4
He shall layוְסָמַךְhis handיָדוֹonעַלthe headרֹאשׁof the burnt offering,הָעֹלָהand it will be acceptedוְנִרְצָהfor himלוֹto make expiationלְכַפֵּרfor him.עָלָיו
Leviticus 1:4
Study it in the app“He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted for him to make expiation for him.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Leviticus 1:4, word by word
- He shall layסָמַךְsamach
lay on
To rest a hand on an animal or person.
Where else “samach” appears- his handיָדyad
hand
The part of the body with which one takes, gives and works; also what one does.
Where else “yad” appears- the headרֹאשׁrosh
head
The upper part of the body, where the face and hair are.
Where else “rosh” appears- of the burnt offeringעֹלָהola
burnt offering
A sacrifice burned whole on the altar.
Where else “ola” appears- and it will be acceptedנִרְצָהnirtsa
accept
To gladly receive an offering or someone.
Where else “nirtsa” appears- to make expiationכַפֵּרchaper
atone
To cover guilt so there is forgiveness.
Where else “chaper” appears
Translation note
The text does not explain what laying the hand on the animal’s head means; it can be understood as identifying the offerer with the animal offered for him (compare 16:21). Hebrews 10:4 says that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins, and 10:10 speaks of the offering of the body of Jesus.
The context
3If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall present a male without defect; at the entrance of the tent of meeting he shall present it, for his acceptance before YHWH.
4 · This verse (above)
5He shall slaughter the young bull before YHWH, and the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall present the blood and splash the blood against the altar all around, the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.