Leviticus 4:6

And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.

And the priest {H3548} shall dip {H2881} his finger {H676} in the blood {H1818}, and sprinkle {H5137} of the blood {H1818} seven {H7651} times {H6471} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}, before {H6440} the vail {H6532} of the sanctuary {H6944}.

The cohen is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times in the presence of ADONAI in front of the curtain of the sanctuary.

The priest is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before the LORD, in front of the veil of the sanctuary.

and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before Jehovah, before the veil of the sanctuary.

Commentary

Context of Leviticus 4:6

Leviticus chapter 4 details the regulations for the sin offering (Hebrew: chatta't), which was prescribed for unintentional sins committed by various individuals or groups within ancient Israel. This particular verse, Leviticus 4:6, describes a specific ritual action performed by the priest when an anointed priest (or the entire congregation) had sinned. The act of sprinkling blood before the veil was crucial for purifying the Tabernacle itself, which was defiled by the sins of the people. The Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, was the central place of worship and the dwelling place of God's presence among His people, making its sanctity paramount.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Atonement and Purification: The central theme is the cleansing of sin and the restoration of a right relationship with God. The blood of the sacrificed animal was essential for making atonement, symbolizing the life given to cover sin. This ritual purified the sanctuary from the defilement caused by human transgression.
  • God's Holiness: The meticulous instructions underscore God's absolute holiness and His inability to tolerate sin in His presence. Even unintentional sins required a specific cleansing ritual to maintain the sanctity of His dwelling place.
  • Completeness and Perfection: The instruction to sprinkle the blood "seven times" signifies completeness, perfection, and divine action. In biblical numerology, seven often represents spiritual perfection or fulfillment, indicating that the cleansing being performed was thorough and divinely sanctioned.
  • Mediation of the Priest: The priest's role was indispensable. He acted as a mediator, performing the prescribed rituals on behalf of the sinner(s) to reconcile them with God and purify the sacred space.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "before the vail of the sanctuary" refers to the thick curtain (Hebrew: parokhet) that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies) within the Tabernacle. The Most Holy Place housed the Ark of the Covenant and was considered the very dwelling place of God's presence. Sprinkling blood before this veil indicated that the cleansing ritual was directed towards the most sacred part of God's dwelling, acknowledging that sin defiled even the holiest spaces and required a complete purification for God to continue to dwell among His people.

Related Scriptures

This ancient ritual, with its emphasis on blood for atonement, profoundly foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Just as the priest's actions purified the Tabernacle, Christ's sacrifice provides purification for humanity's sins. The Old Testament principle that "the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls" finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Covenant.

The tearing of the temple veil at Christ's crucifixion (Matthew 27:51) powerfully symbolizes that through His perfect sacrifice, direct access to God's presence is now available to all believers, no longer requiring a mediating priest or an elaborate system of animal sacrifices. As the book of Hebrews explains, Christ entered "once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" through His own blood. This verse from Leviticus, therefore, reminds us of the serious nature of sin, God's perfect holiness, and the profound grace provided through Christ's complete and final atonement.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 6:8

    And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.

  • Leviticus 26:28

    Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.

  • Leviticus 16:14

    And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle [it] with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

  • Leviticus 14:18

    And the remnant of the oil that [is] in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD.

  • Leviticus 16:19

    And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

  • Leviticus 26:24

    Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.

  • Joshua 6:4

    And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
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