The Burnt Offering

Then the Lord summoned Moses(A) and spoke to him from the tent of meeting:(B) “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the Lord from the livestock, you[a] may bring your offering from the herd or the flock.

“If his gift is a burnt offering(C) from the herd, he is to bring an unblemished male.(D) He must bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting so that he[b] may be accepted by the Lord.(E) He is to lay his hand on(F) the head of the burnt offering so it can be accepted(G) on his behalf to make atonement for him.(H) He is to slaughter the bull before the Lord; Aaron’s sons the priests(I) are to present the blood(J) and sprinkle it(K) on all sides of the altar that is at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then he must skin the burnt offering(L) and cut it into pieces.[c] The sons of Aaron the priest will prepare a fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. Aaron’s sons the priests are to arrange the pieces, the head, and the suet(M) on top of the burning wood on the altar. The offerer must wash its entrails(N) and shanks(O) with water. Then the priest will burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a fire offering(P) of a pleasing aroma(Q) to the Lord.

10 “But if his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from sheep or goats,(R) he is to present an unblemished male. 11 He will slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the Lord. Aaron’s sons the priests will sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides. 12 He will cut the animal into pieces[d] with its head and its suet, and the priest will arrange them on top of the burning wood on the altar. 13 But he is to wash the entrails and shanks with water. The priest will then present all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

14 “If his gift to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds,(S) he is to present his offering from the turtledoves(T) or young pigeons.[e](U) 15 Then the priest must bring it to the altar, and must twist off its head and burn it on the altar; its blood should be drained at the side of the altar. 16 He will remove its digestive tract,[f] cutting off the tail feathers, and throw it on the east side of the altar at the place for ashes.(V) 17 He will tear it open by its wings without dividing the bird.(W) Then the priest is to burn it on the altar on top of the burning wood. It is a burnt offering, a fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 1:2 Or Lord, from the livestock you
  2. Leviticus 1:3 Or it
  3. Leviticus 1:6 Lit its pieces
  4. Leviticus 1:12 Lit its pieces
  5. Leviticus 1:14 Or or pigeons
  6. Leviticus 1:16 Or its crop, or its crissum

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.

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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.