Leviticus 1:15

1:15 The priest must present it at the altar, pinch off ¹  its head and offer the head ²  up in smoke on the altar, and its blood must be drained out against the side of the altar.

Leviticus 8:28

8:28 Moses then took them from their palms and offered them up in smoke on the altar ³  on top of the burnt offering – they were an ordination offering for a soothing aroma; it was a gift to the Lord.

Leviticus 13:5

13:5 The priest must then examine it on the seventh day, and if, ⁴  as far as he can see, the infection has stayed the same ⁵  and has not spread on the skin, ⁶  then the priest is to quarantine the person for another seven days. ⁷ 

[1:15]  ¹ 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]  ² 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.

[8:28]  ³ tn Heb “toward the altar” (see the note on Lev 1:9).

[13:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “and behold” (so KJV, ASV).

[13:5]  ⁶ tn Heb “the infection has stood in his eyes”; ASV “if in his eyes the plague be at a stay.”

[13:5]  ⁷ tn Although there is no expressed “and” at the beginning of this clause, there is in the corresponding clause of v. 6, so it should be assumed here as well.

[13:5]  ⁸ tn Heb “a second seven days.”