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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites immediately after establishing the general rule for unintentional sins, specifying the procedure that applies when the high priest himself transgresses.

The words — The text highlights מָשִׁיחַ (ma.Shi.ach), literally "anointed," and אַשְׁמָה ('ash.Mat), literally "guilt," to establish that the priest's consecrated status directly transfers his failure to the community.

The thread — This requirement reappears in Leviticus 9:2 for Aaron’s own offerings, scales down to the assembly’s obligation in Leviticus 4:14, and is structurally contrasted in Hebrews 7:27 with Christ’s non-repeating sacrifice.

Why it lands — It demands the reader acknowledge that spiritual leadership carries corporate liability and that restoration requires a specific, unblemished offering presented directly to the LORD.

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

אִ֣ם'imif הַכֹּהֵ֧ןha./ko.Henthe/ priest הַמָּשִׁ֛יחַha./ma.Shi.ach<the>/ anointed יֶחֱטָ֖אye.che.Ta'he will sin לְאַשְׁמַ֣תle./'ash.Matto/ [the] guilt of הָעָ֑םha./'Amthe/ people וְהִקְרִ֡יבve./hik.Rivand/ he will present עַ֣ל'alon חַטָּאתוֹ֩cha.ta.T/osin/ his אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sherwhich חָטָ֜אcha.Ta'he sinned פַּ֣רpara bull בֶּן־ben-a young one of בָּקָ֥רba.Kar[the] herd תָּמִ֛יםta.Mimunblemished לַיהוָ֖הla./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh לְחַטָּֽאת׃le./cha.Tatto/ a sin offering

King James Version

If 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.

Cross-references

Leviticus 9:2 He said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and present them before the LORD.
Hebrews 7:27 Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
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.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Ezra 8:35 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and a sin offering of 12 male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.
Hebrews 5:3 That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
Exodus 29:7 Then take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.
Exodus 29:14 But burn the flesh of the bull and its hide and dung outside the camp; it is a sin offering.
Exodus 29:21 And take some of the blood on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments, as well as on his sons and their garments. Then he and his garments will be consecrated, as well as his sons and their garments.
Leviticus 8:12 He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.