← Back to Lexicon
H931 · Hebrew · Old Testament
בֹּהֶן
Bohen
Noun, masculine
Thumb / Big Toe

Definition

The thumb of the hand or the big toe of the foot. Used in the ordination of priests (Leviticus 8) and the purification ritual for skin disease (Leviticus 14), where blood or oil was applied to the right ear, right thumb, and right big toe — signifying consecration of the whole person.

Usage & Theological Significance

At Aaron's ordination, Moses applied blood from the sin offering to the tip of Aaron's right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the big toe of his right foot (Leviticus 8:23–24). The right side represents prominence; ear (hearing), hand (working), and foot (walking) together signify total consecration — every faculty consecrated to God. The same ritual applied to cleansed lepers (Leviticus 14:14), marking reintegration into the covenant community as a complete re-consecration of the person.

Key Bible Verses

Leviticus 8:23 Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.
Leviticus 14:14 The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot.
Leviticus 14:28 The priest is to put some of the oil from his palm on the lobe of the right ear, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot.
Judges 1:6 Adoni-bezek fled, but they chased him and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.
Exodus 29:20 Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet.

Related Words

External Resources

🌙
☀️