Leviticus Chapter 1

¹ The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, ² “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock. ³ If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, they shall offer a male without blemish. They shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that it may be accepted before the LORD. ⁴ They shall lay their hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for them to make atonement for them. ⁵ They shall slaughter the bull before the LORD, and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. ⁶ Then they shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. ⁷ The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. ⁸ And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat on the wood that is on the fire on the altar. ⁹ But its entrails and its legs they shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Notes on the Translation

Verse 1: The LXX’s ekalesen kurios ton Mōusēn (the Lord called Moses) aligns with the KJV’s “called unto Moses.” “Tent of meeting” reflects skēnēs tou martyriou, consistent with the KJV. The DSS (e.g., 4QLev^b) support this setting.

Verse 2–3: The LXX’s anthrōpos ex hymōn (any one of you) and anapherē karpōma (brings an offering) are gender-neutral, with “livestock” modernizing “cattle.” “Without blemish” (amōmon) aligns with the KJV. The DSS confirm the sacrificial context.

Verse 4–5: The LXX’s epithēsei tēn cheira (lay their hand) and sphaxei ton moschon (slaughter the bull) align with the KJV. “Atonement” (hilasmos) retains the KJV’s theological term. The DSS support the ritual details.

Verse 6–9: The LXX’s deirei (skin) and karpōma osmēn euōdias (offering, pleasing aroma) align with the KJV’s “flay” and “sweet savour.” “Food offering” modernizes “offering made by fire,” with the DSS consistent where preserved.

¹⁰ If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from the sheep or goats, they shall offer a male without blemish. ¹¹ They shall slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. ¹² They shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar. ¹³ But the entrails and the legs they shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Notes on the Translation

Verse 10: The LXX’s apo tōn probatōn (from the sheep) and amōmon (without blemish) align with the KJV. “Sheep or goats” clarifies probata ē aigas, modernizing for specificity.

Verse 11–12: The LXX’s sphaxei pros borra (slaughter on the north side) and merisai autou (cut into pieces) align with the KJV’s directional and procedural details. The DSS support the altar ritual.

Verse 13: The LXX’s nipsei (wash) and karpōma osmēn euōdias (pleasing aroma) align with the KJV. “Food offering” modernizes “offering made by fire,” with the DSS consistent.

¹⁴ If the offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, they shall bring their offering of turtledoves or pigeons. ¹⁵ The priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar. ¹⁶ They shall remove its crop with its contents and cast it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes. ¹⁷ They shall tear it open by its wings, but not sever it completely. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Notes on the Translation

Verse 14: The LXX’s trugonas ē neossous peristerōn (turtledoves or pigeons) aligns with the KJV. “Birds” generalizes for clarity, with the DSS supporting the offering type.

Verse 15–16: The LXX’s apoknisei tēn kephalēn (wring off its head) and proschysei para to thysiastērion (cast beside the altar) align with the KJV. “Crop with its contents” clarifies prolobon, with the DSS consistent.

Verse 17: The LXX’s diarrēxei (tear open) and osmēn euōdias (pleasing aroma) align with the KJV. “Not sever completely” clarifies the partial tearing, with the DSS supporting the ritual.