And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
LEVITICUS 4:7KJVWhat does Leviticus 4:7 mean?
Leviticus 4:7 describes how a priest was to handle the blood of a sacrificed bull when someone had sinned unintentionally: he was to put some of the blood on the horns of the incense altar inside the tabernacle and pour the rest at the base of the main altar outside. This ritual act was part of making atonement for sin, following specific instructions given by God.
In this verse, God is giving Moses detailed instructions for priests about the sin offering. The priest (from the Hebrew כֹּהֵן, kohen) acts on behalf of the people, carrying out a careful process with the blood (דָּם, dam) of the bull (פָּר, par). The horns (קֶרֶן, qeren) of the altar (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeach) of incense (קְטֹרֶת, qetoret) are inside the holy place, while the main altar for burnt offerings is outside at the entrance to the tent of meeting (the tabernacle). This shows the seriousness and orderliness of dealing with sin in Israel’s worship.
The Hebrew behind Leviticus 4:7
- כֹּהֵן (kohen, "priest"): This word refers to the person set apart to serve in the tabernacle, highlighting the special role and responsibility of the priest in Israel’s worship.
- דָּם (dam, "blood"): Blood was seen as carrying life, and its careful placement in the ritual shows the seriousness of atonement and the cost of forgiveness.
- קֶרֶן (qeren, "horns"): The horns of the altar were prominent features, and putting blood on them symbolized purification and the reaching of God’s presence.
- מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach, "altar"): Two different altars are mentioned—the incense altar inside and the burnt offering altar outside—showing the connection between prayer, atonement, and access to God.
Why Leviticus 4:7 matters
- Leviticus 4:7 clarifies that atonement for sin involved both the inner and outer parts of the tabernacle, connecting personal and communal aspects of worship.
- The verse shows that forgiveness was not a casual matter; it required a specific, respectful process led by the priest, emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the care God expected in worship.
- This instruction fits into a larger section about sin offerings, helping the reader see how Israel’s worship was structured to address both the presence of God and the need for cleansing from sin.