Antiguo Testamento

Leviticus — Capítulo 4

Leviticus enabled ancient Israel to live in relationship with a holy God. But now that Christ has come as our High Priest and ultimate sacrifice—thereby fulfilling many of the requirements outlined in Leviticus—what do laws governing ancient Israel’s system of worship, with its priests and animal sacrifices, have to do with us? Leviticus increases our understanding of God’s holiness. And God’s …

Versión

Texto — Reina-Valera 1960

1Habló Jehová a Moisés, diciendo:

2Habla a los hijos de Israel y diles: Cuando alguna persona pecare por yerro en alguno de los mandamientos de Jehová sobre cosas que no se han de hacer, e hiciere alguna de ellas;

3si el sacerdote ungido pecare según el pecado del pueblo, ofrecerá a Jehová, por su pecado que habrá cometido, un becerro sin defecto para expiación.

4Traerá el becerro a la puerta del tabernáculo de reunión delante de Jehová, y pondrá su mano sobre la cabeza del becerro, y lo degollará delante de Jehová.

5Y el sacerdote ungido tomará de la sangre del becerro, y la traerá al tabernáculo de reunión;

6y mojará el sacerdote su dedo en la sangre, y rociará de aquella sangre siete veces delante de Jehová, hacia el velo del santuario.

7Y el sacerdote pondrá de esa sangre sobre los cuernos del altar del incienso aromático, que está en el tabernáculo de reunión delante de Jehová; y echará el resto de la sangre del becerro al pie del altar del holocausto, que está a la puerta del tabernáculo de reunión.

8Y tomará del becerro para la expiación toda su grosura, la que cubre los intestinos, y la que está sobre las entrañas,

9los dos riñones, la grosura que está sobre ellos, y la que está sobre los ijares; y con los riñones quitará la grosura de sobre el hígado,

10de la manera que se quita del buey del sacrificio de paz; y el sacerdote la hará arder sobre el altar del holocausto.

11Y la piel del becerro, y toda su carne, con su cabeza, sus piernas, sus intestinos y su estiércol,

12en fin, todo el becerro sacará fuera del campamento a un lugar limpio, donde se echan las cenizas, y lo quemará al fuego sobre la leña; en donde se echan las cenizas será quemado.

13Si toda la congregación de Israel hubiere errado, y el yerro estuviere oculto a los ojos del pueblo, y hubieren hecho algo contra alguno de los mandamientos de Jehová en cosas que no se han de hacer, y fueren culpables;

14luego que llegue a ser conocido el pecado que cometieren, la congregación ofrecerá un becerro por expiación, y lo traerán delante del tabernáculo de reunión.

15Y los ancianos de la congregación pondrán sus manos sobre la cabeza del becerro delante de Jehová, y en presencia de Jehová degollarán aquel becerro.

16Y el sacerdote ungido meterá de la sangre del becerro en el tabernáculo de reunión,

17y mojará el sacerdote su dedo en la misma sangre, y rociará siete veces delante de Jehová hacia el velo.

18Y de aquella sangre pondrá sobre los cuernos del altar que está delante de Jehová en el tabernáculo de reunión, y derramará el resto de la sangre al pie del altar del holocausto, que está a la puerta del tabernáculo de reunión.

19Y le quitará toda la grosura y la hará arder sobre el altar.

20Y hará de aquel becerro como hizo con el becerro de la expiación; lo mismo hará de él; así hará el sacerdote expiación por ellos, y obtendrán perdón.

21Y sacará el becerro fuera del campamento, y lo quemará como quemó el primer becerro; expiación es por la congregación.

22Cuando pecare un jefe, e hiciere por yerro algo contra alguno de todos los mandamientos de Jehová su Dios sobre cosas que no se han de hacer, y pecare;

23luego que conociere su pecado que cometió, presentará por su ofrenda un macho cabrío sin defecto.

24Y pondrá su mano sobre la cabeza del macho cabrío, y lo degollará en el lugar donde se degüella el holocausto, delante de Jehová; es expiación.

25Y con su dedo el sacerdote tomará de la sangre de la expiación, y la pondrá sobre los cuernos del altar del holocausto, y derramará el resto de la sangre al pie del altar del holocausto,

26y quemará toda su grosura sobre el altar, como la grosura del sacrificio de paz; así el sacerdote hará por él la expiación de su pecado, y tendrá perdón.

27Si alguna persona del pueblo pecare por yerro, haciendo algo contra alguno de los mandamientos de Jehová en cosas que no se han de hacer, y delinquiere;

28luego que conociere su pecado que cometió, traerá por su ofrenda una cabra, una cabra sin defecto, por su pecado que cometió.

29Y pondrá su mano sobre la cabeza de la ofrenda de la expiación, y la degollará en el lugar del holocausto.

30Luego con su dedo el sacerdote tomará de la sangre, y la pondrá sobre los cuernos del altar del holocausto, y derramará el resto de la sangre al pie del altar.

31Y le quitará toda su grosura, de la manera que fue quitada la grosura del sacrificio de paz; y el sacerdote la hará arder sobre el altar en olor grato a Jehová; así hará el sacerdote expiación por él, y será perdonado.

32Y si por su ofrenda por el pecado trajere cordero, hembra sin defecto traerá.

33Y pondrá su mano sobre la cabeza de la ofrenda de expiación, y la degollará por expiación en el lugar donde se degüella el holocausto.

34Después con su dedo el sacerdote tomará de la sangre de la expiación, y la pondrá sobre los cuernos del altar del holocausto, y derramará el resto de la sangre al pie del altar.

35Y le quitará toda su grosura, como fue quitada la grosura del sacrificio de paz, y el sacerdote la hará arder en el altar sobre la ofrenda encendida a Jehová; y le hará el sacerdote expiación de su pecado que habrá cometido, y será perdonado.

TYNDALE OPEN STUDY NOTES

Versículo 1

I. 4:1–5:13 The sin offering (Hebrew khatta’t, from the root khata’, meaning “to lack, fall short, m…

4:1–5:13 The sin offering (Hebrew khatta’t, from the root khata’, meaning “to lack, fall short, miss, fail”) was for specific unintentional violations of God’s commands (see also Num 15:22-29), intended to repair a loss or remedy a failure (e.g., Lev 5:1-4). Although we all sin, God will forgive us if we confess it (Gal 6:1; 1 Jn 1:8-9). But we are warned against sinning “brazenly” or “deliberately” (Num 15:30-31; Heb 6:4-6; 10:26-29).

Versículo 3

II. 4:3-21 These verses distinguish two types of sin offerings: (1) the offering given for the sin of…

4:3-21 These verses distinguish two types of sin offerings: (1) the offering given for the sin of the high priest (4:3, 20) and the entire Israelite community (4:13), and (2) the offering given for one of Israel’s leaders (4:22) and any of the common people (4:27). The former case required offering a bull, a large, expensive animal. It was not to be eaten (6:30) but was completely burned (4:12, 21), and some of its blood was presented in the Holy Place (4:6-7, 17-18). The latter case required a lesser animal—a male goat for a lay leader or a female sheep or goat for a common person. The priest ate a portion of the layperson’s offering (6:24-29), and the blood was presented at the bronze altar in the courtyard (4:25, 30). The distinction stresses the responsibilities of leaders. The offering was the same for the priest as for the entire people, and the lay leader’s offering was more than that of a common person. The New Testament also emphasizes the responsibility of religious leaders; those who teach (Jas 3:1) and those who serve as religious leaders (Matt 23:1-33; Luke 20:47) are judged more severely than those who follow them. 4:3 The high priest was designated by God and “anointed” (Hebrew mashiakh, “set apart by the ritual of anointing”) for a particular service. In 1 Sam 1:1—2 Kgs 25:30, anointing most often refers to Israel’s king (see 1 Sam 24:6; 2 Sam 1:14; 19:21). While all priests were anointed (Exod 40:13-15), here the term probably refers to the high priest because he was specially anointed for service in the Tabernacle (Lev 6:20; 8:12). Since the high priest was mediator for all of Israel, including lesser priests, his sin would bring guilt on the entire assembly (see “Community Identity” Theme Note). • Guilt results from violating God’s will; it is not just perceived or psychological guilt (see study note on 5:17-19).

Versículo 5

III. 4:5-6 The Tabernacle complex had a tent (sometimes called the “Tent of Meeting”; see study note o…

4:5-6 The Tabernacle complex had a tent (sometimes called the “Tent of Meeting”; see study note on 1:1) at the west end of the courtyard. Inside the tent, the inner curtain divided the first room, the Holy Place, from the second, the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place contained the Ark of the Covenant (Exod 26:31-33) and was God’s throne room (see study note on Lev 1:1). Sprinkling the animal’s blood before the curtain (4:6, 17) and applying it to the horns of the incense altar (4:7, 18) was done to atone for the anointed priest or for the entire congregation. This action demonstrated the gravity of the offenses being atoned for (cp. 4:25, 30-35).

Versículo 7

IV. 4:7 The altar for fragrant incense stood in front of the inner curtain, just outside the Most Hol…

4:7 The altar for fragrant incense stood in front of the inner curtain, just outside the Most Holy Place (4:6). It had four protrusions resembling horns, as did the altar for burnt offerings (see study note on Exod 27:2). The priests burned incense on this altar to the Lord each morning and evening (Exod 30:1-10).

Versículo 11

V. 4:11-12 Only the offerings for the priest or the entire community were burned outside the camp. P…

4:11-12 Only the offerings for the priest or the entire community were burned outside the camp. Perhaps this was commanded because the offering had figuratively absorbed the contamination of the high priest or the community and therefore had to be disposed of outside the camp. Those guilty were not to partake of or reap any benefit from their own sin offerings, even if they were priests (6:19-23).

Versículo 15

VI. 4:15 The Hebrew term for elders is related to the word for beard. It implies mature but not neces…

4:15 The Hebrew term for elders is related to the word for beard. It implies mature but not necessarily elderly individuals. They were leaders of the community—typically, heads of families and tribes (cp. Exod 18:21-26; Deut 22:15-19). For this offering, the elders represented the entire people, as they would later in anointing David as king (2 Sam 5:3).

Versículo 20

VII. 4:20 A similar form of the phrase they will be forgiven appears frequently in passages dealing wi…

4:20 A similar form of the phrase they will be forgiven appears frequently in passages dealing with atonement (4:26, 31, 35; 5:10, 13, 16, 18; 6:7; 19:22; Num 15:25, 26, 28). God is willing to forgive a repentant person’s sin and restore him or her to the community of faith.

Versículo 22

VIII. 4:22-35 The sin offerings described in this passage atoned for laypersons, whether leaders or oth…

4:22-35 The sin offerings described in this passage atoned for laypersons, whether leaders or other Israelite citizens. These offerings could be eaten (contrast 4:3-21), and they involved lesser animals. The blood of the offering was disposed of in the courtyard of the Tabernacle and not carried to the Holy Place. As with the peace offering (ch 3), the fat and certain internal organs were burned on the altar. However, the rest of the meat from these offerings was given to the priest as food for himself and the males in his family (6:29), and it was to be eaten in a holy place (6:26; cp. 10:16-20). A lay leader was to offer a male goat (4:23), while a common layperson could offer a female goat or lamb. The animal’s lesser size and cost reflected the lesser influence of the common Israelite and, probably, their financial situation. Economic considerations allowed those who were poor to bring a pair of doves or young pigeons (5:7-8; 12:6, 8; cp. Luke 2:24). The desperately poor could offer two quarts of flour (Lev 5:11). 4:22 Israel’s leaders included the elders (see 4:15), tribal heads, and family heads (see Num 1:16, 44; 1 Kgs 8:1).

Versículo 23

IX. 4:23 The male goat offered by a lay leader was a lesser offering than was required for the priest…

4:23 The male goat offered by a lay leader was a lesser offering than was required for the priest (a bull) but more than was required for a common person (4:28, 32). However, like all offerings used for securing atonement, the animal could have no defects (see 1:3).

Versículo 24

X. 4:24 at the place where burnt offerings are slaughtered: See 1:3-5.

4:24 at the place where burnt offerings are slaughtered: See 1:3-5.

Versículo 25

XI. 4:25 blood . . . horns of the altar: Unlike the blood of the bull for the priest, the blood of th…

4:25 blood . . . horns of the altar: Unlike the blood of the bull for the priest, the blood of the offering of a leader (4:25) or a common Israelite (4:30, 34) was not to be carried into the Holy Place. Also, a portion of the meat was to be eaten by the priest who offered it (6:24-29).

Versículo 27

XII. 4:27-35 The common people, who had less responsibility than a priest or leader, were permitted th…

4:27-35 The common people, who had less responsibility than a priest or leader, were permitted the lesser offering of a female sheep or goat. A greater position brings greater responsibility (cp. Amos 3:2; Matt 25:14-30; Jas 3:1).

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Leviticus — Capítulo 4

Versículo 3