God’s Word Translation
Leviticus 1:17
17Then pull on the bird’s wings to tear the bird open, but don’t pull the wings off. Then the priest will lay the bird on the wood burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the Lord.”
Leviticus 1:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)He shall tear it open by the wings, not dividing it completely, and then the priest shall burn it on the wood that is burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He shall tear it open by its wings, but shall 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then he shall split it at its wings, but shall not divide it completely; and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.
Context of Leviticus 1:17
15The priest must bring it to the altar. He will break its neck and burn the bird on the altar. First, he will drain the blood against the side of the altar. 16Remove the gizzard with its filth and throw it on the east side of the altar on the place for the ashes. Then pull on the bird’s wings to tear the bird open, but don’t pull the wings off. Then the priest will lay the bird on the wood burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the Lord.”
Read all of Leviticus 1Leviticus 1:17 word by word
וְשִׁסַּ֨ע אֹת֣וֹ בִכְנָפָיו֮ לֹ֣א יַבְדִּיל֒ וְהִקְטִ֨יר אֹת֤וֹ הַכֹּהֵן֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עַל־הָעֵצִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הָאֵ֑שׁ עֹלָ֣ה ה֗וּא אִשֵּׁ֛ה רֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהוָֽה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he shall cleaveשָׁסַעshâsa‛ · to cleaveH8156
- it with the wingsכָּנָףkânâph · wingH3671
- asunderבָּדַלbâdal · to separateH914
- and the priestכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- shall burnקָטַרqâţar · to offer: burnH6999
- it upon the altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196
- upon the woodעֵץ‛êts · tree: woodH6086
- upon the fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- a burnt sacrificeעֹלָה‛ôlâh ‛ôlâh · burnt offeringH5930
- an offering made by fireאִשֶּׁה'ishshâh · food offeringH801
- of a sweetנִיחֹחַnîychôach nîychôach · soothingH5207
- savourרֵיחַrêyach · aromaH7381
- unto the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
Cross-references for Leviticus 1:17
- Genesis 15:10So Abram brought all these animals to him. He cut each of them in half and laid each half opposite the other. However, he did not cut the birds in half.
- Psalms 16:10because you do not abandon my soul to the grave or allow your holy one to decay.
- Matthew 27:50Then Jesus loudly cried out once again and gave up his life.
- John 19:30After Jesus had taken the vinegar, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and died.
- Romans 4:25Jesus, our Lord, was handed over to death because of our failures and was brought back to life so that we could receive God’s approval.
- 1 Peter 1:19Rather, the payment that freed you was the precious blood of Christ, the lamb with no defects or imperfections.
- 1 Peter 3:18This is true because Christ suffered for our sins once. He was an innocent person, but he suffered for guilty people so that he could bring you to God. His body was put to death, but he was brought to life through his spirit.
- Leviticus 1:9Wash the internal organs and legs. Then the priest will burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the Lord.
- Genesis 8:21The Lord smelled the soothing aroma. He said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humans, even though from birth their hearts are set on nothing but evil. I will never again kill every living creature as I have just done.
- Hebrews 10:6You did not approve of burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.’
- Hebrews 13:15Through Jesus we should always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, words that acknowledge him.
Commentaries on Leviticus 1:17
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-17Verses 10-17 Those who could not offer a bullock, were to bring a sheep or a goat; and those who were not able to do that, were accepted of God, if they brought a turtle-dove, or a pigeon. Those creatures were chosen for sacrifice which were mild, and gentle, and harmless; to show the innocence and meekness that were in Christ, and that should be in Christians. The offering of the poor was as typical of Christ's atonement as the more costly sacrifices…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17tear … without dividing the bird completely: Cutting larger animals into pieces (like Leviticus 1:6, 12) probably reflects an ancient covenant-making ceremony. In this ceremony, participants passed between the two halves of a sacrificed animal (see Genesis 15:10). Because of their small size, people did not cut birds in half. If passing between them was necessary, they arranged the birds in pairs.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1714-17. if the burnt sacrifice ... be of fowls--The gentle nature and cleanly habits of the dove led to its selection, while all other fowls were rejected, either for the fierceness of their disposition or the grossness of their taste; and in this case, there being from the smallness of the animal no blood for waste, the priest was directed to prepare it at the altar and sprinkle the blood. This was the offering appointed for the poor. The fowls were…Read the comment
Topics related to Leviticus 1:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Leviticus 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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