Leviticus 4 3

Leviticus 4:3 kjv

If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.

Leviticus 4:3 nkjv

if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.

Leviticus 4:3 niv

"?'If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.

Leviticus 4:3 esv

if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the LORD for a sin offering.

Leviticus 4:3 nlt

"If the high priest sins, bringing guilt upon the entire community, he must give a sin offering for the sin he has committed. He must present to the LORD a young bull with no defects.

Leviticus 4 verses

Leviticus 4 3 Meaning

Leviticus 4:3 declares that if the consecrated High Priest commits an unintentional sin, even in ignorance, it carries such significant weight that it is regarded as defiling the entire community, due to his representative role before God. Consequently, he is commanded to bring a male calf without blemish as a chatta't (sin offering) to the Lord for atonement and to purify the holy space from the defilement his sin introduced. This provision demonstrates God's requirement for holiness even in leadership and His gracious way to restore communion.

Leviticus 4 3 Context

Leviticus chapter 4 is pivotal, outlining the specific regulations for the chatta't (sin offering) when an unintentional sin (Hebrew: shagagah) is committed. These unintentional sins could involve breaking one of God's commands without awareness, or acting in error. The chapter provides distinct provisions based on the status of the individual or group committing the sin: the anointed priest (vv. 3-12), the whole congregation (vv. 13-21), a leader (vv. 22-26), or a common individual (vv. 27-35). This legal framework underscores the profound holiness of God and the pervasive nature of sin, even when not intentionally committed, demonstrating the necessity of divine atonement to maintain His presence among His people. Historically, this system was established after the building of the Tabernacle at Sinai, providing a ritual mechanism for the nascent Israelite nation to approach and maintain relationship with a holy God amidst their human fallibility. This emphasis on unintentional sin requiring atonement contrasted sharply with pagan cultures, where atonement often focused on appeasing deities for perceived intentional transgressions, rather than providing divine pathways for cleansing defilement from unintentional error.

Leviticus 4 3 Word analysis

• If: A conditional particle, introducing a specific hypothetical scenario that requires a defined response. It signals the beginning of a casuistic law.
• the priest that is anointed: Hebrew: הַכֹּהֵן הַמָּשִׁיחַ (ha-kohen ha-mashiaḥ). This specific title refers solely to the High Priest, who held the most sacred office in Israel. His anointing with oil (Ex 29:7; Lev 8:12) symbolized his unique consecration and mediatorial role as God's representative to the people and the people's representative before God.
• do sin: Hebrew: חָטָא (ḥata'). This verb means "to miss the mark," "to err," or "to sin." In the context of Leviticus 4, it consistently refers to unintentional sins (שְׁגָגָה - shagagah, introduced in verse 2), distinct from presumptuous or willful sins (e.g., Num 15:30-31), which had no prescribed animal sacrifice for atonement.
• according to the sin of the people: Hebrew: כְּאַשְׁמַת הָעָם (ke-ashmat ha'am) - literally "as the guilt of the people" or "according to the guilt of the people." This phrase is profound. It indicates that when the High Priest, in his unique role, commits an unintentional sin, the ramifications are not merely personal but are treated with the same gravity and have the same defiling effect as if the entire community had collectively sinned or come under corporate guilt. His purity was inextricably linked to the purity of the nation and the holy place.
• then let him bring: An imperative instruction, signaling the mandatory ritual required for rectification.
• for his sin: Referring to the act of sin he has committed. The Hebrew chatta't (חַטָּאת) here refers to the offense itself.
• which he hath sinned: A reiteration emphasizing the High Priest's personal responsibility for the transgression.
• a young bullock: Hebrew: פַּר בֶּן בָּקָר (par ben baqar) - "a male calf, a son of the herd." This was the largest and most expensive animal for a sacrifice. The requirement for a bullock signifies the immense seriousness and impact of the High Priest's sin, mirroring the offering required for the sin of the whole congregation (Lev 4:14).
• without blemish: Hebrew: תָּמִים (tamim) - "perfect," "whole," "blameless." This recurring requirement for all offerings (Lev 1:3; 3:1) ensured that only the best, symbolically perfect animal, could be presented to a holy God. It underscored the standard of perfection necessary for sacred interaction and prefigured Christ, the perfect and spotless sacrifice (1 Pet 1:19).
• unto the Lord: Explicitly states the recipient of the offering, emphasizing that the atonement is a divine act and reconciliation is made with God.
• for a sin offering: Hebrew: חַטָּאת (ḥaṭṭā't) - the specific technical term for this class of sacrifice. Its primary purpose was not only to atone for guilt but, crucially, to purify the defilement caused by unintentional sin, particularly as it affected the Tabernacle/Temple, allowing God's holy presence to remain among the people (Lev 15:31).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people": This crucial opening clause defines the specific individual, the nature of the sin (unintentional), and its profound, communal consequence. It highlights that the spiritual leader's integrity and adherence to God's law were paramount, as their error reverberated through the entire community. It underlines the concept of corporate identity and the ripple effect of leadership's spiritual state.
• "then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a sin offering": This provides the prescribed divine remedy. The costly animal emphasizes the seriousness of the sin and God's gracious provision. The instruction points to a mandatory action to reconcile, purify, and restore the relationship, both personally and corporately, with a holy God. The entire phrase articulates God's established protocol for cleansing and making atonement, crucial for maintaining His dwelling among them.

Leviticus 4 3 Bonus section

The intricate system of sacrifices in Leviticus 4 illustrates a profound theological principle: sin, even when unintentional or committed in ignorance, causes defilement and breaks fellowship with God. God, being utterly holy, cannot dwell where there is defilement. The chatta't offering, especially for the High Priest, highlights that no human, regardless of office or perceived righteousness, is exempt from the need for atonement and cleansing from the effects of sin. This underscores universal human fallenness and the necessity of divine grace and provision. This sacrifice served to "purge" the Tabernacle, symbolizing how the priest's sin tainted even the sacred space where God dwelt among Israel, thereby ensuring the continued divine presence by ceremonial purification. The gradation of sin offerings (bullock for high priest/congregation, goat/lamb for individuals) illustrates a hierarchy of responsibility and impact, yet all pointing to the need for atoning blood.

Leviticus 4 3 Commentary

Leviticus 4:3 reveals the high standard of holiness God demanded, particularly from those in positions of spiritual leadership. The High Priest, Israel's foremost spiritual guide and mediator, was entrusted with immense responsibility. His unintentional sin, though not a deliberate defiance, had consequences that extended beyond himself, implicating the entire congregation. This was not because the people shared in his guilt per se, but because his defilement impacted the sacred spaces where God resided among them. The expensive "young bullock without blemish" signifies the gravity of this contamination and the significant cost of restoration, emphasizing that divine perfection (the unblemished animal) was required to meet God's holiness and cleanse the effects of sin. This instruction graciously provides a pathway for purification and restoration, demonstrating God's provision for His people's failings, ultimately pointing forward to the flawless sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our ultimate High Priest, whose perfect life and sacrifice cleanses all who trust in Him, perfectly and permanently.