Leviticus 5:9

And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it [is] a sin offering.

And he shall sprinkle {H5137} of the blood {H1818} of the sin offering {H2403} upon the side {H7023} of the altar {H4196}; and the rest {H7604} of the blood {H1818} shall be wrung out {H4680} at the bottom {H3247} of the altar {H4196}: it is a sin offering {H2403}.

sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar and drain out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering.

then he is to sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood is drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.

and he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin-offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar: it is a sin-offering.

Commentary

Leviticus 5:9 details a specific procedural step within the Old Testament sin offering ritual, emphasizing the handling of the sacrificial blood. This verse, like much of Leviticus, underscores the meticulous requirements for approaching a holy God and dealing with the pervasive nature of sin.

Context

This verse is part of Leviticus chapter 5, which outlines various scenarios for unintentional sins and the corresponding offerings required for atonement. The chapter addresses situations like failing to testify as a witness, touching an unclean thing unknowingly, or making a rash oath. The sin offering (Hebrew: chattath) was crucial for cleansing and restoring fellowship with God for individuals who had committed such transgressions. The act described in verse 9 follows the slaughter of the animal and precedes the burning of certain parts on the altar, fitting into the broader context of atonement for unintentional sins in the Levitical law.

Key Themes

  • Atonement through Blood: The central theme is the necessity of blood for atonement. The sprinkling of blood on the altar's side and the pouring out of the remainder at its base signified that the life of the sacrifice was given to cover the sin. This practice established the principle that "the life of the flesh is in the blood," and it is given for atonement.
  • Holiness and Purity: The precise instructions for handling the blood reflect the absolute holiness of God and the seriousness of sin. Even unintentional sins required a prescribed ritual to cleanse the individual and the tabernacle from defilement.
  • Divine Prescription: God Himself dictated these intricate rituals, demonstrating that reconciliation with Him is not by human innovation but by His gracious and specific provision.

Linguistic Insights

The term "sin offering" comes from the Hebrew word chattath (Χ—Φ·Χ˜ΦΈΦΌΧΧͺ), which can mean "sin" itself, or the sacrifice made for sin. This dual meaning highlights that the animal effectively 'became sin' or bore the penalty of sin on behalf of the worshiper. The verbs "sprinkle" (nazah) and "wrung out" (matsah) denote specific, ritualistic actions, emphasizing the deliberate and ordained nature of the blood's application.

Practical Application

While these Old Testament rituals are no longer practiced today, they serve as powerful object lessons pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The blood of bulls and goats could only cover sins temporarily, but Christ's own blood provides eternal redemption. He is the perfect "sin offering" who took away the sins of the world once for all, fulfilling the Levitical system. This verse reminds us of:

  1. The unchanging seriousness of sin in God's eyes.
  2. The immense cost of atonement, fulfilled perfectly by Christ.
  3. The complete forgiveness and access to God we now have through faith in Jesus, who is our ultimate Passover Lamb (John 1:29).
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 β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 4:34

    And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:

  • Leviticus 4:7

    And the priest shall put [some] of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which [is] in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which [is at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • Leviticus 4:30

    And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.

  • Leviticus 4:18

    And he shall put [some] of the blood upon the horns of the altar which [is] before the LORD, that [is] in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which [is at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • Leviticus 4:25

    And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.

  • Hebrews 2:10

    ΒΆ For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

  • Hebrews 12:24

    And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.
← Back