Leviticus 4:22

When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the commandments of the LORD his God, he incurs guilt.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites regarding the procedural response for a national leader who has violated divine law. The instruction appears within Leviticus 4's broader framework for handling unintentional transgressions.

The words — נָשִׂיא (na.Si') translates literally to "a leader" or "prince," and יֶֽחֱטָ֑א (ye.che.Ta') means "he will sin." These terms anchor the passage to a specific social rank and the act of transgression itself.

The thread — The provision for unintentional sin by an official parallels Leviticus 4:2 and Leviticus 4:13, which extend similar guilt and offering requirements to individuals and the entire assembly. The expectation of accountable leadership also resonates with the selection standards in Exodus 18:21.

Why it lands — The text states that a leader who sins unintentionally and violates any of Yahweh's commandments incurs guilt. It requires readers to acknowledge that official status does not nullify the liability for disobeying divine law.

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

אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherthat נָשִׂ֖יאna.Si'a leader יֶֽחֱטָ֑אye.che.Ta'he will sin וְעָשָׂ֡הve./'a.Sahand/ he will do אַחַ֣ת'a.Chatone מִכָּל־mi./kolof/ all מִצְוֹת֩mitz.Vot[the] commandments of יְהוָ֨הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהָ֜יו'e.lo.Ha/vGod/ his אֲשֶׁ֧ר'a.Sherwhich לֹא־lo'-not תֵעָשֶׂ֛ינָהte.'a.Sei.nahthey will be done בִּשְׁגָגָ֖הbi/sh.ga.Gahby/ inadvertence וְאָשֵֽׁם׃ve./'a.Shemand/ he will be guilty

King James Version

When 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;

Cross-references

Leviticus 4:2 “Tell the Israelites to do as follows with one who sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s commandments and does what is forbidden by them:
Leviticus 4:13 Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden,
Exodus 18:21 Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
Leviticus 4:27 And if one of the common people sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the LORD’s commandments, he incurs guilt.
Numbers 16:2 a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 men of Israel renowned as leaders of the congregation and representatives in the assembly.
Numbers 31:13 And Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation went to meet them outside the camp.
2 Samuel 21:1 During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
2 Samuel 24:10 After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”