And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.

LEVITICUS 4:26KJV
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Leviticus 4:26 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 4:26 mean?

Leviticus 4:26 describes how the priest is to burn all the fat of a sin offering on the altar, just as is done with the fat from peace offerings, and then make atonement for the person’s sin so that they are forgiven. This verse explains a key part of the ritual for dealing with unintentional sin in ancient Israel.

In this setting, God is giving Moses instructions for the Israelites about what to do when someone sins unintentionally. The priest acts on behalf of the person who sinned, following specific steps with the animal sacrifice. The burning of the fat and the priest’s actions are described as making atonement, which means restoring the relationship between the person and God, resulting in forgiveness.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 4:26

  • "Burn" (קָטַר, qatar) means to turn something into smoke on the altar. This word highlights that the fat is not just discarded but offered up in a way that is seen as pleasing to God.
  • "Fat" (חֵלֶב, chelev) refers to the best or richest part of the animal. In Israelite sacrifices, the fat was considered especially significant and was always given to God.
  • "Atonement" (כָּפַר, kaphar) carries the idea of covering over or reconciling. Here, it means the priest’s ritual actions restore the relationship between the person and God.
  • "Forgiven" (סָלַח, salach) means to be released from the guilt of sin. This word shows that after the ritual, the person’s wrongdoing is no longer held against them.

Why Leviticus 4:26 matters

  • Leviticus 4:26 clarifies that forgiveness in ancient Israel involved specific actions and was not automatic; the process had to be followed as God instructed.
  • The verse connects the sin offering to the peace offering, showing that the rituals were linked and that the same parts of the animal were treated with special care.
  • This verse helps explain the priest’s role as a mediator, emphasizing that forgiveness came through both the sacrifice and the priest’s actions, not just one or the other.

Where else these words appear

“forgiven” Hebrew H5545 · used in 45 verses

  • Exodus 34:9 And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.
  • Numbers 15:28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
  • 2 Chronicles 6:30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest;(for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)

“fat” Hebrew H2459 · used in 69 verses

  • Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
  • Leviticus 7:24 And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it.
  • 1 Samuel 2:15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

“offerings” Hebrew H8002 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
  • Leviticus 10:14 And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.
  • Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

“atonement” Hebrew H3722 · used in 94 verses

  • Genesis 6:14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
  • Leviticus 14:29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD.
  • Numbers 28:22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.