Leviticus 4:24 - He shall lay his hand on the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before Yahweh. It is a sin offering.

Generated Verse: Leviticus 4:24

What does "Leviticus 4:24" mean?


This verse from Leviticus 4:24 outlines part of the ritual procedure for a sin offering (also called a purification offering). Let's break it down:

"He shall lay his hand on the head of the goat...": This act of laying hands on the animal was a crucial part of the offering. It symbolically transferred the sin or impurity of the offerer (the person bringing the sacrifice) onto the animal. It's as if the offerer was saying, "This animal is now taking my place and bearing the consequences of my transgression."

"...and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before Yahweh.": The goat was to be slaughtered in the same area where burnt offerings were sacrificed. This was a designated, sacred space within the tabernacle (or later, the Temple). It was a place of atonement and worship.

"It is a sin offering.": This clarifies the purpose of the sacrifice. It was specifically a sin offering (or purification offering) intended to atone for unintentional sins or impurities committed by an individual or community. These were sins of ignorance, failures to observe certain rituals, or other unintentional transgressions of God's law.

In summary, the verse describes a process of symbolic transfer of sin onto a goat, followed by the animal's sacrifice as an act of atonement before God. It was part of a broader sacrificial system intended to maintain ritual purity and restore fellowship with God after unintentional sins.