Chapter 1
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1And 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.
“And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.”
Overview
God speaks to Moses from the tabernacle and gives instructions for the burnt offering. The offerer must bring a male without blemish from the herd or flock, lay his hand upon its head, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle. The priests sprinkle the blood and arrange the pieces on the altar, where the whole animal is consumed by fire as a sweet savor unto the Lord.
Key Themes
The Necessity of Atonement Through Blood
The burnt offering demonstrates that sin requires a substitutionary sacrifice — an innocent life given in place of the guilty — establishing the foundational principle of atonement.
The Requirement of a Spotless Offering
The animal must be 'without blemish,' pointing to God's demand for perfection in what is offered to Him and foreshadowing the sinless sacrifice to come.
Total Consecration to God
Unlike other offerings where parts are eaten, the burnt offering is entirely consumed on the altar, symbolizing complete and total devotion and surrender to God.
Study Questions
What is the significance of the offerer laying his hand on the head of the animal before it is slain, and what spiritual transfer does this act represent?
Why does God require the sacrifice to be 'without blemish,' and what does this reveal about His standard of holiness?
How does the voluntary nature of the burnt offering ('of his own voluntary will,' v. 3) relate to our worship and devotion to God today?
What is the meaning of the phrase 'a sweet savour unto the LORD' — how can the death of an animal be pleasing to God?
Why does God provide such detailed, specific instructions for worship, and what does this teach about approaching Him on His terms rather than our own?
Connection to Christ
The burnt offering is a direct portrait of Christ, who offered Himself without spot to God (Hebrews 9:14) as a whole and complete sacrifice. Just as the entire animal was consumed on the altar, Christ held nothing back, giving His entire life in total consecration to the Father's will.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Leviticus 1. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?