What Ears, Thumbs, and Toes Teach Us About Biblical Manhood

My annual trip through Leviticus came with the usual trappings. Frankly, I can experience some “scriptural drift” when I’m making my way through passages that go into deep, deep detail about what to do with livers, kidneys, and entrails during a sacrifice or how to deal with someone who has a skin disease on their bald spot.

Maybe these topics hold the attention of butchers and dermatologists, but not so much for me. And since my reading plan loads me up with about five chapters of Leviticus each day, I get the idea whoever wrote the plan sort of expects me to skim along.

About the time I start speed-reading, however, I remember Paul’s words to Timothy: All scripture is God-breathed and useful. Unsaid by Paul: Even Leviticus. And guess what happens when I actually ask God to reveal something from His Word and then slow down and list? He delivers.

More often than not, that revelation comes when I’m not expecting it, and this year it began in Chapter 8 with verse 23.

“Moses slaughtered it, took some of its blood, and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.” (Leviticus 8:23, CSB)

Perhaps it’s just me, but that’s the type of verse that makes me think things like, What?!

…Why?! … Man, that’s just soooooo weird!

Chapter 8 describes the ceremonial ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests. Then, in chapter 14, we see similar descriptions, this time for guilt offerings concerning people who are cleansed of skin diseases.

The priests take animal blood (14:14, 25) and apply it to the right earlobe, the thumb on the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot of the person who brought the offering.

Then they do the same thing with oil (14:17, 28).

Knowing all of this makes for good trivia knowledge. Sort of like knowing an octopus typically has three hearts. But is it really useful in our manhood journey? I think so. Because the symbolism in those ceremonies challenge us to live differently than those who are in the world, just as God challenged the Israelites to live as a people set apart during the days of Moses.

Don’t confuse me with a Biblical scholar, but here’s a summary of a few reputable commentaries I read to better understand the symbolism.

• The use of a ram’s blood represents the life of the sacrificial victim, so it’s a reminder of what Christ gave for our salvation.

• The oil used for anointing and consecration typically symbolized the Holy Spirit, which sanctifies us once we’re cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

• The right side symbolize strength, favor, and superiority, indicating God expects us to give Him our best.

• And why the ear, thumb, and toe? Overall, that represents the entirety of our body – we give it all.

It’s like when I tell my wife I love her from the hair on the very top of her head to the ends of the toenails on her feet.

Individually, there’s symbolism too.

The Ear: We should listen differently and be attentive to God’s commands and His call on our lives. The word for “hear” (shema) doesn’t just mean to listen and hear but to understand and obey. It’s action-oriented.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, NIV)

The Thumb: We should serve and work differently than the world and execute God’s will in every area of our lives.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)

The Toe: We should walk differently (in the ways of righteousness) and carry the gospel to everyone around us.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isaiah 57:7, NIV)

It’s comforting to remember that Jesus is our atoning sacrifice and the High Priest who anoints us with the power of the Holy Spirit. By His blood and by His power, we are set apart for a holy purpose. Let’s go live that purpose – from the lobes of our ears to the nails on our big toes.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16, NIV)