King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
then, if it is the anointed cohen who sinned and thus brought guilt on the people, he is to offer ADONAI a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he committed.
Berean Standard Bible:
If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull without blemish as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.
American Standard Version:
if the anointed priest shall sin so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto Jehovah for a sin-offering.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
If the priest{H3548} that is anointed{H4899} do sin{H2398} according to the sin{H819} of the people{H5971}; then let him bring{H7126} for his sin{H2403}, which he hath sinned{H2398}, a young{H1241}{H1121} bullock{H6499} without blemish{H8549} unto the LORD{H3068} for a sin offering{H2403}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Hebrews 7:27
- Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 7:28
- For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Leviticus 9:2
- And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer [them] before the LORD.
Leviticus 4:14
- When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.
2 Corinthians 5:21
- For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Ezra 8:35
- [Also] the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats [for] a sin offering: all [this was] a burnt offering unto the LORD.
Hebrews 5:3
- And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 4:3
1. Themes:
- **Accountability of Leaders**: The verse emphasizes that religious leaders, specifically the anointed priest, are not exempt from the consequences of sin and must atone for their transgressions.
- **Atonement and Forgiveness**: It reflects the theme of atonement, where a sin offering is required to seek forgiveness from God.
- **Ritual Purity**: The requirement of a blemish-free bullock underscores the importance of perfection in offerings, symbolizing the need for purity in the presence of the divine.
- **Restoration of Relationship with God**: The act of bringing a sin offering is part of the process to restore one's relationship with God after sinning.
2. Historical Context:
- **Levitical Priesthood**: The verse is set within the context of the Israelite priesthood, specifically the Aaronic priesthood, as outlined in the book of Leviticus. Aaron and his sons were the first priests anointed under the Mosaic Law.
- **Mosaic Law**: Leviticus is part of the Torah, which contains the laws given to Moses by God. These laws were foundational for the religious and social life of ancient Israel.
- **Sacrificial System**: The instructions for sin offerings were part of the complex sacrificial system that God established for Israel. This system provided a way for the people, including the priesthood, to deal with sin and its consequences.
- **Time Period**: The book of Leviticus was likely written during the time of Moses, around the 13th century BCE, when the Israelites were in the wilderness after escaping slavery in Egypt and before entering the Promised Land.
In summary, Leviticus 4:3 addresses the necessity for even the highest religious leaders to atone for their sins through a prescribed ritual, reflecting the broader themes of accountability, atonement, ritual purity, and the restoration of one's relationship with God within the context of the Mosaic Law and the sacrificial system of ancient Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3548
There are 653 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֹּהֵן
Transliteration: kôhên
Pronunciation: ko-hane'
Description: active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer. - Strong's Number: H4899
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָשִׁיחַ
Transliteration: mâshîyach
Pronunciation: maw-shee'-akh
Description: from מָשַׁח; anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the Messiah; anointed, Messiah. - Strong's Number: H2398
There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָטָא
Transliteration: châṭâʼ
Pronunciation: khaw-taw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn; bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass. - Strong's Number: H819
There are 437 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַשְׁמָה
Transliteration: ʼashmâh
Pronunciation: ash-maw'
Description: feminine of אָשָׁם; guiltiness, a fault, the presentation of asin-offering; offend, sin, (cause of) trespass(-ing, offering). - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H7126
There are 259 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרַב
Transliteration: qârab
Pronunciation: kaw-rab'
Description: a primitive root; to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose; (cause to) approach, (cause to) bring (forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer, present, produce, make ready, stand, take. - Strong's Number: H2403
There are 272 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַטָּאָה
Transliteration: chaṭṭâʼâh
Pronunciation: khat-taw-aw'
Description: or חַטָּאת; from חָטָא; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender; punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering). - Strong's Number: H1241
There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּקָר
Transliteration: bâqâr
Pronunciation: baw-kawr'
Description: from בָּקַר; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd; beeve, bull ([phrase] -ock), [phrase] calf, [phrase] cow, great (cattle), [phrase] heifer, herd, kine, ox. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H6499
There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פַּר
Transliteration: par
Pronunciation: par
Description: or פָּר; from פָּרַר; a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof); ([phrase] young) bull(-ock), calf, ox. - Strong's Number: H8549
There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּמִים
Transliteration: tâmîym
Pronunciation: taw-meem'
Description: from תָּמַם; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth; without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright(-ly), whole. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.