Leviticus 9:3

And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, [both] of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;

And unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} thou shalt speak {H1696}, saying {H559}, Take {H3947} ye a kid {H8163} of the goats {H5795} for a sin offering {H2403}; and a calf {H5695} and a lamb {H3532}, both of the first {H1121} year {H8141}, without blemish {H8549}, for a burnt offering {H5930};

Then tell the people of Isra'el, 'Take a male goat for a sin offering and a calf and a lamb, both a year old and without defect, for a burnt offering,

Then speak to the Israelites and say, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without blemish—for a burnt offering,

And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a he-goat for a sin-offering; and a calf and a lamb, both a year old, without blemish, for a burnt-offering;

Commentary

Context of Leviticus 9:3

Leviticus chapter 9 marks a pivotal moment in ancient Israelite worship: the inauguration of the Tabernacle service and the official beginning of Aaron's priesthood. Following the elaborate consecration rituals for Aaron and his sons in Leviticus 8, this chapter describes their first public acts as priests. Moses instructs Aaron to gather the congregation and prepare specific offerings. Verse 3 details the particular animals the children of Israel were to bring for their own atonement and worship, demonstrating the immediate need for sacrificial provisions for the people's sins and devotion as they entered this new era of communal worship.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Atonement and Forgiveness: The "kid of the goats for a sin offering" highlights the necessity of addressing sin before God. This offering was specifically designed to make propitiation for unintentional sins and purify the people from defilement, underscoring God's provision for reconciliation.
  • Worship and Devotion: The "calf and a lamb... for a burnt offering" symbolize complete surrender and devotion to God. This offering was entirely consumed on the altar, representing the worshiper's full commitment and dedication to the Lord.
  • Holiness and Purity: The repeated requirement of animals being "without blemish" is crucial. It underscores God's absolute standard of perfection and holiness, indicating that only the purest and most perfect could be offered to Him. This foreshadows the ultimate, unblemished sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
  • Divine Instruction and Obedience: The detailed instructions given by Moses to Aaron, and then to the people, emphasize that worship must be conducted according to God's precise commands, not human preference. Obedience was paramount in establishing and maintaining a right relationship with a holy God.

Linguistic Insights

  • Sin Offering (חַטָּאת - chatta't): This Hebrew term, often translated "sin offering," carries the broader sense of "purification offering." It dealt not only with specific sins but also with ritual impurities that made one unfit to approach God. It was a means of cleansing and consecration, allowing access to God's presence.
  • Burnt Offering (עוֹלָה - 'olah): Meaning "that which goes up," referring to the smoke ascending to God. This offering was unique in that it was entirely consumed on the altar (except for the hide), symbolizing complete surrender and devotion. It was an act of worship and dedication, often accompanied by atonement.
  • Without Blemish (תָּמִים - tamim): This word signifies "perfect," "whole," "sound," or "complete." The animal had to be free from any physical defect, representing the ideal standard required for approaching a holy God. This concept powerfully prefigures the sinless perfection of Christ, who was the ultimate sacrifice "without spot".

Practical Application

While animal sacrifices are no longer required because Christ offered the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10), Leviticus 9:3 still teaches timeless principles for believers today:

  • Acknowledge Sin: We are reminded of the gravity of sin and the need for God's provision for forgiveness. Our ability to approach God is always dependent on His grace and the atoning work of Christ.
  • Offer Our Best: The requirement of "without blemish" encourages us to offer God our best in all aspects of our lives – our time, talents, resources, and devotion. This aligns with the New Testament call to present our bodies as a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1).
  • Worship with Intent: The specific instructions for these offerings highlight the importance of intentional, reverent, and obedient worship. Our worship should be a conscious act of devotion to God, recognizing His holiness and our dependence on Him.
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

  • Ezra 6:17

    And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

  • Revelation 5:9

    And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

  • 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:

  • Titus 2:14

    Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

  • 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:

  • 1 Peter 2:24

    Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

  • Isaiah 53:10

    ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
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