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Leviticus 4 · a question people ask

What about sins done on purpose?

In the text

This chapter is only about sin done "unintentionally" (4:2) or "unwittingly" (4:22, 4:27). Numbers draws the line: "the soul who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That soul shall be cut off from among his people" (Numbers 15:30). But Leviticus also gives an offering for wrongs that are no accident. If anyone "deals falsely with his neighbor" (6:2), or "has found that which was lost, and lied about it, and swearing to a lie" (6:3), he restores it "in full" and adds "a fifth part more to it" (6:5), brings a trespass offering (6:6), and "he will be forgiven concerning whatever he does to become guilty" (6:7).

The verses

““Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone sins unintentionally, in any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and does any one of them,”
Leviticus 4:2 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Leviticus 4

Leviticus 4: And he will be forgiven

Leviticus 4 is where the book first says sin: an offering for sin done "unintentionally" (4:2), from the anointed priest to one of the common people. Its promise, "they shall be forgiven" (4:20), is the first time the WEB says "forgiven". And the bull whose blood went into the tent was burned outside the camp (4:12), which Hebrews sets beside Jesus (Hebrews 13:11-12).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions