Keraia
Leviticus 1

Leviticus 1:9

Laws for Burnt Offerings · Leviticus 1:1–17
Read Leviticus 1

Translations

Modern
The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Traditional
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 sweet savour unto the Lord.
Literal
And its entrails and its legs he shall wash with the water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, a burnt offering, a fire offering, a pleasing aroma to YHWH.
Latin
…intestinis et pedibus lotis aqua: adolebitque ea sacerdos super altare in holocaustum et suavem odorem Domino.

Original

Hebrew
English
The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Notes

Leviticus 1:9

  • They washed the offering with water to remove dirt or debris that might contaminate it. Washing was also necessary for purification from ceremonial uncleanness, a requirement for serving in the Tent of Meeting (Leviticus 6:27; 11:28).

  • an offering made by fire: Traditional Bible versions translate the Hebrew term ’isheh this way. Although they did burn the offering (Leviticus 1:13, 17), recent research suggests the word meant “gift.”

  • a pleasing aroma to the LORD (literally a restful odor; also in Leviticus 1:13, 17): Pagans in the ancient Near East believed their gods smelled the offerings because they needed to eat them to live. God's response is sometimes described in ways that reflect this cultural setting (for example, Leviticus 21:6; Numbers 28:2). Yet, the Bible makes it clear that God did not need offerings as food (Psalm 50:9–13). Instead, they pleased him as sincere offerings for atonement.

Leviticus 1:3–17

burnt offering (Hebrew ‘olah, which means “what goes up”): The Hebrew word suggests the animal rises up in flame and smoke. Its hide was not burned, but given to the officiating priest as payment (Leviticus 7:8). They completely burned this offering on the altar (1:9).

Its purpose was to turn away God’s judgment against sin. It also makes the worshiper clean in a ceremonial way and restores his or her relationship with God (compare Romans 3:25; 8:3; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21). The whole burnt offering appears first in this list of offerings (Leviticus 1–7). It sets a pattern for the offerings that follow. It is the most common offering for atonement.

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes Atonement Pure Worship

Parallels

Leviticus 6:8–13

Glossary

Bathe, Bathing Biblical Concept of Law Burnt Offering Deuteronomy, Book of History of Israel Law of Moses Leviticus, Book of Moses Offerings and Sacrifices

Topics

Ablution of Burnt offerings Offerings: Different Kinds of Burnt Priest: Duties of To offer Sacrifices Purification: Washing Parts of Animal Sacrifices in Water Sacrifices: Different Kinds of Burnt offering Wholly Consumed by Fire Sweetness The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Fire Upon: Consumed the Sacrifices The Burnt offering: Required to Be: Entirely Burned The Burnt offering: Required to Be: Offered by Priests Only The Burnt offering: Specially Acceptable