New: Plus articles on faith, family and the Bible. Read them →

About this book: Leviticus

Leviticus is the handbook for how a holy God could live among his people. Israel has just built the tabernacle at Sinai, and God now speaks from it, explaining how to approach him. The book opens with the offerings, then describes the ordination of the priests and the tragic story of two of Aaron's sons who approached God carelessly. Long sections on clean and unclean, skin diseases and bodily matters follow, leading to the Day of Atonement, when the sins of the whole community are dealt with once a year. The second half turns to daily life: a call to be holy because the Lord is holy, with laws about honesty, justice, care for the poor and love of neighbor. Festivals, the sabbath year and the Jubilee close the book with promises and warnings. Christians read Leviticus as a foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice and priesthood, though traditions differ on how the laws apply today.

Author
Tradition names Moses; many scholars see priestly material gathered and edited over time.
Date
The setting is Sinai, usually dated to the 15th or 13th century BC; scholars debate when it was written down.
Audience
Israel, and especially its priests and Levites, learning to live near a holy God.

Themes

God's holinessSacrifice and atonementPriesthood and mediationHoly living in daily lifeClean and unclean

Outline

  1. 1:1–7:38The offerings
  2. 8:1–10:20The priests begin their work
  3. 11:1–15:33Clean and unclean
  4. 16:1–17:16The Day of Atonement
  5. 18:1–22:33The call to be holy
  6. 23:1–25:55Festivals, sabbath year and Jubilee
  7. 26:1–27:34Blessings, warnings and vows

Key verses

About this chapterFrom the tabernacle the Lord calls to Moses and gives instructions for the burnt offering, the first of the sacrifices. An Israelite brings an unblemished animal from the herd, flock or, for the poor, a bird, offering it freely at the entrance of the tent. The worshiper lays a hand on its head, and it is accepted on his behalf to make atonement. The animal is slaughtered, its blood splashed on the altar, and the whole animal is burned, producing a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The offering signals complete devotion, since nothing is held back. Christians read these sacrifices as pointing to Christ's once-for-all offering of himself.

From the tabernacle the Lord calls to Moses and gives instructions for the burnt offering, the first of the sacrifices. An Israelite brings an unblemished animal from the herd, flock or, for the poor, a bird, offering it freely at the entrance of the tent. The worshiper lays a hand on its head, and it is accepted on his behalf to make atonement. The animal is slaughtered, its blood splashed on the altar, and the whole animal is burned, producing a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The offering signals complete devotion, since nothing is held back. Christians read these sacrifices as pointing to Christ's once-for-all offering of himself.

Themes

  • Burnt offering
  • Atonement
  • Total devotion

Key verses

Audio Bible · Leviticus 1

Listen while you go about your day.

Leviticus 1

Berean Standard Bible17 verses · 2 min read

1Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying, 2“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, you may bring as your offering an animal from the herd or the flock. 3If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD. 4He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. 5And he shall slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests are to present the blood and splatter it on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 6Next, he is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. 7The sons of Aaron the priest shall put a fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8Then Aaron’s sons the priests are to arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, atop the burning wood on the altar. 9The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 10If, however, one’s offering is a burnt offering from the flock—from the sheep or goats—he is to present an unblemished male. 11He shall slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests are to splatter its blood against the altar on all sides. 12He is to cut the animal into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and fat, atop the burning wood that is on the altar. 13The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall present all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 14If, instead, one’s offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to present a turtledove or a young pigeon. 15Then the priest shall bring it to the altar, twist off its head, and burn it on the altar; its blood should be drained out on the side of the altar. 16And he is to remove the crop with its contents and throw it to the east side of the altar, in the place for ashes. 17He shall tear it open by its wings, without dividing the bird completely. And the priest is to burn it on the altar atop the burning wood. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Pray for them

Real requests from the YESHVA community

  • WAQAS

    🙏 Please Pray for Me Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, please keep me and my family in your prayers. 🙏 I have neither my mother nor my father. I am trying my best to support my family, and my brother also…

  • Luciano

    🙏❤️ **Prayer Request for Santiago** Today we ask you to join us in prayer for little Santiago, son of Maho and David, who will undergo two surgeries. God has led them through miracle after miracle, and today we trust…

  • David

    🙏 I ask for your prayers for my broken heart after a recent breakup. I'm struggling with sadness, anxiety, and loneliness. Please pray that God will give me peace, strength, and emotional healing during this time.…

Verses in Leviticus 1

Chapters of Leviticus

All books