Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, with the head and the suet, on the wood which is on the fire that is on the altar.
Parallel translations
- WEB and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall lay the pieces, the head, and the fat in order on the wood that is on the fire which is on the altar;
- KJV And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
- BSB Then Aaron’s sons the priests are to arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, atop the burning wood on the altar.
- NKJV Then the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat in order on the wood that is on the fire upon the altar;
- NLT They will arrange the pieces of the offering, including the head and fat, on the wood burning on the altar.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The priests arrange the pieces, head, and fat on the burning altar. Every part of the offering is presented to God.
Overview
The deliberate arrangement of the animal's parts on the fire continues the picture of total dedication in the burnt offering. The fat, considered the richest portion, belonged especially to God. This complete presentation of the whole animal anticipates Christ's total self-giving, holding nothing back in His sacrifice for sinners (Hebrews 9:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Lev 9:13–14They delivered the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the head: and he burned them upon the altar.
- Exod 29:17–18You shall cut the ram into its pieces, and wash its innards, and its legs, and put them with its pieces, and with its head.
- Lev 1:12He shall cut it into its pieces, with its head and its fat. The priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is on the altar,
- Lev 8:18–21He presented the ram of the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.
- 1 Kgs 18:23Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it.
- 1 Kgs 18:33He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood.”
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Christ at the center
Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 1:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.