Offerings to make atonement for both moral and ritual offences. The NT sees them as foreshadowing the death of Jesus Christ as an offering for human sin.

Leviticus 4:2

Occasions when a sin offering was required

Hebrews 9:7

Unintentional sins against God's laws:

Leviticus 5:1-4; 4:20
Leviticus 12:6-8

The consequence of the offering is atonement and forgiveness.

Luke 2:24

Purification after childbirth:

Leviticus 14:13-31
Mark 1:44

Cleansing from infectious diseases:

Leviticus 15:15,30

Cleansing from a bodily discharge:

Leviticus 4:3

The form the sin offering took depended on who committed the sin

Leviticus 4:14

a priest who sins

Leviticus 4:22-23

the sin of the community as a whole

Leviticus 4:27-35; 5:5-6

a leader who sins unintentionally

An individual who sins:

Leviticus 4:4,15,24

The ceremony when presenting an animal as a sin offering

The guilty identify themselves with the offering before killing it

Leviticus 5:5

Confession

Leviticus 4:25,30,34

Blood, representing the victim's lifeblood, is put on the altar

Leviticus 4:8-10,26,35

The best parts, being burned on the altar, are offered to God

Leviticus 6:26,29; 10:16-20

Male members of priestly families may eat what remains

Leviticus 5:7-13

Special procedures for the offerings of the poor

Leviticus 4:5-7,16-18

The special ceremony for priests and the community presenting a sin offering

Blood is taken into the sanctuary and placed on the altar

Leviticus 4:11-12,21

The rest of the animal is incinerated, not eaten

emphasising the identity between the victim and the sin of the community

Leviticus 8:14-17

Significant occasions when sin offerings were made

Leviticus 16:1-34

at the ordination of Aaron and his sons

2 Kings 12:16

on the Day of Atonement

2 Chronicles 29:21-24

during Josiah's reformation

Ezra 6:17

at the beginning of Hezekiah's reign

Ezra 8:35

at the dedication of the second temple

Ezekiel 40:39; 42:13; 43:19,21

when the exiles returned

As part of Ezekiel's vision of restored worship:

Romans 8:3

The NT perspective on the sin offering

2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus Christ was the supreme sin offering

See also

NIV footnote.

Hebrews 9:7-10

Animal sacrifices had limited value

Hebrews 9:11-14

See also

The death of Jesus Christ brings full cleansing and forgiveness

1 Peter 1:18-19
Hebrews 7:27

See also

Unlike earthly priests, Jesus Christ needed no sin offering

Hebrews 5:1-3

See also

2306 Christ, high priest
2530 Christ, death of
6614 atonement
7316 blood, OT sacrifices
7402 offerings
7435 sacrifice, in OT
7770 priests, NT tasks