What is the definition of Leviticus 4:35? π π
And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.
Explanation:
Okay, let's break down this verse from Leviticus 4:35. Itβs a really important passage about forgiveness and dealing with sin in the Old Testament. Hereβs what it means in simpler terms:
Basically, it says:
βIf someone breaks a rule or commits a serious mistake β like eating too much fat off a sacrificed animal β the priest will burn it on an altar and offer a sacrifice to God apologizing for their wrongdoing.β
Let's unpack that a little further:
π
βAnd he shall take away all the fat thereofβ¦β
- This means the priest would remove πallπ the fat from the animal. Fat is often associated with luxury, pride, or excess β things that might be seen as a sign of sin in the eyes of God.
π
"...as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings..."
- This is a comparison. The βfatβ (the deliciousness and value) of a sacrificed animal is similar to the fat of a lamb β a valuable offering. Itβs a symbol of something precious.
π
"...and the priest shall burn them upon the altarβ¦β
- The priest would light a fire and put the meat on an altar. This was a way for God to show that he recognized the mistake and wanted to make amends.
π
"...according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD:"
β The priest was offering prayers and sacrifices (like burning the meat) πtoπ God, acknowledging their guilt. The βfireβ represents divine judgment, but itβs being directed toward God for forgiveness.
π
"...and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed..."
- This is the key part! It means the priest was sorry for the mistake they made and was offering a way to make things right with God. Itβs like saying, "I messed up, and I'm asking for forgiveness."
π
"...and it shall be forgiven him.β
β God accepts their apology and forgives them. They are not punished; instead, they are given a chance to start fresh.
Why is this important?
This verse emphasizes that Godβs judgment isnβt about punishment alone. Itβs about πredemptionπ - the possibility of forgiveness through repentance (taking responsibility for your actions) and offering a sacrifice β in this case, a prayer.
In short:
When someone breaks a rule or commits a serious mistake, the priest burns it as an apology to God, showing that they are repentant and seeking forgiveness.
---
Do you want me to:
π Explain another part of this verse?
π Talk about its context in the larger story of Old Testament law and atonement?
π Give a more detailed example of what this might have looked like in practice?