In the OT, the blood of a sacrificial animal was sprinkled against the altar as a sign of atonement or consecration to the LORD. The NT uses the same image to refer to the gaining of forgiveness through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
Sprinkling of an animal's blood as a sign of atonement
On the altar
Leviticus 7:2 See also Exodus 24:6; Leviticus 1:5, Leviticus 1:11, Leviticus 3:2, Leviticus 3:8, Leviticus 3:13, Leviticus 5:9, Leviticus 9:12, Leviticus 9:18, Leviticus 17:6; Numbers 18:17; 2 Kings 16:13, 2 Kings 16:15; 2 Chronicles 29:22–24, 2 Chronicles 30:16, 2 Chronicles 35:11; Ezekiel 43:18, Ezekiel 43:20; Hebrews 9:21
The guilt offering must be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and the priest shall splatter its blood on all sides of the altar.
In front of the inner curtain in the tabernacle
Leviticus 4:6 See also Leviticus 4:17
The priest is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before the LORD, in front of the veil of the sanctuary.
Towards the front of the Tent of Meeting
On the front of the atonement cover
And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat. Aaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it. So he shall make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the impurities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting which abides among them in the midst of their impurities.
On the door-frames of the houses where the Passover lamb was eaten
Exodus 12:7 See also Exodus 12:22; Hebrews 11:28
They are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.
Sprinkling of blood as a sign of consecration
The consecration of people
Exodus 24:8 See also Exodus 29:20–21; Leviticus 8:23; Hebrews 9:19
So Moses took the blood, splattered it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
The consecration of the altar
Sprinkling of oil as a sign of consecration
Leviticus 8:11 See also Leviticus 8:30, Leviticus 14:15–16, Leviticus 14:27
He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them.
Sprinkling (usually with water) as a sign of cleansing
Numbers 8:7; Ezekiel 36:25 See also Leviticus 14:7, Leviticus 14:51; Numbers 19:13, Numbers 19:18–21; Isaiah 52:15; Hebrews 9:13
This is what you must do to cleanse them: Sprinkle them with the water of purification. Have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.
I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
Sprinkling as an image of forgiveness in Christ
1 Peter 1:2 See also Hebrews 9:11–14, Hebrews 9:18–28, Hebrews 10:22, Hebrews 12:24
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Sprinkling of dust as a visible sign of mourning
Joshua 7:6 See also Job 2:12; Lamentations 2:10; Ezekiel 27:30
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the LORD until evening, as did the elders of Israel; and they all sprinkled dust on their heads.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.