Keraia
Leviticus 4

Leviticus 4:34

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 its 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 all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:
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 all its blood at the base of the altar.
Latin
Sumetque sacerdos de sanguine ejus digito suo, et tangens cornua altaris holocausti, reliquum fundet 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 its blood at the base of the altar.

Notes

Leviticus 4:27–35

The common people, with fewer responsibilities than priests or leaders, could offer a female sheep or goat. More important social positions required more responsibility (see Amos 3:2; Matthew 25:14–30; James 3:1).

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 Priest: Duties of To offer Sacrifices Sacrifices: Different Kinds of Sin offering for Sins of Ignorance Under the Law Atonement: Offered For: Persons Sinning Ignorantly