Guide to Leviticus
Summary
The name Leviticus comes from a Greek word that means “things related to the Levites.” The book explains the laws and rituals which make space, people, and time sacred (or holy). Most scholars divide Leviticus into two main sections: Leviticus 1–16, dealing with primarily ritual laws and commandments, and Leviticus 17–26, referred to as the “Holiness Code” because it describes the behavioral commandments necessary to follow in order to become holy. Some scholars further divide this into seven sub-sections which form a chiastic pattern. Leviticus 1–7, dealing with ritual sacrifices and offerings at the tabernacle, is paired with Leviticus 23–26, dealing with ritual festival gatherings at the tabernacle. Leviticus 8–10, describing the institution of the priesthood, is paired with Leviticus 21–22, which describes the laws regulating priestly behavior. Leviticus 11–15, outlining the rules of ritual purity (clean vs. unclean) is paired with Leviticus 17–20, which prescribes the moral behavior that makes one holy (vs. profane). At the center is Leviticus 16, describing the Day of Atonement ritual, signifying that atonement and reconciliation with God are at the heart of the book of Leviticus.
Provisions Relating to the Court of the Altar (Leviticus 1–7)
Leviticus 1
- Laws for Burnt Offerings (Leviticus 1:1–17)
Leviticus 2
- Laws for Grain Offerings (Leviticus 2:1–16)
Leviticus 3
- Laws for Fellowship Offerings (Leviticus 3:1–17)
Leviticus 4
- Laws for Sin Offerings (Leviticus 4:1–5:13)
Leviticus 5
- Laws for Guilt Offerings (Leviticus 5:14–19)
Leviticus 6
- Additional Laws for Burnt Offerings (Leviticus 6:1–13)
- Additional Laws for Grain Offerings (Leviticus 6:14–23)
- Additional Laws for Sin Offerings (Leviticus 6:24–30)
Leviticus 7
- Additional Laws for Guilt Offerings (Leviticus 7:1–10)
- Additional Laws for Fellowship Offerings (Leviticus 7:11–36)
- Conclusion of the Laws of the Offerings (Leviticus 7:37–38)
The Priestly Order (Leviticus 8–10)
Leviticus 8
- The Ordination of the Priests (Leviticus 8:1–4)
- Moses Washes, Clothes, and Anoints Aaron and his Sons (Leviticus 8:5–13)
- Moses Ratifies the Ordination with Sacrifice (Leviticus 8:14–29)
- Additional Anointing (Leviticus 8:30–36)
Leviticus 9
- The Israelites Worship at the Tabernacle (Leviticus 9:1–24)
Leviticus 10
- The Lord Smites Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1–11)
- Statutes for the Priests (Leviticus 10:12–20)
Maintaining Personal Purity in Daily Life and Removing Impurities (Leviticus 11–17)
Leviticus 11
- Laws for Clean and Unclean Food (Leviticus 11:1–47)
Leviticus 12
- Purification of Women After Childbirth (Leviticus 12:1–8)
Leviticus 13
- Laws About Defiling Skin Diseases (Leviticus 13:1–46)
- Laws for Defiled Garments (Leviticus 13:47–59)
Leviticus 14
- Purification of Defiling Skin Diseases (Leviticus 14:1–32)
- Purification of Defiled Houses (Leviticus 14:33–57)
Leviticus 15
- Laws for Bodily Discharges (Leviticus 15:1–33)
Leviticus 16
- The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:1–34)
Leviticus 17
- Sacrifice at the Tabernacle (Leviticus 17:1–9)
- Laws Against Eating Blood (Leviticus 17:10–16)
Into the Holy Place (Leviticus 17–23)
Leviticus 18
- Laws Against Sexual Relations with Kin (Leviticus 18:1–18)
- Additional Laws for Sexual Relations (Leviticus 18:19–30)
Leviticus 19
- Laws for Ritual and Moral Holiness (Leviticus 19:1–37)
Leviticus 20
- Penalties for Violations of Ritual and Moral Holiness (Leviticus 20:1–27)
Leviticus 21
- Laws for the Holiness of Priests (Leviticus 21:1–24)
Leviticus 22
- Laws for the Food of Sacrifices (Leviticus 22:1–16)
- Laws for Acceptable Offerings (Leviticus 22:17–33)
Leviticus 23
- The Lord’s Festivals (Leviticus 23:1–2)
- The Sabbath (Leviticus 23:3)
- The Passover (Leviticus 23:4–8)
- The Festival of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9–14)
- The Festival of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15–22)
- The Festival of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23–25)
- The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26–32)
- The Festival of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33–36)
- Summary of the Lord’s Festivals (Leviticus 23:37–44)
At the Second Screen: At the Entrance to the Holy of Holies (Leviticus 24)
Leviticus 24
- The Tabernacle’s Menorah and Bread (Leviticus 24:1–9)
- Punishment for Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:10–23)
In the Presence of the Lord (Leviticus 25–27)
Leviticus 25
- The Sabbatical Year (Leviticus 25:1–7)
- The Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8–55)
Leviticus 26
- Blessings for Obedience (Leviticus 26:1–13)
- Penalties for Disobedience (Leviticus 26:14–46)
Leviticus 27
- Laws for Vow Offerings (Leviticus 27:1–34)
Videos
Watch selected videos on this book of the Bible to enhance your study. Note: Not all videos included come from a Latter-day Saint perspective. Inclusion on this list should not imply endorsement for all content.
Historical Settings
Time
*All Dates Are Approximate, according to the narrative of the Bible. These dates may reflect literary significance as opposed to the precise dates of history.
See Biblical Chronology- 1445 B.C.*
Further Reading
George A. Horton Jr., “Insights into Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy,” in The Joseph Smith Translation: The Restoration of Plain and Precious Truths, ed. Monte S. Nyman and Robert L. Millet (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1985), 71–88.
Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Dana M. Pike, and David Rolph Seely, Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament: An Illustrated Reference for Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 2009), 78–111.
Kent P. Jackson, “The Law of Moses and the Atonement of Christ (Leviticus),” in in Studies in Scripture, vol. 3: Genesis to 2 Samuel, ed. Kent P. Jackson and Robert L. Millet (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1989), 153–172.
Theo E. McKean, “The Origin and Original Meaning of Sacrificial Blood Offerings as Revealed in the Bible and Modern Scripture” (Master’s Thesis; Brigham Young University, 1964).
Jacob Milgrom, “The Temple in Biblical Israel: Kinships of Meaning,” in Reflections on Mormonism: Judaeo-Christian Parallels, ed. Truman G. Madsen (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1978), 57–65.
Julie M. Smith, “Point our Souls to Christ: Lessons from Leviticus,” Studies in the Bible and Antiquity 1 (2009): 67–82.
John W. Welch, “Experiencing the Presence of the Lord: The Temple Program of Leviticus,” in The Temple: Ancient and Restored, ed. Stephen D. Ricks and Donald W. Parry (Orem, UT: The Interpreter Foundation; Salt Lake City, UT: Eborn Books, 2016), 273–307.