Leviticus 4:20
New International Version
and do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the community, and they will be forgiven.

New Living Translation
just as he does with the bull offered as a sin offering for the high priest. Through this process, the priest will purify the people, making them right with the LORD, and they will be forgiven.

English Standard Version
Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.

Berean Standard Bible
He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.

King James Bible
And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.

New King James Version
And he shall do with the bull as he did with the bull as a sin offering; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.

New American Standard Bible
He shall also do with the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering; he shall do the same with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.

NASB 1995
‘He shall also do with the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.

NASB 1977
‘He shall also do with the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.

Legacy Standard Bible
He shall also do with the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.

Amplified Bible
He shall also do with the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering; that is what he shall do with this. So the priest shall make atonement for [the sin of] the people, and they will be forgiven.

Christian Standard Bible
He is to offer this bull just as he did with the bull in the sin offering; he will offer it the same way. So the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He is to offer this bull just as he did with the bull in the sin offering; he will offer it the same way. So the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.

American Standard Version
Thus shall he do with the bullock; as he did with the bullock of the sin-offering, so shall he do with this; and the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.

English Revised Version
Thus shall he do with the bullock; as he did with the bullock of the sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He will do the same thing with this bull that he did with the bull used as the offering for sin. So the priest will make peace with the LORD for the people, and they will be forgiven.

Good News Translation
He shall do the same thing with this bull as he does with the bull for the sin offering, and in this way he shall make the sacrifice for the people's sin, and they will be forgiven.

International Standard Version
He is to do to this bull what he did to the bull for the sin offering. He is to do it this way so that the priest will make atonement for them and they will be forgiven.

Majority Standard Bible
He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.

NET Bible
He must do with the rest of the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering; this is what he must do with it. So the priest will make atonement on their behalf and they will be forgiven.

New Heart English Bible
Thus shall he do with the bull; as he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this; and the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin-offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.

World English Bible
He shall do this with the bull; as he did with the bull of the sin offering, so he shall do with this; and the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he has done to the bullock as he has done to the bullock of the sin-offering, so he does to it; and the priest has made atonement for them, and it has been forgiven them;

Young's Literal Translation
'And he hath done to the bullock as he hath done to the bullock of the sin-offering, so he doth to it; and the priest hath made atonement for them, and it hath been forgiven them;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he did to the bullock as he did to the bullock of sin, thus he did to it; and the priest shall expiate for them, and it was forgiven to them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Doing so with this calf, as he did also with that before: and the priest praying for them, the Lord will be merciful unto them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
doing so with this calf in the same manner as he did before. And while the priest is praying for them, the Lord will forgive them.

New American Bible
doing with this bull just as he did with the other bull of the purification offering; he will do the same thing. Thus the priest shall make atonement on their behalf, that they may be forgiven.

New Revised Standard Version
He shall do with the bull just as is done with the bull of sin offering; he shall do the same with this. The priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he shall do with the bullock just as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this; and the priest shall make an atonement for them and it shall be forgiven them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
What he did with the bull of sin, so he shall do with it, and the Priest shall make atonement for them and it shall be forgiven to them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus shall he do with the bullock; as he did with the bullock of the sin-offering, so shall he do with this; and the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he shall do to the calf as he did to the calf of the sin-offering, so shall it be done; and the priest shall make atonement for them, and the trespass shall be forgiven them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laws for Sin Offerings
19And he is to remove all the fat from it and burn it on the altar. 20He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven. 21Then he is to take the bull outside the camp and burn it, just as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the assembly.…

Cross References
Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 10:4
because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Hebrews 9:13-14
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, / how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

Hebrews 10:10
And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:18
And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Romans 3:25
God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

Romans 5:9
Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Colossians 1:14
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, / but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

Numbers 15:25
The priest is to make atonement for the whole congregation of Israel, so that they may be forgiven; for the sin was unintentional and they have brought to the LORD a food offering and a sin offering, presented before the LORD for their unintentional sin.

Numbers 15:28
And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven.

Leviticus 5:10
And the priest must prepare the second bird as a burnt offering according to the ordinance. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.

Leviticus 5:13
In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven. The remainder will belong to the priest, like the grain offering.”


Treasury of Scripture

And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.

with the

Leviticus 4:3
If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.

an atonement

Leviticus 4:26
And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.

Leviticus 1:4
And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

Leviticus 5:6
And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

Jump to Previous
Atonement Bull Bullock Forgiven Forgiveness Offering Ox Priest Sin Sin-Offering Way
Jump to Next
Atonement Bull Bullock Forgiven Forgiveness Offering Ox Priest Sin Sin-Offering Way
Leviticus 4
1. The sin offering of ignorance
3. for the priest
13. for the congregation
22. for the ruler
27. for any of the people














He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering;
The offering of a bull as a sin offering is a significant ritual in the Levitical law, primarily for the atonement of unintentional sins committed by the congregation or the priest. The bull, a valuable animal, signifies the seriousness of sin and the costliness of atonement. This ritual is detailed in Leviticus 4:3-12, where the priest is instructed to bring the bull to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, lay his hand on its head, and slaughter it before the LORD. The act of laying hands symbolizes the transfer of sin from the sinner to the animal, a precursor to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore the sins of humanity. The blood of the bull is then sprinkled before the LORD, emphasizing the necessity of blood for atonement, as reiterated in Hebrews 9:22.

in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf,
The role of the priest is central in the atonement process, acting as a mediator between God and the people. This reflects the priestly function of intercession and sacrifice, which is fulfilled in the New Testament by Jesus Christ, our High Priest, as described in Hebrews 4:14-16. The priest's actions symbolize the removal of sin and the restoration of the relationship between the people and God. The concept of atonement involves covering or cleansing sin, allowing the people to remain in covenant relationship with God. This anticipates the ultimate atonement made by Christ, who reconciles humanity to God through His sacrifice.

and they will be forgiven.
Forgiveness is the ultimate goal of the sin offering, restoring the sinner to a state of grace and fellowship with God. In the Old Testament, forgiveness is granted through the sacrificial system, which points forward to the complete and final forgiveness available through Jesus Christ. The assurance of forgiveness is a recurring theme in Scripture, seen in passages like Psalm 103:12, where God removes our transgressions as far as the east is from the west. In the New Testament, 1 John 1:9 assures believers that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This phrase underscores the mercy and grace of God, who provides a means for His people to be reconciled to Him.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Priest
The priest is the mediator between God and the people, responsible for performing the sacrificial rituals to atone for the sins of the congregation.

2. Bull of the Sin Offering
A sacrificial animal used in the sin offering, symbolizing the substitutionary atonement for the sins of the people.

3. Atonement
The process by which reconciliation between God and humanity is achieved, primarily through the sacrificial system in the Old Testament.

4. Forgiveness
The divine act of pardoning sin, which is granted after the proper sacrificial rituals are performed.

5. Israelite Congregation
The community of God's chosen people, for whom the sin offering is made to atone for unintentional sins.
Teaching Points
The Role of the Priest
The priest acts as an intermediary, foreshadowing Christ's ultimate role as our High Priest who intercedes on our behalf.

The Significance of Atonement
Atonement is central to restoring the relationship between God and humanity, highlighting the seriousness of sin and the need for divine forgiveness.

The Necessity of Sacrifice
The sacrificial system underscores the cost of sin and the necessity of a substitute, pointing to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

Forgiveness and Restoration
God's provision for forgiveness through the sacrificial system demonstrates His desire for reconciliation and restoration with His people.

Continuity of God's Grace
The principles of atonement and forgiveness in Leviticus find their fulfillment in the New Testament, showing the continuity of God's redemptive plan.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He shall offer
וְעָשָׂ֣ה (wə·‘ā·śāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

this bull
לַפָּ֔ר (lap·pār)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6499: Young bull, steer

just as
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he did
עָשָׂה֙ (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

the bull
לְפַ֣ר (lə·p̄ar)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6499: Young bull, steer

for the sin offering;
הַֽחַטָּ֔את (ha·ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

in this way
כֵּ֖ן (kên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

the priest
הַכֹּהֵ֖ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

will make atonement
וְכִפֶּ֧ר (wə·ḵip·per)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel

on their behalf,
עֲלֵהֶ֛ם (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and they will be forgiven.
וְנִסְלַ֥ח (wə·nis·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5545: To forgive, pardon


Links
Leviticus 4:20 NIV
Leviticus 4:20 NLT
Leviticus 4:20 ESV
Leviticus 4:20 NASB
Leviticus 4:20 KJV

Leviticus 4:20 BibleApps.com
Leviticus 4:20 Biblia Paralela
Leviticus 4:20 Chinese Bible
Leviticus 4:20 French Bible
Leviticus 4:20 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Leviticus 4:20 Thus shall he do with the bull (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 4:19
Top of Page
Top of Page