Keraia
Leviticus 4

Leviticus 4:13

Laws for Sin Offerings · Leviticus 4:1–35
Read Leviticus 4

Translations

Modern
Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden,
Traditional
And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;
Literal
Now if the whole congregation of Israel errs, and the matter is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do one from all the commandments of YHWH which are not to be done, and they are guilty,
Latin
Quod si omnis turba Israël ignoraverit, et per imperitiam fecerit quod contra mandatum Domini est,

Original

Hebrew
English
Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden,

Notes

Leviticus 4:3–21

These verses describe two types of sin offerings:

  1. The offering for the sin of the high priest (Leviticus 4:3, 20) and the entire Israelite community (4:13).

  2. The offering for one of Israel’s leaders (4:22) and any common person (4:27).

The first type required a bull, a large and expensive animal. It was not eaten (6:30) but completely burned (4:12, 21). The priests presented some of its blood in the Holy Place (4:6–7, 17–18).

The second type required a smaller animal. This was a male goat for a leader or a female sheep or goat for a common person. The priest ate part of the common person’s offering (6:24–29). The priest would present the blood at the bronze altar in the courtyard (4:25, 30).

This distinction highlights the responsibilities of leaders. The offering was the same for the priest and the entire community. But the leader’s offering was more than that of a common person.

The New Testament also emphasizes the responsibility of religious leaders. God will judge those who teach and those who serve as religious leaders more strictly than their followers (James 3:1; Matthew 23:1–33; Luke 20:47).

Leviticus 4:1–5:13

The sin offering is called khatta’t in Hebrew, from the root khata’. It means "to lack, fall short, miss, fail." The people made this offering when they unintentionally violated specific commands of God (see also Numbers 15:22–29). The purpose of this offering was to repair a loss or fix a failure (for example, Leviticus 5:1–4).

Although all Christians sin, God will forgive us if we confess them (Galatians 6:1; 1 John 1:8–9). Yet, the Scripture warns against sinning "defiantly" or "deliberately" (Numbers 15:30–31; Hebrews 10:26–29; 6:4–6).

Parallels

Leviticus 5:1–13 Leviticus 6:24–30

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Congregation Deuteronomy, Book of History of Israel Horn Law of Moses Leviticus, Book of Moses Offerings and Sacrifices Worship

Topics

Church of Israel: Called The: Congregation of Israel Church: Called the Congregation in the O. T. (K. J. V. And Others) Ignorance: Sins of Offerings: Different Kinds of Sin Sacrifices: Different Kinds of Sin offering for Sins of Ignorance Sin-Offering for Sins of Ignorance