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:

Or if his sin {H2403}, wherein he hath sinned {H2398}, come to his knowledge {H3045}; he shall bring {H935} his offering {H7133}, a kid {H8163} of the goats {H5795}, a male {H2145} without blemish {H8549}:

If the sin which he committed becomes known to him, he is to bring as his offering a male goat without defect,

When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring an unblemished male goat as his offering.

if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, be made known to him, he shall bring for his oblation a goat, a male without blemish.

Commentary

Leviticus 4:23 describes the procedure for a sin offering when an individual's unintentional sin becomes known to them. This verse specifically relates to the offerings required for various categories of people who commit a sin by accident, and then later become aware of their transgression.

Context

This verse is part of Leviticus chapter 4, which details the laws concerning the chatta'th, or "sin offering." Unlike offerings for intentional, high-handed sins, the sin offering addressed unintentional transgressionsโ€”sins committed out of ignorance, error, or oversight. The Mosaic Law recognized that even accidental sins created a barrier between the individual and God, requiring atonement. The specific offering of "a kid of the goats, a male without blemish" was prescribed for a ruler or a common person, emphasizing that responsibility for sin extended to all members of the community, regardless of status.

Key Themes

  • Knowledge of Sin: The phrase "if his sin... come to his knowledge" highlights that awareness of wrongdoing is crucial. Once recognized, the individual was obligated to act, demonstrating personal responsibility.
  • Atonement for Unintentional Sin: God, in His mercy, provided a means for His people to be reconciled to Him even for sins not committed defiantly. This illustrates the comprehensive nature of God's holiness and His provision for cleansing.
  • The Nature of the Offering: The requirement for a "male without blemish" signifies the need for a perfect, unblemished sacrifice. This foreshadows the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was without sin, fulfilling the requirements of the Old Testament law.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "sin" and "sin offering" is the same: chatta'th (ื—ึทื˜ึผึธืืช). This connection emphasizes that the offering directly addresses and deals with the problem of sin itself. The phrase "come to his knowledge" uses the Hebrew verb yada' (ื™ึธื“ึทืข), meaning "to know" or "to perceive." It implies more than just intellectual awareness; it suggests a recognition and acknowledgement of the transgression.

Practical Application

While the specific animal sacrifices are no longer practiced today because Jesus Christ offered Himself as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice, Leviticus 4:23 still provides valuable spiritual lessons:

  • Seriousness of All Sin: It reminds us that all sin, even that committed unintentionally or in ignorance, has consequences and separates us from God.
  • Responsibility and Confession: Once we become aware of our sins, whether by the conviction of the Holy Spirit or through studying God's Word, we are called to acknowledge them and seek forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 assures us that God is faithful to forgive when we confess our sins.
  • Christ Our Atonement: This verse beautifully points forward to Christ. The "kid of the goats, a male without blemish" symbolizes the sinless Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Through His sacrifice, we find complete atonement and forgiveness for all our sins, intentional or unintentional.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.

  • 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:

  • Leviticus 5:4

    Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with [his] lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever [it be] that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth [of it], then he shall be guilty in one of these.

  • 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.

  • Numbers 28:15

    And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

  • 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.

  • Numbers 7:22

    One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
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