Deuteronomy 12:27
And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.
Original Language Analysis
וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ
And thou shalt offer
H6213
וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ
And thou shalt offer
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
1 of 17
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
עֹֽלֹתֶ֙יךָ֙
thy burnt offerings
H5930
עֹֽלֹתֶ֙יךָ֙
thy burnt offerings
Strong's:
H5930
Word #:
2 of 17
a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)
וְהַבָּשָׂ֖ר
the flesh
H1320
וְהַבָּשָׂ֖ר
the flesh
Strong's:
H1320
Word #:
3 of 17
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
וְדַם
and the blood
H1818
וְדַם
and the blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
4 of 17
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יְהוָ֣ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
8 of 17
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
וְדַם
and the blood
H1818
וְדַם
and the blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
9 of 17
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
זְבָחֶ֗יךָ
of thy sacrifices
H2077
זְבָחֶ֗יךָ
of thy sacrifices
Strong's:
H2077
Word #:
10 of 17
properly, a slaughter, i.e., the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)
יִשָּׁפֵךְ֙
shall be poured out
H8210
יִשָּׁפֵךְ֙
shall be poured out
Strong's:
H8210
Word #:
11 of 17
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
12 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יְהוָ֣ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
14 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
15 of 17
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
Cross References
Leviticus 1:9But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.Leviticus 1:13But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.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 1:5And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Historical Context
Leviticus 1-7 details sacrificial procedures. The altar, first at Tabernacle then Temple, was the exclusive location for covenant sacrifice. Jeroboam's rival altars at Dan/Bethel (1 Kings 12:28-33) violated this, earning divine condemnation. Hebrews 13:10 declares Christians 'have an altar'—Christ's cross—from which we feast spiritually. Christ's sacrifice supersedes animal offerings, being perfect and final (Hebrews 10:1-18). The Lord's Supper enacts this spiritual feast on Christ's atoning sacrifice.
Questions for Reflection
- How does blood poured out on the altar prefigure Christ's blood poured out for atonement?
- What does eating the flesh of sacrifice teach about participating in Christ's benefits through faith?
- How does the Lord's Supper continue the pattern of sacred meal celebrating covenant relationship?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Sacrificial procedure: 'And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.' This prescribes central sanctuary sacrifice. Burnt offerings (olah, עֹלָה) were wholly consumed on altar; worshipers ate none. But peace offerings allowed worshipers to eat portions after blood was poured and fat burned. The altar location ('altar of the LORD thy God') emphasizes that sacrifice occurs at authorized location. Blood poured on altar atones (Leviticus 17:11); consuming flesh celebrates fellowship with God.