Leviticus
The Book of Leviticus provides extensive revelation into God’s holiness. And it reveals the ways of worship and holiness for the ancient Hebrew people.
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, The Scapegoat, Female Sacrificial Animals
SUMMARY
TITLE. In Hebrew, the title is simply vayyiqra, which means “and He called.”
The English title of “Leviticus” traces back to the Latin Vulgate translation, which traces back to the Greek word “Leuitikon.”
AUTHOR. Both Scripture and tradition attribute Leviticus to Moses. This was enough to satisfy most people in the synagogue and the church.
But in modern days, critical scholars insist that Leviticus was compiled from various sources. This seems to be the product of rationalistic skepticism.
DATE. Leviticus was written by Moses probably shortly after the composition of Exodus, in the second half of the 15th century BC.
PURPOSE. The Book of Leviticus provides extensive revelation into God’s holiness and love and grace.
His people are to worship him by means of a system of sacrifices.
And their holiness will consist of radically separating themselves from outsiders.
OUTLINE
WORSHIP GOD BY SACRIFICE
SACRIFICES
Leviticus 1:1-2. Burnt offerings
Leviticus 1:10-13. A sheep or goat
Leviticus 1:14-17. A turtledove or pigeon
Leviticus 2:1-16. Grain offerings
Leviticus 3:1-17. Peace offerings
Leviticus 4:1-2. Sin offerings
Leviticus 4:3-12. Sin offerings for priests
Leviticus 4:13-21. Sin offerings for the community
Leviticus 4:22-26. Sin offerings for the ruler
Leviticus 4:27-35. Sin offerings for individual people
Leviticus 5:1-6. Four sins that require a sin offering
Leviticus 5:7-13. Concessions for poor people
Leviticus 5:14-19. Three sins that require a guilt offering
Leviticus 6:1-7. Three sins that require a guilt offering, continued
HOW-TO SECTION FOR PRIESTS
Leviticus 6:8-13. How to do a burnt offering
Leviticus 6:14-18. How to do a grain offering
Leviticus 6:19-23. How to do an ordination offering
Leviticus 6:24-30. How to do a sin offering
Leviticus 7:1-10. Guilt offerings
Leviticus 7:11-21. Peace offerings
Leviticus 7:22-25. Don’t eat ritually sacrificed animal fat
Leviticus 7:26-27. Don’t eat blood
Leviticus 7:28-38. The portion for the priests
PRIESTHOOD AND THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM
Leviticus 8:1-36. Aaron is anointed high priest
Leviticus 9:1-22. The sacrifices begin
Leviticus 9:23-24. The LORD’s glory is revealed
Leviticus 10:1-5. Nadab and Abihu
Leviticus 10:6-11. Priestly conduct
Leviticus 10:12-20. Eating the priestly portion
CLEAN AND UNCLEAN
Leviticus 11:1-2. Permitted and forbidden prey
Leviticus 11:13-23. Flying creatures
Leviticus 11:24-47. Unclean animals
Leviticus 12:1-8. Purification after giving birth
INFECTIOUS SKIN DISEASES AND MILDEW
Leviticus 13:1-46. Eight strategies for infectious skin disease
Leviticus 13:47-59. Mildew in clothing and personal articles
Leviticus 14:1-2. Cleansing after recovery from an infectious skin disease
Leviticus 14:3-7. The two-bird ritual outside the camp
Leviticus 14:8-9. Ceremonial washing
Leviticus 14:10-20. Sacrifices inside the sanctuary
Leviticus 14:21-32. Accommodations for a poor person
Leviticus 14:33-53. Cleansing an infected house
Leviticus 15:1-15. General discharges from a man
Leviticus 15:16-18. Emission of semen
Leviticus 15:19-30. Menstrual discharge
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
Leviticus 16:1-19. The Day of Atonement
Leviticus 16:20-28. The Scapegoat
HOLINESS AS RADICAL SEPARATION
SACRIFICING AND EATING MEAT
Leviticus 17:1-9. Sacrifice only at the Tent of Meeting
Leviticus 17:10-16. Eating blood is forbidden
MORALITY AND NONCONFORMITY
Leviticus 18:1-30. Twenty-four forbidden sexual practices
Leviticus 19:1-37. Righteous behavior
Leviticus 20:1-27. Punishments for various sins
PRIESTLY AND SACRIFICIAL HOLINESS
Leviticus 21:1-24. The holiness required of priests
Leviticus 22:1-16. The use of holy offerings
Leviticus 22:17-33. Unacceptable offerings
APPOINTED FEASTS
Leviticus 23:9-14. First Fruits
Leviticus 23:26-32. Yom Kippur
CEREMONIAL AND MORAL REGULATIONS
Leviticus 24:1-4. The sanctuary lamp
Leviticus 24:5-9. The showbread
Leviticus 24:10-23. Blasphemy and its punishment
SPECIAL YEARS
Leviticus 25:1-7. The Sabbath Year
Leviticus 25:8-24. The Jubilee Year
Leviticus 25:25-34. Restoration of property
Leviticus 25:35-38. Restoration of poor people
Leviticus 25:39-55. Restoration of slaves
BLESSINGS AND CURSES
Leviticus 26:1-13. Blessings for obedience
Leviticus 26:14-46. Punishments for disobedience
VOWS, GIFTS, AND TITHES
Leviticus 27:1-25. Things that can be dedicated to the LORD God
Leviticus 27:26-34. Things that cannot be dedicated to the LORD God.
MEMORIZE
Leviticus 19:11. Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another. (NIV translation)
Leviticus 23:40b. you shall rejoice before the LORD your God
Great verses to memorize from the entire Bible
LEVITICUS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, The Scapegoat, Female Sacrificial Animals
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.