Leviticus 1 16

Leviticus 1:16 kjv

And 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:

Leviticus 1:16 nkjv

And he shall remove its crop with its feathers and cast it beside the altar on the east side, into the place for ashes.

Leviticus 1:16 niv

He is to remove the crop and the feathers and throw them down east of the altar where the ashes are.

Leviticus 1:16 esv

He shall remove its crop with its contents and cast it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes.

Leviticus 1:16 nlt

The priest must also remove the crop and the feathers and throw them in the ashes on the east side of the altar.

Leviticus 1 verses

Leviticus 1 16 Meaning

Leviticus 1:16 details a specific procedural instruction for the burnt offering of birds (turtledoves or young pigeons), a provision for those who could not afford larger animals. It mandates that the priest must remove the bird's crop, which is its pouch for storing food, along with its partially digested contents. This unclean material is then to be discarded and cast to the east side of the altar, into the designated place where other ashes and discarded elements from the sacrifices were gathered. This act signifies the meticulous requirement for purity in worship, ensuring that all defiling elements are purged before the sacrifice can be wholly consumed by fire as an offering to God.

Leviticus 1 16 Context

Leviticus Chapter 1 outlines the meticulous procedures for bringing burnt offerings (Hebrew: olah). This was the foundational offering, signifying complete dedication and atonement, where the entire animal (excluding certain parts for some offerings) was consumed by fire. The chapter begins with the sacrifice of cattle (Lev 1:3-9), then moves to sheep or goats (Lev 1:10-13), and concludes with birds (Lev 1:14-17), a concession for the poor. Leviticus 1:16, specifically concerning the bird offering, underscores that even the most accessible offering must meet God's stringent demands for purity and perfection. The overall context emphasizes God's holiness, the necessity of blood atonement, and the absolute requirement for the offeror's devotion to be represented by a blemish-free and properly prepared sacrifice. The intricate rules stand in stark contrast to the often arbitrary and less demanding sacrificial rituals of surrounding pagan cultures, highlighting Yahweh's unique nature and demands.

Leviticus 1 16 Word analysis

• And he shall remove: Hebrew וְהֵסִיר (v'hesir). הֵסִיר (hesir) is the Hiphil imperfect form of the root סוּר (sur), meaning "to turn aside," "to take away," "to remove." The Hiphil intensive aspect emphasizes the definitive action of the priest. This is an active and deliberate expulsion, signifying that the priest must intentionally separate the defiled part.
• its crop: Hebrew מוֹצָאָהּ (motza'ah). Derived from the root יָצָא (yatza), "to go out," מוֹצָאָה refers to "that which goes out," a "discharge," or here, the specific content of the digestive system (crop or entrails) that needs to be extracted. In birds, the crop is a muscular pouch for softening food before digestion. Its removal emphasizes the purging of material that has been consumed and processed, representing internal impurities.
• with its contents: Hebrew וְאֶת-נֹצָתָהּ (v'et-notzataha). The term נֹצָתָהּ (notzataha) comes from נֹצָה (notzah), typically meaning "feathers" or "plumes." However, in context with "crop" and describing internal contents, it refers to the semi-digested matter, literally the "filthy part with the feathers" or simply its foul contents. This detail reinforces the complete removal of everything internal that could defile the pure offering.
• and cast it: Hebrew וְהִשְׁלִיךְ (v'hishlich). Hiphil imperfect of שָׁלַךְ (shalakh), meaning "to throw," "to hurl," "to cast." This action signifies forceful and definitive disposal, removing the impurity far from the altar and the sacred space.
• beside the altar: Hebrew עַל-יַד הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (al-yad hamizbeach). Literally "by the hand of the altar," meaning "beside" or "next to" the altar. This specifies the precise location for the disposal—near the place of sacrifice but distinctly separate from the holy fire and the consecrated portions, maintaining the altar's purity.
• on the east: Hebrew קֵדְמָה (kedmah). An adverb indicating "eastward." This specific directional instruction for discarding impurity suggests ritual significance. The east side was typically where the ashes from the burnt offering were initially placed before being fully removed, implying a specific designated zone for refuse.
• into the place for ashes: Hebrew אֶל-מְקוֹם הַדָּשֶׁן (el-m'kom hadashen). מְקוֹם (m'kom) means "place of," and דָּשֶׁן (dashen) refers to "ashes," often fat ashes from sacrifices. This denotes a specific, ritually clean (in contrast to "holy") area designated for discarded waste from the sacrifices. While the main ashes of the burnt offering were later taken outside the camp to a "clean place," these immediate, highly defiling internal parts had a specific disposal point near the altar.

Words-group analysis:

• "And he shall remove its crop with its contents": This phrase details a precise action of ritual purification. It underscores that internal contamination—what a creature consumes and processes—is unacceptable in the presence of a holy God. Spiritually, it signifies the need to purge internal "filth" such as wrong desires, impure thoughts, or past actions before one can genuinely approach God.
• "and cast it beside the altar on the east, into the place for ashes": This instruction highlights the meticulousness required for proper worship and the distinction between the sacred and the defiled. It implies specific boundaries of holiness, even within the holy precinct. The eastward direction points towards a designated area of disposal, keeping the impurity from contaminating the altar or the more sacred parts of the Tabernacle. This removal reflects a fundamental principle: anything potentially defiling must be definitively separated from the holy worship.

Leviticus 1 16 Bonus section

The detailed instruction for the bird offering's digestive tract, unique compared to larger animal offerings where entrails were washed but often burnt on the altar (Lev 1:9, 13), might relate to the anatomical nature of birds or symbolize a distinct type of impurity. The crop specifically holds undigested or partially digested food, representing foreign, processed matter that has been "taken in" but is not yet fully assimilated or purged by the system. Its removal thus specifically targets material consumed from the external world. This contrasts with other animal sacrifices where washed entrails might symbolize the entire inner being, which, though cleansed, is then fully consumed by the fire, indicating holistic surrender. For the bird, the content of the crop, distinct from the essential internal organs, is specifically designated as rejected impurity.

Leviticus 1 16 Commentary

Leviticus 1:16 encapsulates a profound theological truth within a seemingly minor procedural detail of the bird burnt offering. The mandate to meticulously remove the bird's crop and its contents before offering signifies God's absolute demand for internal purity and wholeness in worship. The "crop with its contents" represents the defiling elements derived from the world that the creature has ingested—symbolizing the internal "food" or influences that might corrupt an individual's spiritual state. This act serves as a physical allegory for spiritual cleansing: true approach to God requires purging all inner impurity, compromise, or sin that has been "taken in" and integrated into one's being.

The specified disposal—casting these impure parts "beside the altar on the east, into the place for ashes"—underscores that impurity must be definitively separated and relegated to an external, unholy place. It must not be part of the offering, nor should it defile the sacred space where communion with God occurs. This level of detail in even the poor man's offering highlights that God's standards of holiness are unwavering regardless of social status or the magnitude of the offering.

In Christian understanding, this foreshadows Christ's perfection; He had no internal "crop with contents" of sin or defilement that needed purging. He was the perfect, spotless sacrifice. Furthermore, for believers, it emphasizes the ongoing process of sanctification—removing the "old self" and its corrupting influences (Eph 4:22), and seeking purity of heart and mind (Ps 24:4) to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God (1 Pet 2:5). It’s a reminder that while the outer actions of faith are visible, God keenly inspects the internal disposition and motives.