Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God instructs Moses and the priests regarding the ritual procedure for a peace offering. The directive occurs at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting during the establishment of Israel's sacrificial system.
The words — וְ/סָמַ֤ךְ (ve./sa.Makh) translates to "and he will lean," describing the physical act of placing a hand on the offering's head. יָד/וֹ֙ (ya.D/o) means "his hand," specifying the body part used in this contact.
The thread — This laying-on of hands and slaughter at the Tent's entrance parallels the bull consecration ritual in Exodus 29:10 and the burnt offering procedure in Leviticus 1:4 and 1:11.
Why it lands — The text requires the offerer to physically identify with the animal before slaughter, while the priests execute the blood application on the altar. It establishes a precise, non-negotiable sequence for ritual preparation.
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 lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 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.
- Leviticus 1:11 He shall slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests are to splatter its blood against the altar on all sides.
- Leviticus 8:22 After that, Moses presented the other ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.
- Leviticus 16:21 Then he is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task.
- Isaiah 53:6 We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
- Zechariah 12:10 Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
- Acts 2:36 Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!”
- Acts 3:15 You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this fact.
- Acts 3:26 When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”