Bible Strands
Leviticus 4:23
When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring an unblemished male goat as his offering.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text addresses a leader who has unintentionally violated God’s commandments and incurred guilt. It instructs him on the required response once he recognizes his transgression.
The words — הוֹדַ֤ע (ho.Da') means "it has been made known," marking the moment of conscious recognition. וְ/הֵבִ֧יא (ve./he.Vi') translates to "and he will bring," establishing the mandatory action that follows that awareness.
The thread — This sequence of post-awareness offering appears in Leviticus 4:14 for the assembly and Leviticus 5:4 regarding rash oaths. The New Testament later addresses the law’s limitation in Romans 8:3.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to acknowledge that guilt demands a tangible, prescribed response once recognized. It establishes a procedural standard for atonement that precedes any theological explanation of its efficacy.
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
Or 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:
Cross-references
- Leviticus 4:14 when they become aware of the sin they have committed, then the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the Tent of Meeting.
- Leviticus 5:4 Or if someone swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do anything good or evil—in whatever matter a man may rashly pronounce an oath—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty in the matter.
- Romans 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,
- Leviticus 4:3 If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull without blemish as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.
- Leviticus 4:28 When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring an unblemished female goat as his offering for that sin.
- Leviticus 9:3 Then speak to the Israelites and say, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without blemish—for a burnt offering,
- Leviticus 23:19 You shall also prepare one male goat as a sin offering and two male lambs a year old as a peace offering.
- Numbers 7:16 one male goat for a sin offering;
- Numbers 7:22 one male goat for a sin offering;
- Numbers 7:28 one male goat for a sin offering;