Leviticus 1 9

Leviticus 1:9 kjv

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 savor unto the LORD.

Leviticus 1:9 nkjv

but he shall wash its entrails and its legs with water. And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:9 niv

You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:9 esv

but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:9 nlt

But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 1 verses

Leviticus 1 9 Meaning

Leviticus 1:9 details the culmination of the process for offering a burnt offering (olah). After the initial preparation and slaughter of the animal, the focus shifts to specific cleansing of its internal and lower parts. This washed sacrifice is then entirely consumed by fire on the altar by the priest. The complete burning signifies a total dedication to the Lord, serving as a "food offering" that produces a "pleasing aroma" to Him, indicating divine acceptance and satisfaction with the worshipper's complete devotion.

Leviticus 1 9 Context

Leviticus 1:9 is embedded within the first chapter of the Book of Leviticus, which provides detailed instructions for Israel's worship, particularly focusing on the sacrificial system. Chapter 1 specifically describes the olah, the burnt offering, emphasizing its voluntary nature and its purpose as an atonement for unintentional sin and an act of total dedication and communion with God. The historical context is that of Israel camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, receiving divine instructions for establishing a holy priesthood and tabernacle worship as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. This meticulous detailing of rituals was crucial for maintaining holiness in the presence of a holy God, differentiating Israelite worship from pagan practices, which often involved immoral rituals or human sacrifice. The olah, being entirely consumed, underscored the idea of presenting "all of oneself" to the Lord.

Leviticus 1 9 Word analysis

• But its entrails: קִרְבּוֹ (qirbô) refers to the inner parts, intestines. The mention of specific washing implies these parts, though consumed by fire, needed a preliminary purification from potential waste or impurity before being offered to God. It underscores the high standard of ritual purity required for acceptable worship.
• and its legs: וְכְרָעָיו (wəḵərāʿāw) means the lower legs or shanks. Like the entrails, these parts could easily collect dirt from movement, necessitating thorough washing. This attention to detail demonstrates God's demand for perfection and meticulousness in worship, symbolizing inward and outward purity.
• he shall wash: יִרְחַץ (yirḥaṣ) signifies a thorough cleansing with water. This action highlights the essential principle of ritual purity before presenting anything to a holy God. It prefigures spiritual cleansing needed for approaching God.
• with water: בַמַּיִם (bammayim) - water is a universal symbol of purification, both physically and spiritually throughout the Scripture. It underscores the necessity of cleanliness and removal of defilement.
• and the priest shall burn: וְהִקְטִיר (wəhiqṭîr) implies causing to go up in smoke, specifically burning a portion as an offering (often of a pleasing odor). This term is used for incense or other aromatic offerings. It is the priest who performs this critical action, mediating between God and the worshiper.
• all of it: אֶת-הַכֹּל (’eṯ-hakōl) means the entirety or the whole. This is a crucial distinction of the burnt offering, as, unlike other sacrifices, no part was left for the priest or worshipper to consume, symbolizing complete surrender and dedication to God. It embodies giving one's whole self.
• on the altar: הַמִּזְבֵּחָה (hammizbēḥāh) is the place of sacrifice, a designated sacred structure where offerings are consumed by fire. The altar serves as the meeting place between God and humanity for atonement and communion.
• as a burnt offering: עֹלָה (‘ōlāh), derived from the root ‘alah (to go up). This refers to the smoke and aroma ascending to God, representing the complete dedication and acceptance of the worshipper's gift. It implies rising upward to God's presence.
• a food offering: אִשֵּׁה (’iššeh), generally translated as "fire offering" or "offering made by fire." While it suggests something consumed by fire for God, it doesn't imply God literally needs to "eat." It describes a type of offering delivered via fire.
• with a pleasing aroma: רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ (rêaḥ nîḥōaḥ) literally "a soothing smell." This denotes divine acceptance and satisfaction. It's a key phrase indicating God's delight in the obedience and devotion expressed through the sacrifice. It signifies reconciliation and favor.
• to the LORD: לַיהוָה (laYHWH) emphasizes that the offering is solely directed to God, highlighting His sovereignty and the sacredness of the act.

Leviticus 1 9 Bonus section

The ritual burning of the sacrifice also had a transformative element; the animal's physical form was changed into smoke and scent, ascending to the heavens. This visual representation spoke of a tangible offering becoming something spiritual and transcendent in God's eyes. The complete offering also serves as a strong polemic against the "leaving of leftovers" in pagan rituals, which sometimes implied the god's need or dependency. Here, God explicitly consumes all, demonstrating His sovereignty and self-sufficiency, yet He is pleased by His people's sincere and obedient dedication. The meticulous steps ensure not just ritual accuracy but also impress upon the worshiper the immense seriousness and sacredness of drawing near to God.

Leviticus 1 9 Commentary

Leviticus 1:9 concludes the detailed ritual of the burnt offering, bringing to light profound theological truths. The mandatory washing of specific internal and lower parts underscores the divine expectation of ritual and moral purity for all who approach God. No part, however unsavory, was to be overlooked in the cleansing process, symbolizing the need for a comprehensive purification, both outwardly and inwardly. The subsequent command for the priest to burn the entire animal signifies total consecration. The burnt offering's unique characteristic of complete consumption by fire visually depicted an act of complete surrender and devotion to God, leaving nothing for human consumption. This total dedication, performed by the appointed mediator on the sacred altar, was received by God as a "pleasing aroma." This metaphorical language indicates divine acceptance and delight in the worshipper's obedient act of atonement and worship, signaling reconciliation and favor. This intricate process foreshadowed the ultimate, perfect, and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose entire life, death, and resurrection constitute the ultimate "pleasing aroma" to God, perfectly satisfying divine justice and providing complete redemption. Believers are now called to present their entire lives as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1), symbolizing complete devotion based on Christ's finished work.