Leviticus 4:30 kjv
And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.
Leviticus 4:30 nkjv
Then the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour all the remaining blood at the base of the altar.
Leviticus 4:30 niv
Then the priest is to take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
Leviticus 4:30 esv
And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.
Leviticus 4:30 nlt
Then the priest will dip his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
Leviticus 4 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 4:5-7 | The anointed priest shall take some of the bull's blood and bring it into the Tent of Meeting… sprinks some of the blood seven times before the Lord… put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense... | Blood application for a priest/congregation's sin; distinct location for higher severity of sin. |
| Lev 4:17-18 | The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the Lord... and pour out all the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering. | Blood application for the congregation's sin, similar yet distinct in scope. |
| Lev 4:25 | The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. | Parallel procedure for a common person's sin. |
| Lev 1:5 | He is to slaughter the young bull before the Lord... and the priests... shall sprinkle the blood against the altar... | Blood sprinkling in general sacrifice. |
| Lev 8:15 | Moses took the blood, put some on the horns of the altar... and poured the rest of the blood at the base of the altar... | Consecration of the altar using blood. |
| Lev 9:9 | The priests... put some of the blood on the horns of the altar and poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. | Blood application during Aaron's first offerings. |
| Lev 16:18 | Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar all around. | Atonement for the altar on Day of Atonement. |
| Exod 27:2 | You shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze. | Construction of the altar with horns. |
| Exod 29:12 | You shall take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out all the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. | Consecration of the altar. |
| Exod 30:2-3 | You shall make it square, and its height shall be two cubits. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with pure gold. | Construction of the incense altar with horns. |
| Ezek 43:20 | You shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar and on the four corners of the ledge and on the rim all around. | Ezekiel's temple altar cleansing with blood. |
| Lev 17:11 | For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. | Core theological basis for blood's atoning power. |
| Num 35:33 | You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that has been shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. | Blood's power to pollute or purify. |
| Heb 9:12 | He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. | Christ's perfect, singular sacrifice, surpassing animal blood. |
| Heb 9:13-14 | For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ... cleanse our conscience from dead works? | Christ's blood is superior for inner cleansing. |
| Heb 10:4 | For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. | Limitation of Old Covenant sacrifices. |
| Heb 10:10 | By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. | Christ's body offered as the final sacrifice. |
| Heb 13:11-12 | For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. | Christ's sacrifice fulfilling the 'outside the camp' aspect of some sin offerings. |
| Col 1:20 | And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. | Reconciliation through Christ's blood. |
| Eph 1:7 | In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. | Redemption and forgiveness through Christ's blood. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | Knowing that you were ransomed... not with perishable things... but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. | Ransom by Christ's blood, linked to purity of sacrifice. |
| Rom 3:25 | God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. | Christ as the propitiatory sacrifice. |
Leviticus 4 verses
Leviticus 4 30 Meaning
Leviticus 4:30 describes a precise ritual step within the sin offering (חַטָּאת - chatta't) specifically for a leader (נָשִׂיא - nasi) who has unintentionally sinned. The verse details how the priest, acting as an intermediary, applies a portion of the sacrificial animal's blood to the horns of the altar of burnt offering, signifying the transfer of impurity and the act of atonement. The remaining blood is then completely poured out at the base of this altar, emphasizing the sanctity of life contained within the blood and its full consecration to God for purification. This process facilitates the removal of the sin and restores the relationship between the leader and God, and by extension, with the holy community.
Leviticus 4 30 Context
Leviticus 4 provides detailed instructions for the sin offering (חַטָּאת - chatta't), specifically dealing with unintentional sins, which disrupt one's covenant relationship with God. This chapter differentiates procedures based on the identity of the sinner: an anointed priest (Lev 4:3-12), the whole congregation (Lev 4:13-21), a leader (Lev 4:22-26), and a common person (Lev 4:27-35). Leviticus 4:30 falls within the context of the leader's sin offering, directly after the specifications for the sacrifice itself (a male goat without blemish, Lev 4:23). The historical and cultural context underscores ancient Israel's understanding of holiness, impurity, and the gravity of sin against a holy God. Sin, even unintentional, created a defilement requiring ritual purification and restitution. The tabernacle, as God's dwelling place, demanded strict adherence to ritual purity to maintain His presence. The use of blood for atonement was a divine institution, setting Israel apart from contemporary pagan practices where blood was often used in manipulative magic or to appease volatile deities; in Israel, blood represented life and was presented to God for reconciliation and cleansing as He commanded.
Leviticus 4 30 Word analysis
- And the priest (וְהִקְרִיב הַכֹּהֵן - v'hikriv hakohen): Refers to the acting priest from the lineage of Aaron, designated by God for mediation between God and the people. "Hikriv" often implies "bringing near" in a sacrificial sense. This highlights his divinely appointed role in performing the sacred ritual.
- shall take (וְלָקַח - v'lakach): Signifies the deliberate act of the priest, not haphazard.
- some of its blood (מִדָּמָהּ - midamah): The blood (דָּם - dam) represents the life force of the animal (Lev 17:11). "Some" indicates that only a specific portion is used for direct application, implying precision in the ritual.
- with his finger (בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ - b'etsba'o): Emphasizes direct, precise contact and application, highlighting the priest's active involvement in the transfer of the blood's atoning power. This detail underscores the meticulous nature of God's instructions for worship.
- and put it on the horns (וְנָתַן עַל-קַרְנוֹת - v'natan al-qarnot): The "horns" (קֶרֶן - qeren) were the raised, prominent corners of the altar, symbolizing strength, power, and a point of refuge (e.g., 1 Kgs 1:50, 2:28). Applying blood here signifies extending the atonement to the very structure that makes offerings acceptable, making purification efficacious.
- of the altar of burnt offering (מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה - mizbeach ha'olah): This refers to the large brazen altar in the Tabernacle courtyard where general burnt offerings were made. Its location signifies that this sin offering's primary impact (for a leader) is handled at the public altar, as opposed to the incense altar within the Holy Place, which was for sins of the priest or the whole congregation.
- and pour out (וְאֶת-כָּל-דָּמָהּ יִשְׁפּךְ - v'et-kol-damah yishpokh): "Pour out" (שָׁפַךְ - shafakh) indicates a complete emptying, signifying the full disposal of the blood not used for direct application.
- all the rest of its blood (כָּל-דָּמָהּ הַנִּשְׁאָר - kol-damah hanishar): Reinforces the completeness of the disposal. No blood is to be consumed or retained by man, preserving its sanctity as dedicated solely to God for atonement.
- at the base of the altar (אֶל-יְסוֹד הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - el-yesod hamizbe'ach): The foundation or foot of the altar, often signifying its sacred boundary with the ground. Pouring the blood here suggests returning the life force to the ground in God's presence, signifying a final closure to the sacred, life-giving element of the offering, as it cannot be used or consumed by humans.
Words-group analysis
- "the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and put it on the horns": This sequence underscores the meticulous and prescribed ritualistic transfer of the atoning blood. The priest's direct action symbolizes the divinely ordained means of dealing with sin.
- "horns of the altar of burnt offering": This specifies the precise sacred location where atonement is publicly effected for a leader's sin. It highlights the role of the altar as the central point of encounter with God through sacrifice.
- "and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar": This concluding action emphasizes the complete offering of the life (blood) to God, its separation from human use, and the finality of the sacrificial act, sealing the atonement and cleansing process.
Leviticus 4 30 Bonus section
The variation in blood application for different categories of sinners in Leviticus 4 (e.g., blood sprinkled seven times before the veil and on the altar of incense for the anointed priest or the whole congregation, but only on the horns of the burnt offering altar for a leader or common person) illustrates the escalating impact of sin. A leader's sin affects the community's integrity, necessitating a public ritual, but it does not carry the same degree of systemic defilement as that of a high priest or the entire community which would necessitate a deeper cleansing of the holy place itself. This highlights God's graduated response to sin's effects based on the sinner's role and sphere of influence. The physical act of applying blood signified a direct contact with life offered for life, symbolizing spiritual transfer of guilt and purity.
Leviticus 4 30 Commentary
Leviticus 4:30 succinctly illustrates the precision and purposefulness of the Old Testament sin offering. Every detail, from the priest's method of application (with a finger) to the specific location (horns of the altar of burnt offering) and the ultimate disposal of the blood (at the base), highlights God's demand for order, holiness, and the comprehensive dealing with sin. The blood, as the bearer of life and the means of atonement (Lev 17:11), acts as a conduit for transferring the defilement of sin away from the individual and covering it before God. For a leader's sin, the blood's application to the outer altar reflects a severity between that of a common person and that of the priest/community, whose blood often reached the inner sanctuary. This elaborate system underscored the gravity of sin and humanity's inability to approach a holy God without a prescribed, sacrificial intermediary. These temporary sacrifices foreshadowed the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose own perfect blood (Heb 9:12) cleansed sins fully and permanently, removing the need for repeated animal sacrifices and establishing a new covenant access to God. The Old Testament rituals made sin visible and underscored God's gracious provision for atonement until Christ's coming.