Leviticus 4:20 - Thus shall he do with the bull; as he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this; and the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.
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What does "Leviticus 4:20" mean?
Leviticus 4:20 describes part of the ritual for atonement when the whole congregation of Israel has sinned unintentionally. Let's break down the verse:
"Thus shall he do with the bull; as he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this..." This refers to specific actions already outlined earlier in Leviticus 4 (verses 3-12). These actions involve:
Laying hands on the bull's head to transfer the sin.
Slaughtering the bull.
The priest dipping his finger in the bull's blood and sprinkling it before the veil of the sanctuary seven times.
Putting some of the blood on the horns of the altar of incense.
Pouring out the remaining blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
Burning the fat on the altar.
Taking the rest of the bull (skin, flesh, head, legs, entrails, and dung) outside the camp to a clean place and burning it on a wood fire.
Essentially, the verse is saying, "Perform this ritual exactly as you performed the ritual for the sin offering of the high priest." The reason for this parallelism is that the sin of the entire congregation carries a similar weight and has similar spiritual consequences as the sin of the high priest.
"...and the priest shall make atonement for them..." This is the core purpose of the ritual. The priest acts as an intermediary between God and the people, offering the sacrifice to cover their unintentional sin. "Atonement" here means to cover over the sin, appease God's wrath, and restore the relationship between God and the people.
"...and they shall be forgiven." This is the desired outcome. After the priest performs the prescribed ritual correctly, God will forgive the congregation for their unintentional sin. Forgiveness is a restoration of the relationship with God.
In summary, this verse outlines the prescribed ritual that must be performed when the entire congregation of Israel unintentionally sins. Through this ritual, involving the sacrifice of a bull and the actions of the priest, atonement is made, and the people are forgiven by God.
Important Contextual Notes:
Unintentional Sin: This verse specifically addresses unintentional sins. These are sins committed unknowingly or inadvertently. Different sacrifices were required for intentional sins.
Ritual Purity: The Old Testament law was deeply concerned with ritual purity. Sins, even unintentional ones, defiled the land and the sanctuary, requiring purification through sacrifice.
Symbolic Meaning: The sacrifices weren't just empty rituals. They were highly symbolic, pointing to the seriousness of sin and the need for a way to reconcile with God. The animal's blood represented life given as a substitute.
Fulfillment in Christ: Christians believe that these Old Testament sacrifices were a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who provides the final and complete atonement for all sins (both intentional and unintentional) for those who believe in Him. The book of Hebrews in the New Testament elaborates on this concept.
To fully understand this verse, it's best to read it within the context of the entire chapter (Leviticus 4) and the broader themes of the book of Leviticus.
Leviticus 4:20 - Thus shall he do with the bull; as he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this; and the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.
What does "Leviticus 4:20" mean?
Leviticus 4:20 describes part of the ritual for atonement when the whole congregation of Israel has sinned unintentionally. Let's break down the verse:
"Thus shall he do with the bull; as he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this..." This refers to specific actions already outlined earlier in Leviticus 4 (verses 3-12). These actions involve:
Laying hands on the bull's head to transfer the sin.
Slaughtering the bull.
The priest dipping his finger in the bull's blood and sprinkling it before the veil of the sanctuary seven times.
Putting some of the blood on the horns of the altar of incense.
Pouring out the remaining blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
Burning the fat on the altar.
Taking the rest of the bull (skin, flesh, head, legs, entrails, and dung) outside the camp to a clean place and burning it on a wood fire.
Essentially, the verse is saying, "Perform this ritual exactly as you performed the ritual for the sin offering of the high priest." The reason for this parallelism is that the sin of the entire congregation carries a similar weight and has similar spiritual consequences as the sin of the high priest.
"...and the priest shall make atonement for them..." This is the core purpose of the ritual. The priest acts as an intermediary between God and the people, offering the sacrifice to cover their unintentional sin. "Atonement" here means to cover over the sin, appease God's wrath, and restore the relationship between God and the people.
"...and they shall be forgiven." This is the desired outcome. After the priest performs the prescribed ritual correctly, God will forgive the congregation for their unintentional sin. Forgiveness is a restoration of the relationship with God.
In summary, this verse outlines the prescribed ritual that must be performed when the entire congregation of Israel unintentionally sins. Through this ritual, involving the sacrifice of a bull and the actions of the priest, atonement is made, and the people are forgiven by God.
Important Contextual Notes:
Unintentional Sin: This verse specifically addresses unintentional sins. These are sins committed unknowingly or inadvertently. Different sacrifices were required for intentional sins.
Ritual Purity: The Old Testament law was deeply concerned with ritual purity. Sins, even unintentional ones, defiled the land and the sanctuary, requiring purification through sacrifice.
Symbolic Meaning: The sacrifices weren't just empty rituals. They were highly symbolic, pointing to the seriousness of sin and the need for a way to reconcile with God. The animal's blood represented life given as a substitute.
Fulfillment in Christ: Christians believe that these Old Testament sacrifices were a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who provides the final and complete atonement for all sins (both intentional and unintentional) for those who believe in Him. The book of Hebrews in the New Testament elaborates on this concept.
To fully understand this verse, it's best to read it within the context of the entire chapter (Leviticus 4) and the broader themes of the book of Leviticus.