Leviticus 4:21-31

21 Then the priest must carry the bull outside the camp and burn it, just as he did with the first bull. This is the sin offering for the whole community.
22 "'If a ruler sins by accident and does something the Lord his God has commanded must not be done, he is guilty.
23 When he learns about his sin, he must bring a male goat that has nothing wrong with it as his offering.
24 The ruler must put his hand on the goat's head and kill it in the place where they kill the whole burnt offering before the Lord; it is a sin offering.
25 The priest must take some of the blood of the sin offering on his finger and put it on the corners of the altar of burnt offering. He must pour out the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.
26 He must burn all the goat's fat on the altar in the same way he burns the fat of the fellowship offerings. In this way the priest removes the ruler's sin so he belongs to the Lord, and the Lord will forgive him.
27 "'If any person in the community sins by accident and does something which the Lord has commanded must not be done, he is guilty.
28 When the person learns about his sin, he must bring a female goat that has nothing wrong with it as an offering for his sin.
29 He must put his hand on the animal's head and kill it at the place of the whole burnt offering.
30 Then the priest must take some of the goat's blood on his finger and put it on the corners of the altar of burnt offering. He must pour out the rest of the goat's blood at the bottom of the altar.
31 Then the priest must remove all the goat's fat in the same way the fat is removed from the fellowship offerings. He must burn it on the altar as a smell pleasing to the Lord. In this way the priest will remove that person's sin so he will belong to the Lord, and the Lord will forgive him.

Leviticus 4:21-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 4

This chapter contains the law of the sin offering, which was offered for sins committed through ignorance, error, and mistake, Le 4:1,2 and gives an account of the matter of them, and the rites belonging thereunto, which were different according to the persons for whom it was made, as for the anointed priest, Le 4:3-12 for the whole congregation, Le 4:13-21 and for the ruler, Le 4:22-26 and for any of the common people, Le 4:27-35.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.