Leviticus 4:28 kjv
Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.
Leviticus 4:28 nkjv
or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.
Leviticus 4:28 niv
and the sin they have committed becomes known, they must bring as their offering for the sin they committed a female goat without defect.
Leviticus 4:28 esv
or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.
Leviticus 4:28 nlt
When they become aware of their sin, they must bring as an offering for their sin a female goat with no defects.
Leviticus 4 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 5:5 | "when he is guilty in any of these, he shall confess that in which he has sinned" | Importance of confession for sin. |
| Num 15:27-29 | "If anyone sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat..." | Parallel law for unintentional sin, different animals for status/gender. |
| Lev 1:4 | "He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him..." | Principle of identifying with the sacrifice. |
| Lev 22:20 | "Whatever has a blemish, you shall not offer..." | Reinforces the requirement for unblemished animals. |
| Mal 1:8 | "when you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil?" | God rejects defiled or blemished offerings. |
| Ps 32:5 | "I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity..." | Conviction and confession lead to forgiveness. |
| Prov 28:13 | "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses... finds mercy." | Mercy through acknowledging and confessing sin. |
| 1 Jn 1:9 | "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins..." | NT emphasis on confession for forgiveness. |
| Heb 9:22 | "Indeed, under the law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." | Principle of blood atonement. |
| Heb 10:4 | "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." | Limitation of animal sacrifices, pointing to Christ. |
| Heb 10:10-14 | "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." | Christ's one-time perfect sacrifice. |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree..." | Christ bore sin for believers. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin..." | Christ as the ultimate sin offering. |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." | Consequence of sin and God's solution. |
| Eph 2:8-9 | "For by grace you have been saved through faith..." | Salvation through grace, not works of law or sacrifice. |
| Is 53:10 | "when His soul makes an offering for sin..." | Prophecy of Christ as a sin offering. |
| Mt 5:23-24 | "if you are offering your gift at the altar... be reconciled..." | Prioritization of reconciliation over ritual. |
| Ps 40:6 | "In sacrifice and offering You have not delighted..." | God's desire for obedience over mere sacrifice. |
| Hos 6:6 | "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." | Emphasizes internal disposition over ritual. |
| Jer 31:34 | "For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." | God's complete forgiveness in New Covenant. |
| Lk 15:17-19 | "But when he came to himself... 'I will arise and go to my father...'" | The Prodigal Son's conviction and return. |
| Ps 19:12 | "Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults." | Recognition of unconscious sin and need for cleansing. |
Leviticus 4 verses
Leviticus 4 28 Meaning
Leviticus 4:28 outlines the prescribed offering for an ordinary Israelite who commits an unintentional sin, the awareness of which becomes clear to them. It details that such a person must bring a male goat, without blemish, as a specific "sin offering" (ḥaṭṭāt) to God, thereby providing atonement and restoration of their ritual purity and fellowship.
Leviticus 4 28 Context
Leviticus 4 primarily deals with the "sin offering" (ḥaṭṭāt), outlining specific procedures for unintentional sins (sins committed inadvertently or by error), distinguishing them from deliberate, "high-handed" sins. The chapter structures these offerings based on the status of the person who has sinned: first for the anointed priest (vv. 3-12), then for the whole congregation of Israel (vv. 13-21), next for a ruler (vv. 22-26), and finally for an ordinary Israelite, referred to as "one of the people of the land" (vv. 27-35). Leviticus 4:28 falls within this last category, providing the detailed instruction for an individual member of the Israelite community when their unconscious transgression becomes apparent to them. The chapter underscores the defiling nature of sin, even unintentional, and the divine provision for its ritual cleansing, maintaining God's holiness in the midst of His people. This system prepared the way for understanding the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Christ.
Leviticus 4 28 Word analysis
- If (אִם - ʾim): A conditional particle, introducing the circumstance under which the offering is required. It signifies a hypothetical scenario that then necessitates a specific action, emphasizing personal responsibility upon discovery of the sin.
- his sin (חַטָּאתוֹ - ḥaṭṭā'tō): From the root ḥāṭāʾ (חָטָא), meaning "to miss the mark," "to err," or "to go astray." Here, it refers to the specific transgression committed, which has an effect on the individual's standing before God and the community's purity. It highlights the consequence of human failure to perfectly uphold divine standards.
- which he has committed (אֲשֶׁר חָטָא - ʾăšer ḥāṭāʾ): Reinforces the reality of the transgression. It emphasizes that this is not a general state of sinfulness, but a specific act that deviates from God's commands, demanding an appropriate response.
- is made known to him (נוֹדַע אֵלָיו - nôdaʿ ʾēlāyw): This is a crucial phrase. The passive verb "is made known" implies an external revelation or internal conviction rather than mere self-discovery. It could be through the teaching of the law, through others, or divinely illuminated understanding, signifying personal recognition and acceptance of guilt for the unintentional sin. It is this moment of awareness that triggers the obligation for atonement.
- then he shall bring (וְהֵבִיא - wəhēḇiʾ): A strong imperative or command, indicating the necessary and immediate response expected from the individual upon realization of their sin. It emphasizes duty and obligation within the covenant.
- his offering (קָרְבָּנוֹ - qorbānō): Derived from qārab (קָרַב), "to draw near." An "offering" or "sacrifice" is something brought near to God. It highlights the purpose of the act: to bridge the gap caused by sin and restore fellowship with the holy God.
- a male goat (שְׂעִיר עִזִּים - śəʿîr ʿizzîm): The prescribed animal for an ordinary Israelite's sin offering, specified for a male individual. This shows the precision and hierarchy of sacrifices; the specific animal type reflected the status of the offerer and the nature of the transgression. Goats were common, making this offering accessible.
- without blemish (תָּמִים - tāmîm): Meaning "whole," "perfect," "sound," or "complete." This attribute was essential for all sacrifices. It symbolized the perfect holiness required of any offering brought to God and anticipated the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Christ (Heb 9:14, 1 Pet 1:19), who alone was truly without blemish. A blemished sacrifice would be an insult to God and would not be accepted.
- for his sin (לְחַטָּאתֹו - ləḥaṭṭātō): Directly states the purpose of the offering – to atone for, cover, or ritually cleanse the specific sin committed by the individual. It signifies expiation and the removal of the defilement associated with the sin, allowing the person to be ritually clean before God.
Leviticus 4 28 Bonus section
The system of sin offerings in Leviticus, including the instruction in verse 28, was not intended to address high-handed, defiant sin (Num 15:30-31), for which there was often no sacrificial remedy, potentially leading to being "cut off" from the community. Rather, it focused on acts committed unintentionally, due to error or ignorance, which still brought ritual impurity and disrupted covenant fellowship. The emphasis on individual awareness and responsibility ("is made known to him") underscored that even unwitting offenses required deliberate action for reconciliation, promoting a heightened sensitivity to God's holiness and the implications of one's actions. This daily-life aspect of the sin offering demonstrated God's graciousness in providing a pathway for restoration for His people as they journeyed through life.
Leviticus 4 28 Commentary
Leviticus 4:28 lays out the practical requirement for an ordinary Israelite when an unintentional sin, or one committed out of ignorance, comes to their awareness. The phrase "is made known to him" signifies more than a casual discovery; it denotes a deep conviction or understanding that a specific commandment has been transgressed. This realization prompts a necessary response: the bringing of a prescribed "sin offering," a male goat, which must be without blemish. This sacrifice, though unable to genuinely take away sin in its deepest sense (Heb 10:4), served to ritualistically cleanse the individual from the defilement caused by their error, thereby restoring them to proper covenant relationship and communal purity. It highlighted the severity of sin, even unintentional, and God's gracious provision for reconciliation within the Mosaic covenant. The rigorous requirement for an unblemished animal underscored the perfect holiness of God and prefigured the faultless, ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled all requirements and offered a complete, final atonement for all sins (Heb 9:11-14). This Levitical law thus served as a tutor, pointing to the essential nature of sacrifice, conviction of sin, and the absolute necessity of a perfect mediator for true redemption.