Leviticus 4:22

22 If a prince sinneth, and doeth by ignorance one thing of many, which is forbidden in the law of the Lord,

Leviticus 4:22 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 4:22

When a ruler hath sinned
Or "prince", the "nasi", one that is lifted up above others in honour, power, and authority, or that bears the weight of government: the word comes from one which signifies to lift up, or to bear; it may be understood of a governor of a family, or of a tribe, as Aben Ezra observes; and so in the Talmud

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 it is said, it means the prince of a tribe, such as Nachson the son of Amminadab, prince of the tribe of Judah. Maimonides ^F12 says a king is designed, over whom none has power; and so Gersom on the place, who observes, that David the king is called a prince, ( Ezekiel 34:24 ) ( 46:2 )

and done [somewhat] through ignorance [against] any of the
commandments of the Lord his God;
the phrase, "his God", is here added, and is not used neither of the anointed priest, nor of the congregation, nor of one of the common people; only of the prince, to show, that though he is above others, God is above him, and he is accountable to him; he is his God, of whom he is, and by whom he rules; wherefore if he breaks any of his commandments, though ignorantly, he must bring a sacrifice for it:

[concerning things] which should not be done, and is guilty;
of transgressing negative precepts, which are as binding on him as others.

F11 T. Bab. Horayot, fol. 11. 1.
F12 Hilchot Shegagot, c. 15. sect. 6.

Leviticus 4:22 In-Context

20 and he shall do also of this calf, as he did before of the tother (and so he shall do with this calf, as he did before with the other one); and when the priest shall pray for them, the Lord shall be merciful.

21 Forsooth he shall bear out [of the tents] that calf, and he shall burn it, as he did also the former calf, for it is for the sin of the multitude. (And he shall carry that calf out away from the tents, and he shall burn it, as he burned the other calf, for it is a sin offering for the multitude.)

22 If a prince sinneth, and doeth by ignorance one thing of many, which is forbidden in the law of the Lord,

23 and afterward understandeth his sin, he shall offer to the Lord a sacrifice, a goat buck, without wem (without blemish, or without fault);

24 and he shall set his hand on the head thereof. And when he hath offered it in the place, where [the] burnt sacrifice is wont to be slain, before the Lord, for it is for sin (for it is a sin offering);