Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. New Living Translation Meanwhile, the fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must never go out. Each morning the priest will add fresh wood to the fire and arrange the burnt offering on it. He will then burn the fat of the peace offerings on it. English Standard Version The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Berean Standard Bible The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. Berean Literal Bible And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out, and the priest shall burn wood on it morning by morning, and he shall arrange on it the burnt offering, and he shall burn on it the fats of the peace offerings. King James Bible And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. New King James Version And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. New American Standard Bible The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning; and he shall lay out the burnt offering on it, and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. NASB 1995 ‘The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning; and he shall lay out the burnt offering on it, and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. NASB 1977 ‘And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning; and he shall lay out the burnt offering on it, and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. Legacy Standard Bible And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning; and he shall lay out the burnt offering on it and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. Amplified Bible The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it shall not [be allowed to] go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and offer the fat portions of the peace offerings up in smoke on it. Berean Annotated Bible The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. Christian Standard Bible The fire on the altar is to be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest will burn wood on the fire. He is to arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat portions from the fellowship offerings on it. Holman Christian Standard Bible The fire on the altar is to be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest will burn wood on the fire. He is to arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat portions from the fellowship offerings on it. American Standard Version And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereon, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it, and shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings. Contemporary English Version The fire must never go out, so put wood on it each morning. After this, you are to lay an animal on the altar next to the fat that you sacrifice to ask my blessing. Then send it all up in smoke to me. English Revised Version And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereon, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. GOD'S WORD® Translation The fire must always be burning on the altar. It must never go out. The priest will burn wood on it every morning. He will lay the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offering. Good News Translation The fire on the altar must be kept burning and never allowed to go out. Every morning the priest shall put firewood on it, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat of the fellowship offering. International Standard Version The fire on the altar is to be kept burning continuously without being extinguished. The priest is to burn wood on it every morning, arrange burnt offerings over it, and then burn the fat contained in the peace offerings over it. NET Bible but the fire which is on the altar must be kept burning on it. It must not be extinguished. So the priest must kindle wood on it morning by morning, and he must arrange the burnt offering on it and offer the fat of the peace offering up in smoke on it. New Heart English Bible The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Webster's Bible Translation And the fire upon the altar shall be burning on it; it shall not be extinguished: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt-offering in order upon it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace-offerings. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. World English Bible The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning. He shall lay the burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the fire on the altar is burning on it, it is not quenched, and the priest has burned wood on it morning by morning, and has arranged the burnt-offering on it, and has made incense on it [with] the fat of the peace-offerings; Berean Literal Bible And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out, and the priest shall burn wood on it morning by morning, and he shall arrange on it the burnt offering, and he shall burn on it the fats of the peace offerings. Young's Literal Translation And the fire on the altar is burning on it, it is not quenched, and the priest hath burned on it wood morning by morning, and hath arranged on it the burnt-offering, and hath made perfume on it with the fat of the peace-offerings; Smith's Literal Translation Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the fire on the altar shall always burn, and the priest shall feed it, putting wood on it every day in the morning, and laying on the holocaust, shall burn thereupon the fat of the peace offerings. Catholic Public Domain Version But the fire on the altar shall burn always, for the priest shall nourish it by placing wood under it each day in the morning. And, laying down the holocaust, he shall burn the fat of the peace offerings upon it. New American Bible The fire on the altar is to be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest shall put firewood on it. On this he shall lay out the burnt offering and burn the fat of the communion offering. New Revised Standard Version The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it shall not go out. Every morning the priest shall add wood to it, lay out the burnt offering on it, and turn into smoke the fat pieces of the offerings of well-being. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out; and the priest shall pile up wood on it from morning to morning and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And fire will be burning on the altar and you shall not put it out, and the Priest shall pile wood upon it from morning to morning and he shall arrange the burnt offering upon it and shall offer up the fat of peace upon it. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereby, it shall not go out; and the priest shall kindle wood on it every morning; and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it, and shall make smoke thereon the fat of the peace-offerings. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it, and shall not be extinguished; and the priest shall burn on it wood every morning, and shall heap on it the whole-burnt-offering, and shall lay on it the fat of the peace-offering. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Burnt Offering…11Then he must take off his garments, put on other clothes, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place. 12The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. 13The fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not be extinguished.… Cross References The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; Exodus 29:38-42 This is what you are to offer regularly on the altar, each day: two lambs that are a year old. / Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight. / With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives, and a drink offering of a quarter hin of wine. … Leviticus 9:24 Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown. 2 Chronicles 7:1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. it must not be extinguished. Isaiah 66:24 “As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind.” Mark 9:43-48 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. / where ‘their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.’ / If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. … Matthew 3:12 His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, Numbers 28:3-4 And tell them that this is the food offering you are to present to the LORD as a regular burnt offering each day: two unblemished year-old male lambs. / Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight, Genesis 22:3-6 So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated. / On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. / “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told his servants. “The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you.” … Nehemiah 10:34 We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law. arrange the burnt offering on it, Leviticus 1:7-9 The sons of Aaron the priest shall put a fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. / Then Aaron’s sons the priests are to arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, atop the burning wood on the altar. / The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 1 Kings 18:33-38 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, placed it on the wood, / and said, “Fill four waterpots and pour the water on the offering and on the wood.” “Do it a second time,” he said, and they did it a second time. “Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time. / So the water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench. … Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. Leviticus 3:3-5 From the peace offering he is to bring a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, / both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. / Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. Leviticus 3:9-11 And from the peace offering he shall bring a food offering to the LORD consisting of its fat: the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, / both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. / Then the priest is to burn them on the altar as food, a food offering to the LORD. Leviticus 3:14-17 And from his offering he shall present a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, / both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. / Then the priest is to burn the food on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s. … Hebrews 10:11-14 Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. / But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. / Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet, … Treasury of Scripture And the fire on the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. the fire Leviticus 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces. Numbers 4:13,14 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: … Mark 9:48,49 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched… burn wood Leviticus 1:7-9 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: … Leviticus 3:3-5,9-11,14-16 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, … Exodus 29:38-42 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually… Jump to Previous Add Altar Arrange Burn Burning Burnt Extinguished Fat Fire Firewood Kept Kindle Lay Morning Offer Offering Offerings Order Peace Peace-Offerings Portions Priest Smoke Thereby Thereon WoodJump to Next Add Altar Arrange Burn Burning Burnt Extinguished Fat Fire Firewood Kept Kindle Lay Morning Offer Offering Offerings Order Peace Peace-Offerings Portions Priest Smoke Thereby Thereon WoodLeviticus 6 1. The trespass offering for sins done wittingly8. The law of the burnt offering 14. and of the meat offering 19. The offering at the consecration of a priest 24. The law of the sin offering The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; The perpetual fire on the altar symbolizes God's continuous presence and the ongoing need for atonement. In the ancient Near Eastern context, fire often represented divine presence and purification. This command underscores the importance of maintaining a constant state of readiness and devotion to God. The fire's perpetual nature can be seen as a type of the Holy Spirit, who continually works within believers. it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. Persons / Places / Events 1. PriestsThe priests were responsible for maintaining the fire on the altar, symbolizing their role as mediators between God and the people. 2. Altar The altar was a central place of worship in the Tabernacle, where sacrifices were made to God. 3. Burnt Offering A type of sacrifice that was completely consumed by fire, symbolizing total dedication to God. 4. Peace Offerings These offerings were made to express gratitude and fellowship with God. 5. Tabernacle The portable dwelling place for the divine presence during the Israelites' journey in the wilderness. Teaching Points The Importance of Consistency in WorshipJust as the fire on the altar was to be kept burning continually, our worship and devotion to God should be consistent and unwavering. Role of Spiritual Leaders The priests' responsibility to maintain the altar fire underscores the importance of spiritual leaders in guiding and sustaining the faith of the community. Symbolism of Fire Fire represents God's presence, purity, and judgment. Keeping the fire burning symbolizes the need for God's continual presence in our lives. Total Dedication to God The burnt offering, being wholly consumed, teaches us about the need for total dedication and surrender to God in our lives. Daily Spiritual Maintenance Just as the priests added wood every morning, we must daily nurture our spiritual lives through prayer, reading Scripture, and fellowship. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Leviticus 6:12?2. How does Leviticus 6:12 emphasize the importance of maintaining spiritual discipline daily? 3. What role does the priest play in keeping the fire burning continually? 4. How can we apply the concept of a perpetual fire to our faith? 5. What connections exist between Leviticus 6:12 and New Testament teachings on perseverance? 6. How does the command to "keep the fire burning" relate to personal devotion today? 7. What is the significance of the perpetual fire in Leviticus 6:12 for modern believers? 8. How does Leviticus 6:12 relate to the concept of continuous worship in Christianity? 9. Why was the fire on the altar never to be extinguished according to Leviticus 6:12? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 6? 11. (Leviticus 6:10–11) Why would such specific rituals for removing and disposing of ashes be necessary, and do these instructions align with or contradict known ancient practices? 12. (Leviticus 6:9, 12–13) How could the fire on the altar truly have been kept burning perpetually without ever going out, and is there any historical or archaeological evidence for such a practice? 13. What is the purpose of the Altar of Incense? 14. Does Hebrews 13:10's mention of an altar contradict Old Testament laws allowing priests to eat sacrifices? What Does Leviticus 6:12 Mean The fire on the altar shall be kept burning“The fire on the altar shall be kept burning” (Leviticus 6:12a). God Himself lit this fire originally (Leviticus 9:24), marking it as holy and distinct. The priests’ task was not to ignite a new blaze but to steward what the LORD had already begun. • The flame pictured God’s continual presence among His people (Exodus 29:42–46). • It reminded Israel that atonement is an ongoing need; sin never takes a day off, so the provision for covering it could not pause (Hebrews 7:25). • The New Testament picks up this imagery: “Our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). His holiness remains constant, and believers today are called to host His abiding presence with equal reverence. It must not be extinguished “It must not be extinguished” (Leviticus 6:12b) repeats the charge for emphasis. The warning is implicit: letting the fire die was disobedience. • Nadab and Abihu learned the peril of unauthorized fire (Leviticus 10:1–2). When God sets the terms of worship, innovations that ignore His command bring judgment. • Paul urges Timothy, “Fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6), echoing the same principle: divine fire can wane if neglected, so vigilance is essential. • In Revelation 3:16, the risen Christ rebukes Laodicea for lukewarmness. The command in Leviticus guards against that very condition—allowing spiritual fervor to cool. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire “Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire” (Leviticus 6:12c). The routine was daily, not occasional. • Faithfulness in small, repeated acts keeps spiritual life healthy; manna also came daily (Exodus 16:4). • Wood speaks of provision that costs something—someone had to cut, carry, and stack it. Worship requires tangible effort (2 Samuel 24:24). • Jesus rose early for prayer (Mark 1:35), modeling an everyday rhythm of renewal. God supplies the fire, but we supply the fuel of obedience. Arrange the burnt offering on it “…arrange the burnt offering on it” (Leviticus 6:12d). A burnt offering was wholly consumed; nothing was held back (Leviticus 1:9). • Total surrender is the fitting response to God’s mercy. Paul draws the straight line: “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). • The priest had to place the sacrifice properly, suggesting order and intentionality in worship (1 Corinthians 14:40). • When Elijah rebuilt the ruined altar and laid the sacrifice in order (1 Kings 18:30–38), fire fell again, showing that careful obedience invites fresh divine response. Burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it “…and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it” (Leviticus 6:12e). Fat was regarded as the richest part and belonged exclusively to the LORD (Leviticus 3:16). • Offering the best expresses gratitude for reconciliation already enjoyed—the peace offering celebrated fellowship, not merely atonement (Colossians 1:20). • When Eli’s sons stole the fat, they showed contempt for God’s portion and were judged (1 Samuel 2:15–17). God still reserves first place in every blessing He grants. • The sequence matters: first the burnt offering (total consecration), then the peace offering (shared fellowship). True communion flows out of undivided commitment. summary Leviticus 6:12 teaches that God-given fire must be tended continually, never allowed to die out. Daily, diligent service—adding wood, arranging the sacrifice, offering the best portions—kept Israel aware of God’s abiding presence and their perpetual need for atonement and fellowship. Today the principle remains: God ignites the flame of salvation in Christ, and we maintain it through consistent, wholehearted devotion, ensuring that worship stays vibrant and acceptable before Him. (12) And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it.--Better, and the fire upon the altar shall burn by it. This is almost a literal repetition of the last clause in Leviticus 6:9, and is here introduced to caution the priest whose function it is to remove the ashes. When engaged in this act, he is to take great care that in taking off the ashes from the altar, he does not knock away the fat pieces of the burnt offering, which constitute the fuel, from the fire, and thus cause it to go out, but let it burn by the fat all night.And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning.--In the morning, however, the priest is to replenish the burning fuel on the altar with the wood provided at the expense of the congregation, and a store of which was kept in the precincts of the sanctuary. (See Leviticus 1:7.) Hebrew The fireוְהָאֵ֨שׁ (wə·hā·’êš) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 784: A fire on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the altar הַמִּזְבֵּ֤חַ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4196: An altar shall be kept burning; תּֽוּקַד־ (tū·qaḏ-) Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 3344: To be kindled, to burn it must not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no go out. תִכְבֶּ֔ה (ṯiḵ·beh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 3518: To be quenched or extinguished, to go out Every morning בַּבֹּ֣קֶר (bab·bō·qer) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning the priest הַכֹּהֵ֛ן (hak·kō·hên) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3548: Priest is to add וּבִעֵ֨ר (ū·ḇi·‘êr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish wood עֵצִ֖ים (‘ê·ṣîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood to the fire, עָלֶ֧יהָ (‘ā·le·hā) Preposition | third person feminine singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against arrange וְעָרַ֤ךְ (wə·‘ā·raḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6186: To set in a, row, arrange, put in order the burnt offering הָֽעֹלָ֔ה (hā·‘ō·lāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5930: Whole burnt offering on it, עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ (‘ā·le·hā) Preposition | third person feminine singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against and burn וְהִקְטִ֥יר (wə·hiq·ṭîr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire the fat portions חֶלְבֵ֥י (ḥel·ḇê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 2459: Fat, richest, choice part of the peace offerings הַשְּׁלָמִֽים׃ (haš·šə·lā·mîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 8002: A sacrifice for alliance or friendship, peace offering on it. עָלֶ֖יהָ (‘ā·le·hā) Preposition | third person feminine singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against Links Leviticus 6:12 NIVLeviticus 6:12 NLT Leviticus 6:12 ESV Leviticus 6:12 NASB Leviticus 6:12 KJV Leviticus 6:12 BibleApps.com Leviticus 6:12 Biblia Paralela Leviticus 6:12 Chinese Bible Leviticus 6:12 French Bible Leviticus 6:12 Catholic Bible OT Law: Leviticus 6:12 The fire on the altar shall be (Le Lv Lev.) |
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