Leviticus

About Leviticus

Leviticus is a handbook for life with a holy God, given to Israel at Sinai right after the tabernacle was built. It explains sacrifices, priests, clean and unclean, and holy days—all answering one question: how can sinful people live near a holy God? Its picture of atonement through sacrifice sets up the Bible's later teaching about forgiveness and the cross.

Written by

Traditionally attributed to Moses; the book repeatedly says the LORD spoke these words to Moses, though it doesn't name who wrote them down.

When

The traditional view sets these instructions at Mount Sinai in Moses' day (around 1400s–1200s BC), while many scholars date the book's final written form much later; the dating remains genuinely debated.

Themes

• Holiness
• Sacrifice and atonement
• Clean and unclean
• Priests and worship
• Loving your neighbor

Key verses

• Leviticus 19:2Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
• Leviticus 17:11For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
• Leviticus 19:18¶ Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.