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Leviticus, 1

1. Yahweh summoned Moses and, speaking to him from the Tent of Meeting, said,

1. The LORD called Moses, and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying,

2. 'Speak to the Israelites; say to them, "When any of you brings an offering to Yahweh, he can offer an animal either from the herd or from the flock.

2. "Speak to the people of Israel, and say to them, When any man of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of cattle from the herd or from the flock.

3. "If his offering is to be a burnt offering from the herd, he must offer an unblemished male; he will offer it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, to make it acceptable to Yahweh.

3. "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it at the door of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD;

4. He must lay his hand on the victim's head, and it will be accepted as effectual for his expiation.

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

5. He will then slaughter the bull before Yahweh, and the priests descended from Aaron will offer the blood. They will pour it all around the altar which stands at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

5. Then he shall kill the bull before the LORD; and Aaron's sons the priests shall present the blood, and throw the blood round about against the altar that is at the door of the tent of meeting.

6. He will then skin the victim and quarter it.

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

7. The priests descended from Aaron will put a fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.

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

8. The priests descended from Aaron will then arrange the quarters, the head and the fat on the wood on the fire on the altar.

8. and Aaron's sons the priests shall lay the pieces, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire upon the altar;

9. He will wash the entrails and shins in water, and the priest will burn it all on the altar as a burnt offering, food burnt as a smell pleasing to Yahweh.

9. but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn the whole on the altar, as a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD.

10. "If his offering is to be of an animal from the flock, of a lamb or a goat to be offered as a burnt offering, he must offer an unblemished male.

10. "If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, he shall offer a male without blemish;

11. He will slaughter it on the north side of the altar, before Yahweh, and the priests descended from Aaron will pour the blood all around the altar.

11. and he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw its blood against the altar round about.

12. He will then quarter it, and the priest will arrange the quarters, the head and the fat on the wood on the fire on the altar.

12. And he shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall lay them in order upon the wood that is on the fire upon the altar;

13. He will wash the entrails and shins in water, and the priest will burn it all on the altar as a burnt offering, food burnt as a smell pleasing to Yahweh.

13. but the entrails and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer the whole, and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD.

14. "If his offering to Yahweh is to be a burnt offering of a bird, he must offer a turtledove or a young pigeon.

14. "If his offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or of young pigeons.

15. The priest will offer it at the altar and wring off its head, which he will burn on the altar; its blood must then be squeezed out on the side of the altar.

15. And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head, and burn it on the altar; and its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar;

16. He will then remove the crop and the feathers and throw them on the eastern side of the altar, where the fatty ashes are put.

16. and he shall take away its crop with the feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes;

17. He will then split it in half with a wing on each side, but without separating the two parts. The priest will then burn it on the altar, on the wood which is on the fire, as a burnt offering, food burnt as a smell pleasing to Yahweh." '

17. he shall tear it by its wings, but shall not divide it asunder. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, upon the wood that is on the fire; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD.



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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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