Leviticus 9 · Verse 24

Leviticus 9:24

And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 9:24, King James Version

Leviticus 9:24 in other translations

BSBFire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.
WEBFire came out from before the LORD, and consumed the burnt offering and the fat upon the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
ASVAnd there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat: and when all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
YLTand fire cometh out from before Jehovah, and consumeth on the altar the burnt-offering, and the fat; and all the people see, and cry aloud, and fall on their faces.
DARBYAnd there went out fire from before Jehovah, and consumed on the altar the burnt-offering, and the pieces of fat; and all the people saw it, and they shouted, and fell on their face.
BBEAnd fire came out from before the Lord, burning up the offering on the altar and the fat: and when all the people saw it, they gave a loud cry, falling down on their faces.
WebsterAnd there came out a fire from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat: which, when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

What does Leviticus 9:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
24. there came a fire out from ... the Lord--A flame emanating from that resplendent light that filled the holy place flashed upon the brazen altar and kindled the sacrifices. This miraculous fire--for the descent of which the people had probably been prepared, and which the priests were enjoined never to let go out (Le 6:13)--was a sign, not only of the acceptance of the offerings and of the establishment of Aaron's authority, but of God's actual residence in that chosen dwelling-place. The moment the solemn though welcome spectacle was seen, a simultaneous shout of joy and gratitude burst from the assembled congregation, and in the attitude of profoundest reverence they worshipped "a present Deity."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 When all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces - 1. The miracle was done in such a way as gave the fullest conviction to the people of its reality. 2. They exulted in the thought that the God of almighty power and energy had taken up his abode among them. 3. They prostrated themselves in his presence, thereby intimating the deep sense they had of His goodness, of their unworthiness, and of the obligation they were under to live in subjection to his authority, and obedience to his will - This celestial fire was carefully preserved among the Israelites till the time of Solomon, when it was renewed, and continued among them till the Babylonish captivity. This Divine fire was the emblem of the Holy Spirit. And as no sacrifice could be acceptable to God which was not salted, i. e., seasoned and rendered pleasing, by this fire, as our Lord says, Mar 9:49, so no soul can offer acceptable sacrifices to God, but through the influences of the Divine Spirit. Hence the promise of the Spirit under the emblem of fire, Mat 3:11, and its actual descent in this similitude on the day of pentecost, Act 2:3, Act 2:4. The most remarkable circumstance in this chapter is the manifestation of the presence of God, and the consuming of the victims by the miraculous fire. We have already seen that the chief design of these sacrificial rites was to obtain reconciliation to God, that the Divine Presence might dwell and be manifested among them. To encourage the people to make the necessary preparations, to offer the sacrifices in a proper spirit, and to expect especial mercies from the hand of God, Moses promises, Lev 9:4, that the Lord would appear unto them on the morrow, and that his glory should appear, Lev 9:6. In hope or expectation of this, the priest, the elders, and the people purified themselves by offering the different sacrifices which God had appointed; and when this was done God did appear, and gave the fullest proofs of his approbation, by miraculously consuming the sacrifices which were prepared on the occasion. Does not St. John evidently refer to these circumstances, 1Jn 3:2, 1Jn 3:3 : "Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; and every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure." This manifestation of God in the tabernacle was a type of his presence, first, in the Church militant on earth; and secondly, in the Church triumphant in heaven. They who expect to have the presence of God here, must propitiate his throne of justice by the only available sacrifice; they who wish to enjoy everlasting felicity, must be purified from all unrighteousness, for without holiness none can see the Lord. If we hope to see him as he is, we must resemble him. How vain is the expectation of glory, where there is no meetness for the place! And how can we enter into the holiest but by the blood of Jesus? Heb 10:19. And of what use can this sacrifice be to those who do not properly believe in it? And can any faith, even in that sacrifice, be effectual to salvation, that does not purify the heart? Reader! earnestly pray to God that thou hold not the truth in unrighteousness.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Leviticus 9:22-24

When the solemnity was finished, and the blessing pronounced, God testified his acceptance. There came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed the sacrifice. This fire might justly have fastened upon the people, and have consumed them for their sins; but its consuming the sacrifice signified God's acceptance of it, as an atonement for the sinner. This also was a figure of good things to come. The Spirit…

Read the full comment on Leviticus 9:22-24 →

Leviticus 9:24 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַתֵּ֤צֵאva.Te.tze'and it went outH3318
אֵשׁ֙'eshfireH784
מִלִּפְנֵ֣יmi.lif.Neifrom to beforeH6440
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
וַתֹּ֙אכַל֙va.To.khaland it consumedH398
עַל\־'al-onH5921
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַha.miz.Be.achthe altarH4196
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הָעֹלָ֖הha.'o.Lahthe burnt offeringH5930
וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
הַחֲלָבִ֑יםha.cha.la.Vimthe fat<s>H2459
וַיַּ֤רְאvai.Yar'and it sawH7200
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הָעָם֙ha.'Amthe peopleH5971
וַיָּרֹ֔נּוּvai.ya.Ro.nuand they shoutedH7442
וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּvai.yi.pe.Luand they fellH5307
עַל\־'al-onH5921
פְּנֵיהֶֽם\׃pe.nei.Hemfaces theirH6440

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Leviticus 9:24

  • 1 Kings 18:38-39

    Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

  • Judges 6:21

    Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:26

    And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

  • Exodus 3:2

    And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

  • Judges 13:19-20

    So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the Lord: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.

  • 2 Chronicles 7:1-3

    Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

  • Genesis 15:17

    And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

  • Judges 13:23

    But his wife said unto him, If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.

  • Psalms 20:3-4

    Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

  • Leviticus 6:13

    The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.

  • Psalms 80:1

    To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim–Eduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

  • Revelation 7:11

    And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
there came a fire.These victims were consumed by a fire of no human kindling. Josephus says that "a fire proceeded from the victims themselves, of its own accord, which had the appearance of a flash of lightning, and consumed all that was upon the altar."
6:13; Ge 4:3,4; 15:17; Ex 3:2; Jud 6:21; 13:19,20,23; 1Ki 18:38
2Ki 19:15; 1Ch 21:26; 2Ch 6:2; 7:1-3; Ps 20:3,4; 80:1; *marg:
they shouted.
Ge 17:3; Nu 14:5; 16:22; 1Ki 18:39; 2Ch 7:3; Ezr 3:11; Mt 26:39
Re 4:9; 5:8; 7:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Leviticus 9:23

    And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people.

  • Leviticus 9:24

    And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Read all of Leviticus 9

Leviticus 9:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y salió fuego de delante de Jehová, y consumió el holocausto y los sebos sobre el altar; y viéndolo todo el pueblo, alabaron, y cayeron sobre sus rostros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et le feu sortit de devant l’ Éternel, et consuma sur l’autel l’holocauste et les graisses; et tout le peuple le vit, et ils poussèrent des cris de joie, et tombèrent sur leurs faces.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und es ging Feuer aus von Jehova und verzehrte auf dem Altar das Brandopfer und die Fettstücke; und das ganze Volk sah es, und sie jauchzten und fielen auf ihr Angesicht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et ecce egressus ignis a Domino, devoravit holocaustum, et adipes qui erant super altare. Quod cum vidissent turbæ, laudaverunt Dominum, ruentes in facies suas.