Leviticus 1 17

Leviticus 1:17 kjv

And 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 savor unto the LORD.

Leviticus 1:17 nkjv

Then he shall split it at its wings, but shall not divide it completely; and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:17 niv

He shall tear it open by the wings, not dividing it completely, and then the priest shall burn it on the wood that is burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:17 esv

He shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it completely. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:17 nlt

Then, grasping the bird by its wings, the priest will tear the bird open, but without tearing it apart. Then he will burn it as a burnt offering on the wood burning on the altar. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 1 verses

Leviticus 1 17 Meaning

Leviticus 1:17 details the precise final preparation and presentation of a bird (turtledove or young pigeon) burnt offering. The verse describes how the priest is to tear the bird at its wings, partially opening it without completely separating it into two pieces, ensuring it remains a single, unified offering. Following this, the priest is to burn the entire bird on the altar, upon the burning wood, emphasizing its total consumption. It is explicitly identified as an olah (burnt offering) and an ishsheh (offering made by fire), declared to be a "pleasing aroma to the Lord," signifying God's acceptance and satisfaction with this specific act of worship and dedication.

Leviticus 1 17 Context

Leviticus chapter 1 establishes the fundamental procedures for the `olah or "burnt offering," the primary means of propitiation and consecration for ancient Israel. This sacrifice was unique in that the entire animal, after certain preparations, was completely consumed by fire on the altar, signifying total dedication and devotion to the Lord.

Verse 17 concludes the specific instructions for the bird burnt offering (Lev 1:14-17), which provided an accessible option for those of lesser means who could not afford a bull or a sheep/goat. The preceding verses lay out the steps for killing the bird, draining its blood at the side of the altar, and removing its crop and feathers. Verse 17 then addresses the final tearing and burning. This meticulous detail underscores God's holiness and His precise requirements for approaching Him in worship. The inclusion of an option for the poor demonstrates God's gracious provision, allowing all, regardless of economic status, to participate in the act of atonement and dedication. The sacrificial system in Leviticus, established at the newly consecrated Tabernacle, provided a means for sinful humanity to approach a holy God, demonstrating both humanity's dependence on God's grace and God's demand for unblemished purity and perfect obedience.

Leviticus 1 17 Word analysis

• He shall tear it: (Hebrew: v'shisa - וְשִׁסַּע) From the root shasa (שָׁסַע), meaning "to tear," "cleave," "split." This implies a forceful action to open the bird's body cavity. However, the next phrase qualifies this, indicating it is not a complete separation as might be done with larger animals (compare Lev 1:6, 12, where animals are cut into "pieces"). The goal is to fully expose the interior for burning, ensuring complete consumption, without total dismemberment, symbolizing the unity of the offering.
• by its wings: (Hebrew: bikhnafayv - בִכְנָפָיו) Kanaf (כָּנָף) means "wing," but also "extremity," "corner." Here, it likely indicates the area near the wings, possibly along the spine or chest, where the tear should be made to open the body while maintaining its essential structure. The tear exposes the inner parts.
• but shall not sever it: (Hebrew: lo yavdil - לֹ֖א יַבְדִּ֑יל) Lo (לֹא) is a strong negative. Yavdil (יַבְדִּיל) comes from the root badal (בָּדַל), meaning "to separate," "divide," "distinguish." This command ensures the bird remains as one unified, although torn open, piece on the altar. It preserves the integrity of the bird as a single offering, completely consumed by God. This stands in contrast to rituals where bodies might be fully divided.
• And the priest: (Hebrew: haKohén - הַכֹּהֵל֙) Emphasizes the crucial role of the Levitical priesthood as God's designated mediators. The sacrifice must be performed by the proper authority, maintaining order and holiness in the worship system.
• shall burn it: (Hebrew: v'hikṭir - וְהִקְטִיר) From the root qatar (קָטַר), referring to burning as an offering to God, specifically for the smoke to ascend. This verb is distinct from common burning and refers to causing something to smoke for sacrificial purposes, implying the offering's ascension to the divine presence.
• on the altar: (Hebrew: haMizbeachah - הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חָה) The altar (mizbeach - מִזְבֵּחַ), derived from zabach (זָבַח) "to sacrifice," is the consecrated focal point of atonement and communion between God and Israel. It is the holy place where offerings are made acceptable to God.
• on the wood that is on the fire: (Hebrew: al-ha'etzim asher al-ha'esh - עַל־הָעֵצִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הָאֵ֔שׁ) Specifies the method of complete consumption. The sustained fire, ignited initially and maintained perpetually (Lev 6:12-13), ensures the entire offering is reduced to ashes, symbolizing total devotion and consumption.
• It is a burnt offering: (Hebrew: `olah hu - עֹלָ֔ה ה֣וּא) `Olah (עֹלָה) means "that which goes up" or "ascends," derived from `alah (עָלָה), "to go up." It is fully consumed, signifying the complete surrender and dedication of the worshipper, ascending to God.
• a food offering: (Hebrew: ishsheh - אִשֶּׁה֙) This term, often translated as "offering made by fire" or "fire offering," indicates any sacrifice consumed by fire. It reiterates that the offering is entirely consumed on the altar as a prescribed act of worship involving fire.
• with a pleasing aroma: (Hebrew: reakh niḥoach - רֵ֣יחַ נִיח֔וֹחַ) Reakh (רֵיחַ) means "aroma," and niḥoach (נִיחֹחַ) comes from nuach (נוּחַ), "to rest," "to settle down," or "to be pleased." This phrase signifies God's divine acceptance and satisfaction with the offering. The aroma is not literal to human smell, but theological, representing God's pleasure and the worshipper's restored communion.
• to the Lord: (Hebrew: la-YHWH - לַיהוָֽה) Emphasizes that the offering is solely directed to the God of Israel, YHWH, reinforcing the monotheistic nature of their worship in contrast to polytheistic practices of surrounding nations.

Words-group analysis:

• He shall tear it by its wings, but shall not sever it: This precise instruction highlights the carefulness required in ritual sacrifice. The partial tearing indicates exposing the bird for thorough burning, while not severing ensures its integrity as a unified offering dedicated wholly to God. It shows that even for a lesser costly sacrifice, the ritual is exact, mirroring the demand for perfection.
• And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire: This emphasizes the designated place, agent, and method of sacrifice. The altar is the sole location of valid offerings, sanctified for God's presence. The priest, acting as God's representative, ensures adherence to the divine commandments, demonstrating obedience and reverence in approaching a holy God. The complete burning underscores the totality of the dedication.
• It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord: This declarative statement reiterates the nature and purpose of the sacrifice. It is an `olah—fully ascending to God—and thus, entirely consumed by fire. The "pleasing aroma" (or "soothing savor") is a theological metaphor for God's divine acceptance. It signifies that God is satisfied with the offering, granting atonement and receiving the act of worship, demonstrating His desire to relate to His people through their faithful and prescribed acts of devotion.

Leviticus 1 17 Bonus section

The specific method of "tearing" (shasa) without "severing" (badal) for bird offerings, unlike the cutting into pieces for larger animals, highlights a nuance in the requirement for complete consumption and the symbolic integrity of the sacrifice. While the larger animals are explicitly divided, the bird offering, likely due to its smaller size, needed a method that facilitated complete burning while retaining the form of a unified dedication. This instruction underlines the principle that despite variations in method due to size or type of offering, the underlying theological principle of total dedication (olah) remained constant across all tiers of offerings. The phrase "pleasing aroma" originates even before the Mosaic Law (Gen 8:21), linking Noah's offering after the flood to God's acceptance and a renewed covenant relationship, signifying that divine acceptance of an offering is a core theme throughout salvation history, finding its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's offering of Himself.

Leviticus 1 17 Commentary

Leviticus 1:17 brings to a close the regulations for the bird burnt offering, encapsulating several vital truths about ancient Israelite worship. The detailed instructions for tearing the bird without completely severing it underline God's demand for meticulous obedience in worship; even small sacrifices required precise handling. This also symbolized the unified presentation of the offering to God, where every part of the bird, as a single unit, was dedicated. The act of "burning it" (hikṭir) signifies the total surrender of the worshiper, as the offering entirely ascends to God in smoke, leaving nothing for human consumption. This `olah offering, whether a bull or a bird, fundamentally pointed to the worshiper's complete devotion and the expiation of sin through a substituted life, completely given over to God. The phrase "pleasing aroma to the Lord" serves as God's divine declaration of acceptance, showing His satisfaction with the offering and the worshiper's approach, thus restoring or maintaining fellowship. In the grand sweep of redemptive history, these meticulously detailed sacrifices served as types, foreshadowing the ultimate, perfect, and infinitely pleasing aroma of Jesus Christ's once-for-all sacrifice on the cross (Ephesians 5:2), through which genuine reconciliation and perfect communion with God are achieved, allowing all believers to offer spiritual sacrifices (Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 2:5) that are truly pleasing to God.