Bible Strands
Leviticus 10:17
“Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the holy place? For it is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the congregation by making atonement for them before the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses confronts Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s surviving sons, after discovering they burned the goat of the sin offering instead of consuming it. He questions their failure to follow the prescribed ritual procedure.
The words — מַדּ֗וּעַ (ma.Du.a') translates to "why?" and לֹֽא־ אֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם (lo'- 'a.khal.Tem) means "did you not eat," highlighting Moses’ direct challenge to their inaction regarding the sin offering.
The thread — The requirement to consume the sin offering in a holy place appears in Leviticus 7:6, while the principle of bearing the iniquity of holy things connects to Exodus 28:38.
Why it lands — The text states the offering was given to take away the congregation’s guilt and make atonement before the LORD, establishing that strict adherence to the prescribed ritual location is necessary for the atonement to function as intended.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord?
Cross-references
- Exodus 28:38 And it will be worn on Aaron’s forehead, so that he may bear the iniquity of the holy things that the sons of Israel consecrate with regard to all their holy gifts. It shall always be on his forehead, so that they may be acceptable before the LORD.
- Leviticus 6:24 And the LORD said to Moses,
- Leviticus 7:6 Every male among the priests may eat of it. It must be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy.
- Numbers 18:1 So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary. And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood.
- Exodus 28:43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants.
- Leviticus 16:22 The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary place, and the man will release it into the wilderness.
- Leviticus 22:16 by allowing the people to eat the sacred offerings and thus to bear the punishment for guilt. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.”
- Isaiah 53:6 We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
- Ezekiel 4:4 Then lie down on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their iniquity for the number of days you lie on your side.
- Ezekiel 18:19 Yet you may ask, ‘Why shouldn’t the son bear the iniquity of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will surely live.