Ear, Thumb, and Toe

The consecration of the high priests and priests was a multistage process, which included washings, anointings, putting on sacred vestments, and more (see Lev. 8). One of the stages included Moses applying a bullock’s sacrificial blood to the right ear, to the thumb of the right hand, and to the largest toe of the right foot of Aaron and his sons (see Lev. 8:23–24; Ex. 29:20). This sacred act, together with the other rites of consecration of priests, had a sacred and symbolic significance. Perhaps the ear signifies listening to God’s word; the thumb symbolizes doing His work (with our hands), and the toe denotes walking in God’s commandments (the toe representing our feet).

Ceremonial application of sacrificial blood (artificial) to right thumb.