Leviticus 7 2

Leviticus 7:2 kjv

In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.

Leviticus 7:2 nkjv

In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the trespass offering. And its blood he shall sprinkle all around on the altar.

Leviticus 7:2 niv

The guilt offering is to be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and its blood is to be splashed against the sides of the altar.

Leviticus 7:2 esv

In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the guilt offering, and its blood shall be thrown against the sides of the altar.

Leviticus 7:2 nlt

The animal sacrificed as a guilt offering must be slaughtered at the place where the burnt offerings are slaughtered, and its blood must be splattered against all sides of the altar.

Leviticus 7 verses

Leviticus 7 2 Meaning

Leviticus 7:2 provides specific procedural instructions for the guilt offering (asham), stipulating that the animal is to be slaughtered in the exact same consecrated location where the burnt offering (olah) is sacrificed—typically the north side of the altar. Following the slaughter, the officiating priest must precisely apply the animal's blood by throwing it against all sides of the bronze altar, emphasizing the critical role of blood in the ritual atonement and purification process.

Leviticus 7 2 Context

Leviticus chapter 7 continues the detailed instructions regarding various sacrificial offerings previously introduced in chapters 1-6. Specifically, verses 1-10 outline further regulations for the guilt offering (asham) and the burnt offering (olah), including the distribution of parts to the priests. This particular verse (7:2) builds upon the foundational laws of offerings by establishing the precise execution method and location for the guilt offering. It falls within a larger block of priestly codes that ensure rituals are performed according to God's precise divine specifications, distinguishing Israelite worship from chaotic or idolatrous pagan practices. The historical context is the newly established Tabernacle worship, with Moses receiving direct divine commands for the priests and the people to approach a holy God correctly. The meticulously ordered ritual was crucial for maintaining the holiness of God's presence among His people and facilitating atonement for their specific trespasses.

Leviticus 7 2 Word analysis

• In the place (בִּמְקוֹם - biməqōm): This phrase emphasizes the necessity of a fixed, consecrated location for ritual purity and proper execution of the sacrifice. It signifies order and God's particularity in worship.
• where they kill (אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁחֲטוּ - ăšer yišḥăṭū): The verb shaḥat refers specifically to the ritual slaughter of an animal for sacrifice. This act itself was highly prescribed, usually performed by the offerer (though here the 'asham is clearly priestly activity given context) in accordance with the law, ensuring a clean and effective sacrifice.
• the burnt offering (אֶת־הָעֹלָה - et-hā‘ōlāh): The olah, meaning "what goes up" (wholly consumed by fire), represents complete devotion and atonement for general sin. Its designated slaughter location (the north side of the altar, Lev 1:11) is the standard for solemn sacrifices. By linking the asham to this location, its gravity is highlighted.
• they shall kill (יִשְׁחֲטוּ - yišḥăṭū): Repetition of the verb for killing, confirming the slaughter for the guilt offering at the same place.
• the guilt offering (אֶת־הָאָשָׁם - et-hā’āšām): The asham, or "trespass/guilt offering," uniquely addresses sins that involve violating God's holy things or infringing upon another's rights, often requiring restitution. It implies guilt and compensation beyond simple atonement, distinguishing it from the chatat (sin offering).
• and its blood (וְאֶת־דָּמוֹ - wə’et-dāmō): Blood is paramount in Israelite sacrificial theology. "Life is in the blood" (Lev 17:11). It is the prescribed means for atonement and cleansing from impurity, representing the very life forfeited to cover sin.
• he shall throw (יִזְרֹק - yizərōq): The verb zaraq is a technical priestly term meaning to sprinkle, toss, or splash the blood, implying a deliberate and thorough application, not merely pouring. This act sanctifies the altar and purifies the one for whom atonement is being made. It's a key action in many sacrifices.
• against the sides of the altar (עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ סָבִיב - ‘al-hamizbēaḥ sāḇîḇ): The bronze altar for burnt offerings, positioned at the entrance of the Tabernacle courtyard. "Around" (saviv) signifies comprehensive coverage, emphasizing the efficacy of the blood for pervasive purification and sanctification. It signifies complete propitiation for the offense.

• Words-group Analysis:
• "In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the guilt offering": This standardization emphasizes that the guilt offering, while having unique characteristics (e.g., restitution), shared the sacred procedural dignity and location of the burnt offering, highlighting its seriousness before God. The choice of the "north side" (implied from Lev 1:11) suggests a location of reverence and prescribed order, setting apart Israel's worship from the disorganized or barbaric practices of surrounding nations. This established procedure underlines the unchangeable divine standard for approaching God through sacrifice.
• "and its blood he shall throw against the sides of the altar": This phrase encapsulates the core act of atonement. The "throwing" or splashing of blood against the altar is a solemn priestly action. The blood itself, representing life, serves as the divine instrument for cleansing and reconciliation. Its application to "all sides" indicates the totality of the propitiation, effectively covering and making pure what was defiled by sin. This is the act where divine grace, facilitated by the priest's careful adherence to the ritual, meets human sin and provides cleansing.

Leviticus 7 2 Bonus section

• Priestly Responsibility: This verse explicitly states "he shall throw," referring to the officiating priest. This underscores the specialized and sacred role of the priesthood in executing these intricate rituals, acting as intermediaries between God and the people. The priests were God's designated agents to handle holy things according to divine pattern.
• North Side Significance: Though not explicit in 7:2, the reference to "the place where they kill the burnt offering" points to Leviticus 1:11, which specifies the north side of the altar. This designated area was likely chosen for practical reasons (e.g., efficient drainage, handling of carcasses) but also held symbolic weight, marking a specific, holy precinct for the most solemn acts of sacrifice, distinguishing it from other areas within the Tabernacle courtyard.
• Polemics against Paganism: The highly prescriptive nature of the ritual, with its specific location, actions, and materials, stands in stark contrast to the often chaotic, manipulative, or even barbaric cultic practices of surrounding Canaanite peoples. Israel's rituals were about purification and covenant restoration through divine prescription, not coercion of deities or magic. The asham further highlights moral accountability and restitution, elements largely absent in pagan ritual where appeasement alone was often the goal.
• Shadow of Christ: The precision required for these Old Testament sacrifices, particularly the emphasis on the blood and its application at the altar, foreshadows the singular, perfect, and all-sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His blood, shed once for all on the "altar" of the cross (Heb 13:10), permanently and effectively atones for all sin—general and specific (including guilt/trespasses)—rendering these animal sacrifices obsolete as the ultimate means of forgiveness.

Leviticus 7 2 Commentary

Leviticus 7:2 serves as a crucial instruction for the proper performance of the guilt offering. It primarily highlights two significant aspects: location and blood application. By mandating the slaughter of the guilt offering at the same location as the burnt offering (the north side of the altar), it underscores a consistent, divinely ordained procedure for significant sacrifices. This not only provided an orderly system but also elevated the gravity of the guilt offering, equating its ritual sanctity to that of the burnt offering, which symbolized total devotion.

Secondly, the specific command for the priest to "throw" or splash the blood against the sides of the altar emphasizes the central role of blood in atonement. In Israelite theology, blood held the life principle and was divinely appointed as the means for cleansing and reconciliation. The meticulous application of blood signifies the thoroughness of the atonement for the specific offense of the asham—an infringement requiring restitution. This sacred ritual acted as the divine provision to cover the transgression, restore the covenant relationship, and ceremonially cleanse the sinner. The priest, acting as God's mediator, performed this precise ritual to make propitiation for the offense, enabling the individual to be reconciled with a holy God.