Leviticus, Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Verses 1-35: Laws for Sin Offerings

1. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2. “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the LORD’s commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them,
3. if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the LORD for a sin offering.
4. He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD and lay his hand on the head of the bull and kill the bull before the LORD.
5. The anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood and bring it into the tent of meeting,
6. and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle part of the blood seven times before the LORD in front of the veil of the sanctuary.
7. The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before the LORD that is in the tent of meeting, and all the rest of the bull’s blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
8. And he shall take all the fat of the bull for the sin offering; the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on the entrails,
9. and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys,
10. just as these are taken from the ox of the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.
11. But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, with its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung—
12. all the rest of the bull—he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, to the ash heap, and shall burn it up on a fire of wood. On the ash heap it shall be burned up.
13. “If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt,
14. when the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it before the tent of meeting.
15. And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD, and the bull shall be killed before the LORD.
16. Then the anointed priest shall bring some of the bull’s blood to the tent of meeting,
17. and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the veil.
18. And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar which is before the LORD that is in the tent of meeting, and all the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering which is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
19. And all its fat he shall take from it and burn on the altar.
20. Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.
21. And he shall carry the bull outside the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly.
22. “When a leader sins, doing unintentionally any one of all the things that by the commandments of the LORD his God ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt,
23. or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish,
24. and shall lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD; it is a sin offering.
25. Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and 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 of burnt offering.
26. And all its fat he shall burn on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings. So the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin, and he shall be forgiven.
27. “If any one of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt,
28. or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.
29. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering.
30. And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.
31. And all its fat he shall remove as the fat is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasing aroma to the LORD. And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.
32. If he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish
33. and lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.
34. Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
35. And all its fat he shall remove as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on top of the LORD’s food offerings. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.

Interpretation: Leviticus 4 introduces the laws for sin offerings, addressing unintentional sins committed by individuals, leaders, or the entire community. These offerings underscore the seriousness of sin, even when committed unintentionally, and the need for atonement to maintain the holiness of the relationship between God and His people. The detailed procedures for different groups emphasize communal responsibility and the role of the priesthood in mediating between the people and God. This chapter highlights the grace available through atonement, allowing for forgiveness and the restoration of fellowship with God, reinforcing the themes of purification, reconciliation, and the meticulous observance of divine law. The sin offering serves not only as a means for expiation but also as a profound expression of the community’s ongoing commitment to uphold God’s commandments and maintain the sanctity of their covenantal relationship. Each offering, whether from the priest, the congregation, a leader, or an individual, involves specific rituals emphasizing confession, atonement, and the symbolic transfer of sin from the offerer to the offering. This process, culminating in the priestly act of sprinkling blood and burning fat on the altar, underscores the sacrificial system’s role in bridging the gap sin creates between the people and the divine. It highlights the necessity of acknowledging wrongdoing and the divine provision for reconciliation. The distinction between offerings for different groups within the Israelite community reflects the tailored approach to sin and guilt, acknowledging the varied roles and responsibilities within the covenant community. The emphasis on a “without blemish” offering reinforces the principle that approaching God requires the best of what one has, symbolizing purity and the earnestness of seeking forgiveness. Furthermore, the repetitive nature of these offerings, along with the prohibition against consuming the blood or fat, reinforces the sacredness of life and the sovereignty of God over all creation. It serves as a constant reminder of the Israelites’ need for divine grace and the merciful provision of a means to sustain an unbroken relationship with God. In summary, Leviticus 4 deepens the understanding of sin’s impact and the vital importance of atonement within the Israelite faith, laying foundational principles for approaching God with reverence, humility, and a contrite heart, ensuring the community’s purity and consecration in service to the LORD.