Lev 1:3 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Lev 1:3-17: 1:3-17 burnt offering (Hebrew ‘olah , “what goes up”): The Hebrew word implies the ascent of the animal in flame and smoke. Except for its hide, given in payment to the officiating priest (7:8 ), this offering was burned completely on the altar (1:9 ). Its purpose was to satisfy God’s wrath against sin, ceremonially cleansing the worshiper and restoring him or her to fellowship with God (cp. Rom 3:25 ; 8:3 ; 2 Cor 5:18-21 ). The whole burnt offering occurs first in this list of offerings (Lev 1–7 ), providing a pattern for offerings that follow. It is the most common and most general atoning offering. 1:3 male with no defects: God allowed female and slightly deformed animals for certain types of non-atoning offerings (see 3:1 ; 4:27-31 ; 22:23 ), but not for the whole burnt offering. In the dry, brush-encrusted hills of southern Palestine, cattle were much more difficult to raise than sheep or goats. This meant a bull without defect was an animal of great value. Centuries later, the prophet Malachi confronted the people for offering sick and lame animals instead of those without defect (Mal 1:6-14 ).

a1:3-17►

b7:8►

c1:9►

dRom 3:25►

e8:3►

f2 Cor 5:18-21►

gLev 1–7►

h1:3►

i3:1►

j4:27-31►

k22:23►

lMal 1:6-14►

‏ Leviticus 1:3

Summary for Lev 1:3-17: 1:3-17 ^a burnt offering (Hebrew ‘olah, “what goes up”): The Hebrew word implies the ascent of the animal in flame and smoke. Except for its hide, given in payment to the officiating priest (7:8 ^b), this offering was burned completely on the altar (1:9 ^c). Its purpose was to satisfy God’s wrath against sin, ceremonially cleansing the worshiper and restoring him or her to fellowship with God (cp. Rom 3:25 ^d; 8:3 ^e; 2 Cor 5:18-21 ^f). The whole burnt offering occurs first in this list of offerings (Lev 1–7 ^g), providing a pattern for offerings that follow. It is the most common and most general atoning offering. 1:3 ^h male with no defects: God allowed female and slightly deformed animals for certain types of non-atoning offerings (see 3:1 ⁱ; 4:27-31 ^j; 22:23 ^k), but not for the whole burnt offering. In the dry, brush-encrusted hills of southern Palestine, cattle were much more difficult to raise than sheep or goats. This meant a bull without defect was an animal of great value. Centuries later, the prophet Malachi confronted the people for offering sick and lame animals instead of those without defect (Mal 1:6-14 ^l).