Bible Strands
Leviticus 1:15
Then the priest shall bring it to the altar, twist off its head, and burn it on the altar; its blood should be drained out on the side of the altar.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The divine command addresses the priest during the bird burnt offering procedure, immediately following the instruction to present a turtledove or young pigeon.
The words — The verb מָלַק (ma.laq) specifies the priest nipping off the bird’s head, while הִקְטִיר (hiq.tir) commands making that offering smoke as a burnt sacrifice on the altar.
The thread — This identical head-twisting ritual for a bird offering recurs in Leviticus 5:8 for the sin offering.
Why it lands — The text requires the priest to execute a fixed sequence of actions—presentation, decapitation, burning, and blood drainage against the altar—without alteration or omission.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
Cross-references
- Leviticus 5:8 He is to bring them to the priest, who shall first present the one for the sin offering. He is to twist its head at the front of its neck without severing it;
- Psalms 22:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?
- Psalms 22:21 Save me from the mouth of the lion; at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!
- Psalms 69:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.
- Isaiah 53:4 Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
- Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
- Matthew 26:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples,
- 1 John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.