What Does Leviticus 1:17 Mean in the King James?

And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Leviticus 1:17 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The offering is opened without being split apart, and what rises from it carries the language of rest.

THE MEANING

The bird is opened at its wings, yet it remains undivided as it is given to the fire. Its name, ⁨עֹלָה⁩ (olah, an ascending offering), gives the burning a direction: what is offered rises, and its scent is described with the language of rest.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the assumption that giving something wholly means dividing it into pieces: the bird is opened, yet the instruction says not to divide it asunder.

THE ROOT

נִיחֹחַ

nichoach

GROWS FROM

נוח

To rest, settle, or come to rest.

“Sweet savour” in this verse is nichoach. The word rendered “sweet” belongs to the root ⁨נוח⁩ (nuach, to rest or settle). The phrase carries more than pleasant smell: the offering’s aroma is described with the language of settling and rest.

ALSO GROWS

naḥ: Rested, settled.

נָח

This verb makes the root’s movement plain: coming to rest, the same root sense carried beneath the offering’s aroma.

menuchah: Rest, resting place.

מְנוּחָה

This related noun shows the same root can name not only resting, but the place or state of rest.

עֹלָה

olah

GROWS FROM

עלה

To go up, rise, or ascend.

“Burnt offering” in this verse is olah. The Hebrew calls this an ⁨עֹלָה⁩ (olah, an ascending offering). The English names the burning; the Hebrew also names its upward movement, as the offering is consumed on the altar.

ALSO GROWS

alah: To go up, rise, ascend.

עָלָה

This verb is the root’s basic movement, echoed by the offering’s rising smoke.

aliyah: Ascent, going up.

עֲלִיָּה

This noun carries the same upward motion, making visible the movement held inside the offering’s name.

THE PATTERN

A whole offering rises as an aroma received by God.

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Genesis 8:21 · KJVAfter the burnt offerings, the LORD smells a sweet savour, repeating the link between an offering and its received aroma.

And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the LORD: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Exodus 29:18 · KJVThe whole ram is burned on the altar, and its offering is named a sweet savour unto the LORD.

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Ephesians 5:2 · KJVThe verse describes a self-giving offering as a sweetsmelling savour, carrying the same pattern into the language of love.

THE THREAD

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

Psalm 116:7 · KJV

The Hebrew word behind “sweet” in Leviticus is ⁨נִיחֹחַ⁩ (nichoach), from ⁨נוח⁩ (nuach, to rest); “thy rest” in this psalm uses the related word ⁨מְנוּחָה⁩ (menuchah). The shared root lets the altar’s aroma carry the language of settling and rest, while the psalm speaks of the soul returning to rest.

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