Focused Passage

Leviticus 4:13-21

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

13 Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden,

14 when they become aware of the sin they have committed, then the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the Tent of Meeting.

15 The elders of the congregation are to lay their hands on the bull’s head before the LORD, and it shall be slaughtered before the LORD.

16 Then the anointed priest is to bring some of the bull’s blood into the Tent of Meeting,

17 and he is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the veil.

18 He is also to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting, and he must pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

19 And he is to remove all the fat from it and burn it on the altar.

20 He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.

21 Then he is to take the bull outside the camp and burn it, just as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the assembly.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 13

Original words

Now if וְאִ֨ם H518 Conjunction the whole כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct congregation עֲדַ֤ת H5712 Noun - feminine singular construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular strays unintentionally יִשְׁגּ֔וּ H7686 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural and the matter דָּבָ֔ר H1697 Noun - masculine singular escapes וְנֶעְלַ֣ם H5956 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular the notice מֵעֵינֵ֖י H5869 Preposition-m | Noun - cdc of the assembly הַקָּהָ֑ל H6951 Article | Noun - masculine singular so that they violate וְ֠עָשׂוּ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural any אַחַ֨ת H259 Number - feminine singular . . . מִכָּל־ H3605 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD’s יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular commandments מִצְוֺ֧ת H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct and incur guilt וְאָשֵֽׁמוּ׃ H816 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural by doing what אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative is forbidden לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle . . . תֵעָשֶׂ֖ינָה H6213 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Verse 14

Original words

when they become aware וְנֽוֹדְעָה֙ H3045 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular of the sin הַֽחַטָּ֔את H2403 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative they have committed חָטְא֖וּ H2398 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural . . . עָלֶ֑יהָ H5921 Preposition | third person feminine singular then the assembly הַקָּהָ֜ל H6951 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . פַּ֤ר H6499 Noun - masculine singular must bring וְהִקְרִ֨יבוּ H7126 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural a young בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct bull בָּקָר֙ H1241 Noun - masculine singular as a sin offering לְחַטָּ֔את H2403 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular and present וְהֵבִ֣יאוּ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural it אֹת֔וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular before לִפְנֵ֖י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the Tent אֹ֥הֶל H168 Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵֽד׃ H4150 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

The elders זִקְנֵ֨י H2205 Adjective - masculine plural construct of the congregation הָעֵדָ֧ה H5712 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker are to lay וְ֠סָמְכוּ H5564 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural their hands יְדֵיהֶ֛ם H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine plural on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the bull’s הַפָּ֖ר H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular head רֹ֥אשׁ H7218 Noun - masculine singular construct before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular and it הַפָּ֖ר H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular shall be slaughtered וְשָׁחַ֥ט H7819 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker before לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

Then the anointed הַמָּשִׁ֖יחַ H4899 Article | Adjective - masculine singular priest הַכֹּהֵ֥ן H3548 Article | Noun - masculine singular is to bring וְהֵבִ֛יא H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - 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 into אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Tent אֹ֖הֶל H168 Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵֽד׃ H4150 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 17

Original words

and [he] הַכֹּהֵ֛ן H3548 Article | Noun - masculine singular 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 מִן־ H4480 Preposition the blood הַדָּ֑ם H1818 Article | Noun - masculine singular and sprinkle וְהִזָּ֞ה H5137 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular it 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 . . . אֵ֖ת H854 Direct object marker in front פְּנֵ֥י H6440 Noun - common plural construct of the veil הַפָּרֹֽכֶת׃ H6532 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 18

Original words

He is also to put יִתֵּ֣ן׀ H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular some of וּמִן־ H4480 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the blood הַדָּ֞ם H1818 Article | Noun - masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the horns קַרְנֹ֣ת H7161 Noun - feminine plural construct of the altar הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַ H4196 Article | Noun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁר֙ H834 Pronoun - relative 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 must pour out יִשְׁפֹּךְ֙ H8210 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the rest כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct of the blood הַדָּ֗ם H1818 Article | Noun - masculine singular 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 19

Original words

And וְאֵ֥ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker he is to remove יָרִ֣ים H7311 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the fat חֶלְבּ֖וֹ H2459 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular from it מִמֶּ֑נּוּ H4480 Preposition | third person masculine singular and burn [it] וְהִקְטִ֖יר H6999 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular on the altar הַמִּזְבֵּֽחָה׃ H4196 Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 20

Original words

He shall offer וְעָשָׂ֣ה H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular this bull לַפָּ֔ר H6499 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative he did עָשָׂה֙ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular the bull לְפַ֣ר H6499 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct for the sin offering הַֽחַטָּ֔את H2403 Article | Noun - feminine singular - יַעֲשֶׂה־ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular in this way כֵּ֖ן H3651 Adverb the priest הַכֹּהֵ֖ן H3548 Article | Noun - masculine singular will make atonement וְכִפֶּ֧ר H3722 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular on their behalf עֲלֵהֶ֛ם H5921 Preposition | third person masculine plural and they will be forgiven וְנִסְלַ֥ח H5545 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular . . . לָהֶֽם׃ Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Verse 21

Original words

Then he is to take וְהוֹצִ֣יא H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the bull הַפָּ֗ר H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular vvv אֶל־ H413 Preposition outside מִחוּץ֙ H2351 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular the camp לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה H4264 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular and burn וְשָׂרַ֣ף H8313 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular it אֹת֔וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative he burned שָׂרַ֔ף H8313 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֵ֖ת H853 Direct object marker the first הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן H7223 Article | Adjective - masculine singular bull הַפָּ֣ר H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular It הֽוּא׃פ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular is the sin offering חַטַּ֥את H2403 Noun - feminine singular construct for the assembly הַקָּהָ֖ל H6951 Article | Noun - masculine singular

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.