Lev 1:4 | TNotes | STEP | 1:4 Lay your hand on the animal’s head: The sacrificial animal represented the worshiper in the ceremony (4:4 , 15 , 24 , 29 , 33 ; 16:21 ). This act signified that the animal’s death represented the death of its owner. In the ritual for the Day of Atonement, it signified that the sins of the owner were transferred to the animal (16:20-22 ). With the peace offering (3:2 , 8 , 13 ), the act seems to have indicated ownership of the animal being sacrificed. • The phrase in your place may mean “in payment for sin” (sometimes called expiation ) or “as a substitute for the sinner’s death” (sometimes called propitiation ). • to purify you, making you right with him (or to make atonement for you ): Although older commentaries describe this process as “covering over” sin, recent scholarship defines it as “blotting out, erasing, or cleansing from” sin. The concept involves satisfying God’s wrath against sin, ceremonially cleansing the worshiper, and restoring fellowship with God in the community of God’s people.

a1:4►

b4:4►

c15►

d24►

e29►

f33►

g16:21►

h16:20-22►

i3:2►

j8►

k13►

‏ Leviticus 1:4

1:4 ^a Lay your hand on the animal’s head: The sacrificial animal represented the worshiper in the ceremony (4:4 ^b, 15 ^c, 24 ^d, 29 ^e, 33 ^f; 16:21 ^g). This act signified that the animal’s death represented the death of its owner. In the ritual for the Day of Atonement, it signified that the sins of the owner were transferred to the animal (16:20-22 ^h). With the peace offering (3:2 ⁱ, 8 ^j, 13 ^k), the act seems to have indicated ownership of the animal being sacrificed.

• The phrase in your place may mean “in payment for sin” (sometimes called expiation) or “as a substitute for the sinner’s death” (sometimes called propitiation).

• to purify you, making you right with him (or to make atonement for you): Although older commentaries describe this process as “covering over” sin, recent scholarship defines it as “blotting out, erasing, or cleansing from” sin. The concept involves satisfying God’s wrath against sin, ceremonially cleansing the worshiper, and restoring fellowship with God in the community of God’s people.