Numbers 8:12

¹⁰ You are to present the Levites before the LORD and have the Israelites lay their hands upon them.

¹¹ Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the sons of Israel, so that they may perform the service of the LORD.

And the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and offer to the LORD one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, to make atonement for the Levites.

¹³ You are to have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons and then present them before the LORD as a wave offering.

¹⁴ In this way you shall separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites, and the Levites will belong to Me.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: And the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and offer to the LORD one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, to make atonement for the Levites.
KJV: And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.
WEB: “The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.
ASV: And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and offer thou the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, unto Jehovah, to make atonement for the Levites.
DARBY: And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks, and thou shalt offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, to Jehovah, to make atonement for the Levites.
BLB: And the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls, and you shall offer the one [for] a sin offering and the one [for] a burnt offering to YHWH, to make atonement upon the Levites.

ÅB: Så skal levittene legge sine hender på oksenes hoder, og du skal ofre den ene til syndoffer og den andre til brennoffer for Herren for å gjøre soning for levittene.
OTB: Levittene skal legge hendene på hodene til oksene; så skal den ene ofres som syndoffer og den andre som brennoffer til Herren, for å gjøre soning for levittene.
B1930: Så skal levittene legge sine hender på oksenes hoder, og du skal ofre den ene til syndoffer og den andre til brennoffer for Herren for å gjøre soning for levittene.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hebrews 10:4–10
because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Read in context
Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
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Exodus 29:10
You are to present the bull at the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head.
Read in context
Leviticus 8:14
Moses then brought the bull near for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.
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Leviticus 1:4
He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.
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Numbers 8:8
Then have them take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.
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Leviticus 4:20
He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.
Read in context
Leviticus 16:11
When Aaron presents the bull for his sin offering and makes atonement for himself and his household, he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering.
Read in context