Bible Strands
Leviticus 1:4
He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God instructs Moses on the procedure for a burnt offering from the herd, at the moment between presentation at the Tent of Meeting entrance and the slaughter.
The words — סָמַךְ (sāmak) means "to lean" or "to lay one's hand upon"; it describes a physical pressing of the hand onto the animal's head, not a symbolic gesture.
The thread — The same hand-laying appears for peace offerings (Leviticus 3:2, 3:8) and is enacted historically at Hezekiah's temple reform (2 Chronicles 29:23), marking it as a standard element across offering types.
Why it lands — The verse ties a concrete physical act to a stated legal-ritual function (acceptance and atonement on the offerer's behalf); it presents the mechanism as procedure, not metaphor.
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 he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 3:2 He is to lay his hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splatter the blood on all sides of the altar.
- Leviticus 3:8 He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splatter its blood on all sides of the altar.
- 2 Chronicles 29:23 Then they brought the goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them.
- Exodus 29:10 You are to present the bull at the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head.
- Exodus 29:15 Take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.
- Leviticus 4:20 He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.
- Leviticus 4:26 He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the peace offerings; thus the priest will make atonement for that man’s sin, and he will be forgiven.
- Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
- Exodus 29:19 Take the second ram, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head.
- Leviticus 3:13 He must lay his hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splatter its blood on all sides of the altar.