What Does Leviticus 1:13 Mean?
And he shall wash the inward parts and the legs in water, and the priest shall bring all of it near and send it up in smoke upon the altar. It is a rising offering, an offering of fire, a fragrance that settles to the LORD.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.THE KEY
The Hebrew root behind “inwards” also means “draw near,” linking what is inside the offering with what the priest brings near.
THE MEANING
The animal is killed; its inward parts and legs are washed with water, and the priest brings the whole animal to the altar and burns it. The verse holds the inside and the whole offering together, with its aroma described as pleasing to the LORD.
THE ROOT
קֶרֶב
qerev
GROWS FROM
קרב
Draw near, approach.
“inward parts” in this verse is qerev. English separates “inwards” from “bring,” but both come from קרב, meaning “draw near.” The animal’s inner parts are washed, and the priest brings the whole offering near: inwardness belongs to the approach.
ALSO GROWS
qerev: Inner parts; what is within.
קֶרֶב
This is the word translated “inwards” in the verse, so the offering’s interior shares its root with the act of approach.
qarav: Draw near, approach.
קָרַב
This is the root’s basic movement, making the priest’s bringing of the animal an act of drawing it near.
qorban: Offering; that which is brought near.
קָרְבָּן
This related word names an offering through the same root of approach.
עֹלָה
olah
GROWS FROM
עלה
Go up, ascend.
“rising offering” in this verse is olah. The Hebrew name עֹלָה means “that which goes up.” The KJV phrase “burnt sacrifice” names the rite, while the Hebrew also carries the motion of ascent, echoed by the smoke rising from the altar.
ALSO GROWS
alah: Go up, ascend.
עָלָה
This verb is the root movement within עֹלָה, the offering named in the verse.
aliyah: Ascent, going up.
עֲלִיָּה
This related form preserves the upward movement that the name of the offering carries.
רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ
re’ach nichoach
GROWS FROM
נוח
Rest, settle.
“fragrance that settles” in this verse is re’ach nichoach. The phrase רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ means a pleasing or soothing aroma; נִיחֹחַ is related to נוח, “rest, settle.” Alongside the pleasantness of the scent, the Hebrew carries a shade of settling or rest.
ALSO GROWS
Noach: Rest.
נֹחַ
This name shares the root’s association with rest and makes the settling shade of נִיחֹחַ easier to hear.
menuchah: Resting place, rest.
מְנוּחָה
This related form shows the root’s connection with a state or place of rest.
THE PATTERN
Coming near to God includes what is inward and bodily, with washing joined to the approach.
When they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with waters, so that they do not die; or when they draw near to the altar to serve, to make smoke rise from the offering of fire to the LORD.Behold, you delight in truth in the inward parts; and in the sealed place you make me perceive wisdom.Let us draw near with a true heart in the fullness of trust, our hearts sprinkled from a burdened shared sight, and our bodies bathed in clean waters.THE THREAD
But for me, drawing near to God is good; I have set my shelter in the Lord LORD, to recount all your works.In Leviticus, קֶרֶב (qerev, “inwards”) and הִקְרִיב (hiqriv, “bring near”) share the root קרב, “draw near.” Psalm 73:28 uses that same root for drawing near to God, making explicit the movement held inside the Leviticus verse.
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