What Does Exodus 29:19 Mean in the King James?

And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram.

Exodus 29:19 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The verb translated “put” also means to lean or support, so their hands make a bond with the ram visible.

THE MEANING

Aaron and his sons place their hands on the ram before the offering proceeds. The Hebrew verb carries the sense of leaning or supporting, so the gesture connects their bodies to what is being dedicated. The act is visible and embodied, not only inward.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The verse dissolves the idea that dedication is only an inward state: here the body is part of the act, with hands resting on the ram.

THE ROOT

וְסָמַךְ

vesamakh

GROWS FROM

סמך

to lean on, support, or uphold; in this form, to lay hands upon

“put their hands upon” in this verse is vesamakh. The verb links the hands-on gesture with the language of leaning and support. English “put” can sound like simple placement, while the Hebrew carries the added sense of contact that joins the people to what is before them.

ALSO GROWS

samakh: sustained, supported

סָמַךְ

Psalm 3:5 uses this root for the LORD sustaining the sleeper, showing the root’s reach from hands laid on an offering to support that holds someone up.

somekh: upholding, supporting

סוֹמֵךְ

Psalm 145:14 uses this form for the LORD upholding those who fall, keeping the same root’s sense of support in view.

THE PATTERN

Hands make dedication or commission visible before the next act.

And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:

Numbers 8:10 · KJVIsrael’s hands mark the Levites for their presentation before the LORD.

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 13:3 · KJVThe assembly’s hands mark Barnabas and Saul for the sending that follows.

THE THREAD

I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

Psalm 3:5 · KJV

Exodus uses ⁨סמך⁩ (samakh, “to lean on or support”) for the hands laid on the ram. Psalm 3:5 uses the same root for being sustained, linking the gesture of contact with the deeper language of support.

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