Leviticus 3:13 kjv
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.
Leviticus 3:13 nkjv
He shall lay his hand on its head and kill it before the tabernacle of meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar.
Leviticus 3:13 niv
lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron's sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar.
Leviticus 3:13 esv
and lay his hand on its head and kill it in front of the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar.
Leviticus 3:13 nlt
lay your hand on its head, and slaughter it in front of the Tabernacle. Aaron's sons will then splatter the goat's blood against all sides of the altar.
Leviticus 3 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 1:4 | "he shall lay his hand upon the head of the burnt offering..." | Laying hands for identification |
| Lev 1:5 | "...kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests...shall sprinkle the blood..." | Killing and priestly blood application |
| Lev 3:2 | "...lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it..." | Similar actions for peace offering (bull) |
| Lev 3:8 | "...lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it..." | Similar actions for peace offering (sheep) |
| Lev 4:4 | "...lay his hand upon the head of the bullock, and kill the bullock..." | Laying hands for sin offering |
| Exod 29:10 | "bring the bullock before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands..." | Laying hands for ordination sacrifice |
| Exod 29:16 | "...take the blood thereof, and sprinkle it round about upon the altar." | Early instruction for blood on altar |
| Lev 17:11 | "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement..." | Life is in the blood; blood for atonement |
| Num 16:40 | "...a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger...come near to offer incense before the LORD..." | Sanctity of priestly function |
| Deut 12:27 | "And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar..." | Blood upon the altar in general instructions |
| Ezek 43:20 | "Thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle..." | Altar purification with blood (vision) |
| Heb 9:12 | "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once..." | Christ's superior blood offering |
| Heb 9:22 | "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." | Necessity of blood for forgiveness |
| Heb 10:1-4 | "For the law having a shadow...can never with those sacrifices...make the comers thereunto perfect." | Limitations of animal sacrifices |
| Heb 10:10 | "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." | Christ's perfect sacrifice fulfilling types |
| Heb 12:24 | "And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." | Christ's blood as a better sacrifice |
| Rom 3:25 | "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood..." | Christ's blood for propitiation |
| Eph 2:13 | "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." | Access to God through Christ's blood |
| Col 1:20 | "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things..." | Peace and reconciliation through Christ's blood |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things...but with the precious blood of Christ..." | Redemption through Christ's blood |
| 1 Jn 1:7 | "But if we walk in the light...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." | Cleansing from sin by Christ's blood |
| Rev 1:5 | "...Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood..." | Washing of sins by Christ's blood |
| Isa 53:5-6 | "...He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him..." | Prophecy of the Substitute's suffering |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." | Christ's identification with our sin |
Leviticus 3 verses
Leviticus 3 13 Meaning
Leviticus 3:13 details the prescribed actions for sacrificing a lamb or goat as a peace offering (Hebrew: shelem). It describes the worshiper's direct involvement in identifying with the offering through laying hands on its head and personally slaughtering the animal "before the tabernacle of the congregation." Subsequently, it mandates that the sons of Aaron, the priests, are to collect and "sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about," signifying the essential role of blood in consecration and acceptance before God. This entire sequence emphasizes personal commitment, the sacred location for worship, and the divinely ordained priestly mediation necessary for offerings to be accepted.
Leviticus 3 13 Context
Leviticus chapter 3 provides instructions for the peace offering (Hebrew: shelem), which was a voluntary offering, unlike the mandatory sin or guilt offerings. It symbolized communion, thanksgiving, and reconciliation with God, often made in fulfillment of a vow or as an expression of general goodwill. The unique aspect of the peace offering was that, after certain portions were offered to God by burning (the fat) and to the priests (the breast and thigh), the worshiper and his household could partake of the remaining meat, signifying a shared meal in God's presence. Verse 13 specifically outlines the ritual for a lamb or goat, detailing the worshiper's direct action of bringing the animal, laying hands, and killing it, followed by the priests' exclusive role in handling the sacred blood at the altar. This verse underscores the sacredness of the encounter and the strict protocols required to approach God.
Leviticus 3 13 Word analysis
- And he shall lay his hand: Hebrew: v'samach yado (וְסָמַךְ יָדוֹ). The verb samakh means "to lean on," "to support," or "to lay one's weight upon." This act is profoundly significant, signifying identification, ownership, and sometimes the transference of sins or, in the case of peace offerings, the worshiper's connection and devotion. It represents a personal engagement with the sacrifice, acknowledging the substitute.
- upon the head of it: The point of contact for the transference or identification. The head is where the life force resides, and symbolically, it represents the whole being of the animal and, by extension, the offerer's total devotion or acknowledgement of guilt (in other sacrifices).
- and kill it: Hebrew: v'shachat oto (וְשָׁחַט אֹתוֹ). The verb shachat specifically refers to ritual slaughter, typically by cutting the throat. It implies a swift, humane action, but more importantly, it emphasizes that the worshiper, not the priest, was responsible for taking the animal's life. This direct involvement underscored the cost and personal nature of the offering.
- before the tabernacle of the congregation: Hebrew: liphney ohel mo'ed (לִפְנֵי אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד). "Before" implies the eastern side, facing the entrance. The "tabernacle of the congregation" (literally "tent of meeting") was God's dwelling place among His people. Performing the sacrifice here underscored its sacred nature and that it was being presented directly to the LORD, where He had appointed to meet with Israel. This highlights the required setting for acceptable worship.
- and the sons of Aaron: This refers to the Levitical priests, specifically those from Aaron's lineage, who were consecrated to serve in the tabernacle. Their role was divinely appointed and exclusive, acting as mediators between God and the people. This highlights the order and structure of worship, with specific roles for the worshiper and the priest.
- shall sprinkle the blood thereof: Hebrew: v'zaraq et damo (וְזָרַק אֶת דָּמוֹ). The verb zaraq means to "dash" or "fling" a liquid, often indicating a forceful and wide dispersal. This was not a gentle pour. The blood was considered the life force (Lev 17:11) and was central to the atonement and sanctification process. The priests alone handled the blood, demonstrating its sacredness and its exclusive role in making an offering acceptable to God.
- upon the altar round about: This refers to the bronze altar of burnt offering, located in the tabernacle courtyard. Sprinkling the blood on all sides of the altar indicated the completeness and totality of the offering's sanctifying and atoning power, ensuring the offering was entirely consecrated to God and accessible from every direction within the designated sacred space.
Leviticus 3 13 Bonus section
The ritual act of the worshiper laying their hands on the animal's head followed by their personal slaughtering of the animal was a deeply engaging and visceral experience. It prevented the worshiper from passively observing and forced a direct confrontation with the reality of death as a consequence or prerequisite for approach to God. This physical participation fostered a sense of responsibility and dependence on the ritual system for proper worship. For the peace offering, while it was for thanksgiving and fellowship, the shedding of blood still points to the ultimate cost required to draw near to a holy God, subtly anticipating the ultimate sacrifice where perfect peace is achieved through blood.
Leviticus 3 13 Commentary
Leviticus 3:13 concisely illustrates critical theological and practical elements of the Old Testament sacrificial system, particularly for the peace offering. The worshiper's personal engagement, through laying hands and performing the initial slaughter, speaks to the personal commitment and cost involved in approaching a holy God. It signifies an intimate connection between the offerer and the sacrifice, a voluntary surrender. The specific location "before the tabernacle of the congregation" underscores the necessity of drawing near to God in His prescribed place, acknowledging His holy presence. The subsequent, exclusive action of "the sons of Aaron" in sprinkling the blood "upon the altar round about" is central. This act highlights the absolute necessity of a mediatorial priesthood and the profound significance of blood in making an offering acceptable to God. Blood, representing life, was offered to God for atonement, establishing a bond of reconciliation and fellowship. This entire ritual, therefore, is a powerful visual sermon on substitution, consecration, and the divine requirements for communion with a holy God, all of which find their ultimate fulfillment in the single, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose shed blood inaugurated a new covenant of peace and direct access to God (Heb 9:12, Col 1:20).