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Selected Verse: Leviticus 4:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Le 4:1	Strong Concordance	And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],
	King James	And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And the Lord spake ... Israel - This formula is the commencement of a distinct section of the Law. Lev 4:2 If a soul shall sin - The sin-offering was a new thing, instituted by the Law. The older kinds of sacrifice Lev 2:1; Lev 3:1 when offered by individuals were purely voluntary: no special occasions were prescribed. But it was plainly commanded that he who was conscious that he had committed a sin should bring his sin-offering. In the abridged rules for sin-offerings in Num 15:22-31, the kind of sin for which sin-offerings were accepted is contrasted with that which cut off the perpetrator from among his people (compare Lev 4:22 with Lev 4:30). The two classes are distinguished in the language of our Bible as sin through ignorance and presumptuous sin. The distinction is clearly recognized in Psa 19:12-13 and Heb 10:26-27. It seems evident that the classification thus indicated refers immediately to the relation of the conscience to God, not to outward practices, nor, immediately, to outward actions. The presumptuous sinner, literally he who sinned "with a high hand," might or might not have committed such a crime as to incur punishment from the civil law: it was enough that he had with deliberate purpose rebelled against God (see Pro 2:13-15), and ipso facto was "cut off from among his people" and alienated from the divine covenant (see Lev 7:20; Exo 31:14; compare Mat 12:31; Jo1 5:16). But the other kind of sin, that for which the sin-offering was appointed, was of a more complicated nature. It appears to have included the entire range of "sins, negligences and ignorances" for which we are accustomed to ask forgiveness. sin-offerings were required not only when the conscience accused the offender of having yielded to temptation, but sometimes for what were breaches of the Law committed strictly in ignorance Lev 4:13, Lev 4:23, Lev 4:28; Lev 5:17, and sometimes on account of ceremonial pollution. They are thus to be regarded as protests against everything which is opposed to the holiness and purity of the divine Law. They were, in short, to be offered by the worshipper as a relief to the conscience whenever he felt the need of atonement. Sin through ignorance - Sin through error; that is, through straying from the right way. See Psa 119:67; Ecc 5:6.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

And the Lord spake ... Israel - This formula is the commencement of a distinct section of the Law.

Lev 4:2

If a soul shall sin - The sin-offering was a new thing, instituted by the Law. The older kinds of sacrifice Lev 2:1; Lev 3:1 when offered by individuals were purely voluntary: no special occasions were prescribed. But it was plainly commanded that he who was conscious that he had committed a sin should bring his sin-offering. In the abridged rules for sin-offerings in Num 15:22-31, the kind of sin for which sin-offerings were accepted is contrasted with that which cut off the perpetrator from among his people (compare Lev 4:22 with Lev 4:30). The two classes are distinguished in the language of our Bible as sin through ignorance and presumptuous sin. The distinction is clearly recognized in Psa 19:12-13 and Heb 10:26-27. It seems evident that the classification thus indicated refers immediately to the relation of the conscience to God, not to outward practices, nor, immediately, to outward actions.

The presumptuous sinner, literally he who sinned "with a high hand," might or might not have committed such a crime as to incur punishment from the civil law: it was enough that he had with deliberate purpose rebelled against God (see Pro 2:13-15), and ipso facto was "cut off from among his people" and alienated from the divine covenant (see Lev 7:20; Exo 31:14; compare Mat 12:31; Jo1 5:16). But the other kind of sin, that for which the sin-offering was appointed, was of a more complicated nature. It appears to have included the entire range of "sins, negligences and ignorances" for which we are accustomed to ask forgiveness. sin-offerings were required not only when the conscience accused the offender of having yielded to temptation, but sometimes for what were breaches of the Law committed strictly in ignorance Lev 4:13, Lev 4:23, Lev 4:28; Lev 5:17, and sometimes on account of ceremonial pollution. They are thus to be regarded as protests against everything which is opposed to the holiness and purity of the divine Law. They were, in short, to be offered by the worshipper as a relief to the conscience whenever he felt the need of atonement.

Sin through ignorance - Sin through error; that is, through straying from the right way. See Psa 119:67; Ecc 5:6.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The Expiatory Sacrifices. - The sacrifices treated of in ch. 1-3 are introduced by their names, as though already known, for the purpose of giving them a legal sanction. But in ch. 4 and 5 sacrifices are appointed for different offences, which receive their names for the first time from the objects to which they apply, i.e., from the sin, or the trespass, or debt to be expiated by them: viz., חטּאת sin, i.e., sin-offering (Lev 4:3, Lev 4:8, Lev 4:14, Lev 4:19, etc.), and אשׁם debt, i.e., debt-offering (Lev 5:15-16, Lev 5:19); - a clear proof that the sin and debt-offerings were introduced at the same time as the Mosaic law. The laws which follow are distinguished from the preceding ones by the new introductory formula in Lev 4:1-2, which is repeated in Lev 5:14. This repetition proves that Lev 4:2-5:13 treats of the sin-offerings, and Lev 5:14-19 of the trespass-offerings; and this is confirmed by the substance of the two series of laws.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
The Lord spake unto Moses - The laws contained in the three first chapters, seem to have been delivered to Moses at one time. Here begin the laws of another day, which God delivered from between the Cherubim.

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⁶ Suffer [05414] not thy mouth [06310] to cause thy flesh [01320] to sin [02398]; neither say [0559] thou before [06440] the angel [04397], that it was an error [07684]: wherefore should God [0430] be angry [07107] at thy voice [06963], and destroy [02254] the work [04639] of thine hands [03027]?

⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted [06031] I went astray [07683]: but now have I kept [08104] thy word [0565].

¹⁷ And if a soul [05315] sin [02398], and commit [06213] any [0259] of these things which are forbidden to be done [06213] by the commandments [04687] of the LORD [03068]; though he wist [03045] it not, yet is he guilty [0816], and shall bear [05375] his iniquity [05771].

²⁸ Or if his sin [02403], which he hath sinned [02398], come to his knowledge [03045]: then he shall bring [0935] his offering [07133], a kid [08166] of the goats [05795], a female [05347] without blemish [08549], for his sin [02403] which he hath sinned [02398].

²³ Or if his sin [02403], wherein he hath sinned [02398], come to his knowledge [03045]; he shall bring [0935] his offering [07133], a kid [08163] of the goats [05795], a male [02145] without blemish [08549]:

¹³ And if the whole congregation [05712] of Israel [03478] sin through ignorance [07686], and the thing [01697] be hid [05956] from the eyes [05869] of the assembly [06951], and they have done [06213] somewhat against any [0259] of the commandments [04687] of the LORD [03068] concerning things which should not be done [06213], and are guilty [0816];

¹⁶ If [1437] any man [5100] see [1492] his [846] brother [80] sin [264] a sin [266] which is not [3361] unto [4314] death [2288], he shall ask [154], and [2532] he shall give [1325] him [846] life [2222] for them that sin [264] not [3361] unto [4314] death [2288]. There is [2076] a sin [266] unto [4314] death [2288]: I do not [3756] say [3004] that [2443] he shall pray [2065] for [4012] it [1565].

³¹ Wherefore [1223] [5124] I say [3004] unto you [5213], All manner of [3956] sin [266] and [2532] blasphemy [988] shall be forgiven [863] unto men [444]: but [1161] the blasphemy [988] against the Holy Ghost [4151] shall [863] not [3756] be forgiven [863] unto men [444].

¹⁴ Ye shall keep [08104] the sabbath [07676] therefore; for it is holy [06944] unto you: every one that defileth [02490] it shall surely [04191] be put to death [04191]: for whosoever doeth [06213] any work [04399] therein, that soul [05315] shall be cut off [03772] from among [07130] his people [05971].

²⁰ But the soul [05315] that eateth [0398] of the flesh [01320] of the sacrifice [02077] of peace offerings [08002], that pertain unto the LORD [03068], having his uncleanness [02932] upon him, even that soul [05315] shall be cut off [03772] from his people [05971].

¹³ Who leave [05800] the paths [0734] of uprightness [03476], to walk [03212] in the ways [01870] of darkness [02822];
¹⁴ Who rejoice [08056] to do [06213] evil [07451], and delight [01523] in the frowardness [08419] of the wicked [07451];
¹⁵ Whose ways [0734] are crooked [06141], and they froward [03868] in their paths [04570]:

²⁶ For [1063] if we [2257] sin [264] wilfully [1596] after [3326] that we have received [2983] the knowledge [1922] of the truth [225], there remaineth [620] no more [3765] sacrifice [2378] for [4012] sins [266],
²⁷ But [1161] a certain [5100] fearful [5398] looking for [1561] of judgment [2920] and [2532] fiery [4442] indignation [2205], which shall [3195] devour [2068] the adversaries [5227].

¹² Who can understand [0995] his errors [07691]? cleanse [05352] thou me from secret [05641] faults.
¹³ Keep back [02820] thy servant [05650] also from presumptuous [02086] sins; let them not have dominion [04910] over me: then shall I be upright [08552], and I shall be innocent [05352] from the great [07227] transgression [06588].

³⁰ And the priest [03548] shall take [03947] of the blood [01818] thereof with his finger [0676], and put [05414] it upon the horns [07161] of the altar [04196] of burnt offering [05930], and shall pour out [08210] all the blood [01818] thereof at the bottom [03247] of the altar [04196].

²² When a ruler [05387] hath sinned [02398], and done [06213] somewhat through ignorance [07684] against any [0259] of the commandments [04687] of the LORD [03068] his God [0430] concerning things which should not be done [06213], and is guilty [0816];

²² And if ye have erred [07686], and not observed [06213] all these commandments [04687], which the LORD [03068] hath spoken [01696] unto Moses [04872],
²³ Even all that the LORD [03068] hath commanded [06680] you by the hand [03027] of Moses [04872], from the day [03117] that the LORD [03068] commanded [06680] Moses, and henceforward [01973] among your generations [01755];
²⁴ Then it shall be, if ought be committed [06213] by ignorance [07684] without the knowledge [05869] of the congregation [05712], that all the congregation [05712] shall offer [06213] one [0259] young [01121] [01241] bullock [06499] for a burnt offering [05930], for a sweet [05207] savour [07381] unto the LORD [03068], with his meat offering [04503], and his drink offering [05262], according to the manner [04941], and one [0259] kid [08163] of the goats [05795] for a sin offering [02403].
²⁵ And the priest [03548] shall make an atonement [03722] for all the congregation [05712] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and it shall be forgiven [05545] them; for it is ignorance [07684]: and they shall bring [0935] their offering [07133], a sacrifice made by fire [0801] unto the LORD [03068], and their sin offering [02403] before [06440] the LORD [03068], for their ignorance [07684]:
²⁶ And it shall be forgiven [05545] all the congregation [05712] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and the stranger [01616] that sojourneth [01481] among [08432] them; seeing all the people [05971] were in ignorance [07684].
²⁷ And if any [0259] soul [05315] sin [02398] through ignorance [07684], then he shall bring [07126] a she goat [05795] of the first [01323] year [08141] for a sin offering [02403].
²⁸ And the priest [03548] shall make an atonement [03722] for the soul [05315] that sinneth ignorantly [07683], when he sinneth [02398] by ignorance [07684] before [06440] the LORD [03068], to make an atonement [03722] for him; and it shall be forgiven [05545] him.
²⁹ Ye shall have one [0259] law [08451] for him that sinneth [06213] through ignorance [07684], both for him that is born [0249] among the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and for the stranger [01616] that sojourneth [01481] among [08432] them.
³⁰ But the soul [05315] that doeth [06213] ought presumptuously [07311] [03027], whether he be born in the land [0249], or a stranger [04480] [01616], the same reproacheth [01442] the LORD [03068]; and that soul [05315] shall be cut off [03772] from among [07130] his people [05971].
³¹ Because he hath despised [0959] the word [01697] of the LORD [03068], and hath broken [06565] his commandment [04687], that soul [05315] shall utterly [03772] be cut off [03772]; his iniquity [05771] shall be upon him.

¹ And if his oblation [07133] be a sacrifice [02077] of peace offering [08002], if he offer [07126] it of the herd [01241]; whether it be a male [02145] or female [05347], he shall offer [07126] it without blemish [08549] before [06440] the LORD [03068].

¹ And when any [05315] will offer [07126] a meat [04503] offering [07133] unto the LORD [03068], his offering [07133] shall be of fine flour [05560]; and he shall pour [03332] oil [08081] upon it, and put [05414] frankincense [03828] thereon:

² Speak [01696] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478], saying [0559], If a soul [05315] shall sin [02398] through ignorance [07684] against any of the commandments [04687] of the LORD [03068] concerning things which ought not to be done [06213], and shall do [06213] against any [0259] of them [02007]:

¹⁴ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],
¹⁵ If a soul [05315] commit [04603] a trespass [04604], and sin [02398] through ignorance [07684], in the holy things [06944] of the LORD [03068]; then he shall bring [0935] for his trespass [0817] unto the LORD [03068] a ram [0352] without blemish [08549] out of the flocks [06629], with thy estimation [06187] by shekels [08255] of silver [03701], after the shekel [08255] of the sanctuary [06944], for a trespass offering [0817]:
¹⁶ And he shall make amends [07999] for the harm [02398] that he hath done in the holy thing [06944], and shall add [03254] the fifth part [02549] thereto, and give [05414] it unto the priest [03548]: and the priest [03548] shall make an atonement [03722] for him with the ram [0352] of the trespass offering [0817], and it shall be forgiven [05545] him.
¹⁷ And if a soul [05315] sin [02398], and commit [06213] any [0259] of these things which are forbidden to be done [06213] by the commandments [04687] of the LORD [03068]; though he wist [03045] it not, yet is he guilty [0816], and shall bear [05375] his iniquity [05771].
¹⁸ And he shall bring [0935] a ram [0352] without blemish [08549] out of the flock [06629], with thy estimation [06187], for a trespass offering [0817], unto the priest [03548]: and the priest [03548] shall make an atonement [03722] for him concerning his ignorance [07684] wherein he erred [07683] and wist [03045] it not, and it shall be forgiven [05545] him.
¹⁹ It is a trespass offering [0817]: he hath certainly [0816] trespassed [0816] against the LORD [03068].

¹⁴ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],

¹ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],
² Speak [01696] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478], saying [0559], If a soul [05315] shall sin [02398] through ignorance [07684] against any of the commandments [04687] of the LORD [03068] concerning things which ought not to be done [06213], and shall do [06213] against any [0259] of them [02007]:

¹⁹ It is a trespass offering [0817]: he hath certainly [0816] trespassed [0816] against the LORD [03068].

¹⁵ If a soul [05315] commit [04603] a trespass [04604], and sin [02398] through ignorance [07684], in the holy things [06944] of the LORD [03068]; then he shall bring [0935] for his trespass [0817] unto the LORD [03068] a ram [0352] without blemish [08549] out of the flocks [06629], with thy estimation [06187] by shekels [08255] of silver [03701], after the shekel [08255] of the sanctuary [06944], for a trespass offering [0817]:
¹⁶ And he shall make amends [07999] for the harm [02398] that he hath done in the holy thing [06944], and shall add [03254] the fifth part [02549] thereto, and give [05414] it unto the priest [03548]: and the priest [03548] shall make an atonement [03722] for him with the ram [0352] of the trespass offering [0817], and it shall be forgiven [05545] him.

¹⁹ And he shall take [07311] all his fat [02459] from him, and burn [06999] it upon the altar [04196].

¹⁴ When the sin [02403], which they have sinned [02398] against it, is known [03045], then the congregation [06951] shall offer [07126] a young [01241] [01121] bullock [06499] for the sin [02403], and bring [0935] him before [06440] the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150].

⁸ And he shall take off [07311] from it all the fat [02459] of the bullock [06499] for the sin offering [02403]; the fat [02459] that covereth [03680] the inwards [07130], and all the fat [02459] that is upon the inwards [07130],

³ If the priest [03548] that is anointed [04899] do sin [02398] according to the sin [0819] of the people [05971]; then let him bring [07126] for his sin [02403], which he hath sinned [02398], a young [01241] [01121] bullock [06499] without blemish [08549] unto the LORD [03068] for a sin offering [02403].