Leviticus 1
Commentary from 3 fathers
And the Lord called Moses again and spoke to him out of the tabernacle of witness, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them,
ΚΑΙ ἀνεκάλεσε Μωυσῆν, καὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος αὐτῷ ἐκ τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου λέγων·
И҆ воззва̀ гдⷭ҇ь мѡѷсе́а, и҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ и҆з̾ ски́нїи свидѣ́нїѧ, гл҃ѧ:
If [any] man of you shall bring gifts to the Lord, ye shall bring your gifts of the cattle and of the oxen and of the sheep.
λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς· ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐὰν προσαγάγῃ δῶρα τῷ Κυρίῳ, ἀπὸ τῶν κτηνῶν καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν βοῶν καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν προβάτων προσοίσετε τὰ δῶρα ὑμῶν.
глаго́ли сынѡ́мъ і҆и҃лєвымъ, и҆ рече́ши къ ни̑мъ: человѣ́къ ѿ ва́съ а҆́ще принесе́тъ да́ры гдⷭ҇ꙋ, ѿ скотѡ́въ и҆ ѿ говѧ́дъ и҆ ѿ ѻ҆ве́цъ да принесе́те да́ры ва́шѧ:
If his gift be a whole-burnt-offering, he shall bring an unblemished male of the herd to the door of the tabernacle of witness, he shall bring it as acceptable before the Lord.
ἐὰν ὁλοκαύτωμα τὸ δῶρον αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν βοῶν, ἄρσεν ἄμωμον προσάξει· πρὸς τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου προσοίσει αὐτὸ δεκτὸν ἐναντίον Κυρίου.
а҆́ще всесожже́нїе да́ръ є҆гѡ̀, ѿ говѧ́дъ мꙋ́жескъ по́лъ непоро́ченъ принесе́тъ, пред̾ двє́ри ски́нїи свидѣ́нїѧ да принесе́тъ є҆̀ прїѧ́тно пред̾ гдⷭ҇емъ,
And he shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt-offering as a thing acceptable for him, to make atonement for him.
καὶ ἐπιθήσει τὴν χεῖρα ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ καρπώματος, δεκτὸν αὐτῷ ἐξιλάσασθαι περὶ αὐτοῦ.
и҆ да возложи́тъ рꙋ́кꙋ на главꙋ̀ приноше́нїѧ, прїѧ́тно є҆мꙋ̀, ᲂу҆ми́лостивити ѡ҆ не́мъ:
And they shall slay the calf before the Lord; and the sons of Aaron the priests shall bring the blood, and they shall pour the blood round about on the altar, which [is] at the doors of the tabernacle of witness.
καὶ σφάξουσι τὸν μόσχον ἔναντι Κυρίου, καὶ προσοίσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ααρὼν οἱ ἱερεῖς τὸ αἷμα, καὶ προσχεοῦσι τὸ αἷμα ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον κύκλῳ τὸ ἐπὶ τῶν θυρῶν τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου.
и҆ да зако́лютъ тельца̀ пред̾ гдⷭ҇емъ: и҆ да принесꙋ́тъ сы́нове а҆арѡ́нѡвы жерцы̀ кро́вь, и҆ да пролїю́тъ кро́вь на ѻ҆лта́рь ѡ҆́крестъ, и҆́же ᲂу҆ две́рїй ски́нїи свидѣ́нїѧ,
And the sons of Aaron the priests shall put fire on the altar, and shall pile wood on the fire.
καὶ ἐπιθήσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ααρὼν οἱ ἱερεῖς πῦρ ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον καὶ ἐπιστοιβάσουσι ξύλα ἐπὶ τὸ πῦρ.
и҆ да возложа́тъ сы́нове а҆арѡ̑ни жерцы̀ ѻ҆́гнь на ѻ҆лта́рь, и҆ да вскладꙋ́тъ дрова̀ на ѻ҆́гнь:
And the sons of Aaron the priests shall pile up the divided parts, and the head, and the fat on the wood on the fire, [the wood] which is on the altar.
καὶ ἐπιστοιβάσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ααρὼν οἱ ἱερεῖς τὰ διχοτομήματα καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ στέαρ ἐπὶ τὰ ξύλα τὰ ἐπὶ τοῦ πυρὸς τὰ ὄντα ἐπὶ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου,
и҆ да вскладꙋ́тъ сы́нове а҆арѡ̑ни жерцы̀ раздроблє́наѧ, и҆ главꙋ̀, и҆ тꙋ́къ на дрова̀ сꙋ̑щаѧ на ѻ҆гнѝ ꙗ҆̀же на ѻ҆лтарѝ,
And the entrails and the feet they shall wash in water, and the priests shall put all on the altar: it is a burnt-offering, a sacrifice, a smell of sweet savour to the Lord.
τὰ δὲ ἐγκοίλια καὶ τοὺς πόδας πλυνοῦσιν ὕδατι, καὶ ἐπιθήσουσιν οἱ ἱερεῖς τὰ πάντα ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον· κάρπωμά ἐστι, θυσία, ὀσμὴ εὐωδίας τῷ Κυρίῳ.
ᲂу҆тро́бꙋ же и҆ но́ги да и҆змы́ютъ водо́ю: и҆ да возложи́тъ жре́цъ всѧ̑ на ѻ҆лта́рь: приноше́нїе є҆́сть же́ртва, вонѧ̀ благоꙋха́нїѧ гдⷭ҇ꙋ.
And if his gift [be] of the sheep to the Lord, or of the lambs, or of the kids for whole-burnt-offerings, he shall bring it a male without blemish.
᾿Εὰν δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν προβάτων τὸ δῶρον αὐτοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ, ἀπό τε τῶν ἀρνῶν καὶ τῶν ἐρίφων, εἰς ὁλοκαυτώματα, ἄρσεν ἄμωμον προσάξει αὐτὸ καὶ ἐπιθήσει τὴν χεῖρα ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ.
А҆́ще же ѿ ѻ҆ве́цъ да́ръ сво́й гдⷭ҇еви (принесе́тъ) ѿ а҆́гнєцъ и҆ ѿ ко́злищъ во всесожже́нїе, мꙋ́жескъ по́лъ непоро́ченъ да принесе́тъ и҆̀,
And he shall lay his hand on its head; and they shall kill it by the side of the altar, toward the north before the Lord, and the sons of Aaron the priests shall pour its blood on the altar round about.
καὶ σφάξουσιν αὐτὸ ἐκ πλαγίων τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου πρὸς βορρᾶν ἔναντι Κυρίου καὶ προσχεοῦσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ααρὼν οἱ ἱερεῖς τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον κύκλῳ.
и҆ да возложи́тъ рꙋ́кꙋ на главꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ да зако́лютъ є҆̀ въ странѣ̀ ѻ҆лтарѧ̀ къ сѣ́верꙋ пред̾ гдⷭ҇емъ: и҆ да пролїю́тъ сы́нове а҆арѡ̑ни жерцы̀ кро́вь є҆гѡ̀ на ѻ҆лта́рь ѡ҆́крестъ:
And they shall divide it by its limbs, and its head and its fat, and the priests shall pile them up on the wood which is on the fire, on the altar.
καὶ διελοῦσιν αὐτὸ κατὰ μέλη καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ στέαρ, καὶ ἐπιστοιβάσουσιν οἱ ἱερεῖς αὐτὰ ἐπὶ τὰ ξύλα τὰ ἐπὶ τοῦ πυρὸς τὰ ἐπὶ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου.
и҆ да раздробѧ́тъ є҆го̀ на ᲂу҆́ды, и҆ главꙋ̀, и҆ тꙋ́къ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ да вскладꙋ́тъ ѧ҆̀ жерцы̀ на дрова̀ сꙋ̑щаѧ на ѻ҆гнѝ ꙗ҆̀же на ѻ҆лтарѝ,
And they shall wash the entrails and the feet with water, and the priest shall bring all the [parts] and put them on the altar: it is a burnt-offering, a sacrifice, a smell of sweet savour to the Lord.
καὶ τὰ ἐγκοίλια καὶ τοὺς πόδας πλυνοῦσιν ὕδατι. καὶ προσοίσει ὁ ἱερεὺς τὰ πάντα καὶ ἐπιθήσει ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον· κάρπωμά ἐστι, θυσία, ὀσμὴ εὐωδίας τῷ Κυρίῳ.
и҆ ᲂу҆тро́бꙋ и҆ но́ги и҆змы́ютъ водо́ю: и҆ принесе́тъ жре́цъ всѧ̑, и҆ да возложи́тъ на ѻ҆лта́рь: приноше́нїе є҆́сть же́ртва, вонѧ̀ благоꙋха́нїѧ гдⷭ҇ꙋ.
And if he bring his gift, a burnt-offering to the Lord, of birds, then shall he bring his gift of doves or pigeons.
᾿Εὰν δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν πετεινῶν κάρπωμα προσφέρῃ δῶρον αὐτοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ προσοίσει ἀπὸ τῶν τρυγόνων, ἢ ἀπὸ τῶν περιστερῶν τὸ δῶρον αὐτοῦ.
А҆́ще же ѿ пти́цъ приноше́нїе принесе́тъ да́ръ сво́й гдⷭ҇ꙋ, и҆ принесе́тъ ѿ го́рлицъ и҆лѝ ѿ го́лꙋбѡвъ да́ръ сво́й,
In very many ceremonies of the law one who needed to be cleansed was ordered to be cleansed by [offering] these [birds]. A pigeon indicates simplicity and a turtledove indicates chastity, for a pigeon is a lover of simplicity and a turtledove is a lover of chastity—so that if by chance one loses its mate it will not subsequently seek another.
Homilies on the Gospels 1.18And the priest shall bring it to the altar, and shall wring off its head; and the priest shall put it on the altar, and shall wring out the blood at the bottom of the altar.
καὶ προσοίσει αὐτὸ ὁ ἱερεὺς πρὸς τὸ θυσιαστήριον καὶ ἀποκνίσει τὴν κεφαλήν, καὶ ἐπιθήσει ὁ ἱερεὺς ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον καὶ στραγγιεῖ τὸ αἷμα πρὸς τὴν βάσιν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου.
и҆ да принесе́тъ и҆̀ жре́цъ ко ѻ҆лтарю̀, и҆ да ѿто́ргнетъ главꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ да возложи́тъ жре́цъ на ѻ҆лта́рь и҆ и҆сцѣди́тъ кро́вь ᲂу҆ стоѧ́ла ѻ҆лтарѧ̀:
And he shall take away the crop with the feathers, and shall cast it forth by the altar toward the east to the place of the ashes.
καὶ ἀφελεῖ τὸν πρόλοβον σὺν τοῖς πτεροῖς καὶ ἐκβαλεῖ αὐτὸ παρὰ τὸ θυσιαστήριον κατὰ ἀνατολάς εἰς τὸν τόπον τῆς σποδοῦ.
и҆ да ѿлꙋчи́тъ горта́нь съ пе́рїемъ, и҆ и҆зве́ргнетъ ю҆̀ ѿ ѻ҆лтарѧ̀ на восто́къ на мѣ́сто пе́пела:
And he shall break it off from the wings and shall not separate it, and the priest shall put it on the altar on the wood which is on the fire: it is a burnt-offering, a sacrifice, a sweet-smelling savour to the Lord.
καὶ ἐκκλάσει αὐτὸ ἐκ τῶν πτερύγων καὶ οὐ διελεῖ, καὶ ἐπιθήσει αὐτὸ ὁ ἱερεὺς ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον, ἐπὶ τὰ ξύλα τὰ ἐπὶ τοῦ πυρός· κάρπωμά ἐστι, θυσία, ὀσμὴ εὐωδίας τῷ Κυρίῳ.
и҆ да и҆зло́митъ є҆го̀ ѿ кри́лъ, и҆ да не раздѣли́тъ: и҆ да возложи́тъ є҆̀ жре́цъ на ѻ҆лта́рь на дрова̀, ꙗ҆̀же на ѻ҆гнѝ: приноше́нїе є҆́сть же́ртва, вонѧ̀ благоꙋха́нїѧ гдⷭ҇ꙋ.
And having flayed the whole burnt-offering, they shall divide it by its limbs.
καὶ ἐκδείραντες τὸ ὁλοκαύτωμα μελιοῦσιν αὐτὸ κατὰ μέλη,
и҆ ѡ҆дра́вше всесожже́нїе, да раздробѧ́тъ є҆̀ на ᲂу҆́ды,
We strip off the skin of a victim when we remove the illusion of virtue from the eyes of our mind. We cut its limbs into pieces when we carefully distinguish the content of a virtue and ponder it step by step. We should take care, so that when we conquer evil we do not replace it with frivolous goods. Otherwise those goods might produce inconstancy; they might lay hold of frivolity; they might wander off on the path of error; they might be broken by laziness and lose the value of work already done. In all things the mind should look around carefully and persevere in its provident concern. We should also note that we are sometimes afflicted by an impulse to illicit thoughts, because we are engaged in some earthly business, even if it is legitimate. When an earthly act is tinged with desire, even in a small way, the power of the ancient enemy grows against us and our minds are corrupted by no small oppression of temptation. Hence the priest of the law is bidden to burn in fire part of the victim that has been cut into pieces, namely, the head and the parts around the liver; but the feet and the intestines of the victim he must first wash in water. We burn the head and what is near the liver when, in the senses that rule the whole body and in our hidden desires, we burn with the flame of divine love. And the priest is commanded to wash the victim's feet and intestines. Feet touch the earth, and intestines carry excrement. We are often set on fire with longing for eternity and in our sense of devotion long for our mortification. But since we still do something earthly because of our weakness, we tolerate in our hearts some illicit thoughts that we have suppressed. And when unclean temptation fouls our thoughts, what do they contain except excrement from the victim's intestines? To burn them, they should be washed, for it is necessary that weeping in fear should wash away unclean thoughts. The heavenly fire can burn them in an acceptable sacrifice. Whatever the mind suffers in unfamiliar struggle or in the memory of its first conversion is to be washed, so that it can burn more sweetly in the sight of the one who beholds it. Exposition of the Old and New Testament, Leviticus
We strip off the skin of a victim when we remove the illusion of virtue from the eyes of our mind. We cut its limbs into pieces when we carefully distinguish the content of a virtue and ponder it step by step. We should take care, so that when we conquer evil we do not replace it with frivolous goods. Otherwise those goods might produce inconstancy; they might lay hold of frivolity; they might wander off on the path of error; they might be broken by laziness and lose the value of work already done. In all things the mind should look around carefully and persevere in its provident concern. We should also note that we are sometimes afflicted by an impulse to illicit thoughts, because we are engaged in some earthly business, even if it is legitimate. When an earthly act is tinged with desire, even in a small way, the power of the ancient enemy grows against us and our minds are corrupted by no small oppression of temptation. Hence the priest of the law is bidden to burn in fire part of the victim that has been cut into pieces, namely, the head and the parts around the liver; but the feet and the intestines of the victim he must first wash in water. We burn the head and what is near the liver when, in the senses that rule the whole body and in our hidden desires, we burn with the flame of divine love. And the priest is commanded to wash the victim's feet and intestines. Feet touch the earth, and intestines carry excrement. We are often set on fire with longing for eternity and in our sense of devotion long for our mortification. But since we still do something earthly because of our weakness, we tolerate in our hearts some illicit thoughts that we have suppressed. And when unclean temptation fouls our thoughts, what do they contain except excrement from the victim's intestines? To burn them, they should be washed, for it is necessary that weeping in fear should wash away unclean thoughts. The heavenly fire can burn them in an acceptable sacrifice. Whatever the mind suffers in unfamiliar struggle or in the memory of its first conversion is to be washed, so that it can burn more sweetly in the sight of the one who beholds it.
EXPOSITION OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT, LEVITICUS 1