Focused Passage

Leviticus 4:1-12

The Sin Offering: Purification for Unintentional Sin

The LORD provides sin offering instructions for unintentional sins by the anointed priest, the whole congregation, a leader, or an ordinary member of the community, showing that guilt at every level must be brought before God through sacrifice, blood, priestly mediation, and atonement.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Then the LORD said to Moses,

2 “Tell the Israelites to do as follows with one who sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s commandments and does what is forbidden by them:

3 If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull without blemish as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.

4 He must bring the bull to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the LORD.

5 Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood and bring it into the Tent of Meeting.

6 The priest is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before the LORD, in front of the veil of the sanctuary.

7 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.

8 Then he shall remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering—the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them,

9 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys—

10 just as the fat is removed from the ox of the peace offering. Then the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.

11 But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, with its head and legs and its entrails and dung—

12 all the rest of the bull—he must take outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place where the ashes are poured out, and there he must burn it on a wood fire on the ash heap.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Then the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר H1696 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֥ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . לֵּאמֹֽר׃ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 2

Original words

Tell דַּבֵּ֞ר H1696 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Israelites בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵ֘ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular to לֵאמֹר֒ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct do as follows כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction with one נֶ֗פֶשׁ H5315 Noun - feminine singular who sins תֶחֱטָ֤א H2398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular unintentionally בִשְׁגָגָה֙ H7684 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular against any מִכֹּל֙ H3605 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD’s יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Pronoun - relative commandments מִצְוֺ֣ת H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct and does תֵעָשֶׂ֑ינָה H6213 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural . . . וְעָשָׂ֕ה H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular what is מֵאַחַ֖ת H259 Preposition-m | Number - feminine singular forbidden לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle by them מֵהֵֽנָּה׃ Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person feminine plural
Verse 3

Original words

If אִ֣ם H518 Conjunction the anointed הַמָּשִׁ֛יחַ H4899 Article | Adjective - masculine singular priest הַכֹּהֵ֧ן H3548 Article | Noun - masculine singular sins יֶחֱטָ֖א H2398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular bringing guilt לְאַשְׁמַ֣ת H819 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct on the people הָעָ֑ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular he must bring וְהִקְרִ֡יב H7126 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular to the LORD לַיהוָ֖ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular a young bull פַּ֣ר H6499 Noun - masculine singular without blemish תָּמִ֛ים H8549 Adjective - masculine singular . . . בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . בָּקָ֥ר H1241 Noun - masculine singular as עַ֣ל H5921 Preposition a sin offering חַטָּאתוֹ֩ H2403 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative for the sin לְחַטָּֽאת׃ H2403 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular he has committed חָטָ֜א H2398 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or purification offering; here and throughout Leviticus
Verse 4

Original words

He must bring וְהֵבִ֣יא H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the bull הַפָּ֗ר H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the entrance פֶּ֛תַח H6607 Noun - masculine singular construct to the Tent אֹ֥הֶל H168 Noun - masculine singular of Meeting מוֹעֵ֖ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular lay וְסָמַ֤ךְ H5564 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker his hand יָדוֹ֙ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the bull’s הַפָּ֔ר H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular head רֹ֣אשׁ H7218 Noun - masculine singular construct and slaughter וְשָׁחַ֥ט H7819 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker it הַפָּ֖ר H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular before לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

Then the anointed הַמָּשִׁ֖יחַ H4899 Article | Adjective - masculine singular priest הַכֹּהֵ֥ן H3548 Article | Noun - masculine singular shall take וְלָקַ֛ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular some of the bull’s הַפָּ֑ר H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular blood מִדַּ֣ם H1818 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct and bring וְהֵבִ֥יא H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular it אֹת֖וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular into אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Tent אֹ֥הֶל H168 Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵֽד׃ H4150 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

The priest הַכֹּהֵ֛ן H3548 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker is to dip וְטָבַ֧ל H2881 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular his finger אֶצְבָּע֖וֹ H676 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular in the blood בַּדָּ֑ם H1818 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular and sprinkle וְהִזָּ֨ה H5137 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular some of מִן־ H4480 Preposition it הַדָּ֜ם H1818 Article | Noun - masculine singular seven שֶׁ֤בַע H7651 Number - feminine singular times פְּעָמִים֙ H6471 Noun - feminine plural before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . אֶת־ H854 Direct object marker in front of פְּנֵ֖י H6440 Noun - common plural construct the veil פָּרֹ֥כֶת H6532 Noun - feminine singular construct of the sanctuary הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ H6944 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 7

Original words

The priest הַכֹּהֵ֨ן H3548 Article | Noun - masculine singular must then put וְנָתַן֩ H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular some of מִן־ H4480 Preposition the blood הַדָּ֜ם H1818 Article | Noun - masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the horns קַ֠רְנוֹת H7161 Noun - feminine plural construct of the altar מִזְבַּ֨ח H4196 Noun - masculine singular construct of fragrant הַסַּמִּים֙ H5561 Article | Noun - masculine plural incense קְטֹ֤רֶת H7004 Noun - feminine singular construct that is before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Pronoun - relative in the Tent בְּאֹ֣הֶל H168 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵ֑ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular And וְאֵ֣ת׀ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker he is to pour out יִשְׁפֹּךְ֙ H8210 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the rest כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct of the bull’s הַפָּ֗ר H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular blood דַּ֣ם H1818 Noun - masculine singular construct at אֶל־ H413 Preposition the base יְסוֹד֙ H3247 Noun - masculine singular construct of the altar מִזְבַּ֣ח H4196 Noun - masculine singular construct of burnt offering הָעֹלָ֔ה H5930 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative at the entrance פֶּ֖תַח H6607 Noun - masculine singular construct to the Tent אֹ֥הֶל H168 Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵֽד׃ H4150 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

Then וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker he shall remove יָרִ֣ים H7311 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the fat חֵ֛לֶב H2459 Noun - masculine singular construct from מִמֶּ֑נּוּ H4480 Preposition | third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the bull פַּ֥ר H6499 Noun - masculine singular construct of the sin offering הַֽחַטָּ֖את H2403 Article | Noun - feminine singular the fat הַחֵ֙לֶב֙ H2459 Article | Noun - masculine singular that covers הַֽמְכַסֶּ֣ה H3680 Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular עַל־ עַל־ H5921 Preposition the entrails הַקֶּ֔רֶב H7130 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֵת֙ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the fat הַחֵ֔לֶב H2459 Article | Noun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Pronoun - relative is on עַל־ H5921 Preposition [them] הַקֶּֽרֶב׃ H7130 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

- וְאֵת֙ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker both שְׁתֵּ֣י H8147 Number - feminine dual construct kidneys הַכְּלָיֹ֔ת H3629 Article | Noun - feminine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker with the fat הַחֵ֙לֶב֙ H2459 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative on them עֲלֵיהֶ֔ן H5921 Preposition | third person feminine plural - אֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Pronoun - relative near עַל־ H5921 Preposition the loins הַכְּסָלִ֑ים H3689 Article | Noun - masculine plural and וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the lobe הַיֹּתֶ֙רֶת֙ H3508 Article | Noun - feminine singular of עַל־ H5921 Preposition the liver הַכָּבֵ֔ד H3516 Article | Noun - feminine singular which he is to remove יְסִירֶֽנָּה׃ H5493 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular with עַל־ H5921 Preposition the kidneys הַכְּלָי֖וֹת H3629 Article | Noun - feminine plural
Verse 10

Original words

just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the fat is removed יוּרַ֔ם H7311 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular from the ox מִשּׁ֖וֹר H7794 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct vvv זֶ֣בַח H2077 Noun - masculine singular construct of the peace offering הַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים H8002 Article | Noun - masculine plural Then the priest הַכֹּהֵ֔ן H3548 Article | Noun - masculine singular shall burn them וְהִקְטִירָם֙ H6999 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural on עַ֖ל H5921 Preposition the altar מִזְבַּ֥ח H4196 Noun - masculine singular construct of burnt offering הָעֹלָֽה׃ H5930 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 11

Original words

- וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker But the hide ע֤וֹר H5785 Noun - masculine singular construct of the bull הַפָּר֙ H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct its flesh בְּשָׂר֔וֹ H1320 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular with עַל־ H5921 Preposition its head רֹאשׁ֖וֹ H7218 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular . . . וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and legs כְּרָעָ֑יו H3767 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular and its entrails וְקִרְבּ֖וֹ H7130 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and dung וּפִרְשֽׁוֹ׃ H6569 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 12

Original words

all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the rest of the bull הַ֠פָּר H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular he must take וְהוֹצִ֣יא H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker outside מִח֨וּץ H2351 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular the camp לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֜ה H4264 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition a ceremonially clean טָהוֹר֙ H2889 Adjective - masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition place מָק֤וֹם H4725 Noun - masculine singular where אֶל־ H413 Preposition the ashes הַדֶּ֔שֶׁן H1880 Article | Noun - masculine singular are poured out שֶׁ֣פֶךְ H8211 Noun - masculine singular construct and there he must burn וְשָׂרַ֥ף H8313 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֹת֛וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular it on עַל־ H5921 Preposition a wood עֵצִ֖ים H6086 Noun - masculine plural fire בָּאֵ֑שׁ H784 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular - יִשָּׂרֵֽף׃פ H8313 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the ash הַדֶּ֖שֶׁן H1880 Article | Noun - masculine singular heap שֶׁ֥פֶךְ H8211 Noun - masculine singular construct

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.