Leviticus 6:26

The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.

The priest {H3548} that offereth it for sin {H2398} shall eat {H398} it: in the holy {H6918} place {H4725} shall it be eaten {H398}, in the court {H2691} of the tabernacle {H168} of the congregation {H4150}.

The cohen who offers it for sin is to eat it -it is to be eaten in a holy place, in the courtyard of the tent of meeting.

The priest who offers it shall eat it; it must be eaten in a holy place, in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.

The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in a holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.

Commentary

Leviticus 6:26 provides specific instructions regarding the sin offering, a crucial element of the Old Testament sacrificial system. This verse dictates that the priest who officiates the sin offering is to eat a portion of it, and this consumption must take place in a designated sacred area: "in the holy place" or "in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation."

Context

This verse is part of a larger section (Leviticus 6:24-30) that outlines the detailed laws for the sin offering (Hebrew: chatta'th). The sin offering was designed to atone for unintentional sins, purifications, and cleansing from defilement. It's important to note that not all sin offerings were eaten by the priests. Specifically, if the sin offering was made for the high priest or the whole congregation, its flesh was to be burned outside the camp (Leviticus 4:12, Leviticus 4:21). However, for sin offerings made by individuals or rulers, the priests were permitted, and indeed commanded, to eat a portion. This act of consumption signified the priest's participation in the atonement process, symbolically bearing the iniquity on behalf of the offerer.

Key Themes

  • Atonement and Forgiveness: The sin offering was God's prescribed method for dealing with sin, providing a way for individuals to be reconciled to Him and receive forgiveness for unintentional transgressions.
  • Priestly Responsibility and Sanctity: The priest's role was not merely ritualistic; by eating the offering, they symbolically bore the sin and became identified with the atonement. This underscored the sacred nature of their office and the profound responsibility they held in mediating between God and His people. The strict location for consumption emphasized the holiness required in all aspects of worship and service within the tabernacle.
  • Identification with Sin: The Hebrew word for "sin offering," chatta'th, is also the word for "sin." The offering symbolically "became" sin, and by eating it, the priest absorbed or processed the sin on behalf of the worshipper.

Linguistic Insights

The term "sin offering" comes from the Hebrew word chatta'th (ื—ึทื˜ึธึผืืช), which directly means "sin" or "an offense." In the context of offerings, it refers to that which is offered to deal with sin. The concept is that the animal symbolically takes on the sin of the offerer, and through its sacrifice, atonement is made. The phrase "holy place" (ืžึธืงื•ึนื ืงึธื“ื•ึนืฉื - maqom qadosh) denotes the consecrated area of the tabernacle, reinforcing the sacredness of the entire ritual.

Practical Application

While the Old Testament sacrificial system has been fulfilled, Leviticus 6:26 offers enduring spiritual lessons. The intricate laws of the sin offering ultimately point to the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Just as the priest symbolically bore the sin, Christ truly "became sin for us" (2 Corinthians 5:21), taking the full weight of humanity's transgressions upon Himself on the cross. His sacrifice was the ultimate sin offering, providing complete and eternal atonement for all who believe.

For believers today, this verse highlights the seriousness of sin and the profound cost of its remedy. It also reminds us of the sacred responsibility of those who minister spiritual truths, echoing the Levitical priests' solemn duty. The holiness of God and the necessity of His provision for sin remain central to our understanding of salvation.

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Cross-References

  • Leviticus 10:17 (5 votes)

    Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it [is] most holy, and [God] hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?

  • Leviticus 10:18 (5 votes)

    Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy [place]: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy [place], as I commanded.

  • Ezekiel 44:28 (4 votes)

    And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I [am] their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I [am] their possession.

  • Ezekiel 44:29 (4 votes)

    They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.

  • Hosea 4:8 (3 votes)

    They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

  • Ezekiel 42:13 (3 votes)

    Then said he unto me, The north chambers [and] the south chambers, which [are] before the separate place, they [be] holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place [is] holy.

  • Ezekiel 46:20 (3 votes)

    Then said he unto me, This [is] the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear [them] not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people.