Leviticus 4:4
New International Version
He is to present the bull at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the LORD. He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it there before the LORD.

New Living Translation
He must bring the bull to the LORD at the entrance of the Tabernacle, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the LORD.

English Standard Version
He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD and lay his hand on the head of the bull and kill the bull before the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
He must bring the bull to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the LORD.

King James Bible
And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.

New King James Version
He shall bring the bull to the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and kill the bull before the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
He shall bring the bull to the doorway of the tent of meeting before the LORD, and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull and slaughter the bull before the LORD.

NASB 1995
‘He shall bring the bull to the doorway of the tent of meeting before the LORD, and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull and slay the bull before the LORD.

NASB 1977
‘And he shall bring the bull to the doorway of the tent of meeting before the LORD, and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull, and slay the bull before the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he shall bring the bull to the doorway of the tent of meeting before Yahweh, and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull and slaughter the bull before Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
He shall bring the bull to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, and shall lay his hand on the bull’s head [transferring symbolically his guilt to the sacrifice] and kill the bull before the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
He is to bring the bull to the entrance to the tent of meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He must bring the bull to the entrance to the tent of meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the LORD.

American Standard Version
And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tent of meeting before Jehovah; and he shall lay his hand upon the head of the bullock, and kill the bullock before Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
The priest will lead the bull to the entrance of the sacred tent, lay his hand on its head, and kill it there.

English Revised Version
And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tent of meeting before the LORD; and he shall lay his hand upon the head of the bullock, and kill the bullock before the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He must bring the bull into the LORD's presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He will place his hand on the bull's head. He will then slaughter the bull in the LORD's presence.

Good News Translation
He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the Tent, put his hand on its head, and kill it there in the LORD's presence.

International Standard Version
"He is to bring the bull to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, into the LORD's presence, where he is to lay his hand on the head of the bull and slaughter it in the LORD's presence.

Majority Standard Bible
He must bring the bull to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the LORD.

NET Bible
He must bring the bull to the entrance of the Meeting Tent before the LORD, lay his hand on the head of the bull, and slaughter the bull before the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
He shall bring the bull to the door of the Tent of Meeting before the LORD; and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull and kill the bull before the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he shall bring the bullock to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.

World English Bible
He shall bring the bull to the door of the Tent of Meeting before Yahweh; and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull, and kill the bull before Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he has brought in the bullock to the opening of the Tent of Meeting before YHWH, and has laid his hand on the head of the bullock, and has slaughtered the bullock before YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
and he hath brought in the bullock unto the opening of the tent of meeting before Jehovah, and hath laid his hand on the head of the bullock, and hath slaughtered the bullock before Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he brought the bullock to the door of the tent of appointment, before Jehovah; and he placed his hand upon the head of the bullock, and slaughtered the bullock before Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he shall bring it to the door of the testimony before the Lord, and shall put his hand upon the head thereof, and shall sacrifice it to the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he shall lead it to the door of the tabernacle of the testimony in the sight of the Lord. And he shall place his hand upon its head, and he shall immolate it to the Lord.

New American Bible
Bringing the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting, before the LORD, he shall lay his hand on its head and slaughter it before the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD and lay his hand on the head of the bull; the bull shall be slaughtered before the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he shall bring the bullock to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and he shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head and kill the bullock before the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he shall bring a bull to the door of the Time Tent before LORD JEHOVAH and he shall set his hand on the head of the bull and he shall kill the bull before LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tent of meeting before the LORD; and he shall lay his hand upon the head of the bullock, and kill the bullock before the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he shall bring the calf to the door of the tabernacle of witness before the Lord, and he shall put his hand on the head of the calf before the Lord, and shall slay the calf in the presence of the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laws for Sin Offerings
3If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull without blemish as a sin offering for the sin he has committed. 4He must bring the bull to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the LORD. 5Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood and bring it into the Tent of Meeting.…

Cross References
Hebrews 9:12-14
He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. / For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, / how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

Hebrews 10:10-12
And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. / Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. / But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.

Hebrews 13:11-12
Although the high priest brings the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, the bodies are burned outside the camp. / And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood.

1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, / but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

Romans 8:3
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,

2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

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.

John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

1 John 2:2
He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Ephesians 5:2
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

Numbers 15:24-25
and if it was done unintentionally without the knowledge of the congregation, then the whole congregation is to prepare one young bull as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD, with its grain offering and drink offering according to the regulation, and one male goat as a sin offering. / The priest is to make atonement for the whole congregation of Israel, so that they may be forgiven; for the sin was unintentional and they have brought to the LORD a food offering and a sin offering, presented before the LORD for their unintentional sin.

Numbers 29:11
Include one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering of atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offerings.

Exodus 29:10-14
You are to present the bull at the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head. / And you shall slaughter the bull before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. / Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; then pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. ...

Leviticus 16:3-6
This is how Aaron is to enter the Holy Place: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. / He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself with water before he wears them. / And he shall take from the congregation of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. ...

Leviticus 8:14-15
Moses then brought the bull near for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. / Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.


Treasury of Scripture

And he shall bring the bullock to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand on the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.

bring

Leviticus 1:3
If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.

Exodus 29:10,11
And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock…

land his hand

Leviticus 1:4
And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

Leviticus 16:21
And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Jump to Previous
Bull Bullock Bullock's Congregation Death Door Doorway Entrance Hand Head Kill Lay Meeting Opening Ox Present Slaughtered Slay Tabernacle Tent
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Bull Bullock Bullock's Congregation Death Door Doorway Entrance Hand Head Kill Lay Meeting Opening Ox Present Slaughtered Slay Tabernacle Tent
Leviticus 4
1. The sin offering of ignorance
3. for the priest
13. for the congregation
22. for the ruler
27. for any of the people














He must bring the bull
The Hebrew word for "bring" is "בּוֹא" (bo), which implies a deliberate action of presenting or leading. The bull, a significant and valuable animal, symbolizes strength and wealth. In ancient Israel, the bull was often used in sacrifices for atonement, representing the seriousness of sin and the costliness of forgiveness. This act of bringing the bull signifies the sinner's acknowledgment of their transgression and the need for reconciliation with God.

to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting
The "Tent of Meeting" (Hebrew: "אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד", ohel mo'ed) was the sacred space where God met with His people. Bringing the bull to the entrance signifies approaching God with reverence and humility. It underscores the importance of coming into God's presence with a contrite heart, seeking His mercy and grace. The entrance serves as a threshold between the secular and the sacred, reminding believers of the holiness required to approach God.

before the LORD
The phrase "before the LORD" (Hebrew: "לִפְנֵי יְהוָה", lifnei YHWH) emphasizes the act of sacrifice as a direct offering to God. It highlights the personal nature of repentance and atonement, as the sinner stands in the presence of the Almighty. This phrase reminds believers that all actions, especially those of repentance, are ultimately directed towards God, who sees and knows the heart.

lay his hand on the bull’s head
The act of laying hands (Hebrew: "סָמַךְ", samak) symbolizes the transfer of sin from the individual to the sacrificial animal. It is a profound gesture of identification and substitution, where the bull bears the penalty of the sinner. This act foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore the sins of humanity. It serves as a powerful reminder of the need for a mediator and the grace provided through substitutionary atonement.

and slaughter it
The Hebrew word for "slaughter" is "שָׁחַט" (shachat), indicating a ritualistic killing. This act is not merely about death but about the shedding of blood, which is essential for atonement (Hebrews 9:22). The slaughtering of the bull signifies the severity of sin and the necessity of a blood sacrifice to restore the relationship between God and man. It points to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, whose blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins.

before the LORD
Reiterating the phrase emphasizes the solemnity and sacredness of the act. The repetition serves to remind the believer that the entire process of atonement is conducted in the presence of God, who is both just and merciful. It calls the faithful to live with an awareness of God's constant presence and to approach Him with sincerity and reverence.

(4) Unto the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.--Better, unto the entrance of the tent of meeting. (See Leviticus 1:3.) The regulations about the bringing of the sin offering up to the sprinkling of the blood are the same as those about the other sacrifices.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He must bring
וְהֵבִ֣יא (wə·hê·ḇî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the bull
הַפָּ֗ר (hap·pār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6499: Young bull, steer

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the entrance
פֶּ֛תַח (pe·ṯaḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6607: An opening, door, entrance way

of the Tent
אֹ֥הֶל (’ō·hel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 168: A tent

of Meeting
מוֹעֵ֖ד (mō·w·‘êḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4150: Appointed time, place, or meeting

before
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

lay
וְסָמַ֤ךְ (wə·sā·maḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5564: To prop, to lean upon, take hold of

his hand
יָדוֹ֙ (yā·ḏōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the bull’s
הַפָּ֔ר (hap·pār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6499: Young bull, steer

head,
רֹ֣אשׁ (rōš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7218: The head

and slaughter
וְשָׁחַ֥ט (wə·šā·ḥaṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7819: To slaughter, beat

it
הַפָּ֖ר (hap·pār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6499: Young bull, steer

before
לִפְנֵ֥י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Law: Leviticus 4:4 He shall bring the bull to (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 4:3
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