Then he shall kill the bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to read this as just a procedural step, but notice that the priests, Aaron's sons, bring the blood. This means the one who presented the offering didn't just kill it; the blood, the very life, was then handled by the priests, signifying it was the priests' sacred duty to mediate between the people and God. This action highlights how God established a system where access to Him was carefully mediated through appointed representatives.
Then he shall kill the bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The chapter begins by detailing the burnt offering, a voluntary sacrifice meant to be completely consumed by fire as a pleasing aroma to God. The offerer brings a male animal to the entrance of the tent of meeting, places his hands on its head, symbolizing the transfer of his sins, and then kills it. This verse describes the crucial next step: the priests, sons of Aaron, catch the blood and throw it against the altar, initiating the atonement process and marking the animal for divine acceptance.
Who actually killed the bull, and why does it matter?
In this initial stage of the burnt offering, the text specifies that 'he' shall kill the bull before the LORD. While tradition and later practice sometimes involved priests or Levites performing the physical act, the underlying principle here is that the offerer, the one bringing the sacrifice, initiates the process. This isn't just a technicality; it emphasizes the offerer's personal involvement and responsibility in bringing this offering to God. It foreshadows how we, as believers, must personally bring ourselves and our lives to God. The act of laying hands on the animal (mentioned in earlier verses) and then its slaying by the offerer (or on their behalf) symbolizes the transfer of the offerer's identity and, in a typological sense, their sin, to the animal. This personal connection is crucial.
Why did the priests handle the blood, and what did it signify?
Once the bull is killed, the 'priests, Aaron’s sons,' take over. Their role is to bring the blood and sprinkle it around the altar. This highlights a crucial distinction: while the offerer initiates the sacrifice, the priests, as mediators, perform the essential act of atonement. The blood, representing life itself, was not to be casually discarded but was to be brought before the LORD and applied to the altar. This act symbolized that life was being given in exchange, making atonement for the offerer. The blood's application 'round about upon the altar' signifies the comprehensive covering and cleansing provided through this sacrifice, a sacred act performed by God’s appointed ministers.
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What was so significant about the altar's placement and the blood's application?
The altar itself, located 'at the entrance of the tent of meeting,' was the designated place where heaven and earth met for atonement. Its position signifies that reconciliation with God happens at the very threshold of His presence, requiring a sacred mediation. The act of throwing the blood 'round about upon the altar' wasn't random; it was a specific ritual application. This showed that the blood, representing life given, was being presented directly to God as a substitute for the offerer's life. It was a visible sign that atonement was being made, satisfying God’s justice and making the offerer acceptable before Him. This ritual pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice where Christ’s blood would be the perfect atonement, accessible at the 'door' of God’s kingdom.
Understand the original words
dam · Hebrew Noun
In the Old Testament, blood represents the life principle, and its application in sacrifice is the essential means ordained by God for the cleansing of sin and the ratification of covenant.
mizbe'ach · Hebrew Noun
The designated place of sacrifice, typically a raised structure, where the fire burned and where the blood of the sacrifice was applied to mediate between God and the sinner.
This passage directly refers to the 'blood of sprinkling' in the context of Christ's new covenant, illuminating the profound significance of the blood's application in Leviticus.
Exodus 29:12This verse describes the application of blood to the horns of the altar during the consecration of priests, highlighting the widespread use of blood to signify atonement and sanctification in worship.
1 Peter 1:2Peter speaks of believers being 'elect by God the Father, with the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood,' drawing a clear parallel to the Levitical sacrificial system and its antitype.
Isaiah 53:5The prophecy of the suffering Servant, whose wounds bring healing, foreshadows the atoning work symbolized by the shedding and sprinkling of the bullock's blood for the sins of the people.
Leviticus 4:6This verse details how the priest is to sprinkle the blood inside the sanctuary for a sin offering, showing a different application of the blood for specific sins and emphasizing the centrality of blood in atonement.
jfbLeviticus 1:5: "And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."
- he shall kill the bullock—The animal should be killed by the offerer, not by the priest, for it was not his duty in case of voluntary sacrifices; in later times, however, the office was generally performed by Levites.before the Lord—on the spot where the hands had been…
calvinLeviticus 1:1-17: "And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,"
If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
Si holocaustum oblatio ejus fuerit ex bobus, masculum immaculatum offeret: ad ostium tabernaculi conventionis offeret eum pro animi proposito in conspectu Jehovae.
And…
It's easy to read this as just a procedural step, but notice that the priests, Aaron's sons, bring the blood. This means the one who presented the offering didn't just kill it; the blood, the very life, was then handled by the priests, signifying it was the priests' sacred duty to mediate between the people and God. This action highlights how God established a system where access to Him was carefully mediated through appointed representatives.
The chapter begins by detailing the burnt offering, a voluntary sacrifice meant to be completely consumed by fire as a pleasing aroma to God. The offerer brings a male animal to the entrance of the tent of meeting, places his hands on its head, symbolizing the transfer of his sins, and then kills it. This verse describes the crucial next step: the priests, sons of Aaron, catch the blood and throw it against the altar, initiating the atonement process and marking the animal for divine acceptance.
The chapter begins by detailing the burnt offering, a voluntary sacrifice meant to be completely consumed by fire as a pleasing aroma to God. The offerer brings a male animal to the entrance of the tent of meeting, places his hands on its head, symbolizing the transfer of his sins, and then kills it. This verse describes the crucial next step: the priests, sons of Aaron, catch the blood and throw it against the altar, initiating the atonement process and marking the animal for divine acceptance.
"Then he shall kill the bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting." — It's easy to read this as just a procedural step, but notice that the priests, Aaron's sons, bring the blood. This means the one who presented the offering didn't just kill it; the blood, the very…
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Last reviewed October 2026