Keraia
Leviticus 4

Leviticus 4:25

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

Translations

Modern
Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
Traditional
And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.
Literal
And the priest shall take from the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and he shall put it on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and he shall pour its blood at the base of the altar of the burnt offering.
Latin
…tinget sacerdos digitum in sanguine hostiæ pro peccato, tangens cornua altaris holocausti, et reliquum fundens ad basim ejus.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

Notes

Leviticus 4:25

blood … horns of the altar: They did not take the blood of a leader's offering (Leviticus 4:25) or a common Israelite's offering (4:30, 34) into the Holy Place. The blood of the priest's bull offering entered the Holy Place. The priest who offered would eat a portion of the meat (6:24–29).

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 Blood: Sacrificial: On the Horns of the Altar of Sweet Incense Ignorance: Sins of Offerings: Different Kinds of Sin Priest: Duties of To offer Sacrifices Sacrifices: Different Kinds of Sin offering for Sins of Ignorance Sin-Offering: The Blood of for a Priest of for the Congregation, Put Upon the Horns of The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Blood of Sacrifices Put on the Horns and Poured at The Under the Law Atonement: Offered For: Persons Sinning Ignorantly