Leviticus 9 13

Leviticus 9:13 kjv

And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.

Leviticus 9:13 nkjv

Then they presented the burnt offering to him, with its pieces and head, and he burned them on the altar.

Leviticus 9:13 niv

They handed him the burnt offering piece by piece, including the head, and he burned them on the altar.

Leviticus 9:13 esv

And they handed the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the head, and he burned them on the altar.

Leviticus 9:13 nlt

Then they handed him each piece of the burnt offering, including the head, and he burned them on the altar.

Leviticus 9 verses

Leviticus 9 13 Meaning

Leviticus 9:13 describes a pivotal moment in the inaugural Tabernacle service, detailing the meticulous preparation and presentation of the ram of the burnt offering for the people. It signifies the complete devotion and sacrifice of the whole animal, specifically the head, dismembered parts, and fat, by Aaron and his sons, to be entirely consumed by fire upon the altar. This act ensured that the offering ascended to God as a pleasing aroma, vital for divine acceptance and the manifestation of God's glory among His consecrated people.

Leviticus 9 13 Context

Leviticus 9 marks the critical eighth day following the seven-day ordination and consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood (Lev 8). This day initiated their active priestly duties, serving as the official inauguration of the Tabernacle's worship system. Aaron first offered specific sacrifices for himself (sin and burnt offerings) to atone for his own sinfulness before approaching God on behalf of the people. Following this, Lev 9:12-14 describes the burnt offering made for the people. Verse 13 specifically details the conclusion of the preparation and the act of burning this offering. This meticulously prescribed ritual established the authorized, divine protocol for Israel's worship, laying the foundation for all subsequent Tabernacle/Temple services and anticipating God's manifest glory. Historically, it set Israel apart from pagan nations with their chaotic and sometimes depraved sacrificial practices, emphasizing divine order and holiness.

Leviticus 9 13 Word analysis

• And they presented (וַיַּגִּישׁוּ - vayyaggishū): A Hiphil verb from nāgash (נגשׁ), meaning "to cause to come near," "to bring." Here, it signifies that Aaron's sons brought the prepared parts of the animal to Aaron, the High Priest, who then performed the climactic act of burning. This highlights the delegated roles within the priestly ministry and the precision required in presenting offerings.
• the whole (אֶת־הַכֹּל - et-hakkol): Derived from kol (כּל), meaning "all," "every," "entire." While the animal was dismembered, "the whole" emphasizes that every part designated for the burnt offering was brought and accounted for. This symbolizes a complete and unreserved offering, underscoring totality and wholeness in devotion to God, leaving nothing out.
• to him (אֵלָיו - elav): Refers directly to Aaron. As the consecrated High Priest, Aaron was authorized to place the parts upon the altar and cause them to ascend in smoke, signifying the mediatorial role of the priesthood between God and His people.
• the head (אֶת־רֹאשׁוֹ - et-roszo): "Its head." This specific part of the animal, along with the others mentioned, details the full anatomy of the offering. The head could symbolize intellect or leadership, reinforcing that even the mind and guiding aspects of life are surrendered to God.
• and the parts (וְאֶת־הַנְּתָחֶיהָ - v'et-hanntahéha): "Its pieces/portions." From netaḥ (נתח), "to cut in pieces." This refers to the dismembered body, carefully washed and prepared as commanded in Leviticus 1. The detailed cutting and washing symbolize thoroughness, internal purity, and adherence to divine specifications for a holy offering.
• and the fat (וְאֶת־הַפָּדֶר - v'et-hapāder): Specifically denotes the visceral fat covering the internal organs. This is distinct from regular animal fat or muscle fat. The fat was considered the richest and choicest part, thus designated exclusively for God as "the Lord's food" (Lev 3:16). Its burning created a significant aroma, signifying divine acceptance and consecration of the finest to God.
• and he burned them (וַיַּקְטֵר - vayyaqṭer): A Hiphil verb from qaṭar (קטר), meaning "to cause to ascend in smoke," "to make a smoke offering." This is more than mere burning; it is an act of conveying the offering's essence upwards to God as fragrant smoke, symbolizing prayer, worship, and the acceptance of atonement. It represents the transformation from physical sacrifice to a spiritual ascent.
• on the altar (הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - hammizbēaḥ): The bronze altar of burnt offering, centrally located in the Tabernacle courtyard. This was the divinely appointed locus for all sacrificial burnt offerings. It served as the crucial interface where atonement was made, God was approached, and fellowship with Him was initiated. The altar represents the authorized means of worship and reconciliation.

Leviticus 9 13 Bonus section

• The burnt offering (olah) is distinguished by its complete consumption on the altar (save for the hide given to the priest). This emphasized dedication without reservation.
• The meticulous procedures for preparing the sacrifice, from flaying to washing the entrails, were not just for hygiene but symbolic of inward purity and clean intentions when approaching a holy God.
• This specific act by Aaron established a pattern of priestly duties that would continue throughout Israel's history in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, cementing the precise ritual guidelines for divine interaction.
• While not a direct polemic within this verse, the extreme order and divine origin of these sacrificial laws stood in stark contrast to the often chaotic, manipulative, and debauched sacrificial practices prevalent in the pagan religions surrounding ancient Israel.

Leviticus 9 13 Commentary

Leviticus 9:13 encapsulates the core theological principles of the ancient Israelite burnt offering: totality, holiness, and divine acceptance. The act of the priests meticulously presenting the entire ram – its head, cut pieces, and crucial fat – signifies that nothing less than one's whole being, meticulously prepared and purified, is acceptable to a holy God. The fat, considered the best and most pleasing part, was uniquely dedicated to the Lord, representing the offering of excellence. Aaron's solemn act of burning (causing the smoke to ascend) was the transformative moment where the physical sacrifice became a spiritual fragrance to the Lord, indicating divine acceptance and covering for sin. This verse, therefore, underlines the critical precision required in approaching God, the mediator role of the priesthood, and the complete nature of atonement sought through sacrifice. It ultimately serves as a powerful foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, whose single, perfect sacrifice fulfilled all the requirements of these imperfect offerings, becoming the ultimate "whole burnt offering" of Himself, acceptable to God for eternal redemption.