Leviticus 4:15 - The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before Yahweh; and the bull shall be killed before Yahweh.
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What does "Leviticus 4:15" mean?
This verse from Leviticus 4:15 describes part of a ritual offering to atone for unintentional sin committed by the entire congregation of Israel. Let's break down the meaning:
"The elders of the congregation...": The elders were the leaders and representatives of the community. Their involvement signifies that the entire community is participating in this act of atonement.
"...shall lay their hands on the head of the bull...": The laying of hands is a symbolic act of transferring guilt or sin from the people onto the animal. It's a way of identifying the bull as the substitute, the one who will bear the consequences of the community's sin.
"...before Yahweh...": This emphasizes that the offering is made in the presence of God. The act is a sacred one, done with the intention of seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
"...and the bull shall be killed before Yahweh.": This describes the sacrificial act itself. The bull's life is taken as a symbolic payment or offering to atone for the sin. The phrase "before Yahweh" reiterates the sacred context of the sacrifice.
In essence, this verse details a specific step in a ritual designed to atone for unintentional communal sin. The elders, representing the people, transfer the burden of their sin onto a bull, which is then sacrificed before God as a symbolic act of seeking forgiveness and restoring the relationship between God and the community.
Leviticus 4:15 - The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before Yahweh; and the bull shall be killed before Yahweh.
What does "Leviticus 4:15" mean?
This verse from Leviticus 4:15 describes part of a ritual offering to atone for unintentional sin committed by the entire congregation of Israel. Let's break down the meaning:
"The elders of the congregation...": The elders were the leaders and representatives of the community. Their involvement signifies that the entire community is participating in this act of atonement.
"...shall lay their hands on the head of the bull...": The laying of hands is a symbolic act of transferring guilt or sin from the people onto the animal. It's a way of identifying the bull as the substitute, the one who will bear the consequences of the community's sin.
"...before Yahweh...": This emphasizes that the offering is made in the presence of God. The act is a sacred one, done with the intention of seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
"...and the bull shall be killed before Yahweh.": This describes the sacrificial act itself. The bull's life is taken as a symbolic payment or offering to atone for the sin. The phrase "before Yahweh" reiterates the sacred context of the sacrifice.
In essence, this verse details a specific step in a ritual designed to atone for unintentional communal sin. The elders, representing the people, transfer the burden of their sin onto a bull, which is then sacrificed before God as a symbolic act of seeking forgiveness and restoring the relationship between God and the community.