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.

LEVITICUS 1:11KJV
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Leviticus 1:11 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 1:11 mean?

Leviticus 1:11 describes how a person offering a burnt sacrifice must kill the animal on the north side of the altar, in front of the LORD, while the priests—descendants of Aaron—sprinkle the animal’s blood around the altar. This verse gives specific instructions for how offerings were to be made in the tabernacle worship system.

In this passage, God is speaking to Moses, giving him detailed directions for the Israelites about how to present burnt offerings. The north side of the altar is singled out as the place for slaughter, and the priests (Aaron’s sons) have the responsibility to handle the blood, which was a central part of the ritual. These instructions show the order and care expected in Israel’s worship practices.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 1:11

  • "Northward" (צָפֹן, tsafon): This word means "toward the north." The instruction to kill the animal on the north side of the altar is specific and not arbitrary, suggesting a set pattern for sacrifices that may have held symbolic or practical significance.
  • "Sprinkle" (זָרַק, zaraq): This verb means to scatter or sprinkle, especially with reference to liquids. The priests were to actively scatter the blood around the altar, not just pour it in one place, which highlights the ritual’s thoroughness and the importance of blood in the sacrificial process.
  • "Before" (פָּנִים, panim): This word means "in the presence of" or "before." The act is done before the LORD, emphasizing that the ritual is not just for people but is performed as an act of worship in God’s presence.

Why Leviticus 1:11 matters

  • Leviticus 1:11 clarifies that not just anyone could handle the blood; only the priests, specifically Aaron’s sons, had this role, showing the division of duties in Israel’s worship.
  • The detail about the north side of the altar helps explain that worship in ancient Israel followed a set order, not left to personal preference or chance.
  • This verse fits into the larger instructions for burnt offerings, helping the reader see how each step was carefully prescribed as part of Israel’s relationship with God.

Where else these words appear

“side” Hebrew H3409 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 24:2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
  • Exodus 32:27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.
  • Judges 3:16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.

“sprinkle” Hebrew H2236 · used in 33 verses

  • Exodus 9:8 And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
  • Leviticus 7:2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.
  • 2 Kings 16:15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.

“kill” Hebrew H7819 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
  • Leviticus 9:12 And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.
  • 2 Kings 10:14 And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.

“northward” Hebrew H6828 · used in 141 verses

  • Genesis 13:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
  • 1 Chronicles 26:17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.
  • Ezekiel 21:4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north: