Leviticus 1:14-15

From the Birds

1:14 “‘If his offering to the Lord is a burnt offering from the birds, ¹  he must present his offering from the turtledoves or from the young pigeons. ²  1:15 The priest must present it at the altar, pinch off ³  its head and offer the head ⁴  up in smoke on the altar, and its blood must be drained out against the side of the altar.

Matthew 3:16

3:16 After ⁵  Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the ⁶  heavens ⁷  opened ⁸  and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove ⁹  and coming on him.

Matthew 10:16

Persecution of Disciples

10:16 “I ¹⁰  am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, ¹¹  so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Luke 2:24

2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves ¹²  or two young pigeons. ¹³ 

[1:14]  ¹ tn Heb “from the [category] ‘bird.’”

[1:14]  ² tn Heb “from the sons of the pigeon,” referring either to “young pigeons” (cf. KJV, NASB, NIV, NLT) or “various species of pigeon” (contrast J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:168, with J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 14).

[1:15]  ³ tn The action here seems to involve both a twisting action, breaking the neck of the bird and severing its vertebrae, as well as pinching or nipping the skin to sever the head from the main body. Cf. NASB, NRSV “wring off its head”; NAB “snap its head loose”; NLT “twist off its head.”

[1:15]  ⁴ tn Many English versions have “it” here, referring to the head of the bird, which the priest immediately tossed on the altar fire. However, “it” could be misunderstood to refer to the bird’s body, so “head” is repeated in the present translation for clarity. As the following lines show, certain things needed to be done to the body of the bird before it could be placed on the altar.

[3:16]  ⁵ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[3:16]  ⁶ tn Grk “behold the heavens.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[3:16]  ⁷ tn Or “sky.” The Greek word οὐρανός (ourano") may be translated “sky” or “heaven,” depending on the context. The same word is used in v. 17.

[3:16]  ⁸ tc ‡ αὐτῷ (autw, “to/before him”) is found in the majority of witnesses (א¹ C D^s L W 0233 Ë^1,13 33 Ï lat), perhaps added as a point of clarification or emphasis. NA²⁷ includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[3:16]  ⁹ sn The phrase like a dove is a descriptive comparison. The Spirit is not a dove, but descended like one in some sort of bodily representation.

[10:16]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “Behold I.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[10:16]  ¹¹ sn This imagery of wolves is found in intertestamental Judaism; see Pss. Sol. 8:23, 30.

[2:24]  ¹² sn The offering of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, instead of a lamb, speaks of the humble roots of Jesus’ family – they apparently could not afford the expense of a lamb.

[2:24]  ¹³ sn A quotation from Lev 12:8; 5:11 (LXX).