Leviticus 1:3 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

If his offering be a burnt-sacrifice of the herd— The burnt sacrifice, as being the principal, is mentioned first: it was wholly consumed upon the altar, and therefore usually called an holocaust by the Greeks. There were four other sorts of sacrifices, meat-offerings, peace-offerings, sin-offerings, and trespass-offerings, mentioned in the subsequent Chapter s. The burnt-offering was the most important: it was made unto God every day by the children of Israel; Numbers 28:3 and typified Christ's offering up his whole self to make atonement: wherefore it is said to make atonement, and procure reconciliation, Leviticus 1:4 not upon its own account, but by faith in the blood of Christ. It represented, morally, the entire and unreserved devotion of the offerer. See Romans 12:1. For a full view of the doctrine of sacrifices, we refer to Dr. Outram's treatise De Sacrificiis; and for the qualifications of this sacrifice, a male without blemish, see note on Exodus 12:5. It is evident from the two foregoing books, that sacrifices were not now first instituted. What we render, he shall offer it of his own voluntary will, Houbigant renders, ut faciat sibi eum placabilem, that he may render the Lord placable to him, which is agreeable to the LXX, and other ancient versions.