The big picture
God's presence has filled the completed worship tent. He now speaks from it to Moses, the leader who passes on his commands. Israel, the people camped around the tent, needs to know how to bring offerings. Aaron, the chief priest, has sons who serve at the altar. Their duties differ from the giver's part. The first instructions concern animals offered wholly by fire, with different rules for cattle, flock animals, and birds.
In this chapter
- A Worshipper Brings an Unblemished Animal Leviticus 1:1-4
From the meeting tent, God tells Moses what Israel must do when bringing an animal offering.
- The Animal Is Prepared and Burned Leviticus 1:5-9
The worshipper kills the young bull before the Lord.
- Sheep and Goats Follow the Order Leviticus 1:10-13
A sheep or goat offered from the flock must also be male and without defect.
- Birds Can Be Offered Too Leviticus 1:14-17
The burnt offering can also be a turtledove or young pigeon.
Central truth
God provides an ordered way for worshippers to bring whole burnt offerings, with both the giver and the priests taking part.
Scripture beside the summary
Leviticus · King James Version · 17Leviticus 1:1-4
A Worshipper Brings an Unblemished Animal
From the meeting tent, God tells Moses what Israel must do when bringing an animal offering. A worshipper who chooses an animal from the herd must bring a male without defect. He brings it willingly to the entrance before God. His hand rests on its head. God accepts it for him as atonement. It deals with what stands between the giver and God. The giver is personally involved from the beginning of the act.
In everyday life
A donor brings a carefully checked instrument to a music school and hands it over himself. He stays while the staff receives it, rather than leaving an unwanted object beside the door. The condition and personal presentation both matter. Giving an instrument cannot deal with guilt before God as the prescribed offering does.
Notice
Leviticus 1:4 The giver places his own hand on the animal. This connects the offering with the person for whom it is accepted, rather than leaving him outside the action.
Leviticus 1:1-4
King James Version1And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
2Speak 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.
3If 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.
4And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
Leviticus 1:5-9
The Animal Is Prepared and Burned
The worshipper kills the young bull before the Lord. Aaron's sons bring its blood and apply it around the altar. The animal is skinned and cut into pieces, while the priests arrange the wood and fire. Its inner parts and legs are washed with water. The priest then burns the whole offering on the altar. The account calls it pleasing to the Lord. The giver and priests have different tasks within one carefully ordered act of worship.
In everyday life
A culinary trainee brings prepared ingredients to the chef, who checks each stage before placing the dish in the oven. Cleaning, cutting, and arranging follow a known order. Neither worker treats the final result as independent of those steps. The burnt offering concerns worship and acceptance, not food for diners.
Notice
Leviticus 1:9 The inner parts and legs are washed before burning. Even an offering given wholly to the fire is prepared with care rather than discarded carelessly.
Leviticus 1:5-9
King James Version5And 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.
6And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
7And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
8And 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:
9But 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.
Leviticus 1:10-13
Sheep and Goats Follow the Order
A sheep or goat offered from the flock must also be male and without defect. The worshipper kills it on the north side of the altar. The priests apply the blood around the altar and arrange the cut pieces on the burning wood. Water cleans the legs and inner parts. Then the priest brings the whole animal to be burned. This smaller animal receives the same careful treatment as a bull. Its offering is also described as pleasing to God.
In everyday life
A printmaker prepares a small edition with the same clean tools and careful alignment used for a large commission. The smaller size does not lower her standard. She checks the final sheet before handing it over. God receives an animal sacrifice here, not a smaller version of a commercial product.
Notice
Leviticus 1:11 The north side of the altar is specified for killing the animal. Worship has a defined place and procedure, even when the kind of animal changes.
Leviticus 1:10-13
King James Version10And 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.
11And 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.
12And 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:
13But 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.
Leviticus 1:14-17
Birds Can Be Offered Too
The burnt offering can also be a turtledove or young pigeon. Here the priest handles the bird at the altar, removes its head, and drains its blood against the altar's side. The crop and feathers are placed with the ashes to the east. He opens the bird without separating it completely and burns it on the wood. The same words of acceptance close these instructions. A bird is not treated as an offering that matters less to God.
In everyday life
A school fundraiser receives a small handmade item from a child and places it carefully beside larger gifts. She records it with the same attention given to expensive donations. Its size does not make the gift unwelcome. The priest follows God's sacrifice rules, rather than valuing gifts for a fundraiser.
Notice
Leviticus 1:17 The bird receives the same description of acceptance as the larger animals. The kind of offering changes, but God's stated welcome is not reduced.
Leviticus 1:14-17
King James Version14And 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.
15And 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:
16And 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:
17And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Leviticus 1:1 begins with “And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Leviticus 1:9 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
Leviticus 1:17 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words altar, offering, LORD, burnt, fire, priest help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- flay
- Remove the skin from an animal before preparing it.
- atonement
- An act God provides to deal with sin or uncleanness before him.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
