Leviticus 4:32 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 4:32 mean?

Leviticus 4:32 gives an ordinary Israelite the requirements for bringing a lamb as a sin offering. The animal must be female and without blemish. The offering is part of the instructions for someone who has unintentionally done what God’s commands forbid.

God gives these instructions to Moses for the Israelites. After the preceding instructions about a goat, this verse introduces a lamb as another choice. “Without blemish” describes an animal that is sound, rather than visibly defective.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 4:32

• “sin” — חַטָּאת (ḥaṭṭat): The word can mean either a wrong act or an offering brought because of such an act. Here, “sin offering” names the kind of offering being brought.
• “blemish” — תָּמִים (tamim): The Hebrew word carries the sense of being whole or sound. The KJV expresses that quality through the phrase “without blemish.”

Why Leviticus 4:32 matters

• The lamb is an option within instructions for an ordinary member of the community. Leviticus 4:27 begins with “any one of the common people,” and verse 32 continues that case.
• The person bringing the lamb has a role beyond choosing the animal. In verse 33, that person places a hand on its head and kills it in the designated place.
• The priest also has a role in the offering. Verses 34–35 describe the priest handling the blood and burning the fat; verse 35 says the person will be forgiven.