Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the first month, in the first day of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary:
Parallel translations
- WEB Thus says the Lord Yahweh: In the first month, in the first day of the month, you shall take a young bull without defect; and you shall cleanse the sanctuary.
- BSB This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the first day of the first month you are to take a young bull without blemish and purify the sanctuary.
- NKJV ‘Thus says the Lord God: “In the first month, on the first day of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish and cleanse the sanctuary.
- NASB ‘This is what the Lord God says: “In the first month, on the first of the month, you shall take a bull without blemish and cleanse the sanctuary from sin.
- NLT “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In early spring, on the first day of each new year, sacrifice a young bull with no defects to purify the Temple.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
On the first day of the first month, a flawless young bull is offered to cleanse the sanctuary.
Overview
The year begins with a sacrifice to purify the sanctuary, ensuring that worship proceeds from a cleansed place. Regular purification kept the holy space fit for God's presence. The continual need to cleanse the sanctuary highlights the lasting purification accomplished by Christ, who cleanses both His people and their worship.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Lev 16:16And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
- Lev 22:20But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
- Ezek 43:22And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock.
- Exod 12:2This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
- Lev 16:33And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
- Heb 9:14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
- Ezek 43:26Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.
- Heb 7:26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
- Num 28:11–15And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;
- 1 Pet 1:19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
- Heb 10:3–4But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
- Matt 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
- Heb 10:19–22Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
- Heb 9:22–25And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 45:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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