The big picture
Leviticus 4 opens in verse 1 with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 18 with “And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD…”, and closes in verse 35 with “And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from…” Repeated or prominent terms include offering, LORD, priest, altar, blood. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Leviticus · King James Version · 35Leviticus 4:1-7
1–7: The LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 4:1–7 opens with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” and reaches “And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Leviticus 4 develops its own movement around offering, LORD, priest, altar, blood, with particular weight carried by LORD, blood, bullock.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he…” The line’s distinctive content terms include anointed, blemish, bullock. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
Leviticus 4:1-7
King James Version1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
3If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.
4And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD ; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the LORD .
5And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:
6And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD , before the vail of the sanctuary.
7And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD , which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Leviticus 4:8-14
8–14: He shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin…
Leviticus 4:8–14 opens with “And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that…” and reaches “When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Leviticus 4 develops its own movement around offering, LORD, priest, altar, blood, with particular weight carried by bullock, congregation, inwards.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Leviticus 4:8-14
King James Version8And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
9And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,
10As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.
11And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,
12Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.
13And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;
14When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.
Leviticus 4:15-21
15–21: The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of…
Leviticus 4:15–21 opens with “And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the…” and reaches “And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Leviticus 4 develops its own movement around offering, LORD, priest, altar, blood, with particular weight carried by bullock, congregation, blood.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD : and the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock’s blood to the tabernacle of the congregation:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD , even before…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Leviticus 4:15-21
King James Version15And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD : and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD .
16And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock’s blood to the tabernacle of the congregation:
17And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD , even before the vail.
18And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD , that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
19And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar.
20And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
21And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.
Leviticus 4:22-28
22–28: When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against…
Leviticus 4:22–28 opens with “When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of…” and reaches “Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Leviticus 4 develops its own movement around offering, LORD, priest, altar, blood, with particular weight carried by offering, sinned, altar.
Context that brings the passage to life
“When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Leviticus 4:22-28
King James Version22When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;
23Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:
24And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD : it is a sin offering.
25And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.
26And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.
27And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;
28Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.
Leviticus 4:29-35
29–35: He shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the…
Leviticus 4:29–35 opens with “And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the…” and reaches “And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Leviticus 4 develops its own movement around offering, LORD, priest, altar, blood, with particular weight carried by offering, altar, priest.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Leviticus 4:29-35
King James Version29And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.
30And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.
31And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD ; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.
32And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.
33And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.
34And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:
35And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD : and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Leviticus 4:1 begins with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Leviticus 4:18 forms a natural hinge: “And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD , that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out…”
The final note
Leviticus 4:35 leaves the reader with “And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words offering, LORD, priest, altar, blood, bullock help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What opportunity exists before the murder?
Cain receives a warning and a call to resist sin in verse 7. Anger is not treated as an irresistible excuse.
What do the two speeches about vengeance reveal?
God limits retaliation against Cain; Lamech celebrates escalation.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- spake
- spoke
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.