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Leviticus, 1

1. And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,

1. Yahweh called Moses, and from the Tent of Meeting addressed him, saying,

2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, [even] of the herd, and of the flock.

2. "Speak to the people of Israel; say to them: When anyone brings an offering of an animal to Yahweh it can be from either his cattle or sheep and goats.

3. If his offering [be] a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.

3. If the offering is a burnt offering of one of his cattle, he is to offer a bull without any defect. He shall offer it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, so that his offering may be accepted before Yahweh.

4. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

4. He is to lay his hand on the bull's head, and it shall be accepted as a sacrifice to take away his sins.

5. And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that [is by] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

5. Then he shall kill the bull before Yahweh, and the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall offer the blood. They will pour it out on the sides of the altar which stands at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

6. And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.

6. Then he shall skin the victim and quarter it.

7. And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:

7. The sons of Aaron, the priests, must put fire on the altar and arrange wood on this fire.

8. And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that [is] on the fire which [is] upon the altar:

8. Then the sons of Aaron, the priests, are to put the pieces, the head and the fat on the wood on the altar fire.

9. But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, [to be] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

9. The man shall wash the internal organs and legs in water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. This will be a burnt offering and its sweet-smelling odor will please Yahweh.

10. And if his offering [be] of the flocks, [namely], of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.

10. If his offering is an animal out of the flock, a lamb or a goat offered as a burnt offering, he is to offer a male without any defect.

11. And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.

11. He shall kill it on the north side of the altar before Yahweh, and the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall pour out the blood on the sides of the altar.

12. And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that [is] on the fire which [is] upon the altar:

12. Then he is to quarter it, and the priest is to arrange the quarters, as well as the head and the fat on the wood on the altar fire.

13. But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring [it] all, and burn [it] upon the altar: it [is] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

13. The man shall wash the internal organs and legs in water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar. This will be a burnt offering and its sweet-smelling odor will please Yahweh.

14. And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD [be] of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.

14. If the man is offering a bird as a burnt offering, he is to offer a turtledove or a young pigeon.

15. And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn [it] on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:

15. The priest shall offer it at the altar and wring off its head, which he is to burn on the altar; then its blood is to be drained out on the side of the altar.

16. And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:

16. Then he shall remove the crop and the feathers: these he is to throw on the eastern side of the altar, where the ashes from the fat are placed.

17. And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, [but] shall not divide [it] asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that [is] upon the fire: it [is] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

17. He is to divide it in two halves with a wing on each side, but without separating the two parts. Then the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. This will be a burnt offering and its sweet-smelling odor will please Yahweh.



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Footnotes:

1:1-3 - The Lord instructs Moses about burnt offerings, which should be animals without defect. The burnt offering symbolizes total consecration to God and recognition of His sovereignty. This sacrifice is a complete act of worship (see also Exodus 29:18 and Romans 12:1).

1:4-5 - The offerer placed his hand on the animal, signifying the transfer of his guilt. This demonstrates the importance of atoning sacrifice and substitution as a principle of divine forgiveness (see also Isaiah 53:6 and 2 Corinthians 5:21).

1:6-9 - The priest was to burn the burnt offering on the altar, creating a pleasing aroma to the Lord. This symbolizes the desire to please God with a sincere and complete sacrifice (see also Ephesians 5:2 and Genesis 8:21).

1:10-13 - Offerings could include different types of animals, allowing people of various social backgrounds to participate. This demonstrates the accessibility of worship to God regardless of economic status (see also Luke 2:24 and Mark 12:41-44).

1:14-17 - The sacrifice of birds was permitted for the poorest, demonstrating the inclusion of all in worship. God accepts offerings that come from a pure heart, regardless of material value (see also Psalm 51:17 and 2 Corinthians 8:12).

Verses related to Leviticus, 1:

Leviticus chapter 1 introduces the laws of the burnt offering. What is the purpose of this specific sacrifice? This foundational text describes the procedures for offering burnt offerings of cattle, sheep, goats, and birds. The chapter emphasizes the need for blemish-free offerings, the laying on of hands, the shedding of blood, and the complete burning of the animal. Leviticus 1 establishes the burnt offering as an act of total consecration and atonement. Investigate with us five biblical passages that delve deeper into the meaning of this crucial sacrifice in Israelite worship.

Hebrews 10:1: "The law is only a shadow of future goods, not their reality. That is why she never manages, through the same sacrifices repeated year after year, to perfect those who come to worship." - This verse links the sacrifices described in Leviticus 1 with the work of Christ, showing that they were a foreshadowing of the perfect sacrifice.

Romans 12:1: "Therefore, brethren, I beseech you by the mercies of God, that you offer yourselves a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God; This is your rational worship." - Paul uses the sacrificial language of Leviticus 1 to describe the believer's spiritual surrender to God.

Ephesians 5:2: "And live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice of a pleasing aroma to God." - This verse alludes to the "pleasant aroma" mentioned in Leviticus 1:9, applying it to Christ's sacrifice.

1 Peter 1:18-19: "For you know that it was not with perishable things like silver or gold that you were redeemed from your empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish or blemish." - Peter uses the language of blemishless sacrifice from Leviticus 1:3 to describe Christ's sacrifice.

Philippians 4:18: "I received everything, and what I have is more than enough. I am well supplied now that I have received from Epaphroditus the donations you sent. They are a sweet-smelling offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." - Paul uses the sacrificial language of Leviticus 1 to describe the offerings of the Philippians.

FAQ:

What was the purpose of the burnt offerings in Leviticus 1?

Burnt offerings were made as atonement for sins, as a complete sacrifice to God. The unblemished animal symbolized the purity necessary for forgiveness. (Leviticus 1:3-4)

What animals were accepted for burnt offerings?

Accepted animals included oxen, sheep, or birds, such as turtledoves and doves, all without defect. They were to be sacrificed according to established regulations. (Leviticus 1:2, 10, 14)

How did the priest perform the burnt offering?

The priest sprinkled the animal's blood around the altar, then burned the body as an offering to God. This ritual symbolized total surrender to the Lord. (Leviticus 1:5, 9)

Why was animal sacrifice necessary in Leviticus?

The sacrifice of animals represented substitution for the sins of the offerer, pointing to the need for atonement before God. (Leviticus 1:4)

What can we learn about God's character from Leviticus 1?

Leviticus 1 reveals God's holiness and the need for purification to be in His presence, emphasizing the value of sacrifice. (Leviticus 1:1-17)


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