1
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
OLD TESTAMENT
All chapters Leviticus 4
The Holy Bible · EnglishOpen an explanation beneath verses with notes. Your notes and highlights stay on this device.
2
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone sins unintentionally, in any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and does any one of them,
Highlighted
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 2. Ignorance. To be ignorant of what we are bound to know is sinful: and for such culpable ignorance, these sacrifices, prescribed in this and the following chapter, were appointed. Challoner.—Not to be done. Hence the Rabbins admit sins of ignorance, only against the negative precepts. But when God forbids one thing, he commands the contrary; and we may sin by ignorance against any of his ordinances. If the ignorance be voluntary, it enhances the crime; and Aristotle well observes that drunkards, who do an injury, are to be doubly punished, because their fault is voluntary in its cause, (ad Nicom. iii. 7). But if the ignorance were perfectly involuntary, and inculpable, no sacrifice was required; so that God here speaks only of that sort of ignorance which involved some degree of negligence. This fault could not be forgiven without interior good dispositions. The sacrifice only reached to the cleansing of the flesh, (Hebrews 9:13,) or to screen the culprit from the severity of the law and of the magistrates; ( Calmet.) though they might help the inward dispositions of the heart, and thus contribute to obtain God’s pardon. Orig. Saint Augustine q. 20. The difference between peccatum and delictum, is not perfectly ascertained. Some think the former word denotes sins of malice, and the latter those of ignorance. Tirinus maintains the contrary, as a more costly sacrifice, he says, is required for the latter. Bible.
Private to this browser.
3
if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without defect to the LORD for a sin offering.
Highlighted
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 3. Anointed. That is, “the high priest.” Septuagint Inferior priests were not anointed, except the sons of Aaron, at the beginning. Calmet.—Ignorance in such a one is greatly to be avoided, as it tends to scandalize the people. Bible.—The same ceremonies are prescribed, as on the day of expiation; only the priest did not enter the most holy place.—Offend, in some smaller matter. If he engaged his brethren in the crime of idolatry, he should die. Deuteronomy 13:15. Calmet.—Before the solemn unction, he might be expiated, like one of the princes. Menochius.
Verse 3. Calf. Hebrew par, does not specify the age. Calmet.
Private to this browser.
4
He shall bring the bull to the door of the Tent of Meeting before the LORD; and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull, and kill the bull before the LORD.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
5
The anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull, and bring it to the Tent of Meeting.
Highlighted
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 5. The blood. As the figure of the blood of Christ shed for the remission of our sins; and carried by him into the sanctuary of heaven.
Private to this browser.
6
The priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary.
Highlighted
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 6. Seven. A number consecrated in Scripture, ( Calmet.) and not superstitious. Worthington.—Apuleius (Met. xi.) mentions it. Septies submerso fluctibus capite. Calmet.—Sanctuary, or most holy place. Menochius.
Private to this browser.
7
The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the Tent of Meeting; and he shall pour out the rest of the blood of the bull at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
8
He shall take all the fat of the bull of the sin offering from it: the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards,
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
9
and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall remove,
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
10
as it is removed from the bull of the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
11
He shall carry the bull’s skin, all its meat, with its head, and with its legs, its innards, and its dung
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
12
—all the rest of the bull—outside of the camp to a clean place where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire. It shall be burned where the ashes are poured out.
Highlighted
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 12. Ashes of the victims. They were first laid beside the altar of holocausts. By this ceremony, the priest begged that his sins might be removed from the sight of God, ( Menochius.) by virtue of Christ’s sacrifice, who suffered out of the gate of Jerusalem. Hebrews 13:13. The high priest was obliged to offer this sacrifice himself, to expiate his own sin, as well as that of the people. Hebrews 9:7.
Private to this browser.
13
“‘If the whole congregation of Israel sins, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and are guilty;
Highlighted
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 13. Multitude assembled. Septuagint add, “be involuntarily ignorant, and no one of the congregation perceive the truth, (or word,) and shall transgress, by commission or omission, one of all the precepts of the Lord.” Such was the offence of Saul and the people. 1 Kennicott. 14:33. On these occasions, the elders were to put their hands on the victim, to acknowledge the general offence, if it were not of too heinous a nature to be expiated by sacrifice. See Deuteronomy 13:12.
Private to this browser.
14
when the sin in which they have sinned is known, then the assembly shall offer a young bull for a sin offering, and bring it before the Tent of Meeting.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
15
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.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
16
The anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull to the Tent of Meeting.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
17
The priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, before the veil.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
18
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 the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
19
All its fat he shall take from it, and burn it on the altar.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
20
He shall do this with the bull; as he did with the bull of the sin offering, so he shall do with this; and the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
21
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.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
22
“‘When a ruler sins, and unwittingly does any one of all the things which the LORD his God has commanded not to be done, and is guilty,
Highlighted
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 22. A prince. King, magistrate, general, chief of a tribe, or great family; in a word, one elevated above the rest (Nasi); as appears, Numbers 1:4. 7:2.
Private to this browser.
23
if his sin in which he has sinned is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without defect.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
24
He 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.
Highlighted
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 24. He. Sam. and Septuagint read, “they shall have,” referring it to the priests.
Private to this browser.
25
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. He shall pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
26
All its fat he shall burn on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin, and he will be forgiven.
Highlighted
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 26. Him. Moses does not here specify what was to be done with the flesh. But (Calmet. 6:26,) he commands it to be given to the priests. Calmet.—In the sacrifices for the sins of the multitude, or of the priest, all was consumed; to express a greater detestation of such offences, ( Tirinus.) and that the priests might derive no benefit from them. Theod. q. 3. Saint Thomas Aquinas i. 2. q. 102. a. 3. Worthington.—Those who offered these victims received no part of them again, nor were oil or incense used; as all delicacies must be rejected by penitents. Tirinus.
Private to this browser.
27
“‘If anyone of the common people sins unwittingly, in doing any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and is guilty,
Highlighted
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 27. The land. A rustic or plebeian. Menochius.—The offences of such might be expiated by the sacrifice of a goat, ewe, lamb, ram, two pigeons, or flour. Calmet. 5:7. 11:15. Calmet.
Private to this browser.
28
if his sin which he has sinned is made known to him, then he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without defect, for his sin which he has sinned.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
29
He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering.
Highlighted
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 29. Of, and so forth One Hebrew MS. the Septuagint and Syriac read, “in the place in which he shall slay the holocaust.” The Sam. has they slay, both here and verse 24 and 33, which seems the truer reading. Kennicott.
Private to this browser.
30
The priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
31
All its fat he shall take away, like the fat is taken away from the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma to the LORD; and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
32
“‘If he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring a female without defect.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
33
He shall 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.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
34
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 all the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar.
Highlighted
Private to this browser.
35
He shall remove all its fat, like the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest shall burn them on the altar, on the offerings of the LORD made by fire. The priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned, and he will be forgiven.
Highlighted
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 35. For a. Hebrew may be “according to, like ( Bible.) upon, besides, after the holocausts.” Calmet. See Calmet. 3:5.
Private to this browser.