^1:7and the sons of Aaron, the priest,¹⁷ must put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. ^1:8Then the sons of Aaron, the priests, must arrange the parts with the head and the suet¹⁸ on the wood that is in the fire on the altar.¹⁹^1:9Finally, the one presenting the offering²⁰ must wash its entrails and its legs in water and the priest must offer all of it up in smoke on the altar²¹—it is²² a burnt offering, a gift²³ of a soothing aroma to the Lord.

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Footnotes

17 A few medieval Hebrew , , , , and . have plural “priests” here (cf. 1:5, 8) rather than the singular “priest” (cf. ). The singular “priest” would mean (1) Aaron, the (high) priest, or (2) the officiating priest, as in Lev 1:9 (cf. 6:10 [3 ], etc.). “The sons of Aaron” is probably a textual corruption caused by conflation with Lev 1:5, 8 (cf. the remarks in J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [], ).
18 A few Hebrew , , , , and . have the conjunction “and” before “the head,” which would suggest the rendering “and the head and the suet” rather than the rendering of the here, “with the head and the suet.” “Suet” is the specific term used for the hard, fatty tissues found around the kidneys of sheep and cattle. A number of modern English versions have simplified this to “fat” (e.g., , , , , ).
19 Heb “on the wood, which is on the fire, which is on the altar.” Cf. “on the burning wood”; “on the wood fire.”
20 Heb “Finally, he”; the referent (the offerer) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Once again, the assigns the preparation of the offering (here the entrails and legs) to the offerer because it did not bring him into direct contact with the altar, but reserves the actual placing of the sacrifice on the altar for the officiating priest (cf. the notes on vv. and ).
21 Heb “toward the altar,” but the so-called locative ה (hey) attached to the word for “altar” can indicate the place where something is or happens ( §90.d and §118.g; cf. also J. Milgrom, Leviticus [], 1:). This is a standard way of expressing “on/at the altar” with the verb “to offer up in smoke” (Hiphil of קָטַר [qatar]; cf. also Exod 29:13, 18, 25; Lev 1:9, 13, 15, 17; 2:2, etc.).
22 A few Hebrew and possibly the Leningrad B19a itself (the basis of the Hebrew text of the ), under an apparent erasure, plus , , , and . suggest that Hebrew הוּא (hu’, translated as “it is”) should be added here as in vv. 13 and 17. Whether or not the text should be changed, the meaning is the same as in vv. 13 and 17, so it has been included in the translation here.
23 The standard English translation of “gift” (אִשֶּׁה, ’isheh) is “an offering [made] by fire” (cf. , ). It is based on a supposed etymological relationship to the Hebrew word for “fire” (אֵשׁ, ’esh) and is still maintained in many versions (e.g., , , , ; B. A. Levine, Leviticus [], ). For various reasons, including the fact that some offerings referred to by this term are not burned on the altar (see, e.g., Lev 24:9), it is probably better to understand the term to mean “gift” (J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [], ) or “food gift” (“food offering” in and ; J. Milgrom, Leviticus [], 1:). See R. E. Averbeck, 1: for a complete discussion.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. And Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is burning on the altar. You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The sons of Aaron the priest will prepare a fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. Aaron’s sons the priests are to arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat on top of the burning wood on the altar. The offerer is to wash its entrails and legs with water. Then the priest will burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

NLTNew Living Translation

The sons of Aaron the priest will build a wood fire on the altar. They will arrange the pieces of the offering, including the head and fat, on the wood burning on the altar. But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

The sons of Aaron the priest will put fire on the altar and arrange the wood on the fire. Then Aaron’s sons, the priests, will arrange the pieces of meat, the head, and the suet on the wood that is on the fire that is on the altar. Then he must wash its inner parts and its lower leg bones with water, and the priest will turn into smoke the whole animal on the altar as a burnt offering by fire, as an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh.

KJV 1900King James Version

And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

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