Definition: And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Leviticus 1:11. It’s a really important part of understanding how God’s relationship with His people is established. Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, this verse tells us that when offering sacrifices to God, the priests are required to sprinkle blood on the altar. Let’s unpack it further: “He shall kill it…” : This suggests a ritualistic act – something significant and deliberate. “…on the side of the altar northward…” : This is where the action takes place. It means northward – towards the north side of the altar. Think of it as a specific direction for this particular action. “before the LORD” : This is crucial. It’s about God's presence and authority. He’s making this act of killing happen in His presence . “The priests, Aaron’s sons…” : This refers to the priestly class – specifically, the sons of Aaron who were responsible for performing these rituals. “…sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar” : This is the key part. The priests are instructed to spread (or "sprinkle") the blood all around the altar. They’re essentially marking it with a visible sign of God’s presence and offering. What's the significance? This verse is considered one of the most significant in the Old Testament because: It establishes a sacred covenant: It signifies that God is directly involved in the act of sacrifice, making it a demonstration of His holiness and control over life and death. It’s about offering and atonement: The blood acts as a symbolic "blood" – a reminder of the sacrifice made for sin and to make amends for humanity's transgression. The priests were meant to offer this blood to cleanse the world of sin. In short, this verse is a powerful picture of God’s authority over life and death through ritual. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of Leviticus? Discuss the meaning behind the symbolism in this passage? Connect it to a specific story or event in the Bible?