Leviticus 1

1 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] called [to summon, to invite] to Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] and spoke [to communicate, to declare] to him from the Tent [the tabernacle, a nomad’s home] of Meeting [a sacred appointed time, a festival], saying [to command, to utter], word study 2 “Speak [to communicate, proclaim] to the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] and tell them: When any of you brings [presents, offers] an offering [a sacrifice, a gift] to the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], you may bring [offer, present] as your offering [a sacrifice, a gift] an animal [a living creature, a beast] from the herd [cattle, oxen] or the flock [sheep, goats]. word study 3 If one’s offering [a gift to God, a sacrifice] is a burnt offering [a completely consumed sacrifice] from the herd [cattle, domesticated animals], he is to present [bring near, offer] an unblemished [perfect, without defect] male [a male animal, emphasizing its importance]. He must bring it to the entrance [doorway, gate] to the Tent of Meeting [a sacred place of gathering, the tabernacle] for its acceptance [approval, favor] before the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 4 He is to lay [place, rest] his hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] on the head [the topmost part of the body] of the burnt offering [a step to the altar, a sacrifice to God], so it can be accepted [pleased with, approved] on his behalf [for him, in his place] to make atonement [cover, reconcile] for him [to forgive his sins, pardon him]. word study 5 And he shall slaughter [kill, put to death] the young bull [son of the herd, cattle] before the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], and Aaron’s sons [descendants, the priestly lineage] the priests [those who serve God, spiritual leaders] are to present [bring near, offer] the blood [the liquid that flows through the body] and sprinkle [scatter, throw] it on all sides [round about, surrounding] of the altar [the place of sacrifice, where offerings are made] at the entrance [doorway, gate] to the Tent [tabernacle, sacred dwelling] of Meeting [appointed time, sacred gathering]. word study 6 Next, he is to skin [flay, or strip] the burnt offering [a step or stairs to the altar, a complete sacrifice] and cut [to divide, hew, or separate] it into [its parts, pieces, or fragments] pieces. word study 7 The sons [descendants, offspring] of Aaron [the brother of Moses and first high priest] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship] shall put [place, set] a fire [burning, flame] on the altar [a place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God] and arrange [lay in order, organize] wood [trees, wooden planks] on the fire [burning, flame]. word study 8 Then Aaron’s sons [the descendants of Aaron, the first high priest] the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators between God and people] are to arrange [to value, set in order] the pieces [fragments, parts of the offering], including the head [the topmost part of the body] and the fat [suet, the richest and most valuable part], atop [on, above] the burning wood [the fiery tree] on the altar [the place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God]. word study 9 The entrails [inwards, internal organs] and legs [from the knee to the ankle] must be washed [bathed, cleansed] with water [a source of refreshment], and the priest [a person who serves God] shall burn [offer, make perfume] all of it on the altar [a place of sacrifice] as a burnt offering [a step or stairs, an ascent to God], an offering made by fire [a food offering, a sacrifice given to God], a pleasing aroma [a sweet fragrance, a soothing smell] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study 10 If, however, one’s offering [a gift or sacrifice] is a burnt offering [a holocaust, completely consumed by fire] from the flock [a group of sheep or goats]—from the sheep [a young sheep, like a lamb] or goats [a female goat, or kid]—he is to present [to bring near, to approach the altar] an unblemished [perfect, without defect or blemish] male [a male animal, emphasizing its importance]. word study 11 He shall slaughter [kill, put to death] it on the north [Zaphon, the direction of darkness] side of the altar [place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God] before the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], and Aaron’s sons [descendants, heirs] the priests [mediators, spiritual leaders] are to sprinkle [scatter, pour out] its blood [the liquid that flows through the body] against the altar [place of atonement, sacrifice] on all sides [around, surrounding]. word study 12 He is to cut [divide into pieces, hew] the animal into pieces, and the priest [a person who serves God and leads others in worship] shall arrange [set in order, value] them, including the head [the topmost part of the body] and fat [suet, animal fat], atop the burning [on fire, ablaze] wood [tree, wooden plank] that is on the altar [a place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God]. word study 13 The entrails [inwards, internal organs] and legs [from the knee to the ankle] must be washed [bathed, cleansed] with water [a liquid, source of refreshment], and the priest [one who serves God, leads worship] shall bring all of it [the entire sacrifice] and burn [offer, make perfume] it on the altar [a place of sacrifice, worship]; it is a burnt offering [a step, ascent to God], an offering made by fire [a sacrifice, a sweet savor], a pleasing aroma [soothing, fragrance] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 14 If, instead, one’s offering [sacrifice, gift] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is a burnt offering [a step or stairs, often used to describe the ascent to the altar] of birds [fowl, flying creatures], he is to present [approach, come near] a turtledove or [as an alternative] a young pigeon [a dove, possibly due to the warmth of their mating]. word study 15 Then the priest [the one who serves God] shall bring it to the altar [the place of sacrifice], twist off [wring, nip] its head, and burn [offer, make perfume] it on the altar; its blood [the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life] should be drained out [poured, shed] on the side [the wall, the edge] of the altar [the place where offerings are made to God]. word study 16 And he is to remove [take away, pluck] the crop [gizzard, food-grinding pouch] with its contents [filth, feathers] and throw [cast, toss] it to the east side [front, eastern direction] of the altar [place of sacrifice], in the place [location, area] for ashes [sacrificial remains, burnt offerings]. word study 17 He shall tear it open by its wings [with the wings thereof, but not cut in two], without dividing the bird completely [not separating it asunder]. And the priest [the one who serves God] is to burn it on the altar [a place of sacrifice] atop the burning wood [the wood that is on the fire]. It is a burnt offering [an oblation made by fire, a holocaust], an offering made by fire [a food offering, an ishshah], a pleasing aroma [of sweet savor, a soothing fragrance] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study