Exodus 40 15

Exodus 40:15

ESV: and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations."

KJV: And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

NIV: Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations."

NKJV: You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations."

NLT: Anoint them as you did their father, so they may also serve me as priests. With their anointing, Aaron's descendants are set apart for the priesthood forever, from generation to generation."

Meaning

Exodus 40:15 establishes the divine mandate for the continuation of the Aaronic priesthood through Aaron's sons. It specifies that these sons are to be anointed in the same manner as their father, Aaron, setting them apart for perpetual service to God as priests. The anointing ceremony signifies their consecration and imparts the necessary authority and sanctity for this hereditary and "everlasting" office, which is to continue through their lineage throughout Israelite history.

Cross References

Context

Exodus chapter 40 marks the culmination of the detailed instructions regarding the Tabernacle and its furnishings, and it describes the Tabernacle's actual erection and dedication according to the divine pattern given on Mount Sinai. Verses 1 through 16 specifically detail the final commands for setting up the Tabernacle and consecrating its components and personnel. Having already instructed Moses on how to consecrate Aaron as the high priest, this verse extends that command to Aaron's sons. This happens immediately after the Tabernacle is fully assembled and anointed, preparing for the official initiation of the Levitical priestly service. It is a moment of establishing the sacred order for worship in Israel's new covenant relationship with God. The historical context positions this as the birth of a formalized, hereditary priesthood, central to Israel's identity and their communion with God.

Word analysis

• You shall anoint them: From the Hebrew verb מָשַׁח (mashach), meaning "to smear" or "to anoint." This action is more than symbolic; it signifies a divine act of consecration, setting someone apart for sacred service. The anointing oil often symbolized the presence and empowering of God's Spirit for a specific task, directly linking the Levitical priesthood's establishment to the work of the Holy Spirit. This root also forms the word for "Messiah" (מָשִׁיחַ - mashiach), highlighting the typological connection between the anointed priests of Israel and the ultimate Anointed One, Jesus Christ.
• as you anointed their father: This phrase (כַּאֲשֶׁר מָשַׁחְתָּ אֶת אֲבִיהֶם - ka'ăšer māshaḥtā et ăvihem) establishes a direct parallel and continuity in the ordination process. It emphasizes that the consecration of Aaron's sons is not a new or lesser anointing, but one identical in divine authority and purpose to Aaron's own. This ensures the legitimacy and holiness of the succeeding generations of priests, solidifying the divinely established lineage for the priesthood.
• that they may minister to Me as priests: The Hebrew phrase לִי לִכְהֻנַּת (li li-khahūnnat) means "to Me for a priesthood." It clearly defines the purpose of their anointing and office: direct, dedicated service to God Himself. Their ministry is not for personal gain or human applause, but for God's glory and for mediating between God and His people, demonstrating His ownership and unique calling for this role.
• And their anointing: Reiteration of the significance of the anointing. It is the very act of consecration that confers the perpetual priesthood. It's the divine validation of their office.
• shall surely be an everlasting priesthood: The Hebrew עוֹלָם (olām), typically translated "everlasting" or "forever," in this context denotes permanence within the Mosaic Covenant framework. It signifies an enduring institution, passed down hereditarily, without interruption as long as the covenant itself endures. While not implying absolute infinity (as it would eventually be superseded by Christ's superior priesthood), it speaks to a perpetual, generational mandate distinct from temporary offices. This emphasizes God's faithfulness to His established order.
• throughout their generations: The Hebrew לְדֹרֹתָם (l'dorotām) explicitly defines the hereditary nature of this priesthood. It reinforces that the priestly office is not elective or merit-based beyond their lineage but flows exclusively through Aaron's descendants, maintaining purity and continuity according to God's decree.

Commentary

Exodus 40:15 is a foundational declaration for the continuation of the Aaronic priesthood within Israel. The command for Moses to anoint Aaron's sons precisely "as you anointed their father" underscores the divine pattern and the legitimacy required for consecrated service. This act of anointing, with its accompanying oil, symbolizes the divine appointment, setting apart, and empowering of the individuals for their sacred duties, indicating that their capacity for holy service derives from God alone. Their core purpose is to "minister to Me," emphasizing that the priesthood is fundamentally a service directed to God Himself, ensuring the proper order and mediation in His Tabernacle. The crucial phrase "shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations" highlights God's intent for the Aaronic line to be the perpetual conduit of the formal sacrificial system under the Old Covenant. This establishes a hereditary chain, ensuring that legitimate mediators would always be available for Israel's relationship with Yahweh. While "everlasting" indicated the long-term, covenantal permanence of this institution, its ultimate fulfillment and spiritual essence point beyond itself to the coming of Jesus Christ, the eternal High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, whose single, perfect sacrifice perfected the need for a continually sacrificing earthly priesthood, ushering in the new covenant spiritual priesthood of all believers.

Bonus section

The establishment of the Aaronic priesthood as an "everlasting priesthood throughout their generations" served a crucial typological function. It set a precedent for a divinely appointed mediator, foreshadowing the ultimate mediator between God and humanity, Jesus Christ. This perpetual institution demonstrated God's covenant faithfulness and His provision for humanity's reconciliation, even within the confines of a temporal sacrificial system. The priestly line of Aaron, dedicated solely to God's service and dependent on His anointing, was a physical representation of spiritual principles, showing the need for holiness, separation, and divine empowerment for anyone approaching God. Its abolition or fulfillment in the New Testament does not negate its initial divine authority or purpose; rather, it highlights the greater glory and perfection of the New Covenant brought about by Christ's finished work. The physical anointing of Aaron and his sons points to the spiritual anointing of Christ and, by extension, to all believers who, through Christ, become a "royal priesthood" in the spiritual sense, ministering to God and declaring His praises.

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