Leviticus 4:5-15

5 The high priest will then take some of the bull’s blood into the Tabernacle,

6 dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the inner curtain of the sanctuary.

7 The priest will then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar for fragrant incense that stands in the LORD ’s presence inside the Tabernacle. He will pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar for burnt offerings at the entrance of the Tabernacle.

8 Then the priest must remove all the fat of the bull to be offered as a sin offering. This includes all the fat around the internal organs,

9 the two kidneys and the fat around them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver. He must remove these along with the kidneys,

10 just as he does with cattle offered as a peace offering, and burn them on the altar of burnt offerings.

11 But he must take whatever is left of the bull—its hide, meat, head, legs, internal organs, and dung—

12 and carry it away to a place outside the camp that is ceremonially clean, the place where the ashes are dumped. There, on the ash heap, he will burn it on a wood fire.

13 “If the entire Israelite community sins by violating one of the LORD ’s commands, but the people don’t realize it, they are still guilty.

14 When they become aware of their sin, the people must bring a young bull as an offering for their sin and present it before the Tabernacle.

15 The elders of the community must then lay their hands on the bull’s head and slaughter it before the LORD .

Leviticus 4:5-15 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.