What Does Leviticus 9:13 Mean in the King James?
And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.
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 burnt offering is an olah, “what rises”, so its Hebrew name carries the offering’s upward movement through fire.
THE MEANING
The offering reaches the altar in distinct pieces, with its head, and is made smoke there. Its Hebrew name carries the motion of rising: the scene joins division with ascent.
THE ROOT
עֹלָה
ʿōlāh
GROWS FROM
עלה
to go up, rise, ascend
“burnt offering” in this verse is ʿōlāh. The Hebrew name carries a motion that the English phrase leaves beneath its focus on fire: ascent. The separated pieces are the concrete offering, while its name describes the movement of what is given.
ALSO GROWS
ʿālāh: to go up, rise, ascend
עָלָה
This verb makes the upward motion within the name explicit.
ʿaliyyah: ascent, going up
עֲלִיָּה
This noun carries the same root motion named by the burnt offering.
לִנְתָחֶיהָ
linetacheha
GROWS FROM
נתח
to cut or divide into pieces
The word for “pieces” comes from a root of cutting and division. Beside olah, it holds two motions in one scene: the offering is divided, then rises as smoke.
ALSO GROWS
nētaḥ: a piece or segment
נֵתַח
This is the singular form behind the portions named in the verse.
netaḥim: pieces or portions
נְתָחִים
The plural shows the offering presented as distinct parts.
וַיַּקְטֵר
wayyaqter
GROWS FROM
קטר
to make smoke, burn incense
The verb translated “burnt” belongs to the same root family as incense and smoke. The fire is not only an ending for the offering; the root evokes its becoming smoke on the altar.
ALSO GROWS
qetoret: incense
קְטֹרֶת
Incense is the smoke-producing substance named by this root family.
hiqṭîr: to burn incense or make smoke rise
הִקְטִיר
This related verb makes the smoke-making action explicit.
THE PATTERN
An offering is made visible as something given over to God, through altar fire or self-giving.
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.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.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.THE THREAD
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.The Hebrew word translated “burnt offerings” here is עֹלוֹת (ʿolot), the plural of עֹלָה (ʿōlāh), from עלה, “to rise.” The shared root gives both scenes the same motion: an offering is something that goes up.
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