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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just about bringing an animal for sacrifice; it's about the explicit, public transfer of sin. The act of laying hands on the bullock's head before killing it signifies the sins being symbolically placed upon this innocent creature. It's a powerful visual of the burden that sin carries and the necessary, visible separation from its consequences.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage begins a section detailing specific sin offerings, starting with a unique case: when the anointed priest himself sins, requiring a more significant sacrifice than a common Israelite. This offering must be brought to the entrance of the Tabernacle, a public act of acknowledgment before the community and God. The subsequent verses will describe the elaborate ritual involved, highlighting the gravity of sin even within the sacred leadership.
Imagine you've made a serious mistake, one that affects others. How do you even begin to approach the person you've wronged?
The sin offering in Leviticus begins with a profound act of identification and confession. The one who sinned brings a bull, and critically, lays their hands on its head. This wasn't just a symbolic gesture; it was a tangible act of transferring their guilt and sin onto the innocent animal. It's a powerful picture of confessing, 'This sin is mine, and I acknowledge my responsibility for it before the Lord.' This wasn't about hiding the offense, but bringing it into the open at the very place God met His people.
Why a bull? And why kill it? These weren't random acts, but a carefully orchestrated drama pointing to something far greater.
The detailed instructions for the sin offering weren't just about appeasing God in the Old Testament; they were prophetic signposts. The bull, chosen for its value and innocence, represents the ultimate sacrifice. The act of laying hands on its head signifies the transfer of sin – a foreshadowing of Jesus, the 'Lamb of God,' who would bear the sin of the world. His death at the 'door of the tent of meeting' (symbolically, where God met humanity) was the perfect, once-for-all atonement that these sacrifices could only hint at.
Understand the original words
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ohel mo'ed · Hebrew Noun Phrase
The sacred place where God manifested His presence to Israel, serving as the center of worship, atonement, and revelation.
samak · Hebrew Verb
A symbolic act of identification, transferring the guilt or responsibility from the person to the sacrificial animal, designating it as a substitute.
This New Testament passage directly reflects on the inadequacy of animal blood sacrifices to truly take away sin, highlighting that the Levitical system pointed towards a greater, final sacrifice.
Exodus 29:10-14This passage details the consecration of priests and includes a sin offering for them, showing the established practice and the significance of the bull for the sin of the priesthood.
Numbers 15:24-26This shows that the sin offering was a prescribed remedy for unintentional sins of the community and its leaders, underscoring the need for atonement even for ignorance.
Isaiah 53:10This prophetic passage speaks of the 'offering' of the Suffering Servant, drawing a parallel to the sin offering's purpose of making reconciliation and satisfaction for sin.
1 John 1:7This verse explains the ongoing efficacy of Christ's blood, connecting back to the Levitical blood offerings which, though temporary, symbolized the cleansing power needed for sin.
calvinLeviticus 4:1-35: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
Loquere ad filius Israel, dicendo, Anima quum peccaverit per errorem ab omnibus praeceptis Jehovae qusa non sunt facienda, feceritque quidpiam de uno ex illis:
If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of th…
gillLeviticus 4:4: "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."
And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord,.... As the bullock of the burnt offering; See Gill on Leviticus 1:3 , and shall lay his hand on the bullock's head; the Targum of Jonathan says his right hand; See Gill on Leviticus 1:4, and kill…
This isn't just about bringing an animal for sacrifice; it's about the explicit, public transfer of sin. The act of laying hands on the bullock's head before killing it signifies the sins being symbolically placed upon this innocent creature. It's a powerful visual of the burden that sin carries and the necessary, visible separation from its consequences.
This passage begins a section detailing specific sin offerings, starting with a unique case: when the anointed priest himself sins, requiring a more significant sacrifice than a common Israelite. This offering must be brought to the entrance of the Tabernacle, a public act of acknowledgment before the community and God. The subsequent verses will describe the elaborate ritual involved, highlighting the gravity of sin even within the sacred leadership.
This passage begins a section detailing specific sin offerings, starting with a unique case: when the anointed priest himself sins, requiring a more significant sacrifice than a common Israelite. This offering must be brought to the entrance of the Tabernacle, a public act of acknowledgment before the community and God. The subsequent verses will describe the elaborate ritual involved, highlighting the gravity of sin even within the sacred leadership.
"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." — This isn't just about bringing an animal for sacrifice; it's about the explicit, public transfer of sin. The act of laying hands on the bullock's head before killing it signifies the sins being symbo…
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Last reviewed October 2026