Keraia
Leviticus 4

Leviticus 4:22

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

Translations

Modern
When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the commandments of the LORD his God, he incurs guilt.
Traditional
When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;
Literal
When a ruler sins, and does one from all the commandments of YHWH his God that are not to be done, in error, and is guilty,
Latin
Si peccaverit princeps, et fecerit unum e pluribus per ignorantiam, quod Domini lege prohibetur:

Original

Hebrew
English
When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the commandments of the LORD his God, he incurs guilt.

Notes

Leviticus 4:22

Israel's leaders included the elders (see Leviticus 4:15), chiefs of tribes and families (see Numbers 1:16, 44; 1 Kings 8:1).

Leviticus 4:22–35

The sin offerings in this passage atoned for the common people, including leaders and other Israelites. These offerings could be eaten, unlike those in Leviticus 4:3–21, and involved smaller animals. They disposed of the blood in the tabernacle courtyard, not the Holy Place.

Like the peace offering in chapter 3, they burned the fat and certain internal organs on the altar. The priest and his male family members ate the rest of the meat in a holy place (6:29; 6:26; compare 10:16–20). A lay leader offered a male goat (4:23), while a common person could offer a female goat or lamb.

The smaller size and cost of the animal reflected that the common person had less influence. It probably related to their financial situation as well. Those who were poor could bring a pair of doves or young pigeons (5:7–8; 12:6, 8; compare Luke 2:24). The very poor could offer two quarts of flour (Leviticus 5:11).

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).

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes Atonement Pure Worship

Parallels

Leviticus 5:1–13 Leviticus 6:24–30

Glossary

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

Topics

Atonement: Made by Animal Sacrifices Ignorance: Sins of Offerings: Different Kinds of Sin Sacrifices: Different Kinds of Sin offering for Sins of Ignorance Sin-Offering for Sins of Ignorance Under the Law Atonement: Offered For: Persons Sinning Ignorantly