Leviticus 9 3

Leviticus 9:3 kjv

And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;

Leviticus 9:3 nkjv

And to the children of Israel you shall speak, saying, 'Take a kid of the goats as a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering,

Leviticus 9:3 niv

Then say to the Israelites: 'Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb?both a year old and without defect?for a burnt offering,

Leviticus 9:3 esv

And say to the people of Israel, 'Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering,

Leviticus 9:3 nlt

Then tell the Israelites, 'Take a male goat for a sin offering, and take a calf and a lamb, both a year old and without defects, for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 9 verses

Leviticus 9 3 Meaning

Leviticus 9:3 outlines the specific instructions given by Moses to the Israelites regarding the animals required for the inaugural public offerings conducted by Aaron, the newly consecrated High Priest. It details a male goat for a sin offering and a male calf and a male lamb, both one year old and without blemish, for a burnt offering. These offerings were essential components of the ceremonial day that marked the beginning of priestly service and God's manifestation of glory among His people.

Leviticus 9 3 Context

Leviticus 9 marks the eighth and final day of the Tabernacle's consecration and the official inauguration of the Aaronic priesthood. The preceding chapter (Leviticus 8) details the seven-day ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons, during which they were purified and prepared for their priestly duties according to God's precise instructions given to Moses. On this eighth day, the public sacrificial system is to begin, allowing Aaron, as High Priest, to make offerings not only for himself but for the entire community of Israel. This verse, Lev 9:3, sets out the specific sacrifices the people are to provide for this pivotal event. It culminates in God's glory appearing and fire consuming the offerings (Lev 9:23-24), signifying divine acceptance of the priestly service and the presence of the Lord among His people.

Leviticus 9 3 Word analysis

• "And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying,": This highlights Moses' role as the mediator of God's commands to the entire Israelite community. The commands for sacrifice are communal, reflecting shared responsibility and participation in worship.
• "Take ye" (קְחוּ – q'ḥu): An imperative verb, directly commanding the people to procure the specific animals. This indicates an action required from the community, not just the priests.
• "a kid of the goats" (שְׂעִיר עִזִּים – s'ir izzim): Specifically, a young male goat, chosen for its symbolic association with sin offerings.
• "for a sin offering" (לְחַטָּאת – l'khaṭṭa't): This offering primarily addressed ritual impurity and unintentional sin, serving to purify the offerer and atone for misdeeds. Its purpose was to cleanse from that which defiles and hinders access to a holy God. The word itself (חַטָּאת) is related to "missing the mark."
• "and a calf" (וְעֵגֶל – v'egel): A young bull, generally representing a valuable and significant offering.
• "and a lamb" (וְכֶבֶשׂ – v'keves): A male lamb, also a common and valued sacrificial animal, frequently associated with purity.
• "both of the first year" (בְּנֵי שָׁנָה – b'nei shana): Literally "sons of a year." This indicates the animals must be young, full of vigor, and typically in their prime, representing the best available. This emphasizes offering the Lord a choice portion.
• "without blemish" (תְּמִימִים – t'mimim): Plural for "perfect, whole, complete, unblemished." This is a crucial and constantly repeated requirement for all sacrifices. It signifies the perfection required for anything dedicated to a holy God, preventing blemished or inferior offerings, and symbolically pointing towards the ultimate unblemished sacrifice to come.
• "for a burnt offering" (לְעֹלָה – l'olah): Also known as an "ascension" offering, where the entire animal (except the skin) was consumed by fire, symbolizing complete dedication, worship, and propitiation. It signifies total surrender and communion with God.
• "a kid of the goats for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb... for a burnt offering;": The deliberate ordering and distinction of these two types of offerings are significant. First, sin is addressed (purification/atonement), then follows complete devotion and propitiation. This mirrors the spiritual truth that fellowship with God is predicated upon dealing with sin.

Leviticus 9 3 Bonus section

The choice of "kid of the goats" for the sin offering specifically for the people (compared to a bull for Aaron's own sin offering in Lev 9:2) highlights the specific communal context. This entire sequence of sacrifices on the eighth day (including a peace offering and a grain offering, as mentioned in Lev 9:4) was designed not just for atonement but also as a public spectacle of worship that would draw out a visible response from God, manifesting His glory among the people (Lev 9:6, 23-24). The distinct roles of each sacrifice (sin for cleansing, burnt for total dedication) present a pattern of approaching God: purification first, then full devotion. This principle is vital for the believer even today, emphasizing that proper worship and relationship with God are contingent upon confronting sin and offering a dedicated life to Him, made possible through Christ's work.

Leviticus 9 3 Commentary

Leviticus 9:3 is foundational to understanding the inaugural public ministry of the Aaronic priesthood and the nature of Israel's covenant relationship with God. The selection of specific animals – a goat for sin, and a calf and lamb for a burnt offering – reflects divine precision in worship. The stringent requirement for animals "of the first year, without blemish" is paramount; it underscores God's absolute holiness and demands perfection in all that approaches Him. This perfection was unattainable in humanity and animal sacrifices, inherently pointing to a future, flawless sacrifice. These ceremonial offerings provided temporary covering for sin and a means for corporate worship, but they fundamentally served as a foreshadowing, preparing Israel for the coming of Jesus Christ. He, as the true unblemished Lamb of God (John 1:29, 1 Pet 1:19), perfectly fulfilled both the sin offering (2 Cor 5:21) and the burnt offering (Phil 2:8, Heb 10:5-7) through His complete obedience and self-sacrifice, providing once-for-all atonement and perfect dedication, enabling a true and lasting relationship with a holy God.