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Leviticus 1-4
Contemporary English Version

1 1-3 The Lord spoke to Moses from the sacred tent and gave him instructions for the community of Israel to follow when they offered sacrifices.

Sacrifices To Please the Lord

The Lord said:

Sacrifices to please me[a] must be completely burned on the bronze altar.[b]

Bulls or rams or goats[c] are the animals to be used for these sacrifices. If the animal is a bull, it must not have anything wrong with it. Lead it to the entrance of the sacred tent, and I will let you know if it is[d] acceptable to me. 4 Lay your hand on its head, and I will accept the animal as a sacrifice for taking away your sins.

5 After the bull is killed in my presence, some priests from Aaron's family will offer its blood to me by splattering it against the four sides of the altar.

6 Skin the bull and cut it up, 7 while the priests pile wood on the altar fire to make it start blazing. 8-9 Wash the bull's insides and hind legs, so the priests can lay them on the altar with the head, the fat, and the rest of the animal. A priest will then send all of it up in smoke with a smell that pleases me.

10 If you sacrifice a ram or a goat, it must not have anything wrong with it. 11 Lead the animal to the north side of the altar, where it is to be killed in my presence. Then some of the priests will splatter its blood against the four sides of the altar.

12-13 Cut up the animal and wash its insides and hind legs. A priest will put these parts on the altar with the head, the fat, and the rest of the animal. Then he will send all of it up in smoke with a smell that pleases me.

14 If you offer a bird for this kind of sacrifice, it must be a dove or a pigeon. 15 A priest will take the bird to the bronze altar, where he will wring its neck and put its head on the fire. Then he will drain out its blood on one side of the altar, 16 remove the bird's craw with what is in it,[e] and throw them on the ash heap at the east side of the altar.[f] 17 Finally, he will take the bird by its wings, tear it partially open,[g] and send it up in smoke with a smell that pleases me.

Sacrifices To Give Thanks to the Lord

The Lord said:

2 When you offer sacrifices to give thanks to me,[h] you must use only your finest flour. Put it in a dish, sprinkle olive oil and incense on the flour, 2 and take it to the priests from Aaron's family. One of them will scoop up the incense together with a handful of the flour and oil. Then, to show that the whole offering belongs to me, the priest will lay this part on the bronze altar and send it up in smoke with a smell that pleases me. 3 The rest of this sacrifice is for the priests; it is very holy because it was offered to me.

4 If you bake bread in an oven for this sacrifice, use only your finest flour, but without any yeast. You may make the flour into a loaf mixed with olive oil, or you may make it into thin wafers and brush them with oil.

5 If you cook bread in a shallow pan for this sacrifice, use only your finest flour. Mix it with olive oil, but do not use any yeast. 6 Then break the bread into small pieces and sprinkle them with oil. 7 If you cook your bread in a pan with a lid on it, you must also use the finest flour mixed with oil.

8 You may prepare sacrifices to give thanks in any of these three ways. Bring your sacrifice to a priest, and he will take it to the bronze altar. 9 Then, to show that the whole offering belongs to me, the priest will lay part of it on the altar and send it up in smoke with a smell that pleases me. 10 The rest of this sacrifice is for the priests; it is very holy because it was offered to me.

11 Yeast and honey must never be burned on the altar, so don't ever mix either of these in a grain sacrifice. 12 You may offer either of them separately,[i] when you present the first part of your harvest to me, but they must never be burned on the altar.

13 Salt is offered when you make an agreement with me, so sprinkle salt on these sacrifices.

14 Freshly cut grain, either roasted or coarsely ground,[j] must be used when you offer the first part of your grain harvest. 15 You must mix in some olive oil and put incense on top, because this is a grain sacrifice. 16 A priest will sprinkle all of the incense and some of the grain and oil on the altar and send them up in smoke to show that the whole offering belongs to me.

Sacrifices To Ask the Lord's Blessing

The Lord said:

3 When you offer sacrifices to ask my blessing,[k] you may offer either a bull or a cow, but there must be nothing wrong with the animal. 2 Lead it to the entrance of the sacred tent, lay your hand on its head, and have it killed there. A priest from Aaron's family will splatter its blood against the four sides of the altar.

3 Offer all of the fat on the animal's insides, 4 as well as the lower part of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat. 5 Some of the priests will lay these pieces on the altar and send them up in smoke with a smell that pleases me, together with the sacrifice that is offered to please me.[l]

6 Instead of a bull or a cow, you may offer any sheep or goat that has nothing wrong with it. 7 If you offer a sheep, you must present it to me at the entrance to the sacred tent. 8 Lay your hand on its head and have it killed there. A priest will then splatter its blood against the four sides of the altar.

9 Offer the fat on the tail, the tailbone, and the insides, 10 as well as the lower part of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat. 11 One of the priests will lay these pieces on the altar and send them up in smoke as a food offering for me.

12 If you offer a goat, you must also present it to me 13 at the entrance to the sacred tent. Lay your hand on its head and have it killed there. A priest will then splatter its blood against the four sides of the altar.

14 Offer all of the fat on the animal's insides, 15 as well as the lower part of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat. 16 One of the priests will put these pieces on the altar and send them up in smoke as a food offering with a smell that pleases me.

All fat belongs to me. 17 So you and your descendants must never eat any fat or any blood, not even in the privacy of your own homes.[m] This law will never change.

Sacrifices for Sin

(Leviticus 6.24-30)

4 The Lord told Moses 2 to say to the community of Israel:

Offer a sacrifice to ask forgiveness when you sin by accidentally doing something I have told you not to do.

When the High Priest Sins

The Lord said:

3 When the high priest sins, he makes everyone else guilty too. And so, he must sacrifice a young bull that has nothing wrong with it. 4 The priest will lead the bull to the entrance of the sacred tent, lay his hand on its head, and kill it there. 5 He will take a bowl of the blood inside the tent, 6 dip a finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of it seven times toward the sacred chest behind the curtain. 7 Then, in my presence, he will smear some of the blood on each of the four corners of the incense altar, before pouring out the rest at the foot of the bronze altar[n] near the entrance to the tent.

8-10 The priest will remove the fat from the bull, just as he does when he sacrifices a bull to ask my blessing.[o] This includes the fat on the insides, as well as the lower part of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat. He will then send it all up in smoke.

11-12 The skin and flesh of the bull, together with its legs, insides, and the food still in its stomach, are to be taken outside the camp and burned on a wood fire near the ash heap.[p]

When the Whole Nation Sins

The Lord said:

13 When the nation of Israel disobeys me without meaning to, the whole nation is still guilty. 14 Once you realize what has happened, you must sacrifice a young bull to ask my forgiveness. Lead the bull to the entrance of the sacred tent, 15 where your tribal leaders will lay their hands on its head, before having it killed in my presence.

16 The priest will take a bowl of the animal's blood inside the sacred tent, 17 dip a finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of it seven times toward the sacred chest behind the curtain. 18 Then, in my presence, he must smear some of the blood on each of the four corners of the incense altar, before pouring out the rest at the foot of the bronze altar[q] near the entrance to the tent. 19-21 After this, the priest will remove the fat from the bull and send it up in smoke on the altar. Finally, he will burn its remains outside the camp, just as he did with the other bull. By this sacrifice the sin of the whole nation will be forgiven.

When a Tribal Leader Sins

The Lord God said:

22 Any tribal leader who disobeys me without knowing it is still guilty. 23 As soon as the leader realizes what has happened, he must sacrifice a goat[r] that has nothing wrong with it. 24 This is a sacrifice for sin. So he will lay his hand on the animal's head, before having it killed in my presence at the north side of the bronze altar. 25 The priest will dip a finger in the blood, smear some of it on each of the four corners of the altar, and pour out the rest at the foot of the altar. 26 Then he must send all of the fat up in smoke, just as he does when a sacrifice is offered to ask my blessing.[s] By this sacrifice the leader's sin will be forgiven.

When Ordinary People Sin

The Lord said:

27 (A) When any of you ordinary people disobey me without meaning to, you are still guilty. 28 As soon as you realize what you have done, you must sacrifice a female goat that has nothing wrong with it. 29 Lead the goat to the north side of the bronze altar and lay your hand on its head, before having it killed. 30 Then a priest will dip a finger in the blood; he will smear some of it on each of the four corners of the altar and pour out the rest at the foot of the altar. 31 After this, the priest will remove all of the fat, just as he does when an animal is sacrificed to ask my blessing.[t] The priest will then send the fat up in smoke with a smell that pleases me. This animal is sacrificed so that I will forgive you ordinary people when you sin.

32 If you offer a lamb instead of a goat as a sacrifice for sin, it must be a female that has nothing wrong with it. 33 Lead the lamb to the altar and lay your hand on its head, before having it killed. 34 The priest will dip a finger in the blood, smear some of it on each of the four corners of the altar, and pour out the rest at the foot of the altar. 35 After this, all of the fat must be removed, just as when an animal is sacrificed to ask my blessing. Then the priest will send it up in smoke to me, together with a food offering, and your sin will be forgiven.

Footnotes

  1. 1.1-3 Sacrifices to please me: These sacrifices have traditionally been called “whole burnt offerings” because the whole animal was burned on the altar. A main purpose of such sacrifices was to please the Lord with the smell of the sacrifice, and so in the CEV they are often called “sacrifices to please the Lord.”
  2. 1.1-3 bronze altar: This altar for offering sacrifices was in front of the entrance to the sacred tent; it was made of acacia wood covered with bronze. A smaller altar for offering incense was inside the tent; it was made of acacia wood covered with gold.
  3. 1.1-3 goats: Hebrew “male goats.”
  4. 1.1-3 if it is: Or “if you are.”
  5. 1.16 with what is in it: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  6. 1.16 ash heap at the east side of the altar: Ashes were piled here, then once a day they were taken to the ash heap outside the camp (see 4.11,12; 6.10,11).
  7. 1.17 tear it partially open: Or “tear it open without pulling off the wings.”
  8. 2.1 sacrifices to give thanks to me: These sacrifices have traditionally been called “grain offerings.” A main purpose of such sacrifices was to thank the Lord with a gift of grain, and so in the CEV they are sometimes called “sacrifices to give thanks to the Lord.”
  9. 2.12 You … separately: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  10. 2.14 either … ground: Or “roasted and coarsely ground.”
  11. 3.1 sacrifices to ask my blessing: These sacrifices have traditionally been called “peace offerings” or “offerings of well-being.” A main purpose was to ask for the Lord's blessing, and so in the CEV they are sometimes called “sacrifices to ask the Lord's blessing.”
  12. 3.5 sacrifice … to please me: See the note at 1.1-3.
  13. 3.17 not even … homes: Or “no matter where you live.”
  14. 4.7 incense altar … bronze altar: See the note at 1.1-3.
  15. 4.8-10 to ask my blessing: See the note at 3.1.
  16. 4.11,12 ash heap: See the note at 1.16.
  17. 4.18 incense altar … bronze altar: See the note at 1.1-3.
  18. 4.23 goat: See the note at 1.1-3.
  19. 4.26 sacrifice … blessing: See the note at 3.1.
  20. 4.31 sacrifice … blessing: See the note at 3.1.
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Leviticus 1-4
New International Version

The Burnt Offering

1 The Lord called to Moses(A) and spoke to him from the tent of meeting.(B) He said, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord,(C) bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.(D)

3 “‘If the offering is a burnt offering(E) from the herd,(F) you are to offer a male without defect.(G) You must present it at the entrance to the tent(H) of meeting so that it will be acceptable(I) to the Lord. 4 You are to lay your hand on the head(J) of the burnt offering,(K) and it will be accepted(L) on your behalf to make atonement(M) for you. 5 You are to slaughter(N) the young bull(O) before the Lord, and then Aaron’s sons(P) the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar(Q) at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 6 You are to skin(R) the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.(S) 7 The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood(T) on the fire. 8 Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat,(U) on the wood(V) that is burning on the altar. 9 You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water,(W) and the priest is to burn all of it(X) on the altar.(Y) It is a burnt offering,(Z) a food offering,(AA) an aroma pleasing to the Lord.(AB)

10 “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep(AC) or the goats,(AD) you are to offer a male without defect. 11 You are to slaughter it at the north side of the altar(AE) before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar.(AF) 12 You are to cut it into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and the fat,(AG) on the wood that is burning on the altar. 13 You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water,(AH) and the priest is to bring all of them and burn them(AI) on the altar.(AJ) It is a burnt offering,(AK) a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

14 “‘If the offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, you are to offer a dove or a young pigeon.(AL) 15 The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off the head(AM) and burn it on the altar; its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.(AN) 16 He is to remove the crop and the feathers[a] and throw them down east of the altar where the ashes(AO) are. 17 He shall tear it open by the wings, not dividing it completely,(AP) and then the priest shall burn it on the wood(AQ) that is burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

The Grain Offering

2 “‘When anyone brings a grain offering(AR) to the Lord, their offering is to be of the finest flour.(AS) They are to pour olive oil(AT) on it,(AU) put incense on it(AV) 2 and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour(AW) and oil, together with all the incense,(AX) and burn this as a memorial[b] portion(AY) on the altar, a food offering,(AZ) an aroma pleasing to the Lord.(BA) 3 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons;(BB) it is a most holy(BC) part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.

4 “‘If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven,(BD) it is to consist of the finest flour: either thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in or thin loaves(BE) made without yeast and brushed with olive oil.(BF) 5 If your grain offering is prepared on a griddle,(BG) it is to be made of the finest flour mixed with oil, and without yeast. 6 Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. 7 If your grain offering is cooked in a pan,(BH) it is to be made of the finest flour and some olive oil. 8 Bring the grain offering made of these things to the Lord; present it to the priest, who shall take it to the altar. 9 He shall take out the memorial portion(BI) from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.(BJ) 10 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons;(BK) it is a most holy part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.(BL)

11 “‘Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast,(BM) for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in a food offering presented to the Lord. 12 You may bring them to the Lord as an offering of the firstfruits,(BN) but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma. 13 Season all your grain offerings with salt.(BO) Do not leave the salt of the covenant(BP) of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.

14 “‘If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits(BQ) to the Lord, offer crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire. 15 Put oil and incense(BR) on it; it is a grain offering. 16 The priest shall burn the memorial portion(BS) of the crushed grain and the oil, together with all the incense,(BT) as a food offering presented to the Lord.(BU)

The Fellowship Offering

3 “‘If your offering is a fellowship offering,(BV) and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect.(BW) 2 You are to lay your hand on the head(BX) of your offering and slaughter it(BY) at the entrance to the tent of meeting.(BZ) Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash(CA) the blood against the sides(CB) of the altar.(CC) 3 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs(CD) and all the fat(CE) that is connected to them, 4 both kidneys(CF) with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron’s sons(CG) are to burn it on the altar(CH) on top of the burnt offering(CI) that is lying on the burning wood;(CJ) it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.(CK)

6 “‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering(CL) to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. 7 If you offer a lamb,(CM) you are to present it before the Lord,(CN) 8 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it(CO) in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 9 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering(CP) to the Lord: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 10 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 11 The priest shall burn them on the altar(CQ) as a food offering(CR) presented to the Lord.(CS)

12 “‘If your offering is a goat,(CT) you are to present it before the Lord, 13 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash(CU) its blood against the sides of the altar.(CV) 14 From what you offer you are to present this food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 15 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys.(CW) 16 The priest shall burn them on the altar(CX) as a food offering,(CY) a pleasing aroma.(CZ) All the fat(DA) is the Lord’s.(DB)

17 “‘This is a lasting ordinance(DC) for the generations to come,(DD) wherever you live:(DE) You must not eat any fat or any blood.(DF)’”

The Sin Offering

4 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally(DG) and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands(DH)—

3 “‘If the anointed priest(DI) sins,(DJ) bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull(DK) without defect(DL) as a sin offering[c](DM) for the sin he has committed.(DN) 4 He is to present the bull at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord.(DO) He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it there before the Lord. 5 Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood(DP) and carry it into the tent of meeting. 6 He is to dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle(DQ) some of it seven times before the Lord,(DR) in front of the curtain of the sanctuary.(DS) 7 The priest shall then put some of the blood on the horns(DT) of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the Lord in the tent of meeting. The rest of the bull’s blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar(DU) of burnt offering(DV) at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 He shall remove all the fat(DW) from the bull of the sin offering—all the fat that is connected to the internal organs, 9 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys(DX)— 10 just as the fat is removed from the ox[d](DY) sacrificed as a fellowship offering.(DZ) Then the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.(EA) 11 But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, as well as the head and legs, the internal organs and the intestines(EB)— 12 that is, all the rest of the bull—he must take outside the camp(EC) to a place ceremonially clean,(ED) where the ashes(EE) are thrown, and burn it(EF) there in a wood fire on the ash heap.(EG)

13 “‘If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally(EH) and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, when they realize their guilt 14 and the sin they committed becomes known, the assembly must bring a young bull(EI) as a sin offering(EJ) and present it before the tent of meeting. 15 The elders(EK) of the community are to lay their hands(EL) on the bull’s head(EM) before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord.(EN) 16 Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull’s blood(EO) into the tent of meeting. 17 He shall dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle(EP) it before the Lord(EQ) seven times in front of the curtain. 18 He is to put some of the blood(ER) on the horns of the altar that is before the Lord(ES) in the tent of meeting. The rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar(ET) of burnt offering at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 He shall remove all the fat(EU) from it and burn it on the altar,(EV) 20 and do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement(EW) for the community, and they will be forgiven.(EX) 21 Then he shall take the bull outside the camp(EY) and burn it as he burned the first bull. This is the sin offering for the community.(EZ)

22 “‘When a leader(FA) sins unintentionally(FB) and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the Lord his God, when he realizes his guilt 23 and the sin he has committed becomes known, he must bring as his offering a male goat(FC) without defect. 24 He is to lay his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the Lord.(FD) It is a sin offering.(FE) 25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar(FF) of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.(FG) 26 He shall burn all the fat on the altar as he burned the fat of the fellowship offering. In this way the priest will make atonement(FH) for the leader’s sin, and he will be forgiven.(FI)

27 “‘If any member of the community sins unintentionally(FJ) and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, when they realize their guilt 28 and the sin they have committed becomes known, they must bring as their offering(FK) for the sin they committed a female goat(FL) without defect. 29 They are to lay their hand on the head(FM) of the sin offering(FN) and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering.(FO) 30 Then the priest is to take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering(FP) and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 31 They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar(FQ) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.(FR) In this way the priest will make atonement(FS) for them, and they will be forgiven.(FT)

32 “‘If someone brings a lamb(FU) as their sin offering, they are to bring a female without defect.(FV) 33 They are to lay their hand on its head and slaughter it(FW) for a sin offering(FX) at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered.(FY) 34 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.(FZ) 35 They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the lamb of the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar(GA) on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 1:16 Or crop with its contents; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  2. Leviticus 2:2 Or representative; also in verses 9 and 16
  3. Leviticus 4:3 Or purification offering; here and throughout this chapter
  4. Leviticus 4:10 The Hebrew word can refer to either male or female.
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