Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Leviticus 3:8 appears in the priestly instructions for peace offerings, specifically within the section governing lamb presentations (Leviticus 3:1–11). The text addresses the worshipper who must perform a physical act before the Tent of Meeting while Aaron’s sons handle the blood.
The words — The Hebrew verbs סָמַךְ (sa.Makh) and שָׁחַט (sha.Chat) literally mean "he will lean" and "he will cut the throat," respectively. These terms describe the physical placement of the hand on the offering's head and the precise act of slaughter.
The thread — This ritual sequence repeats in Leviticus 1:5 and Leviticus 1:11 for bull and sheep offerings, and mirrors the identical instruction in Leviticus 3:2 for goats. The consistent pattern of laying hands, slaughtering, and splattering blood structures the broader sacrificial system.
Why it lands — The text requires the offerer to participate directly in the killing before the priest applies the blood to the altar. It establishes a procedural boundary where physical action must precede ritual mediation, demanding exact compliance with the prescribed location and sequence.
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 before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 1:5 And he shall slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests are to present the blood and splatter it on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
- 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 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 3:13 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.
- Leviticus 4:4 He must bring the bull to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the LORD.
- Leviticus 4:15 The elders of the congregation are to lay their hands on the bull’s head before the LORD, and it shall be slaughtered before the LORD.
- Leviticus 4:24 He is to lay his hand on the head of the goat and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the LORD. It is a sin offering.
- 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.
- Isaiah 53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.
- Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”