In English, this book of the Bible is called Leviticus. It is the Latin form of the Greek word referring to the tribe of Levi, the third son of Jacob. The Hebrew title of this book is Vayiqra, meaning “called,” taken from the first word of the book.

Certainly, the Levitical priesthood has a prominent place in this book; however, it only does because of what the priesthood represents prophetically in Jesus Christ as our great High Priest. The book also emphatically begins with the sacrifices. This is done for the same reason, because every sacrifice prophetically points to the ultimate sacrifice in Jesus Christ upon the cross. The burnt sacrifice is addressed first as it is the consecrated atonement offering. The fire of the burnt offering represents the wrath of God consuming Christ’s offering completely, paying a debt He did not owe for a debt we owe and cannot pay. Another feature in this Biblical book is that most of it is the LORD speaking. Time after time we read, “And the LORD spoke…” (Lev 1:1; 4:1; 5:14; 6:1, 8, 24; 7:22, 28; 8:1; 10:8; 11:1; 12:1; 13:1; 14:1, 33; 15:1; 16:1; 17:1; 18:1; 19:1; 20:1; 21:1; 22:1, 17, 26; 23:1, 9, 23, 26, 33; 24:1, 13; 25:1; 27:1).

Because the truths of this book speak of Jesus Christ first and foremost (John 5:39), we may then find application in this wonderful book for our lives. As we are alive in Christ through salvation, the New Testament says we are “a royal priesthood” (1 Pet 2:9) and “a kingdom of priests to our God” (Rev 5:10). Therefore, as Moses was spoken to by God because he was called of God, we are also spoken to by God since we are also called. Every situation and circumstance in our lives was designed to speak to us of the sacrifice and High Priestly office of our Lord Jesus Christ so we may become more like the Master (Rom 8:28-29).