What Does Leviticus 8:20 Mean in the King James?

And he cut the ram into pieces; and Moses burnt the head, and the pieces, and the fat.

Leviticus 8:20 · 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.

THE KEY

The Hebrew word for “burnt” here means “made to smoke,” from the same root that gives Hebrew its word for incense.

THE MEANING

The verse makes the offering concrete: the ram is cut into pieces, and its head, pieces, and fat enter the fire. Each part is named as it is made to smoke on the altar.

THE ROOT

וַיַּקְטֵר

wayyaqṭēr

GROWS FROM

קטר

q-t-r

To make smoke, offer as incense, or make an offering smoke.

The English “burnt” can suggest only destruction; ⁨קטר⁩ also names the rising smoke of an offering and stands behind the Hebrew word for incense. The verse names the parts that become smoke one by one.

ALSO GROWS

qetoret: Incense

קְטֹרֶת

This related word makes the shared smoke and offering connection visible.

maqteret: Censer or incense pan

מַקְטֶרֶת

This related word names the vessel used for incense, showing how the root extends from making smoke to the object that carries it.

THE PATTERN

An offering becomes concrete in what is placed before God, whether animal, fire, or spoken praise.

And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Genesis 8:20 · KJVThe offering takes the tangible form of animals placed on an altar.

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 given to the altar fire, as the ram’s named parts are here.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Hebrews 13:15 · KJVThe offering takes another concrete form: praise spoken aloud.

THE THREAD

But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Leviticus 1:9 · KJV

Leviticus 1:9 uses the same root, ⁨קטר⁩ (qatar), for making the offering smoke on the altar. Here the ram’s head, pieces, and fat are named; there, the offering is gathered under that same smoke-making verb.

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