Old Testament · Law

Leviticus 1

Drawing Near

The name means 'drawing near.' These instructions may feel distant, but they reveal a God who wants to dwell with His people — and what that costs.

King James Version BSB KJV

1And 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.

5And 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.

10And 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.

14And 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.

Understand This

Leviticus 1, explained

What Leviticus 1 is saying

God speaks from the newly completed tabernacle, instructing Israel on the burnt offering (olah). A worshipper brings a male animal without defect—bull, sheep, goat, or bird—lays hands on its head, slaughters it, and the priests arrange and burn it entirely on the altar. It is described as a 'pleasing aroma' (re'ach nichoach) to the LORD.

The background behind it

The burnt offering is the oldest and most basic sacrifice in Israel's worship, representing total consecration. The hand-laying (semikah) transfers the worshipper's identity to the animal, creating a substitutionary relationship. Leviticus begins mid-sentence from Exodus, continuing the Sinai revelation without interruption.

Themes running underneath

The burnt offering's complete consumption on the altar symbolizes total surrender to God—nothing is kept back. The 'pleasing aroma' language is anthropomorphic, conveying God's acceptance of genuine devotion. The graduated offering system (bull to bird) ensures that economic status never prevents worship.

Why it still matters

The principle of total offering challenges partial commitment. The economic accessibility teaches that worship is never the exclusive privilege of the wealthy—God accepts the bird offering with the same language used for the bull.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.