Exodus – Chapter 29

Old Testament46 Verses

Chapter Summary

"And thou shalt also do this, that they may be consecrated to me in priesthood. Take a calf from the herd, and two rams without blemish," — so begins Exodus 29. Aaron stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 46 verses, two threads run through the text: holiness and family and covenant relationships. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1And thou shalt also do this, that they may be consecrated to me in priesthood. Take a calf from the herd, and two rams without blemish,

2And unleavened bread, and a cake without leaven, tempered with oil, wafers also unleavened, anointed with oil: thou shalt make them all of wheaten flour.

3And thou shalt put them in a basket, and offer them: and the calf and the two rams.

4And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the testimony. And when thou hast washed the father and his sons with water,

5Thou shalt clothe Aaron with his vestments, that is, with the linen garment and the tunic, and the ephod and the rational, which thou shalt gird with the girdle.

6And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and the holy plate upon the mitre,

7And thou shalt pour the oil of unction upon his head: and by this rite shall he be consecrated.

8Thou shalt bring his sons also, and shalt put on them the linen tunics, and gird them with a girdle:

9To wit, Aaron and his children, and thou shalt put mitres upon them; and they shall be priests to me by a perpetual ordinance. After thou shalt have consecrated their hands,

10Thou shalt present also the calf before the tabernacle of the testimony. And Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon his head,

11And thou shalt kill him in the sight of the Lord, beside the door of the tabernacle of the testimony.

12And taking some of the blood of the calf, thou shalt put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and the rest of the blood thou shalt pour at the bottom thereof.

13Thou shalt take also all the fat that covereth the entrails, and the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and shalt offer a burn offering upon the altar:

14But the flesh of the calf, and the hide and the dung, thou shalt burn abroad, without the camp, because it is for sin.

15Thou shalt take also one ram, upon the head whereof Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands.

16And when thou hast killed him, thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and pour round about the altar.

17And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and having washed his entrails and feet, thou shalt put them upon the flesh that is cut in pieces, and upon his head.

18And 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.

19Thou shalt take also the other ram, upon whose head Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands.

20And when thou hast sacrificed him, thou shalt take of his blood, and put upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron and of his sons, and upon the thumbs and great toes of their right hand and foot, and thou shalt pour the blood upon the altar round about.

21And when thou hast taken of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the oil of unction, thou shalt sprinkle Aaron and his vesture, his sons and their vestments. And after they and their vestments are consecrated,

22Thou shalt take the fat of the ram, and the rump, and the fat that covereth the lungs, and the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder, because it is the ram of consecration:

23And one roll of bread, a cake tempered with oil, a wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread, which is set in the sight of the Lord:

24And thou shalt put all upon the hands of Aaron and of his sons, and shalt sanctify them elevating before the Lord.

25And thou shalt take all from their hands; and shalt burn them upon the altar for a holocaust, a most sweet savour in the sight of the Lord, because it is his oblation.

26Thou shalt take also the breast of the ram, wherewith Aaron was consecrated, and elevating it thou shalt sanctify it before the Lord, and it shall fall to thy share.

27And thou shalt sanctify both the consecrated breast, and the shoulder that thou didst separate of the ram,

28Wherewith Aaron was consecrated and his sons, and they shall fall to Aaron's share, and his sons', by a perpetual right from the children of Israel: because they are the choicest and the beginnings of their peace victims which they offer to the Lord.

29And the holy vesture, which Aaron shall use, his sons shall have after him, that they may be anointed, and their hands consecrated in it.

30He of his sons that shall be appointed high priest in his stead, and that shall enter into the tabernacle of the testimony to minister in the sanctuary, shall wear it seven days.

31And thou shalt take the ram of the consecration, and shalt boil the flesh thereof in the holy place:

32And Aaron and his sons shall eat it. The loaves also, that are in the basket, they shall eat in the entry of the tabernacle of the testimony,

33That it may be an atoning sacrifice, and the hands of the offerers may be sanctified. A stranger shall not eat of them, because they are holy.

34And if there remain of the consecrated flesh, or of the bread, till the morning, thou shalt burn the remainder with fire: they shall not be eaten, because they are sanctified.

35All that I have commanded thee, thou shalt do unto Aaron and his sons. Seven days shalt thou consecrate their hands:

36And thou shalt offer a calf for sin every day for expiation. And thou shalt cleanse the altar when thou hast offered the victim of expiation, and shalt anoint it to sanctify it.

37Seven days shalt thou expiate the altar and sanctify it, and it shall be most holy. Every one, that shall touch it, shall be holy.

38This is what thou shalt sacrifice upon the altar: Two lambs of a year old every day continually,

39One lamb in the morning, and another in the evening.

40With one lamb a tenth part of flour tempered with beaten oil, of the fourth part of a hin, and wine for libation of the same measure.

41And the other lamb thou shalt offer in the evening, according to the rite of the morning oblation, and according to what we have said, for a savour of sweetness:

42It is a sacrifice to the Lord, by perpetual oblation unto your generations, at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony before the Lord, where I will appoint to speak unto thee.

43And there will I command the children of Israel, and the altar shall be sanctified by my glory.

44I will sanctify also the tabernacle of the testimony with the altar, and Aaron with his sons, to do the office of priesthood unto me.

45And I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel, and will be their God:

46And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who have brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might abide among them, I the Lord their God.

Important Verses in Exodus 29

And thou shalt also do this, that they may be consecrated to me in priesthood. Take a calf from the herd, and two rams without blemish,

Exodus 29:1

And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and the holy plate upon the mitre,

Exodus 29:6

And thou shalt kill him in the sight of the Lord, beside the door of the tabernacle of the testimony.

Exodus 29:11

And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who have brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might abide among them, I the Lord their God.

Exodus 29:46

Historical Context

Exodus belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for israel in every generation, commanded to remember the Passover as a perpetual memorial. Chapter 29 of 40 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a legal and cultic instruction given to Israel regarding worship, holiness, and daily life with 46 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Historical attention falls on Aaron, the principal figures named in this chapter. The passage starts with these words: "And thou shalt also do this, that they may be consecrated to me in priesthood. Take a calf from the herd, and two rams…" It concludes: "And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who have brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might abide…" In terms of historical background, Exodus recounts the defining event of the Old Testament: God's liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh, most likely Ramesses II. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Exodus around Describes events of the 13th century BC; reached final written form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with later inspired editing

When It Was Written

Describes events of the 13th century BC; reached final written form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, Exodus 29 delivers commandments and ritual instructions given under the old covenant. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And thou shalt also do this, that they may be consecrated to me in priesthood. Take a calf from the herd, and two rams without blemish," The passage repeatedly touches on holiness before God.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 1362). Here, the Church sees the Exodus as prefiguring Baptism and the Eucharist (CIC 1221, 1363). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize holiness before God as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God delivers His people from slavery. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Exodus 29 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • 'Be holy, for I am holy': God calls His people to be set apart for Him in every area of life.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.

People in This Chapter

Aaron16 mentions

Reflection for Today

When the Church proclaims Exodus Chapter 29 at Mass or in the Liturgy of the Hours, she treats this text as the living voice of God.

In the four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—the Church finds rich meaning in Exodus Chapter 29. At the moral level, repentance and the mercy of God challenges us to examine conscience and amend our lives (CIC 355).

If this passage raises questions, seek the Church's teaching through the Catechism, a faithful priest, or sound Catholic commentaries. Private interpretation must remain in harmony with the Magisterium (CIC 618).

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Exodus Chapter 29 about?

Exodus 29 contains 46 verses. It opens with "And thou shalt also do this, that they may be consecrated to me in priesthood. Take a calf from the herd, and two rams…" and closes with "And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who have brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might abide…". The book as a whole is narrative, law, and liturgical instruction.

What is a key verse in Exodus 29?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And thou shalt also do this, that they may be consecrated to me in priesthood. Take a calf from the herd, and two rams without blemish," It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Exodus Chapter 29?

This chapter mentions Aaron.

Who wrote Exodus and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with later inspired editing. Describes events of the 13th century BC; reached final written form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

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