Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 4

Verse 1

spake. Introducing new class: non savour offerings. The sweet savour offerings introduced by the word "called". See note on Leviticus 5:14 .

Verse 2

children. Hebrew sons.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13 . Not as in the burnt offering; no voluntary offering here.

ignorance. If man cannot know what sin is, how can he know how to put it away? If he know not his own sin, how can he know or put away that of others?

Verse 3

the priest that is anointed. This phrase is confined to Lev. (Leviticus 4:3 , Leviticus 4:5 , Leviticus 4:16 ; Leviticus 6:22 ) four times. In other portions of the Pentateuch it is "high priest" or "great priest" (Leviticus 21:10 . Numbers 35:25 , Numbers 35:28 , and in Joshua 20:6 ), after this it is "chief priest" (2 Kings 25:18 . 2 Chronicles 19:11 ; 2 Chronicles 26:20 ; 2 Chronicles 31:10 . Ezra 7:5 . Hag. and Zech.)

do sin. Hebrew. chat'a. App-44 .

the sin. Hebrew. 'asham. See App-44 .

his sin . . . sinned. Hebrew. chat'a. App-44 .

sin offering. Hebrew. chat'a. "Offering" not in Hebrew; rightly supplied here, as it should be in Genesis 4:7 .

Verse 4

door = entrance.

tabernacle of the congregation = tent of assembly.

Verse 6

sprinkle. Hebrew throw, or splash.

seven times. The number of spiritual perfection. See App-10 .

before. Not in the Hebrew. On vail or floor. Explanatory of previous sentence. Or, may = before the LORD, by Figure of speech Metonymy ( App-6 .)

vail. Type of the perfect humanity of Christ. No avail for purposes of atonement without blood. We are saved by His death, not by His life (Ephesians 2:13 ).

Verse 7

before. A various reading called Sevir has "which is before". See App-34 .

all = all the remaining blood.

Verse 8

fat = the best or choicest part, Leviticus 3:3 .

Verse 9

caul, or the network.

Verse 10

As = according as.

burn. Hebrew. saraph. See App-43 ; and note that it is not the word used for burning incense, which is katar. App-43 .

Verse 12

he carry forth = cause to be carried. Compare Leviticus 4:14 .

without the camp. Compare Hebrews 13:11 , Hebrews 13:12 . See note on Exodus 29:14 .

wood = logs. Any wood allowed, such as straw or stubble. Not so with the other offerings.

Verse 13

congregation = assembly. Not the same word as in Leviticus 4:14 .

sin. Hebrew. shagah. See App-44 . See 1 Samuel 14:32 .

somewhat, &c, and concerning, &c. These two Ellipses rightly supplied. See App-6 .

Verse 14

sin . . . sinned. Hebrew. chat'a. App-44 .

offer = cause to be offered. Compare ' Leviticus 4:12 .

for the sin = as a sin offering. See App-43 .

Verse 17

it. Read "the blood", with Samaritan Pentateuch, as in Leviticus 4:6 .

before the vail. See note on Leviticus 4:6 .

Verse 18

door = entrance.

Verse 19

burn. Hebrew. katar, to burn as incense, not as in Leviticus 4:12 . See App-43 .

Verse 20

as = according as.

make an atonement. See note on Leviticus 1:4 and Exodus 29:33 .

Verse 21

as he burned = according as he burned. Hebrew. saraph, as in Leviticus 4:12 . See App-43 .

Verse 22

ruler. Hebrew word is used of a king (1 Kings 11:34 .Ezekiel 34:24 ; Ezekiel 46:2 ), the head of a tribe (Numbers 1:16 , Numbers 1:46 ; Numbers 34:18 ), but as the words "his God" are used here, and are absent (in verses: Leviticus 4:2 , Leviticus 4:13 , Leviticus 4:27 ), it denotes one whom God appoints and to whom the ruler is responsible.

sinned. Hebrew. chat'a. See App-44 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

guilty = should become aware of his inadvertences.

Verse 23

sin. Hebrew. chat'a. App-44 .

male: for ruler, female for one of the people, Leviticus 4:28 . Compare Leviticus 5:13 .

Verse 27

one = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13 .

be guilty = acknowledges his guilt, as in Leviticus 4:22 .

Verse 28

female for one of the People, male for "ruler", Leviticus 4:22 . Compare Leviticus 5:13 .

Verse 29

in the place: i.e. where the burnt offering is wont to be slain.

Verse 31

sweet savour. This is added here because of the burning of the fat. It is not said of the sin offering of the high priest, the ruler, or the congregation (compare verses: Leviticus 4:10 , Leviticus 4:19 , Leviticus 4:26 ), though used in the burnt offerings (Leviticus 1:9 , Leviticus 1:13 ), and peace offerings (Leviticus 3:5 , Leviticus 3:16 ). The sweet savour here, in this connection, exalts the offering of the humblest person.

Verse 32

a lamb = a sheep, Compare Leviticus 3:7 . Ritual same as the goat, but treated separately because of the fat tail.

offering. Hebrew. korban. App-43 . Literally "an offering for his sin [offering]".

Verse 34

of the blood of the sin offering. A reading of the Severus Codex is "from its blood", as in Leviticus 4:30 .

Verse 35

Sacrifice. Hebrew. zebach. App-43 .

according to = upon.

offerings made by fire. Hebrew. ishsheh. App-43 .