Atonement	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Day of Atonement	D. O. Mears.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Day of Atonement	D. C. Hughes, M. A.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Day of Atonement	H. Melvill, B. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Day of Atonement	J. A. Seiss, D. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Garments of the Priest	F. E. Clark.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Two Goats	F. E. Clark.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Two Goats -- Various Interpretations	J. Cumming, D. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
There Shalt be no Man in the Tabernacle	H. C. Trumbull.	Leviticus 16:3-34
True Repentance	H. W. Beecher.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Trusting in the Substitute		Leviticus 16:3-34
Value of Repentance	J. Spencer.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Sacrifices of the Day of Atonement	J.A. Macdonald	Leviticus 16:5-28
Type and Antitype - the Offering	W. Clarkson	Leviticus 16:7-10, 15, 21, 22

People

Aaron, Israelites, Moses

Places

Teman

Topics

Blood, Clean, Cleanse, Cleansed, Consecrate, Drops, Finger, Hallow, Hallowed, Holy, Impurities, Israelites, Seven, Shaking, Sons, Sprinkle, Sprinkled, Unclean, Uncleanness, Uncleannesses, Whatever

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Leviticus 16:19

5152 fingers

Leviticus 16:1-22

7316 blood, OT sacrifices

Leviticus 16:1-33

6616 atonement, in OT

Leviticus 16:1-34

1680 types
7422 ritual

Leviticus 16:2-34

5378 law, OT

Leviticus 16:3-34

6648 expiation
8629 worship, times

Leviticus 16:6-19

7308 Atonement, Day of

Leviticus 16:15-22

6750 sin-bearer
8272 holiness, growth in

Leviticus 16:18-19

7454 sprinkling

Library

August 9. "He Shall Lay Both his Hands Upon the Head of the Live Goat, and Confess Over Him all the Iniquities of the Children of Israel; Transgressions and Sins" (Lev. xvi. 21).
"He shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel; transgressions and sins" (Lev. xvi. 21). As any evil comes up, and the consciousness of any unholy thing touches our inner senses, it is our privilege at once to hand it over to the Holy Ghost and to lay it upon Jesus, as something already crucified with Him, and as of old, in the case of the sin offering, it will be carried without the camp and burned to ashes. There may …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Day of Atonement
'And the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron when they offered before the Lord, and died; 2. And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy-seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat. 3. Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place; with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4. He shall put on the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Day of Atonement
Now, I shall invite your attention to the ceremonies of this solemn day, taking the different parts in detail. First, we shall consider the person who made the atonement; secondly, the sacrifice whereby the atonement was typically made; thirdly, the effects of the atonement; and fourthly, our behaviour on the recollection of the atonement, as well set forth by the conduct prescribed to the Israelites on that day. I. First, THE PERSON WHO WAS TO MAKE THE ATONEMENT. And at the outset, we remark that …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Foreshadowed in the Ritual on the Annual Day of Israel's Atonement.
The order of events on the Day of Atonement are described in Leviticus 16, a chapter which is exceedingly rich in its typical signification. The Day of Atonement had to do with the putting away of Israel's sins, therefore, its dispensational application refers mainly to Israel though, as we shall see, the Church was also typically represented. We shall not now attempt anything more than a bare outline of the happenings of that most memorable day on Israel's sacred calendar. The order of its ritual …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

The Great High-Priest.
"Having then a great High-priest, Who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high-priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but One that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need. For every high-priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

Fifth Sunday in Lent
Text: Hebrews 9, 11-15. 11 But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh: …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Parable of the Pharisee and Publican.
^C Luke XVIII. 9-14. ^c 9 And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought [It is commonly said that this parable teaches humility in prayer, but the preface and conclusion (see verse 14) show that it is indeed to set forth generally the difference between self-righteousness and humility, and that an occasion of prayer is chosen because it best illustrates the point which the Lord desired to teach. The parable shows that …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Intercession of Christ
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us! T he Redemption of the soul is precious. Fools make mock of sin (Proverbs 14:9) . But they will not think lightly of it, who duly consider the majesty, authority, and goodness of Him, against whom it is committed; and who are taught, by what God actually has done, what sin rendered necessary to be done, before a sinner could have a well-grounded …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Call of Matthew - the Saviour's Welcome to Sinners - Rabbinic Theology as Regards the Doctrine of Forgiveness in Contrast to the Gospel of Christ
In two things chiefly does the fundamental difference appear between Christianity and all other religious systems, notably Rabbinism. And in these two things, therefore, lies the main characteristic of Christ's work; or, taking a wider view, the fundamental idea of all religions. Subjectively, they concern sin and the sinner; or, to put it objectively, the forgiveness of sin and the welcome to the sinner. But Rabbinism, and every other system down to modern humanitarianism - if it rises so high in …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Sundry Exhortations.
HEBREWS xiii. Let love of the brethren continue. Forget not to shew love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are evil entreated, as being yourselves also in the body. Let marriage be had in honour among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for Himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the Teaching of the Lord Concerning Purity - the Traditions Concerning Hand-Washing' and Vows. '
As we follow the narrative, confirmatory evidence of what had preceded springs up at almost every step. It is quite in accordance with the abrupt departure of Jesus from Capernaum, and its motives, that when, so far from finding rest and privacy at Bethsaida (east of the Jordan), a greater multitude than ever had there gathered around Him, which would fain have proclaimed Him King, He resolved on immediate return to the western shore, with the view of seeking a quieter retreat, even though it were …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Christ a Complete Saviour:
OR, THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST, AND WHO ARE PRIVILEGED IN IT. BY JOHN BUNYAN Advertisement by the Editor. However strange it may appear, it is a solemn fact, that the heart of man, unless prepared by a sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, rejects Christ as a complete Saviour. The pride of human nature will not suffer it to fall, as helpless and utterly undone, into the arms of Divine mercy. Man prefers a partial Saviour; one who had done so much, that, with the sinner's aid, the work might be …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links

Leviticus 16:19 NIV
Leviticus 16:19 NLT
Leviticus 16:19 ESV
Leviticus 16:19 NASB
Leviticus 16:19 KJV

Leviticus 16:19 Commentaries

Bible Hub