Easy Bible・Leviticus 4

The Sin Offering

Key Passages

About this Chapter

Leviticus 4 describes the sin offering that the Israelites were to make when they unintentionally sinned against the Lord. The chapter begins by explaining that if a leader of the people sins unintentionally, he must bring a male goat without defect as a sin offering. The priest would then make atonement for the leader's sin, and he would be forgiven. The chapter goes on to outline the sin offerings for the entire congregation, the anointed priest, and the common people. The procedure for each sin offering is similar, with slight variations depending on the status of the person making the offering. The blood of the animal would be brought into the Tent of Meeting and sprinkled in front of the curtain, and the fat of the animal would be burned on the altar. Through these offerings, the people would be forgiven of their unintentional sins. The sin offering was an important part of the Israelites' worship and relationship with God. It served as a way for the people to acknowledge their sins and seek forgiveness from the Lord. It also emphasized the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement. Although the sin offering described in Leviticus 4 was a temporary solution, it pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who would offer himself as the perfect and final sin offering for all humanity.