Lexical Summary chattaah: Sin, sin offering Original Word: חַטָּאָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sin offering (Aramaic) corresponding to chata'ah; an offence, and the penalty or sacrifice for it -- sin (offering). see HEBREW chata'ah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as chattaya, q.v. Brown-Driver-Briggs חַטָּאָה noun feminine sinful thing, sin, Exodus 34:7 (JE) Isaiah 5:18. Topical Lexicon Overview The word refers to the prescribed sacrifice presented when sin had ruptured covenant fellowship with the LORD. It represents a substitute life laid down so that the offender might live, emphasizing both the seriousness of sin and the mercy of God, who provides the means of atonement. Usage in Old Testament Context While this exact form appears only in Ezra 6:17, the same concept dominates the sacrificial legislation of Leviticus, Numbers, and elsewhere under closely related terms. Whether offered for an individual, for the congregation, or for the altar itself, the sin offering always dealt specifically with guilt before God and effected ceremonial cleansing. In the Pentateuch it is never a voluntary gift but a duty commanded by God, underscoring that atonement originates with Him, not with human ingenuity. Historical Background: Ezra 6:17 and the Second Temple Ezra 6 recounts the completion and dedication of the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. “For the dedication of this house of God they offered…twelve male goats as a sin offering for all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.” (Ezra 6:17). 1. The returning exiles recognized that mere architectural restoration was insufficient; covenant restoration required blood atonement. Sacrificial Procedure and Purpose Leviticus describes four principal steps: Blood addresses defilement; fat upon the altar honors the LORD; consumption by the priest signifies mediation; burning outside the camp pictures removal of guilt. Every detail prefigures the ultimate Substitute who would “suffer outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:12). Theological Significance 1. Substitution: life for life (Leviticus 17:11). Typology and Fulfillment in Christ Isaiah foresaw the Servant who would make “His soul an offering for guilt” (Isaiah 53:10). Jesus Christ fulfilled that role: Practical Ministry Applications • Preach repentance: the sin offering confronts believers with God’s holiness and the horror of sin. Key Related References Leviticus 4:1-35; Leviticus 6:24-30; Leviticus 16:1-34; Numbers 15:24-25; Isaiah 53:4-10; John 19:17-18; Romans 8:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 9:22-28; Hebrews 10:10-14. Forms and Transliterations לְחַטָּאָ֤ה לחטאה lə·ḥaṭ·ṭā·’āh lechattaAh ləḥaṭṭā’āhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 6:17 HEB: [לְחַטָּיָא כ] (לְחַטָּאָ֤ה ק) עַל־ KJV: lambs; and for a sin offering for INT: male goats sin for all 1 Occurrence |