To lean, press, lay firmly — the worshipper 'lays his hand upon the head' of the offering (1:4), pressing down, not merely touching (semikhah). The gesture identifies the offerer with the victim: this dies in my place. The same verb later ordains: Moses lays his hands on Joshua and the spirit passes (Numbers 27:18-23) — the root of both substitution and ordination. → first discussed at Lev 1:4