Leviticus 17 6

Leviticus 17:6 kjv

And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savor unto the LORD.

Leviticus 17:6 nkjv

And the priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and burn the fat for a sweet aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 17:6 niv

The priest is to splash the blood against the altar of the LORD at the entrance to the tent of meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Leviticus 17:6 esv

And the priest shall throw the blood on the altar of the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting and burn the fat for a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 17:6 nlt

Then the priest will be able to splatter the blood against the LORD's altar at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and he will burn the fat as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 17 verses

Leviticus 17 6 Meaning

Leviticus 17:6 describes the specific actions of the priest during an acceptable sacrifice at the Tabernacle. It mandates that the priest must sprinkle the blood of the sacrificed animal onto the altar of the Lord, located at the entrance of the Tabernacle of Meeting. Following this, the fat of the animal is to be ceremonially burned on the altar, serving as a pleasing and acceptable offering to the Lord. This verse emphasizes the centrality of the Tabernacle, the sacredness of blood, and the specific ritual actions required for atonement and communion with God.

Leviticus 17 6 Context

Leviticus chapter 17 is a pivotal section within the book, acting as a bridge between the elaborate sacrificial rituals of chapters 1-16 and the practical laws for holy living (Holiness Code) in chapters 18-27. Specifically, verses 1-9 issue a foundational command: all animal slaughter, whether for sacrifice or common consumption (in the wilderness setting), must occur at the Tabernacle entrance. This was a radical centralization of animal slaughter and worship.

Historically, this command was crucial for the wilderness generation. It ensured that offerings were made correctly according to divine specifications and prevented any re-engagement with forbidden pagan practices, such as sacrificing to "goat-demons" (se'irim) mentioned explicitly in verse 7. It acted as a direct polemic against the decentralized altars and spirit-worship common among surrounding Canaanite cultures, where people might sacrifice in groves, on high places, or to idols without priestly oversight or proper ritual. The chapter then moves to prohibit the consumption of blood (vv. 10-14) and regulations about eating unbled meat or carrion (vv. 15-16), reinforcing the sanctity of life inherent in the blood, which is reserved for God as the means of atonement. Thus, Leviticus 17:6 firmly roots the proper ritual within this context of centralized worship, spiritual purity, and a clear distinction from idolatry.

Leviticus 17 6 Word analysis

• And the priest: Refers to Aaron or his sons, who were consecrated by God for priestly duties. They were the designated mediators for worship, ensuring that rituals were performed correctly according to God's precise instructions.

• shall sprinkle: Hebrew zarak (זָרַק). This is not a mere pouring, but a precise act of tossing or spattering the blood. It signifies the application of atonement and consecration. The blood was flung with intention, ensuring its sacred power was brought into effect on the altar.

• the blood: Hebrew dam (דָּם). Highly significant throughout the Old Testament. It represents life (Lev 17:11) and is central to the concept of atonement. Because life belongs to God, only blood (life) could make atonement for sin. Its sacredness prevented common use or consumption.

• on the altar: Hebrew mizbeach (מִזְבֵּחַ). This is specifically the altar of burnt offering, located in the outer courtyard of the Tabernacle. It was the primary place where sacrifices were presented to God, symbolizing reconciliation and dedication.

• of the Lord: Hebrew YHWH (יְהוָה). Emphasizes that the offering is solely for the covenant God of Israel, distinguishing Israelite worship from pagan practices where sacrifices were offered to idols or spirits. The recipient is divine and holy.

• at the entrance: Hebrew pethach (פֶּתַח). Denotes the very threshold of the Tabernacle of Meeting. This precise location emphasizes accessibility for the worshipper yet adherence to the designated sacred space. It was the only divinely appointed place for such offerings during the wilderness wanderings.

• of the tabernacle of meeting: Hebrew Ohel Mo'ed (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד). This is the portable sanctuary where God met with His people (Exod 29:42-43). It was the physical center of Israelite worship and the dwelling place of God's presence, signifying communion and the established covenant.

• and burn: Hebrew qatar (קָטַר). Not merely "to set on fire" but specifically "to cause to smoke" or "send up in smoke." This implies a sacrificial act where parts of the offering are transformed into vapor or aroma for God, not necessarily complete consumption by fire.

• the fat: Hebrew chelev (חֵלֶב). Refers not just to any fat, but the rich, succulent internal fat surrounding vital organs (like the kidneys and liver), and the fat tail of sheep. It was considered the "choicest part" (Lev 3:16) and intrinsically linked to the animal's vitality, hence exclusively reserved for God as His portion, symbolizing giving the very best.

• as a sweet aroma: Hebrew reach nichoach (רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ). Literally, a "soothing" or "pleasing aroma." This is a theological term indicating divine acceptance and satisfaction with the offering. It's not about God literally smelling something, but about Him finding the worship, obedience, and atonement represented by the sacrifice acceptable and delightful.

• to the Lord: Reinforces that the offering is wholly directed towards and received by YHWH.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "sprinkle the blood on the altar": This phrase highlights the critical role of blood as the cleansing and atoning element. Its application to the altar symbolizes the life offered and applied for reconciliation with God, the primary purpose of many sacrifices.
  • "at the entrance of the tabernacle of meeting": This specifies the mandatory location, enforcing the centralization of worship and offerings to prevent idolatry and ensure proper ritual according to God's decree. It underscores the concept of a single, authorized access point to God for corporate worship.
  • "burn the fat as a sweet aroma to the Lord": This group of words emphasizes that the choicest part of the sacrifice (fat) is offered up to God in a manner that expresses His pleasure and acceptance. The "sweet aroma" conveys God's satisfaction, signifying fellowship and communion established through the obedient offering.

Leviticus 17 6 Bonus section

The centralization of all animal slaughter for sacrifice at the Tabernacle (later the Temple) as seen in this chapter, even for meat intended for consumption (at least during the wilderness wandering, and by inference for permanent habitation as Deut 12 modifies this for distance), underscores a key theological point: life and sustenance ultimately come from God and must be sanctified before Him. This was a radical departure from the freedom to kill animals anywhere (as permitted in Gen 9). By linking every slaughter to the altar, it constantly reminded the Israelites that "the life is in the blood," and blood belonged to God, teaching them profound reverence for life and a strong abhorrence of idolatry, especially given the immediate context of offering to "goat-demons" (v. 7). This centralized system served as a powerful constant reminder of divine authority and holiness, emphasizing that all communion with God was to occur on His terms, through specific, authorized mediation.

Leviticus 17 6 Commentary

Leviticus 17:6 is a foundational verse that underpins the entire sacrificial system established for ancient Israel. By mandating the precise actions of the priest – the sprinkling of blood and the burning of fat – at the singular, designated location of the Tabernacle altar, God enforced the purity and distinctiveness of Israelite worship. The blood, representing life, was consecrated to God as the sole means of atonement for sin, signifying that only life given could remedy the defilement of life taken or stained by transgression. The ritualistic sprinkling ensured that the sacred power of the blood was brought into contact with the altar, making the offering effective. The burning of the fat, as the richest part of the animal, symbolized the giving of the best to God, not for consumption but as a smoke offering that ascended as a "sweet aroma." This "sweet aroma" indicates God's acceptance and pleasure, implying restored fellowship and an acknowledgment of the offering as true obedience and propitiation. The very specific nature of these commands served to distinguish God's people from the pagan nations, who engaged in unsanctioned, often grotesque, sacrificial practices to multiple deities. In its ultimate spiritual application, this Old Covenant ritual points forward to the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His blood, shed once for all, provides complete and final atonement, fulfilling what the animal blood could only symbolize. His offering of Himself, like the "sweet aroma," was perfectly pleasing and acceptable to God, forever reconciling humanity to Him.