Keraia
Leviticus 4

Leviticus 4:7

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

Translations

Modern
The priest must then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. And he is to pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
Traditional
And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Literal
And the priest shall put from the blood on the horns of the altar of the incense of spices before the face of YHWH, which is in the Tent of Meeting. And all the blood of the bull he shall pour at the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
Latin
Ponetque de eodem sanguine super cornua altaris thymiamatis gratissimi Domino, quod est in tabernaculo testimonii: omnem autem reliquum sanguinem fundet in basim altaris holocausti in introitu tabernaculi.

Original

Hebrew
English
The priest must then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. And he is to pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

Notes

Leviticus 4:7

the altar for fragrant incense: This was in front of the inner curtain, just outside the Most Holy Place (Leviticus 4:6). It had four projections that looked like horns, similar to the altar for burnt offerings (see study note on Exodus 27:2). The priests burned incense on this altar to the Lord each morning and evening (Exodus 30:1–10).

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

Glossary

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

Topics

Altar of Incense: Altar of Sweet Incense Altar of Incense: Said to be Before the Lord Altar of Incense: The Blood of all Sin offerings Put on the Horns of Altar of Incense: Uses of Blood of Legal Sacrifices: How Disposed of 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 Priest: To offer for his own Sins of Ignorance Sacrifices: Different Kinds of Sin offering for Sins of Ignorance Sin-Offering: The Blood of in Every Case Poured at the Foot of the Altar of Burnt The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Blood of Sacrifices Put on the Horns and Poured at The