Leviticus 1:2
in Leviticus 1“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, you may bring as your offering an animal from the herd or the flock.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man of you offereth an oblation unto Jehovah, ye shall offer your oblation of the cattle, even of the herd and of the flock.
KJV
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
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This verse in Leviticus 1
Commentary
8 notes on this verseBring an offering - The word קרבן korban, from קרב karab, to approach or draw near, signifies an offering or gift by which a person had access unto God: and this receives light from the universal custom that prevails in the east, no man being permitted to approach the presence of a superior without a present or gift; and the offering thus brought was called korban, which properly means the introduction-offering, or offering of access. This custom has been often referred to in the preceding books. See also Leviticus
This site's exposition
the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him
on Leviticus 1:1-2
Exodus closes with the glory filling the tent and Moses unable to go in at Exodus 40:34-35. Leviticus opens with a voice calling him from inside it, and what the voice says runs to the end of the book.
This site's exposition
When any of you brings an offering to the LORD
The instructions are addressed to every Israelite, so any one of them may be the offerer. The verse names two sources for the animal, the herd and the flock, which verses 3 and 10 take up in turn.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
There are divers kinds of sacrifices here prescribed, some by way of acknowledgment to God for mercies either desired or received; others by was of satisfaction to God for men's sins; others were mere exercises of devotion.
Because these are the fittest representations both of Christ and of true Christians, as being gentle, and harmless, and patient, and useful to men.
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Nu 28:3, 11-27, &c.). bring your offering of the cattle, &c.--that is, those animals that were not only tame, innocent and gentle, but useful and adapted for food. This rule excluded horses, dogs, swine, camels, and asses, which were used in sacrifice by some heathen nations, beasts and birds of prey, as also hares and deers.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Speak unto the children of Israel - It is important to observe that these first instructions Lev. 1:2–3:17 are addressed expressly to the individual who felt the need of sacrifice on his own account. They were not delivered through the priests, nor had the officiating priest any choice as to what he was to do. He was only to examine the victim to see that it was perfect Lev 22:17-24, and to perform other strictly prescribed duties Lev. 6:8–7:21. The act of offering was to be voluntary on the part of the worshipper, but the mode of doing it was in every point defined by the Law. The presenting of the victim at the entrance of the tabernacle was in fact a symbol of the free will submitting itself to the Law of the Lord. Such acts of sacrifice are to be distinguished from the public offerings, and those ordained for individuals on special occasions (see Lev 4:2 note), which belonged to the religious education of the nation. Offering - Hebrew: קרבן qorbân - the general name for what was formally given up to the service of God (compare Mar 7:11), and exactly corresponding to the words “offering” and “oblation.”
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Scripture states [the fact that G-d called to Moses] here and not in other places, because Moses was not able to enter into the Tent of Meeting, 31 Exodus:35. and to draw near the place where G-d was, 32 Ibid.,:18.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
21 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| דַּבֵּ֞ר | daber | speak | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| בְּנֵ֤י | benei | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ | veamarta | and you will say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֲלֵהֶ֔ם | ʾalehem | to them | H413 → | 5510 times |
| אָדָ֗ם | ʾadam | anyone | H120 → | 551 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| יַקְרִ֥יב | yakriv | he will present | H7126 → | 280 times |
| מִכֶּ֛ם | mikem | of <the> you | ||
| קָרְבָּ֖ן | korban | a present | H7133 → | 82 times |
| לַֽיהוָ֑ה | layahweh | to Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה | habehemah | the livestock | H929 → | 190 times |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הַבָּקָר֙ | habakar | the herd | H1241 → | 183 times |
| וּמִן־ | umin- | and from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הַצֹּ֔אן | hatzon | the flock | H6629 → | 274 times |
| תַּקְרִ֖יבוּ | takrivu | you will present | H7126 → | 280 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| קָרְבַּנְכֶֽם׃ | karebankhem | present your | H7133 → | 82 times |
דַּבֵּ֞רspeak
daberH1696 →1141 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
בְּנֵ֤י[the] people of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣and you will say
veamartaH559 →5305 times
אֲלֵהֶ֔םto them
ʾalehemH413 →5510 times
אָדָ֗םanyone
ʾadamH120 →551 times
כִּֽי־that
ki-H3588 →4482 times
יַקְרִ֥יבhe will present
yakrivH7126 →280 times
מִכֶּ֛םof <the> you
mikem
קָרְבָּ֖ןa present
korbanH7133 →82 times
לַֽיהוָ֑הto Yahweh
layahwehH3068 →6520 times
מִן־from
min-H4480 →1188 times
הַבְּהֵמָ֗הthe livestock
habehemahH929 →190 times
מִן־from
min-H4480 →1188 times
הַבָּקָר֙the herd
habakarH1241 →183 times
וּמִן־and from
umin-H4480 →1188 times
הַצֹּ֔אןthe flock
hatzonH6629 →274 times
תַּקְרִ֖יבוּyou will present
takrivuH7126 →280 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
קָרְבַּנְכֶֽם׃present your
karebankhemH7133 →82 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 12:6We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
it leads to
- 1 Peter 4:10–11
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
- 1 Corinthians 7:7
I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28–31
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4–11
There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
- Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure…
- 1 Peter 4:10–11
Through
1 Chronicles 16:29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness;
it leads to
- Psalms 100:4
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.
- Psalms 96:9
Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.
- Psalms 100:4
Through
Genesis 4:5but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
it leads to
- Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he…
- Hebrews 11:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
On this chapter
About Leviticus
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.