Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 1:15
And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn [it] on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
15. wring off ] Or, pinch off the head with the nail, as A.V. mg., a word used here and Lev 5:8 only. The head is burnt after being removed, and the remainder of the bird is burnt afterwards. This burning of the parts separately is in marked contrast with the burning of the whole together in the two preceding sections ( Lev 1:9 and Lev 1:13).
drained out on the side of the altar ] The blood is too small in quantity to be treated as in the previous cases.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Wring off his head, to wit, from the rest of the body; as sufficiently appears, because this was to be burnt by itself, as it here follows, and the body afterwards, Lev 1:17. And whereas it is said, Lev 5:8, he shall wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder, that is spoken not of the burnt-offering, as here, but of the sin-offering, in which there might be a differing rite.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the priest shall bring it unto the altar,…. The southeast horn of it; near which was the place of the ashes, into which the crop and its feathers were cast n:
and wring off his head; by twisting it back as it should seem; the word used is only to be found here, and in Le 5:8 the Jews say, it signifies to cut with the nail, and that the priest did this, not with a knife or any other instrument, but with his nail; so Jarchi and Gersom on the place observe: some think he only let out the blood this way, but did not separate the head from the body, which seems to be favoured by Le 5:8 though Maimonides and Bartenora o conclude the reverse from the same place; and that the meaning is, that he should cut off the head and divide it asunder at the time he cuts with the nail: the manner of cutting with the nail was this p, the priest held both the feet of the bird with his two fingers of his left hand, and the wings between two other fingers, and the bird upon the back of his hand, that it might not be within the palm of it; then he stretches out its neck upon the thumb about two fingers’ breadth, and cuts it over against the neck with his nail, and this is one of the hardest services in the sanctuary:
and burn [it] on the altar; that is, the head, after squeezing out the blood, and rubbing it with salt:
and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar: or “the wall” of it: this, though mentioned last, must be done before, and immediately upon the wringing of the head, and between that and the burning it on the altar: this wringing off the head, and wringing out the blood, denote violence, and show that Christ’s death, which this was a type of, was a violent one; the Jews laid violent hands upon him, and pursued his life in a violent manner, were very pressing to have it taken away, and his life was taken away in such a manner by men, though not without his Father’s secret will, and his own consent.
n Misn. Zebachim, c. 6. sect. 5. & Bartenora in ib. o In Misn. ib. p Maimon. in Misn. ib. sect. 4. & Bartenora. in ib.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(15) And the priest.It was probably out of consideration for the feelings of the poor offerer, and to increase the importance of the otherwise small offering, that the priest himself brought the victim to the altar and slew it instead of the worshipper performing these acts, as in the case of quadrupeds. The imposition of hands upon the victim was dispensed with, both because the bird was too small for this ceremony, and because the offerer brought it in his hands to the place of sacrifice, thus conveying by this act the idea involved in the imposition of hands.
And wring off his head.When the bird is handed to him, the priest is not to use any knife, but is to nip off its head with his nails, throw the severed head on the altar fire, and thus cause it to ascend in the sweet smelling savour. As the small quantity of blood could not be caught in a bowl, and would not suffice for throwing it or pouring it on the four walls, as was the case in the offering of quadrupeds, he pressed it out from the headless body, and let it run on the walls.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. Wring off his head Rather, pinch it off and lay it on the altar. The blood was then to be pressed out at the side of the altar.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Lev 1:15 And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn [it] on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
Ver. 15. Wring off his head. ] Or, Pinch it with his nail, that the blood might go out, without separating it from the rest of the body. This prefigured the death of Christ without either breaking a bone or dividing the Godhead from the manhood; as also the skill that should be in ministers, to cut or divide aright the word of truth.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the priest. To make up for the humble offering, the priest did this instead of the offerer.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
wring off his head: or, pinch off the head with the nail, Lev 5:8, Psa 22:1, Psa 22:21, Psa 69:1-21, Isa 53:4, Isa 53:5, Isa 53:10, Mat 26:1 – Mat 27:66, 1Jo 2:27
Reciprocal: Exo 29:13 – burn them Lev 1:5 – the priests Lev 5:7 – two turtledoves
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 1:15. His head From the rest of the body; as sufficiently appears, because this was to be burned by itself, and the body afterward, Lev 1:17. And whereas it is said, (Lev 5:8,) He shall wring his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder, that is spoken not of the burnt- offering as here, but of the sin-offering.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1:15 And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and {i} wring off his head, and burn [it] on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
(i) The Hebrew word signifies to pinch off with the nail.