A Summary of the Leviticus 1-7 Sacrifices

Reading Leviticus can leave your head swimming. Sometimes it’s helpful to have a summary overview first in order to know and understand the parts you are reading. Here’s a summary overview of the prescribed sacrifices in Leviticus 1-7:

Burnt offering (Leviticus 1).  A burnt offering was an animal from the herd or flock (and for the poor, a bird) that was completely burned on the altar. It had to be an unblemished male. The worshiper laid a hand on its head, and the priests handled the blood at the altar (Lev 1:3–4, 10–17). Nothing from the animal was eaten, because “all of it” was burned up (Lev 1:9, 13, 17). It was given so the worshiper could be “accepted” by God and “make atonement,” meaning God provided a way for the person to be welcomed despite sin (Lev 1:4).

Grain offering (Leviticus 2; 6:14–18). A grain offering was fine flour (often baked or cooked), mixed with oil and frankincense, and it could not have yeast (leaven) in it (Lev 2:1–10; 2:11). The priest burned a small “memorial portion” on the altar, and the rest became food for the priests, eaten unleavened in a holy place (Lev 2:2–3; 6:14–18). It was a way to honor God with the fruit of one’s labor and to support those serving at the tabernacle, while still being treated as “most holy.”

Peace offering (Leviticus 3; 7:11–21, 28–34). A peace offering (also used for thanksgiving, vows, and freewill gifts) was an unblemished animal from the herd or flock, male or female (Lev 3:1–17). The fat portions were burned on the altar as God’s portion, but much of the meat was eaten as a joyful meal. The priests received specific portions (the breast and right thigh), and the rest could be eaten by the worshiper and others who were ceremonially clean (Lev 7:19–20, 28–34). Some peace offerings had to be eaten the same day, and others by the next day, with anything left on the third day burned (Lev 7:15–18). This sacrifice expressed a restored relationship and shared fellowship with God, often in gratitude and celebration.

Sin offering (Leviticus 4:1–5:13; 6:24–30). A sin offering was brought when someone sinned unintentionally or became guilty through specific kinds of wrongdoing or uncleanness (Lev 4; 5:1–13). The animal varied by who sinned and what was involved, but the key actions were similar: the priests used the blood in a prescribed way, and the fat portions were burned on the altar (Lev 4:8–10, 20). In some cases (like a bull offered for the priest or the whole community), the hide and remaining parts were taken outside the camp and burned, not eaten (Lev 4:11–12). In other cases, the priest who offered it could eat the meat in a holy place, but any sin offering whose blood was brought into the tent of meeting could not be eaten and had to be burned (Lev 6:26, 30). The point was cleansing and forgiveness. It showed that sin defiles and harms our relationship with God, and God provided a way to deal with it so the person could be forgiven.

Guilt offering (Leviticus 5:14–6:7; 7:1–7). A guilt offering was brought when someone wronged God in a serious way involving “holy things” (things dedicated to worship) or when someone cheated, stole, or otherwise sinned against a neighbor and then realized it (Lev 5:14–16; 6:1–7). The sacrifice was a ram without blemish (Lev 5:15; 6:6). What made it distinctive is that it required repayment: the person had to restore what was taken or damaged and add an extra fifth (20 percent) (Lev 5:16; 6:4–5). The fat portions were burned on the altar, and the remaining meat belonged to the priests to eat in a holy place (Lev 7:3–7). The point was to make wrongs right. It combined forgiveness with real-world repair of the harm done.