Sprinkle
Sprinkle
6 And the priest shall dip his finger (אֶצְבָּע֖וֹ)[1] in the blood, and sprinkle (וְהִזָּ֨ה)[2] of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.
Nazah
The verb נָזָה consistently depicts the action of sprinkling[2] or scattering liquid in small drops—most often blood or water—upon persons, objects, or places.
Life is in the blood and water represents the way of washing.
In Scripture this image is never casual; it signals a purposeful act that establishes or restores a covenant relationship and draws a clear boundary between the holy and the profane. The very economy of the motion—drops rather than a flood—highlights precision, intentionality, and divine order.
Worship which is a duty is often connected with sprinkling water or blood, often by an anointed priest. Anointed by what?
The repetitive sprinklings of the Levitical activities remind congregations that access to God is always mediated by shedding blood metaphorically which is to say shedding or laying down your life for others.[3]
Zaraq
זָרַק (zaraq)[4] conveys the dynamic action of hurling, scattering, or sprinkling. In Scripture it is applied to blood, water, ashes, dust, oil, and even human bodies, creating pictures of cleansing, consecration, judgment, or desecration according to context.
Leviticus 1:5 And he shall kill the bullock((אֶת־בֶּ֥ן הַבָּקָ֖ר)habbāqār[5] Ben[6]) before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle (וְזָרְק֨וּ)[4] the blood round about upon the altar that [is by] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Leviticus 1:11 "And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle(וְזָרְק֡וּ)[4] his blood round about upon the altar."
Zaraq References
Leviticus 1:5, 11; 3:2, 8, 13; 4:6-7, 17-18; 7:2; 8:19, 24, 30; 16:14-19; 17:6
Numbers 19:4, 18-19
2 Kings 9:33; 2 Kings 16:13
2 Chronicles 29:22; 2 Chronicles 30:16
Isaiah 52:15
Ezekiel 36:25
Footnotes
- ↑ 0676 אֶצְבַּע ‘etsba‘ ets-bah’ from the same as 06648 צֶבַע tseba dye (as in 06647 צְבַע tsëba‘ dip) (in the sense of grasping); n f; [BDB-840b] {See TWOT on 1873 @@ "1873a" } AV-finger 32; 32
- 1) finger, toe
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 05137 נָזָה nazah naw-zaw’ a primitive root; v; [BDB-633a, BDB-633b] {See TWOT on 1335 } {See TWOT on 1336 } AV-sprinkle 24; 24
- 1) to spurt, spatter, sprinkle
- 1a) (Qal) to spurt, spatter
- 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to spurt, sprinkle upon
- 2) to spring, leap
- 2a) (Hiphil) to cause to leap, startle
- 1) to spurt, spatter, sprinkle
- ↑ God of life and love
- Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
- John 6:33-34 “33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.”
- John 15:12 "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
- Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
- John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep... 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.... 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again."
- John 13:37-38 “Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. 38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
- Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
- Matthew 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
- Matthew 21:43 "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."
- Matthew 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
- Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
- James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
- 1 John 3:16-18 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 02236 זָרַק zaraq zaw-rak’ a primitive root; v; [BDB-284b] {See TWOT on 585 } AV-sprinkle 31, scatter 2, here and there 1, strowed 1; 35
- 1) to scatter, sprinkle, toss, throw, scatter abundantly, strew
- 1a) (Qal) to scatter, sprinkle, toss
- 1b) (Pual) to be sprinkled
- See also 05137 נָזָה nazah spurt, leap
- 1) to scatter, sprinkle, toss, throw, scatter abundantly, strew
- ↑ 01241 בָּקָר baqar [baw-kawr’] BeitKufReish from 01239 BeitKufReish baqar seek; n m; [BDB-133a] [{See TWOT on 274 @@ "274a" }] AV-ox 78, herd 44, beeves 7, young 18, young + 01121 17, bullock 6, bullock + 01121 2, calf + 01121 2, heifer 2, kine 2, bulls 1, cattle 1, cow’s 1, great 1; 182
- 1) cattle, herd, oxen, ox
- 1a) cattle (generic pl. but sing. in form-coll)
- 1b) herd (particular one)
- 1c) head of cattle (individually)
- 1) cattle, herd, oxen, ox
- ↑ 01121 בֵּן ben [bane] from 01129 build; n m; [BDB-119b, BDB-122a] [{See TWOT on 254 }] AV-son 2978, children 1568, old 135, first 51, man 20, young 18, young + 01241 17, child 10, stranger 10, people 5, misc 92; 4906
- 1) son, grandson, child, member of a group
- 1a) son, male child
- 1b) grandson
- 1c) children (pl. — male and female)
- 1d) youth, young men (pl.)
- 1e) young (of animals)
- 1f) sons (as characterisation, i.e. sons of injustice [for unrighteous men] or sons of God [for angels]
- 1g) people (of a nation) (pl.)
- 1h) of lifeless things, i.e. sparks, stars, arrows (fig.)
- 1i) a member of a guild, order, class