Leviticus 4:21 - He shall carry the bull outside the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the assembly.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Leviticus 4:21" mean?
Leviticus 4:21, "He shall carry the bull outside the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the assembly," describes a specific part of the ritual sacrifice performed when the entire community of Israel sinned unintentionally and became guilty. Let's break down the meaning:
"He shall carry the bull outside the camp": After the initial stages of the sin offering (killing the bull, sprinkling the blood in the Tent of Meeting, anointing the altar), the remaining carcass of the bull was taken outside the camp. The "camp" in this context refers to the area where the Israelites lived, symbolizing a separation from the holy and a place of purification.
"and burn it as he burned the first bull": This refers back to the earlier instructions in Leviticus 4:12 concerning the sin offering for the high priest. Burning the entire carcass was a significant act, signifying the complete destruction and removal of the sin from the community. The phrase "as he burned the first bull" emphasizes that the same process was to be followed for the sin offering of the assembly as for the sin offering of the high priest.
"It is the sin offering for the assembly": This explicitly states that this entire process, including the burning of the bull outside the camp, constitutes the sin offering to atone for the collective sin of the Israelite community.
Significance and Symbolism:
Atonement for Unintentional Sin: This verse addresses situations where the entire community unintentionally transgressed a commandment of the Lord. The offering was a means to seek forgiveness and restore their relationship with God.
Transfer of Sin: The ritual, especially the burning of the bull, symbolized the transfer of the community's sin onto the animal, which was then completely destroyed, effectively removing the sin from the camp.
Purification: By taking the carcass outside the camp and burning it, the Israelites were symbolically cleansing themselves and their community of the defilement caused by their sin.
Serious Nature of Sin: The elaborate and costly nature of the sacrifice, particularly the complete burning of the animal, underscores the seriousness of sin, even unintentional sin, in the eyes of God. It showed that sin, regardless of intent, had consequences and required atonement.
In essence, this verse describes a process for purifying the entire community from the defilement caused by unintentional sin. It highlights the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement to maintain a right relationship with God. The burning of the bull outside the camp served as a powerful symbol of the complete removal of sin and the restoration of holiness to the community.
Leviticus 4:21 - He shall carry the bull outside the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the assembly.
What does "Leviticus 4:21" mean?
Leviticus 4:21, "He shall carry the bull outside the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the assembly," describes a specific part of the ritual sacrifice performed when the entire community of Israel sinned unintentionally and became guilty. Let's break down the meaning:
"He shall carry the bull outside the camp": After the initial stages of the sin offering (killing the bull, sprinkling the blood in the Tent of Meeting, anointing the altar), the remaining carcass of the bull was taken outside the camp. The "camp" in this context refers to the area where the Israelites lived, symbolizing a separation from the holy and a place of purification.
"and burn it as he burned the first bull": This refers back to the earlier instructions in Leviticus 4:12 concerning the sin offering for the high priest. Burning the entire carcass was a significant act, signifying the complete destruction and removal of the sin from the community. The phrase "as he burned the first bull" emphasizes that the same process was to be followed for the sin offering of the assembly as for the sin offering of the high priest.
"It is the sin offering for the assembly": This explicitly states that this entire process, including the burning of the bull outside the camp, constitutes the sin offering to atone for the collective sin of the Israelite community.
Significance and Symbolism:
Atonement for Unintentional Sin: This verse addresses situations where the entire community unintentionally transgressed a commandment of the Lord. The offering was a means to seek forgiveness and restore their relationship with God.
Transfer of Sin: The ritual, especially the burning of the bull, symbolized the transfer of the community's sin onto the animal, which was then completely destroyed, effectively removing the sin from the camp.
Purification: By taking the carcass outside the camp and burning it, the Israelites were symbolically cleansing themselves and their community of the defilement caused by their sin.
Serious Nature of Sin: The elaborate and costly nature of the sacrifice, particularly the complete burning of the animal, underscores the seriousness of sin, even unintentional sin, in the eyes of God. It showed that sin, regardless of intent, had consequences and required atonement.
In essence, this verse describes a process for purifying the entire community from the defilement caused by unintentional sin. It highlights the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement to maintain a right relationship with God. The burning of the bull outside the camp served as a powerful symbol of the complete removal of sin and the restoration of holiness to the community.