Leviticus 23:19

Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.

Then ye shall sacrifice {H6213} one {H259} kid {H8163} of the goats {H5795} for a sin offering {H2403}, and two {H8147} lambs {H3532} of the first {H1121} year {H8141} for a sacrifice {H2077} of peace offerings {H8002}.

Offer one male goat as a sin offering and two male lambs one year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings

You shall also prepare one male goat as a sin offering and two male lambs a year old as a peace offering.

And ye shall offer one he-goat for a sin-offering, and two he-lambs a year old for a sacrifice of peace-offerings.

Commentary

Leviticus 23:19 details specific sacrificial requirements for the ancient Israelites during the Feast of Weeks, also known as Shavuot or Pentecost. This verse highlights the offerings made after the presentation of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, emphasizing both atonement and fellowship with God.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Leviticus chapter 23, which meticulously outlines the Lord's appointed feasts or festivals (mo'adim). The Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15-18) marked the culmination of the grain harvest, occurring fifty days after the presentation of the barley sheaf during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It was a joyous time of thanksgiving for God's provision, but also a solemn occasion requiring specific sacrifices to maintain a right relationship with Him.

Key Themes

  • Atonement and Purification: The "kid of the goats for a sin offering" (Hebrew: chatta't) was crucial for addressing unintentional sins and purifying the community, ensuring they could stand blameless before God. This offering underscored the Israelites' need for divine forgiveness even amidst celebration.
  • Fellowship and Thanksgiving: The "two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings" (Hebrew: shelem) symbolized wholeness, well-being, and communion. These offerings were typically shared by the offerer, the priests, and God, fostering a sense of peace and fellowship. They were expressions of gratitude for the harvest and God's faithfulness.
  • Obedience and Covenant: The precise instructions for these sacrifices reinforced the importance of obedience to God's covenant commands. Observing these rituals was a tangible demonstration of Israel's commitment to their covenant relationship with the Lord.

Linguistic Insights

The term for "sin offering," chatta't, carries the idea of purification and expiation, making atonement for sin. The "peace offering," shelem, is derived from the root shalom, meaning "peace," "wholeness," or "completeness." This highlights the offering's role in establishing or maintaining a state of well-being and harmonious relationship between God and His people, often culminating in a shared meal.

Practical Application

While the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament are no longer binding for believers today due to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the principles behind these offerings remain profound. This verse reminds us:

  • The Need for Forgiveness: We still require forgiveness for our sins, which is now found through faith in Christ's atoning work on the cross (Hebrews 9:22).
  • The Value of Fellowship: Our relationship with God should be characterized by peace and fellowship, nurtured through prayer, worship, and obedience.
  • Gratitude and Generosity: Just as the Israelites brought their firstfruits, we are called to express our gratitude to God through our worship, our giving, and our service, acknowledging that all good things come from Him.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 28:30

    [And] one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.

  • Leviticus 4:23

    Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:

  • Leviticus 4:28

    Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.

  • 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.

  • Leviticus 16:15

    ¶ Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that [is] for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:

  • Numbers 15:24

    Then it shall be, if [ought] be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.

  • Romans 8:3

    For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
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