Leviticus 4:11

KJV

And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,

KJV (with Strong's)

And the skin {H5785} of the bullock {H6499}, and all his flesh {H1320}, with his head {H7218}, and with his legs {H3767}, and his inwards {H7130}, and his dung {H6569},

Complete Jewish Bible

But the bull's hide and all its flesh, with its head, the lower parts of its legs, its inner organs and dung -

Berean Standard Bible

But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, with its head and legs and its entrails and dung—

American Standard Version

And the skin of the bullock, and all its flesh, with its head, and with its legs, and its inwards, and its dung,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 4:11 meticulously details the specific parts of the bullock from a sin offering—the skin, all its flesh, head, legs, inwards, and dung—that were to be taken outside the camp and burned. This instruction, part of the broader regulations for the *chatta't* (sin offering) in Leviticus 4, underscores the profound defilement of sin and the absolute necessity of its complete removal from the holy presence of God and the Israelite community, distinct from other sacrificial rites.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 4:11 is situated within the detailed regulations for the sin offering, which occupies the entirety of [Leviticus 4](/leviticus/4 "Leviticus 4 - The Sin Offering"). This chapter outlines specific procedures for unintentional sins committed by different categories of people: the anointed priest ([Leviticus 4:3](/leviticus/4-3 "Leviticus 4:3 - Sin Offering for the Priest")), the whole congregation ([Leviticus 4:13](/leviticus/4-13 "Leviticus 4:13 - Sin Offering for the Congregation")), a ruler, or a common person. The sin offering (Hebrew: *chatta't*) was distinct from the burnt offering (*olah*) or peace offering (*zevach shlamim*) in its purpose and disposal. While the fat and kidneys of the sin offering were burned on the altar as a "sweet aroma to the Lord" ([Leviticus 4:8-10](/leviticus/4-8-10 "Leviticus 4:8-10 - Parts of the Sin Offering Burned on the Altar")), the bulk of the animal, including the parts listed in verse 11, was not consumed on the sacred altar but was instead carried "outside the camp" to a clean place for burning, emphasizing the removal of defilement rather than solely presenting an offering to God.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Israelite camp was understood as a holy space, with the Tabernacle, God's dwelling place, at its center. This spatial arrangement reflected the concept of divine presence and the necessity of purity. Anything considered defiling or unclean, including certain sacrificial remains, was to be removed from this sacred precinct. The act of taking the sin offering's carcass "outside the camp" ([Leviticus 4:12](/leviticus/4-12 "Leviticus 4:12 - Burning Outside the Camp")) to a "clean place" for burning was not merely waste disposal but a highly symbolic act. It underscored the absolute separation of sin and its defilement from the holy community and the presence of Yahweh. This ritual purification was essential for maintaining the covenant relationship between God and Israel, ensuring that the people remained acceptable in His sight and that His holiness was not compromised by their sin. This practice also prefigured later Jewish traditions of purity and separation, which were deeply ingrained in the daily life and worship of the Israelites, from their dietary laws to their handling of the dead, all designed to maintain ritual and moral cleanness before a holy God, as seen throughout [the Law of Moses](/exodus/20 "Exodus 20 - The Ten Commandments and the Law").
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes pervasive in Leviticus and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **God's Holiness and Purity**, emphasizing that God's presence demands a holy environment, free from the defilement of sin. The meticulous instructions for handling the sin offering highlight the **Gravity of Sin**, even unintentional sin, demonstrating that it is an offense requiring specific and thorough atonement. The ritual also underscores the theme of **Expiation and Atonement**, showing God's provision for dealing with sin and restoring the covenant relationship. By removing the sin offering outside the camp, the text illustrates the theme of **Separation and Removal of Defilement**, signifying that sin must be completely purged from the community to maintain its purity before God. Finally, the distinct nature of the sin offering, particularly its disposal, points to the broader theme of **Sacrificial System as Divine Provision**, where God Himself establishes the means by which a sinful people can approach and dwell with a holy God, a system that ultimately finds its perfect fulfillment in Christ, as anticipated in passages like [Hebrews 9](/hebrews/9 "Hebrews 9 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **flesh (Hebrew, _bâsâr'_):** (H1320) This term, meaning the physical substance of the body, emphasizes the totality of the animal that was to be removed. In the context of the sin offering, "all his flesh" signifies that the entire physical representation of the sin-bearing animal, not just select portions, was to be taken away. This underscores the comprehensive nature of the sin's defilement and the need for its complete removal.
* **inwards (Hebrew, _qereb'_):** (H7130) Referring to the innermost parts or internal organs, this word often carries connotations of the essence or core of being. The inclusion of the "inwards" among the parts to be burned outside the camp highlights that the defilement of sin penetrates deeply, affecting the very core of the sin-bearer. Its removal signifies a thorough cleansing, from the outer skin to the deepest internal organs.
* **dung (Hebrew, _peresh'_):** (H6569) This term denotes excrement or waste, an inherently unclean and repulsive substance. Its explicit inclusion in the list of parts to be burned outside the camp is highly symbolic. It vividly illustrates the utterly defiling and offensive nature of sin in God's sight, emphasizing that sin is detestable waste that must be completely expelled and destroyed, having no place within the holy community.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the skin of the bullock":** Unlike other offerings where the priest might keep the hide, its inclusion here signifies that even the outer covering of the animal, which symbolically bore the sin, was to be utterly separated from the holy camp. This emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the removal of defilement.
* **"and all his flesh":** This phrase stresses the totality of the carcass's removal. It was not merely select portions, but the entire muscular tissue of the animal, representing its very substance, that was to be taken away, underscoring the completeness of the sin's expiation.
* **"with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards":** These specific anatomical parts further underscore the comprehensive nature of the carcass's removal. The head (often associated with thought or leadership), legs (means of movement), and inwards (internal organs, often associated with emotions or the essence of being) collectively represent the whole animal, leaving no part of the sin-bearing sacrifice within the sacred precincts.
* **"and his dung":** The explicit inclusion of the dung, the waste product, highlights the defiling and offensive nature of sin. Its removal and destruction outside the camp symbolized the complete expulsion of all impurity and offensive elements associated with the sin from the holy community.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 4:11 employs several significant literary devices. **Symbolism** is paramount, with each part of the bullock and its disposal carrying profound meaning. The burning of the entire carcass (minus the fat and kidneys) outside the camp **symbolizes** the complete removal, destruction, and expiation of sin and its defilement from the holy presence of God and the community. The act signifies that sin is utterly repugnant to God and must be entirely purged. There is also a clear **Contrast** established between the sin offering and other sacrifices, particularly the burnt offering. While the burnt offering was wholly consumed on the altar as an act of devotion and propitiation, the sin offering's carcass was removed from the holy space, highlighting its unique function of dealing with impurity. This contrast underscores the distinct theological purpose of the *chatta't*. Furthermore, the ritual acts described in this verse serve as **Foreshadowing**, pointing forward to a greater, ultimate sacrifice. The imagery of the sin-bearing entity being removed and destroyed outside the camp profoundly anticipates the suffering and death of Jesus Christ outside the city gates, as detailed in the New Testament.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 4:11 powerfully communicates the gravity of sin and the meticulous requirements for its expiation under the Old Covenant. It reveals God's absolute holiness, demonstrating that sin, even unintentional, defiles and must be thoroughly removed from His presence. The ritual of burning the sin offering's carcass outside the camp underscores the concept of complete separation and purification, signifying that sin cannot abide in the holy community. This act was a vivid object lesson for Israel, teaching them the profound consequences of sin and the necessity of divine provision for cleansing. It also highlights the distinction between the parts of the sacrifice offered to God (fat, blood) and the parts that bore the defilement of sin, which had to be utterly consumed away from the sacred space.

* [Hebrews 13:11-12](/hebrews/13-11-12 "Christ Suffered Outside the Gate")
* [1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "Christ Bore Our Sins")
* [Isaiah 53:6](/isaiah/53-6 "All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Leviticus 4:11, though detailing an ancient ritual, resonates with timeless spiritual truths for believers today. It serves as a stark reminder of the profound defilement of sin and God's unwavering holiness. Just as the sin offering's carcass had to be completely removed from the holy camp, so too must we recognize the need for a radical separation from sin in our lives. This verse compels us to acknowledge that sin, in any form, is an offense to God and cannot coexist with His pure presence. It challenges us to embrace the thoroughness of God's provision for dealing with sin, which ultimately finds its fulfillment in Christ. Our response should be one of humility, gratitude for the perfect sacrifice, and a commitment to living a life that reflects the holiness to which we are called, striving to put away all that defiles, just as the Israelites put away the sin offering outside their camp.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the detailed disposal of the sin offering's carcass in Leviticus 4:11 deepen your understanding of the gravity and defiling nature of sin?**
* **In what ways does the concept of "outside the camp" challenge your understanding of personal holiness and separation from worldly defilement today?**
* **How does this Old Testament ritual point you to the completeness and finality of Christ's work on the cross for your sin?**

### FAQ

**Why were parts of the sin offering burned outside the camp instead of on the altar?**

Answer: The burning of specific parts of the sin offering (like the skin, flesh, head, legs, inwards, and dung) "outside the camp" was a crucial symbolic act, distinct from sacrifices like the burnt offering, where the entire animal (except the hide) was consumed on the altar as a pleasing aroma to God. The sin offering, particularly for the priest or the whole congregation, dealt with the defilement that sin brought into the holy space of the Tabernacle and the camp. Burning these parts outside the camp, in a "clean place" ([Leviticus 4:12](/leviticus/4-12 "Leviticus 4:12 - The Clean Place Outside the Camp")), symbolized the complete removal and destruction of the sin's impurity from God's holy presence and the community. It emphasized that sin is utterly repugnant to God and must be expelled, rather than being something offered *to* Him on the sacred altar in the same way as a propitiatory or devotional offering. This ritual underscored the seriousness of sin and the necessity of its thorough expiation.

**What is the significance of "all his flesh" and "his dung" being included in the parts to be burned outside the camp?**

Answer: The inclusion of "all his flesh" and "his dung" in the parts to be burned outside the camp in [Leviticus 4:11](/leviticus/4-11 "Leviticus 4:11 - Parts of the Sin Offering to be Burned Outside the Camp") is highly significant. "All his flesh" emphasizes the totality of the animal's physical substance being removed, signifying that the entire representation of the sin-bearing entity was to be purged. It wasn't just a portion, but the bulk of the animal, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the sin's defilement and its complete expulsion. The inclusion of "his dung," the animal's waste product, further underscores the defiling and offensive nature of sin. Dung is inherently unclean and repulsive, and its removal and destruction outside the holy camp vividly symbolized the utter abhorrence of sin in God's sight and the necessity of completely purging all impurity from the community. This detailed instruction reinforced the gravity of sin and the meticulousness required for its atonement and removal.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 4:11, with its vivid imagery of the sin offering being taken "outside the camp" to be utterly consumed, finds its profound and ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The author of Hebrews draws a direct and powerful parallel, stating, "For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood" ([Hebrews 13:11-12](/hebrews/13-11-12 "Hebrews 13:11-12 - Christ Suffered Outside the Gate")). Just as the sin-bearing bullock was removed from the holy presence of God within the Tabernacle and consumed in a place of shame and separation, so too Jesus, our perfect and final sin offering, bore the full weight of our sin and its defilement, suffering outside the city of Jerusalem. His crucifixion "outside the gate" ([Hebrews 13:12](/hebrews/13-12 "Hebrews 13:12 - Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate")) was not a mere historical accident but a divinely orchestrated act, perfectly mirroring the Old Testament ritual. He became sin for us, enduring the ultimate separation and shame, so that we might be purified and brought near to God. His sacrifice on the cross completely dealt with sin's defilement, removing its stain forever, just as the burning outside the camp signified the complete destruction of the sin's effects. Therefore, believers are called to "go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach" ([Hebrews 13:13](/hebrews/13-13 "Hebrews 13:13 - Go Forth to Him Outside the Camp")), identifying with Christ's suffering and separation from the world's sin, knowing that through His once-for-all sacrifice, our sins are truly and completely removed ([Colossians 2:13-14](/colossians/2-13-14 "Colossians 2:13-14 - Forgiveness and Cancellation of Debt")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 19:5

And [one] shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:

Exodus 29:14

But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it [is] a sin offering.

Psalms 103:12

As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Leviticus 8:14

¶ And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering.

Leviticus 8:17

But the bullock, and his hide, his flesh, and his dung, he burnt with fire without the camp; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Leviticus 6:30

And no sin offering, whereof [any] of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile [withal] in the holy [place], shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.

Leviticus 9:8

¶ Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which [was] for himself.