Add parallel Print Page Options

Procedures for the Burnt Offering

The Lord called to Moses from the Tabernacle[a] and said to him, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you present an animal as an offering to the Lord, you may take it from your herd of cattle or your flock of sheep and goats.

“If the animal you present as a burnt offering is from the herd, it must be a male with no defects. Bring it to the entrance of the Tabernacle so you[b] may be accepted by the Lord. Lay your hand on the animal’s head, and the Lord will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with him.[c] Then slaughter the young bull in the Lord’s presence, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, will present the animal’s blood by splattering it against all sides of the altar that stands at the entrance to the Tabernacle. Then skin the animal and cut it into pieces. The sons of Aaron the priest will build a wood fire on the altar. They will arrange the pieces of the offering, including the head and fat, on the wood burning on the altar. But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

10 “If the animal you present as a burnt offering is from the flock, it may be either a sheep or a goat, but it must be a male with no defects. 11 Slaughter the animal on the north side of the altar in the Lord’s presence, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, will splatter its blood against all sides of the altar. 12 Then cut the animal in pieces, and the priests will arrange the pieces of the offering, including the head and fat, on the wood burning on the altar. 13 But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

14 “If you present a bird as a burnt offering to the Lord, choose either a turtledove or a young pigeon. 15 The priest will take the bird to the altar, wring off its head, and burn it on the altar. But first he must drain its blood against the side of the altar. 16 The priest must also remove the crop and the feathers[d] and throw them in the ashes on the east side of the altar. 17 Then, grasping the bird by its wings, the priest will tear the bird open, but without tearing it apart. Then he will burn it as a burnt offering on the wood burning on the altar. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Hebrew Tent of Meeting; also in 1:3, 5.
  2. 1:3 Or it.
  3. 1:4 Or to make atonement for you.
  4. 1:16 Or the crop and its contents. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

Then the Lord called to Moses and said to him from the meeting tent, Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When any of you present a livestock offering to the Lord, you can present it from either the herd or the flock.

The entirely burned offering

If the offering is an entirely burned offering from the herd, you must present a flawless male, bringing it to the meeting tent’s entrance for its acceptance before the Lord. You must press your hand on the head of the entirely burned offering so that it will be accepted for you, to make reconciliation for you. Then you will slaughter the bull before the Lord. Aaron’s sons the priests will present the blood and toss it against every side of the altar at the meeting tent’s entrance. Then the entirely burned offering will be skinned and cut up into pieces. The sons of Aaron the priest[a] will light the altar and lay wood on the fire. Then Aaron’s sons the priests will arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat on the wood that is on the altar fire, but the animal’s insides and lower legs must be washed with water. The priest will then completely burn all of it on the altar as an entirely burned offering, a food gift[b] of soothing smell to the Lord.

10 If the offering is an entirely burned offering from the flock—whether sheep or goat—you must present a flawless male. 11 You must slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the Lord. Aaron’s sons the priests will toss its blood against every side of the altar. 12 Once it has been cut into pieces, including the head and the fat, the priest will arrange these out on the wood that is on the altar fire, 13 but its insides and lower legs must be washed with water. Then the priest will present all of it and completely burn it on the altar. It is an entirely burned offering, a food gift of soothing smell to the Lord.

14 If the offering for the Lord is an entirely burned offering from the birds, you can present your offering from the doves or pigeons. 15 The priest will bring it to the altar. He will tear off its head and completely burn it on the altar. Its blood will be drained against the side of the altar. 16 Then the priest will remove its throat along with its contents[c] and throw it by the east side of the altar, into the place for the ashes. 17 He will then tear the bird open by its wings, without splitting it. The priest will completely burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the altar fire. It is an entirely burned offering, a food gift of soothing smell to the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 1:7 Some Heb sources, Sam, LXX, Syr, and some Tg sources have Aaron’s sons, the priests, as in 1:5, 8.
  2. Leviticus 1:9 Or (here and throughout Leviticus) offering by fire (cf 3:11)
  3. Leviticus 1:16 Heb uncertain