Leviticus 4:23

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 4:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, be made known to him, he shall bring for his oblation a goat, a male without blemish.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, be made known to him, he shall bring for his oblation a goat, a male without blemish.
Leviticus 4:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
23if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, be made known to him, he shall bring for his oblation a goat, a male without blemish.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Or if his sin wherein he hath sinned come to his knowledge, etc.] Or rather, “and if his sin”, etc. f107 either by means of others informing him of it, or of himself calling to mind what he has done, and considering it to be a transgression of the law: he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish; his offering was to be a “kid of the goats”, a fat and a large one; because, as Baal Hatturim observes, he ate fat things every day; and to distinguish it from the offering of one of the common people; and “without blemish”; as all sacrifices were, that they might be typical of the offering of Christ without spot.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Or if his sin - Rather, And if his sin. Come to his knowledge - i. e. when he had become conscious of his sin. A kid of the goats - A shaggy he-goat, in distinction from a smooth-haired he-goat. It was the regular sin-offering at the yearly festivals Leviticus 16:9, Leviticus 16:15; Numbers 28:15, Numbers 28:22, Numbers 28:30, and at the consecration of the priests Leviticus 9:3; while the smooth-haired goat appears to have been generally offered for the other sacrifices Psalms 50:9; Isaiah 1:11. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:23 The male goat offered by a lay leader was a lesser offering than was required for the priest (a bull) but more than was required for a common person (4:28, 32). However, like all offerings used for securing atonement, the animal could have no defects (see 1:3).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“if his sin: Lev 4:14, Lev 5:4; Kg2 22:10-13 a kid: Lev 9:3, Lev 23:19; Num 7:16, Num 7:22, Num 7:28, Num 7:34, Num 15:24, Num 28:15, Num 28:30, Num 29:5, Num 29:11, Num 29:16, Num 29:19; Rom 8:3 Leviticus 4:24”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification