Leviticus

Concept

Leviticus, the third book of the Pentateuch, takes its name from the Septuagint (Leuitikon) and Vulgate because its legislation centers on the Levitical priestly service. In Hebrew it is called Wayyiqra' ("And he called") after its opening word. The book divides into two main sections: chapters 1–17 govern the details of Israel's worship (the five types of sacrifice, the priestly consecration, laws of cleanness, and the Day of Atonement), and chapters 18–27 address the holiness of the covenant community (sexual ethics, social justice, the sacred calendar, and vows). The book's theological center is the repeated divine summons: "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" (Lev. 11:44–45; 19:2; 20:7). The Epistle to the Hebrews reads Leviticus typologically, seeing the entire sacrificial system fulfilled in the once-for-all high priesthood of Christ.