Leviticus 1:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And 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:

Complete Jewish Bible:

The sons of Aharon, the cohanim, are to arrange the pieces, the head and the fat on the wood which is on the fire on the altar.

Berean Standard Bible:

Then Aaron’s sons the priests are to arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, atop the burning wood on the altar.

American Standard Version:

and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall lay the pieces, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the priests{H3548}, Aaron's{H175} sons{H1121}, shall lay{H6186} the parts{H5409}, the head{H7218}, and the fat{H6309}, in order{H6186} upon the wood{H6086} that is on the fire{H784} which is upon the altar{H4196}:

Cross-References (KJV):

Leviticus 9:13

  • And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt [them] upon the altar.

Leviticus 9:14

  • And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt [them] upon the burnt offering on the altar.

1 Kings 18:33

  • And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid [him] on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour [it] on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

Leviticus 8:18

  • And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.

Leviticus 8:21

  • And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it [was] a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savour, [and] an offering made by fire unto the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Exodus 29:17

  • And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and wash the inwards of him, and his legs, and put [them] unto his pieces, and unto his head.

Exodus 29:18

  • And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it [is] a burnt offering unto the LORD: it [is] a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for Leviticus 1:8

1. **Themes:**
- **Ritual Sacrifice:** Leviticus 1:8 is part of the instructions for the burnt offering, a central ritual in ancient Israelite worship. The detailed description of how to lay the offerings emphasizes the importance of proper ritual procedure.
- **Holiness and Order:** The precise arrangement of the sacrifice on the altar reflects the holiness and order that God requires in worship. It symbolizes the need for the people to present their best to God.
- **Priestly Role:** The verse underscores the role of the priests, specifically Aaron's sons, as mediators between God and the people of Israel. They are responsible for executing the sacrificial rituals according to divine instruction.
- **Atonement and Communion:** The burnt offering was a means of atonement, symbolizing the complete dedication of the worshipper to God, and a way to secure communion with the divine.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Mosaic Law:** Leviticus is part of the Pentateuch, traditionally attributed to Moses. It contains the Law given to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt, providing guidelines for religious and moral life.
- **Wilderness Period:** The book was likely written or compiled during the time the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, before they entered the Promised Land (c. 1440-1400 BCE).
- **Cultic Centralization:** The instructions in Leviticus reflect a period when worship practices were being standardized and centralized around the Tabernacle, with the priesthood playing a crucial role.
- **Post-Exilic Relevance:** While the historical context of Leviticus is pre-monarchic, the book gained renewed importance after the Babylonian Exile (586-538 BCE) when the Jewish people sought to reestablish their religious identity and practices.

In summary, Leviticus 1:8 is a verse that outlines the specific procedures for the burnt offering, highlighting the importance of ritual purity, the role of the priesthood, and the need for orderly worship in the religious life of ancient Israel. It is set against the backdrop of the Israelites' formation as a nation under God's covenant during the wilderness period, with ongoing relevance for the post-exilic community seeking to maintain their religious heritage.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H3548
    There are 653 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כֹּהֵן
    Transliteration: kôhên
    Pronunciation: ko-hane'
    Description: active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer.
  2. Strong's Number: H175
    There are 480 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַהֲרוֹן
    Transliteration: ʼAhărôwn
    Pronunciation: a-har-one'
    Description: of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron.
  3. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
  4. Strong's Number: H6186
    There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָרַךְ
    Transliteration: ʻârak
    Pronunciation: aw-rak'
    Description: a primitive root; to set in a row, i.e. arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications); put (set) (the battle, self) in array, compare, direct, equal, esteem, estimate, expert (in war), furnish, handle, join (battle), ordain, (lay, put, reckon up, set) (in) order, prepare, tax, value.
  5. Strong's Number: H5409
    There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נֵתַח
    Transliteration: nêthach
    Pronunciation: nay'-thakh
    Description: from נָתַח; a fragment; part, piece.
  6. Strong's Number: H7218
    There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רֹאשׁ
    Transliteration: rôʼsh
    Pronunciation: roshe
    Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.
  7. Strong's Number: H6309
    There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פֶּדֶר
    Transliteration: peder
    Pronunciation: peh'der
    Description: from an unused root meaning to be greasy; suet; fat.
  8. Strong's Number: H6086
    There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֵץ
    Transliteration: ʻêts
    Pronunciation: ates
    Description: from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.
  9. Strong's Number: H784
    There are 549 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֵשׁ
    Transliteration: ʼêsh
    Pronunciation: aysh
    Description: a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.
  10. Strong's Number: H4196
    There are 338 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִזְבֵּחַ
    Transliteration: mizbêach
    Pronunciation: miz-bay'-akh
    Description: from זָבַח; an altar; altar.