Leviticus 4 23

Leviticus 4:23 kjv

Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:

Leviticus 4:23 nkjv

or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a male without blemish.

Leviticus 4:23 niv

and the sin he has committed becomes known, he must bring as his offering a male goat without defect.

Leviticus 4:23 esv

or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish,

Leviticus 4:23 nlt

When he becomes aware of his sin, he must bring as his offering a male goat with no defects.

Leviticus 4 verses

Leviticus 4 23 Meaning

Leviticus 4:23 describes the specific protocol for atonement when a "ruler" (nasi', meaning prince or leader) realizes he has committed an unintentional sin against any of God's commandments. Upon becoming aware of his transgression, he is required to bring a "male goat without blemish" as a sin offering to the Lord. This sacrifice was an essential step for his ceremonial purification and for atoning for his unwitting trespass, restoring his proper standing before God and the community.

Leviticus 4 23 Context

Leviticus Chapter 4 details the regulations for the chatta't, or sin offering. This specific offering was for "unintentional" sins, acts of omission or commission committed unwittingly or by accident, that nevertheless violated God's law. The chapter differentiates the required offering based on the status of the person who sinned: the anointed priest (Lev 4:3), the whole congregation (Lev 4:13), a ruler (Lev 4:22), and an individual common person (Lev 4:27). The severity of the animal sacrifice scales with the responsibility of the individual or group; a ruler, being a public figure with influence, required a male goat. This system underscored God's holiness and the gravity of all sin, even if unintentional, demonstrating His provision for reconciliation through atonement. Historically, these laws provided a way for Israel to remain in covenant relationship with a holy God despite their human fallibility.

Leviticus 4 23 Word analysis

• or if: This phrase (ʾô ʾim) connects this instruction directly to the previous verse (Lev 4:22), specifying a continuation of the conditions for the ruler's sin offering. It implies an "eventuality" – when it happens that he discovers his sin.
• his sin: The Hebrew term chatta't (חַטָּאתוֹ), meaning "his sin," is critical. It refers both to the transgression itself (missing the mark, going astray) and also serves as the technical term for the "sin offering" itself. This dual meaning highlights that the sacrifice is intrinsically linked to and addresses the very nature of the sin. The act of sin is tied to the concept of atonement.
• which he has sinned: The repetition (chattah... chatta) emphasizes the definitive nature of the act, the personal culpability, despite it being unintentional. It's a genuine transgression, not a phantom.
• comes to his knowledge: The Hebrew vəhōda‘ ’ēlāw (וְהוֹדַע אֵלָיו) literally means "and it is made known to him," or "he is caused to know." This isn't just a casual realization; it signifies that God, or some divine means, has illuminated his transgression to him. The discovery might come through conscience, through the teaching of the law, through prophecy, or through external circumstances. It marks the moment accountability for the unintentional sin begins. This emphasizes divine involvement in the process of conviction and atonement.
• then he shall bring: wəheḇî (וְהֵבִיא) is a strong imperative, implying an immediate and necessary action. Once awareness dawns, the prescribed response is obligatory. Delay would be further sin.
• his offering: qorbānô (קָרְבָּנוֹ) is a general term for a sacrifice, derived from the root qrb, meaning "to come near." It denotes something brought near to God, facilitating closeness and communion. Here, it refers specifically to the sin offering.
• a male goat: śə‘īr ‘izzîm (שְׂעִיר עִזִּים), literally "hairy goat" or "goat of the goats." A specific type of male goat designated for a ruler's sin offering. This animal might have been chosen due to its value, or for symbolic reasons related to the sin offering ritual itself, distinct from the rams or bulls. Its specific requirement differentiates the offering from that of a high priest (a young bull) or a common person (a female goat or lamb), signifying the graded importance of leadership within God's ordered society.
• without blemish: tāmîm (תָּמִים) means whole, complete, perfect, sound, unblemished. This universal requirement for acceptable sacrifices across all offering types underlines God's demand for perfection and holiness in anything presented to Him. It symbolized purity and pointed ultimately to the faultless nature of Christ, the perfect sacrifice (Heb 9:14, 1 Pet 1:19). It also implies that sin corrupts and defiles, and only what is perfect can cleanse.

Words-group analysis:

• "his sin, which he has sinned, comes to his knowledge": This phrase emphasizes the progression: the act of unintentional sin occurs, but the specific moment for the sin offering is when the sinner becomes aware of their transgression. It's about conscience, accountability, and the role of God's Spirit or Law in bringing hidden faults to light.
• "then he shall bring his offering, a male goat without blemish": This part specifies the immediate, divinely ordained action and the exact nature of the required atonement. The type of animal (male goat) and its pristine condition (without blemish) are not negotiable; they are part of God's precise instruction, signifying that only a perfect substitution can atone for the impurity of sin.

Leviticus 4 23 Bonus Section

The system of sin offerings for unintentional sins (shegagah in Hebrew) stands in stark contrast to "high-handed" or defiant sins (zadah), which generally carried much harsher penalties, sometimes including being "cut off" from the people (Num 15:30-31), because they demonstrated deliberate rebellion against God. The ritual for the unintentional sin showed God's grace and provision for humanity's weakness and fallibility, offering a path to reconciliation. The male goat for the ruler, being a unique choice, also subtly prepares for the deeper symbolism of other goat offerings, such as those on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16), where one goat served as the chatta't (sin offering) for the people, and another was sent to Azazel, symbolizing the carrying away of sin. This prefigured Christ who not only died for our sins but also took away our sins. The realization ("comes to his knowledge") of sin is a key step, indicating the active work of conviction (foreshadowing the Holy Spirit's work in the New Testament) which leads to repentance and seeking atonement.

Leviticus 4 23 Commentary

Leviticus 4:23 reveals several profound truths about God, sin, and atonement within the Old Covenant. First, God's holiness demands accountability for all sin, even unintentional ones. The fact that an elaborate ritual was required for a sin committed unwittingly highlights that sin, regardless of intent, is a breach of God's holy law and has spiritual consequences, creating a barrier to fellowship. The act of bringing the specified offering acknowledged the guilt, demonstrated humility, and showed reliance on God's appointed means of forgiveness.

Second, the passage underscores the particular responsibility of leaders. A ruler (nasi') carried significant weight and influence. His sins, even if unintentional, had a ripple effect, potentially defiling the community or setting a poor example. Therefore, his required offering (a male goat) was more valuable than that for a common person, reflecting the greater impact of his transgression and the heightened expectation upon him as a covenant leader.

Finally, the precise requirements – "a male goat without blemish" – point to God's demand for perfection and holiness in any approach to Him. No imperfect sacrifice would suffice. This aspect beautifully prefigures the ultimate, perfect, and unblemished sacrifice of Jesus Christ. While the animal sacrifices in Leviticus could only cover sins temporarily and looked forward to the future, they established the foundational principle that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Heb 9:22). Christ's one-time offering fully and eternally cleanses from all sin, known and unknown, intentional and unintentional, making these animal offerings obsolete yet eternally significant as shadows of His perfect work.