Sin Offering

Biblical Text

The sin offering is one of the five sacrifices described in Leviticus 1–7. Its principal regulations appear in Leviticus 4:1–5:13. It was offered by a person who had broken one of the LORD's commandments "through ignorance," that is, unknowingly (Leviticus 4:2), and the required animal varied according to the status of the one who had sinned.

• The anointed priest and the whole congregation: a young bull
• A ruler (leader): a male goat
• One of the common people: a female goat or a female lamb

A poor person could offer two turtledoves or two young pigeons. If even that was beyond his means, he could substitute a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour (Leviticus 5:7, 11).

The offering proceeded as follows. The offerer laid his hand on the head of the animal and slaughtered it (4:4). The priest put the blood on the horns of the altar and burned the fat on the altar of burnt offering. In the sin offering for the priest and for the congregation, the blood was brought into the tabernacle of the congregation and sprinkled seven times before the veil. The flesh of these offerings was not eaten but was burned outside the camp (4:6, 12). The flesh of other sin offerings was eaten by the priests in a holy place (6:26, 30).

The sin offering was also used in a number of rites:

• The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16)
• Purification after childbirth (12:6–8)
• Cleansing of a leper (chapter 14)
• Completion of the Nazirite vow (Numbers 6:14)
• Festival sacrifices (Numbers 28–29)

The ashes of the red heifer in Numbers 19 are also called a sin offering (19:9). The sin offering appears as well in the temple vision of Ezekiel 43–45.

Terminology and Background

The Hebrew term ḥaṭṭāʾt is identical to the word for "sin" and derives from the same root as the verb "to sin." The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) frequently renders the name of this sacrifice with an expression meaning "concerning sin."

Numbers 15:30–31 makes no provision for this sacrifice in the case of deliberate sin. Offenses requiring restitution for damages are addressed by the separate trespass (guilt) offering (Leviticus 5:14–6:7).

In the New Testament

The Epistle to the Hebrews draws directly on the sin offering. The bodies of the animals whose blood the high priest brought into the sanctuary were burned outside the camp; Hebrews explains that in the same way Jesus also suffered outside the gate (Hebrews 13:11–12). It further states that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins, and that Christ's once-for-all sacrifice accomplished what they could not (Hebrews 10:4, 10–18).

Two passages in the Pauline epistles are also read in connection with the sin offering:

• "for sin" in Romans 8:3
• "made him to be sin" in 2 Corinthians 5:21

Some interpreters read these two expressions as "sin offering," while others read them literally as "sin." In addition, the account of Mary offering doves at her purification (Luke 2:24) reflects the regulation of Leviticus 12:8.

Interpretation and Debates

• Substitution and purification: Many Protestant interpreters, including those in the Reformed tradition, understand the sin offering as substitutionary, with the victim dying in place of the sinner. On this reading, the laying on of hands signifies the transfer of sin. Some Old Testament scholars, such as Jacob Milgrom, take a different view: they hold that the blood cleanses the sanctuary defiled by sin, and they call the sacrifice a "purification offering." Other scholars recognize both aspects together.
• Scope of application: Preaching often presents the sin offering as a sacrifice covering all sins. Leviticus 4, however, deals with sins committed unknowingly. Atonement for all the sins of the people is addressed in the regulations for the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:16, 21).
• Extent of typological interpretation: Some interpreters match each detail of the sin offering's procedure with Christ. Others urge caution, holding that it should be read only within the scope explicitly stated in Hebrews.

In the Korean Church

In Bible studies and sermons on Leviticus, the burnt offering, grain offering, peace offering, sin offering, and trespass offering are commonly taught together as the "five major offerings." In Holy Week preaching, the sin offering is frequently cited alongside Hebrews 13 to explain the cross of Christ.