Leviticus 4:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He must bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before ADONAI, lay his hand on the bull's head and slaughter the bull in the presence of ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible:

He must bring the bull to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the LORD.

American Standard Version:

And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tent of meeting before Jehovah; and he shall lay his hand upon the head of the bullock, and kill the bullock before Jehovah.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he shall bring^{H935} the bullock^{H6499} unto the door^{H6607} of the tabernacle^{H168} of the congregation^{H4150} before^{H6440} the LORD^{H3068}; and shall lay^{H5564} his hand^{H3027} upon the bullock's^{H6499} head^{H7218}, and kill^{H7819} the bullock^{H6499} before^{H6440} the LORD^{H3068}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Leviticus 4:4

1. **Themes:**
- **Atonement and Sacrifice:** The verse emphasizes the theme of atonement through sacrifice, a central concept in Leviticus. The act of laying hands on the bull symbolizes the transfer of the offerer's sins onto the animal, which is then sacrificed to make amends to God.
- **Personal Responsibility:** It reflects the importance of personal responsibility in the religious life of the Israelites. An individual who has sinned must personally bring the offering and participate in the ritual.
- **Holiness and Reverence:** The location of the sacrifice "before the LORD" at the door of the tabernacle underscores the sanctity of the place and the reverence due to God.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Israelite Priesthood and Worship:** Leviticus 4:4 is part of the instructions given to the Israelites concerning offerings and worship practices. These laws were given after the Exodus from Egypt, during the time when the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, was the center of Israelite worship.
- **Mosaic Law:** The verse is part of the Mosaic Law, which includes detailed instructions for religious ceremonies and moral conduct. These laws were intended to guide the Israelites in their relationship with God and with each other.
- **Sin Offering:** Specifically, this verse describes the sin offering (Hebrew: חַטָּאת, chatat), which was required when someone committed a sin unintentionally. The bull was the offering for a high priest or the whole community, indicating the severity of the offense or the importance of the individual's role.

In summary, Leviticus 4:4 reflects the themes of atonement, personal responsibility, and reverence for God within the historical context of the Israelite's worship practices and the Mosaic Law, particularly regarding the sin offering.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6607
   There are 154 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פֶּתַח
   Transliteration: pethach
   Pronunciation: peh'-thakh
   Description: from פָּתַח; an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way; door, entering (in), entrance (-ry), gate, opening, place.
   
4. Strong's Number: H168
   There are 369 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֹהֶל
   Transliteration: ʼôhel
   Pronunciation: o'-hel
   Description: from אָהַל; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance); covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4150
   There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוֹעֵד
   Transliteration: môwʻêd
   Pronunciation: mo-ade'
   Description: or מֹעֵד; or (feminine) מוֹעָדָה; (2 Chronicles 8:13), from יָעַד; properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally ayear; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand); appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn(-ity), synogogue, (set) time (appointed).
   
6. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
7. 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.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5564
   There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סָמַךְ
   Transliteration: çâmak
   Pronunciation: saw-mak'
   Description: a primitive root; to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense); bear up, establish, (up-) hold, lay, lean, lie hard, put, rest self, set self, stand fast, stay (self), sustain.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7218
    There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רֹאשׁ
    Transliteration: rôʼsh
    Pronunciation: roshe
    Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.
    
11. Strong's Number: H7819
    There are 70 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁחַט
    Transliteration: shâchaṭ
    Pronunciation: shaw-khat'
    Description: a primitive root; to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre); kill, offer, shoot out, slay, slaughter.