Bible Strands
Leviticus 4:34
Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text addresses the priest, giving him the final procedural command for the sin offering after the animal has been slaughtered. This instruction is embedded in a legal sequence detailing purification rites for unintentional transgressions.
The words — וְלָקַח (ve-laqach) literally means "and he will take," and קַרְנֹת (qarnot) translates directly to "horns of." These terms anchor the verse's command to a specific physical action and a precise location on the altar.
The thread — The sequence of taking blood with a finger, applying it to altar horns, and pouring out the remainder is repeated in Leviticus 4:25 and Leviticus 4:30. Leviticus 4:7 diverges by directing the priest to apply the blood to the horns of the altar of fragrant incense rather than the altar of burnt offering.
Why it lands — The text mandates exact compliance in handling sacred materials, leaving no room for improvisation in the ritual sequence. It requires the reader to recognize that atonement procedures are bound by strict spatial and procedural limits.
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
And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:
Cross-references
- Leviticus 4:7 The priest must then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. And he is to pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
- Leviticus 4:25 Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
- Leviticus 4:30 Then the priest is to take some of its blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
- Isaiah 42:21 The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious.
- John 17:19 For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.
- Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- 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,
- Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.
- 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.
- Hebrews 2:10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.