Leviticus is book 3 of the 39 books of the Old Testament and belongs to the Law (Pentateuch) section. See how it fits with the rest in our guide to all 66 books of the Bible.
Quick facts
- Section
- Old Testament · Law (Pentateuch)
- Genre
- Law and ritual instruction, with brief narrative
- Author (traditional)
- Moses, receiving God's words at Sinai; the book repeatedly opens sections with 'The LORD said to Moses.'
- Other views on authorship
- Most scholars link Leviticus to priestly circles and date its final form to the exile or after, while recognizing older ritual material.
- Date (traditional)
- About 1440 BC, during Israel's year at Mount Sinai.
- Other views on dating
- Commonly dated to the 6th or 5th century BC for the final form, with earlier material behind it.
- Chapters
- 27
- Verses
- 859
- Reading time
- About 110 minutes (22,012 words in the BSB)
What is Leviticus about?
Leviticus picks up right where Exodus ends. God's glory has filled the tabernacle, but now there is a problem: how can sinful people approach a holy God and live? Leviticus is the answer. Almost all of it is speech from God to Moses, set during the year Israel camped at Mount Sinai.
The first part covers sacrifices (burnt, grain, peace, sin and guilt offerings) and the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests. A sobering story follows: two of Aaron's sons offer 'unauthorized fire' and die. Then come laws on clean and unclean food, childbirth, skin disease and bodily discharges. These are less about hygiene than about marking Israel as distinct and teaching that life and death matter before God.
At the center stands the Day of Atonement (chapter 16), when the high priest enters the Most Holy Place and a goat carries the people's sins into the wilderness. The rest of the book, often called the Holiness Code, applies holiness to the whole of life: family, farming, business, justice, festivals, the Sabbath year and the Jubilee. It is here that God says to love your neighbor as yourself.
Outline of Leviticus
| ChaptersCh. | Section |
|---|---|
| 1–7 | Offerings Five kinds of sacrifice and how priests are to handle them. |
| 8–10 | The priesthood begins Aaron and his sons are ordained; Nadab and Abihu die for careless worship. |
| 11–15 | Clean and unclean Food laws and rules on childbirth, skin disease, mold and bodily discharges. |
| 16 | The Day of Atonement The yearly ceremony that cleanses the people and the sanctuary. |
| 17–22 | Holy living Laws on blood, sexual ethics, neighbor love, justice and priestly conduct. |
| 23–25 | Holy times The Sabbath, the annual feasts, the Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee. |
| 26 | Blessings and warnings The rewards of faithfulness and the consequences of breaking the covenant. |
| 27 | Vows and dedications How to redeem people, animals and property promised to God. |
Key themes
- Holiness. The key word of the book. God is holy, and he calls Israel to be holy too — set apart in worship, ethics and daily routine (Leviticus 11:44–45; 19:2).
- Atonement and sacrifice. Sacrifice teaches that sin is serious and costs life, but also that God himself provides a way back. Leviticus 17:11 ties atonement to blood given as life.
- Love of neighbor. Chapter 19 mixes worship with ethics: leave gleanings for the poor, pay workers on time, don't slander, love the foreigner. Jesus calls 'love your neighbor as yourself' the second great commandment.
- Sacred time and rest. Sabbaths, festivals and the Jubilee build rhythms of rest, memory and economic release into the life of the nation.
- God dwelling with his people. The book's goal is relationship: 'I will walk among you and be your God' (Leviticus 26:12).
Key people and places
- Moses — Receives God's instructions and passes them on.
- Aaron — Israel's first high priest.
- Nadab and Abihu — Aaron's sons, who die after offering unauthorized fire.
- Eleazar and Ithamar — Aaron's surviving sons, who continue the priesthood.
Places: Mount Sinai, the tabernacle, the camp of Israel.
Key verses in Leviticus
Quoted from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
“For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.”
“because on this day atonement will be made for you to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD.”
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
“I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.”
How Leviticus fits the big story
Leviticus sits at the center of the five books of Moses, and its center is the Day of Atonement. Exodus ends with God moving into the tabernacle; Leviticus explains how that closeness can last. After it, Numbers follows Israel as they leave Sinai. Later prophets like Micah remind Israel that rituals without justice and mercy miss the point. The New Testament letter of Hebrews reads Leviticus closely, presenting Jesus as both the great high priest and the once-for-all sacrifice. Jesus also lifts Leviticus 19:18 into one of the two greatest commandments. For Jewish readers, Leviticus has long been a foundational text for worship, ethics and identity.
How to read Leviticus
At 2 chapters a day you can read Leviticus in 14 days. Don't get stuck in the details. Ask of each section: what does this teach about God's holiness and about how he makes a way to be near his people? Chapters 16 and 19 are the best places to start.