Bible Strands
Leviticus 4:8
Then he shall remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering—the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text delivers a divine instruction to the Aaronic priesthood detailing the precise ritual handling of a bull sin offering within the Tent of Meeting. The directive occurs mid-ritual, immediately following the application and pouring of the bull’s blood.
The words — The verb יָרִים (ya.Rim) means "he will lift up" or extract, paired with כָּל־חֵ֛לֶב (kol-chelev), literally "all the fat," specifying the exact portions to be removed from the bull of the sin offering.
The thread — This specific fat extraction parallels the food offering requirements in Leviticus 3:3 and 3:9, while Leviticus 4:26 explicitly commands that all extracted fat be burned on the altar. The surrounding narrative in Leviticus 4:11-12 clarifies that the bull’s remaining flesh, hide, and entrails are burned outside the camp, not on the altar.
Why it lands — The text demands strict adherence to anatomical precision in sacrificial rites, requiring the priest to isolate designated portions before any further ritual action. It establishes that ritual validity depends on following the exact sequence and boundaries of the prescribed removal.
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 he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
Cross-references
- Leviticus 3:3 From the peace offering he is to bring a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them,
- Leviticus 4:26 He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the peace offerings; thus the priest will make atonement for that man’s sin, and he will be forgiven.
- Leviticus 3:9 And from the peace offering he shall bring a food offering to the LORD consisting of its fat: the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them,
- Leviticus 3:14 And from his offering he shall present a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them,
- Leviticus 4:19 And he is to remove all the fat from it and burn it on the altar.
- Leviticus 4:31 Then he is to remove all the fat, just as it is removed from the peace offering, and the priest is to burn it on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.
- Leviticus 4:35 And he shall remove all the fat, just as the fat of the lamb is removed from the peace offerings, and he shall burn it on the altar along with the food offerings to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.
- Leviticus 7:3 And all the fat from it shall be offered: the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails,
- Leviticus 16:25 He is also to burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar.
- Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.