Leviticus 4 20

Leviticus 4:20 kjv

And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.

Leviticus 4:20 nkjv

And he shall do with the bull as he did with the bull as a sin offering; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.

Leviticus 4:20 niv

and do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the community, and they will be forgiven.

Leviticus 4:20 esv

Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.

Leviticus 4:20 nlt

just as he does with the bull offered as a sin offering for the high priest. Through this process, the priest will purify the people, making them right with the LORD, and they will be forgiven.

Leviticus 4 verses

Leviticus 4 20 Meaning

Leviticus 4:20 declares that the purification ritual performed for the high priest's unintentional sin with a bull offering will be exactly replicated for the unintentional sin of the entire Israelite congregation. Following this specific sacrificial act by the priest, atonement will be made for the people, resulting in their forgiveness by God. This verse underscores the divinely appointed means of reconciliation and the remission of corporate unintentional sin under the Old Covenant.

Leviticus 4 20 Context

Leviticus Chapter 4 details the rituals for unintentional sins committed by various societal groups within Israel: the anointed priest (vv. 3-12), the whole congregation (vv. 13-21), a leader (vv. 22-26), and an individual common person (vv. 27-35). Verse 20 specifically refers to the offering for the entire community when they sin unintentionally, due to ignorance of a commandment. The previous verses (vv. 13-19) describe the specific circumstances and preliminary rituals for the congregational sin. The instruction here for the priest to "do with the bull as he did with the bull for the sin offering" directly links it to the more detailed procedures given earlier for the high priest's sin (Lev 4:3-12). Historically, these elaborate sacrificial systems were critical for maintaining God's holiness within the camp of Israel, ensuring His presence could remain amidst a sinful people, and demonstrating the serious consequences of sin, even if unintentional, against God's holy law. These rituals, overseen by the Levitical priesthood, served to cleanse the tabernacle and the people from defilement caused by sin, preventing further alienation from God.

Leviticus 4 20 Word analysis

• And he shall do with the bull (וְעָשָׂה אֶת־הַפָּר, ve'asah et-hapar):

  • ve'asah: The Hebrew verb עָשָׂה (‘asah) means "to make, to do, to perform." Here, it signifies the strict, precise execution of the ritual. It emphasizes that the priest's actions are not optional but are mandatory divine instructions.
  • hapar: The definite article 'the' indicates a specific bull. It refers to the "young bull" (פר בן בקר) introduced in Lev 4:14 as the specific animal for the congregation's sin offering.
  • This phrase indicates the active role of the priest in the prescribed ritual process, embodying his mediating function.

• as he did (כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, ka’asher ‘asah):

  • ka'asher: This conjunction means "as, according as, just as." It creates a direct comparative link to the previous instructions for the high priest's sin offering (Lev 4:3-12).
  • This precise cross-reference highlights the meticulous consistency required for sin offerings for leaders of various kinds (priest and congregation considered in leadership roles over all Israel) emphasizing the universal applicability of God's prescribed purification for certain significant sins.

• with the bull (לַפַּר, la-par):

  • la-par: Refers to the bull used in the earlier scenario of the anointed priest's unintentional sin.
  • This re-emphasizes that the offering type and procedure are identical, demonstrating the severity of congregational sin being akin to the high priest's sin in its need for extensive cleansing.

• for the sin offering (הַחַטָּאת, hachattat):

  • hachattat: This is the definite noun חַטָּאת (chattat), meaning "sin offering" or "purification offering." The term derives from the verb "to miss the mark," hence "to sin."
  • It defines the purpose and nature of the sacrifice – it is designed to address and cleanse sin's defilement, particularly the guilt and impurity associated with unintentional transgressions. This offering makes restitution, purifies, and covers.

• so he shall do (כֵּן יַעֲשֶׂה, ken ya’aseh):

  • ken ya’aseh: "Thus he shall do." This is an emphatic affirmation, stressing the absolute adherence to the prescribed method. There is no room for variation in this divine procedure.

• with this one (לוֹ, lo):

  • lo: The masculine singular pronoun "to him" or "for it," referring to "this" bull designated for the congregational offering. It simply reinforces the object of the action.

• And the priest shall make atonement for them (וְכִפֶּר עֲלֵהֶם הַכֹּהֵן, vechipper aleihem hakkohen):

  • vechipper: From the root כָּפַר (kāphar), meaning "to cover," "to atone," "to purify." This is the central priestly act of mediation. It is not about simply sweeping sin under the rug, but about a substantive act that deals with sin's presence and its defiling effects, thereby making reconciliation possible.
  • aleihem: "for them," referring to the congregation. This highlights the communal aspect of the atonement.
  • hakkohen: "the priest." Emphasizes that only the designated priest, acting under God's instruction, could perform this atoning work. He is God's appointed agent.

• and they shall be forgiven (וְנִסְלַח לָהֶם, venislach lahem):

  • venislach: From the root סָלַח (salach), "to pardon," "to forgive." This is God's direct act of grace and acceptance. It indicates divine absolution.
  • lahem: "for them." This underscores the ultimate outcome for the congregation: their sins are officially pardoned by God, and the covenant relationship is restored or preserved. The divine act of forgiveness follows the human and priestly act of atonement through the prescribed sacrifice.

Leviticus 4 20 Bonus section

The "bull for the sin offering" (Lev 4:14, 20) carries symbolic weight. A bull was a large, valuable animal, signifying the immense cost and seriousness of the sin being atoned for. Its sacrifice underscores the principle that atonement for the congregation, representing the entirety of Israel, demanded a significant payment. This echoes the Old Testament understanding of corporate responsibility, where the sin of certain individuals or leaders could implicate the entire community. Furthermore, the chattat offering, though often translated "sin offering," is sometimes more accurately rendered "purification offering." Its primary function was not only to secure forgiveness but also to purify and "de-sanctify" the sacred space (tabernacle, altar) from the defilement caused by the sin, thereby enabling God to continue dwelling among His people without consuming them due to their impurity. The disposal of the carcass outside the camp (Lev 4:12, 21), specifically "where the ashes are poured out," underscores the complete removal and ritual defilement of the sin once it has been transferred to the animal and ritually handled. This removal was essential for the spiritual cleanliness of the camp and God's continued holy presence.

Leviticus 4 20 Commentary

Leviticus 4:20 meticulously connects the specific procedures for the congregation's sin offering to the already detailed instructions for the high priest's sin offering. This highlights the profound theological principle that both corporate and individual sin, especially from those in significant positions, carries immense weight and necessitates a specific, costly, and God-ordained purification. The act of atonement (Hebrew: kāphar) is performed by the priest, an act of "covering" or propitiation, demonstrating that sin cannot simply be overlooked but must be dealt with through divinely established means, typically involving the shedding of blood. The ultimate consequence of this priestly act, faithfully performed, is God's gracious response: "they shall be forgiven" (sālaḥ). This process points clearly to God's dual nature: His absolute holiness, which cannot tolerate sin, and His boundless mercy, which provides a way for sinful humanity to be reconciled to Him. This Levitical shadow ultimately finds its anti-type and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who, as both High Priest and the ultimate Sin Offering, offered His own blood "once for all" to secure eternal redemption and forgiveness, far beyond what bulls and goats could achieve.Examples: This concept could be seen in situations where:

• A community collectively apologizes for a historical injustice, reflecting on collective responsibility for sin.
• In the church, corporate repentance during a time of shared spiritual struggle.