Leviticus on the Butcher’s Block: Making Head or Tail of the Bible’s Toughest Book

by Phil Bray, Max Botner (Foreword)

Books about Leviticus are rare. If one were to be found, chances are it was written by a scholar, sitting in a study, surrounded by books and cats. No bulls. No lambs. Not a goat in sight.


This book is different. This book is written by a butcher.


And because it’s written by a butcher, it offers a unique insight into the sacrificial world of Leviticus.


Having studied Leviticus, ancient sacrifice, and atonement for so long, Phil’s friends have taken to calling him a "Leviticus nerd.” Although Leviticus can be a tough book to chew through, the practical, hands-on experience of a butcher helps a lot. Leviticus on the Butcher's Block helps demystify Leviticus and make it accessible—maybe even fun!


Readers should tie on their aprons, sharpen their knives, and get ready to experience Leviticus through the eyes of a butcher.

Genres: Theology

140 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2025

Reviews

[Nathan Bozeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil wrote what will be my number 1 recommendation as an introduction to Leviticus. It is a short and easy read, but this does not remove its rigorousness or depth. All Christians should read this book, especially if you want to understand Leviticus.

[Jonathan Moye · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME read. I wish it was longer!! I would have read 300 more pages of this. Breaks down the text in an accessible but also complex way and I appreciated that so much!

[Nathanael Matecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book excellently distilled down the latest Leviticus scholarship into an easy-to-read book for the layman, & (more importantly) deftly applies it to Christian life today.

The Old Testament sacrificial system was not a retributive punishment showing people that they deserve to die, but a way of communicating to an ancient people that their God desires to live in their midst & commune with them.

I plan to share this book as often as I can, ideally as an introduction to Rillera's Lamb of the Free for those interested in more.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not many people want to read Leviticus.  This book makes it so simple.   Phil writes with humour and easy to understand language.   I love how he takes you into their culture and you think, yes of course the sacrifice is like that.  
Even his contents is fun:
First Cut: Where Does The Burnt offering go?Second Slice: Why Is The Ofering Cut Into Pieces?
Third Portion: Is Yahweh Hungry For A Food Offering?......'
I thoroughly,  absolutely recommend buying this book and digesting it.   I guarantee you'll be nourished and satisfied.  

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil Bray’s Leviticus on the Butchers Block is, in a word, fantastic. I encountered Bray in an interview on “The Biblical Mind” podcast and was fascinated how a butcher, who is a student of Scripture, approached the Bible’s sacrificial system. The book is a quick read that turns Leviticus, which is commonly experienced as difficult to understand, into a treasure trove of insights and a cause for significant reflection. Couple it with his own playful You Tube series, “Leviticus is Fun” and you have a fully accessible entryway into Leviticus. The insights are driven by the text and by a careful eye that only a butcher could describe with such ease. Definitely worth picking up, reading and discussing.

[Zee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was a easy read but packed with great nuggets of bible theology facts. But the overall theme weaves amazing insight from a professional butcher into an atonement theme that was really amazing. Adding so much depth to a well known theology.

[Lisa Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written with splashes of humor.

I always loved Leviticus. I've done many studies on it. But Phil brings a unique perspective with his butcher background. With his grounding, yet simple choice of words, he keeps the awe of each procedure in Leviticus but makes it understandable and relatable. He adds beauty to it, helping the reader understand the savoriness, purpose, and pleasure of each offering, bringing us into the world of the ancient Israelite. I also enjoyed his butcher-speak, for example, instead of asking us to clear our minds, we are to clear our tables. He has a deep, personal, beautiful view of God, so despite the lightness he brings to the table, he maintains the seriousness of the subject matter.

[Campbell J. Brice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who better than a butcher to bring Leviticus—perhaps the driest, most unreadable, most misunderstood book of the Bible—to life? Phil Bray, butcher by trade and Leviticus geek by hobby, does just that with clarity and humour in this excellent little book bringing the insights of contemporary Biblical scholarship to the rest of us.

This really is one of those books every Christian should read. It will give you a new appreciation for Leviticus, perhaps a new understanding of atonement, and definitely a more profound love for Jesus Christ, the ‘lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’.

5 stars.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super thoughtful and unique perspective on Leviticus! It's an easy and inviting read that will challenge a lot of pop-Evangelical theology around the sacrificial system. I highly recommend it as a warm-up to something like Andrew Roller or Jacob Milagros.

Video review here: https://youtu.be/bkseg22HajA

[John Prenovost · Rating 5 out of 5]

easy read, profoundly deep

I thoroughly enjoyed the way Phil communicated this all too often overlooked and neglected topic. I’m not a great reader but his writing style really helped me grasp the material.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learnt a lot and gained new understanding of Leviticus. Being a newish Christian, I appreciated that this was written in an easy to understand manner.