And if one of the common people sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the LORD’s commandments, he incurs guilt.
Parallel translations
- WEB “‘If anyone of the common people sins unwittingly, in doing any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and is guilty;
- KJV And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;
- NKJV ‘If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing something against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which ought not to be done, and is guilty,
- NASB ‘Now if anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and becomes guilty,
- NLT “If any of the common people sin by violating one of the Lord’s commands, but they don’t realize it, they are still guilty.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even an ordinary person who sins unintentionally is guilty before God. The law makes provision for every member of the covenant community.
Overview
The instruction now reaches the common Israelite, showing that atonement is available to all, not only leaders or priests. Unintentional sin still violates God's holiness and must be addressed. That the gospel extends to ordinary sinners of every station is anticipated here, for in Christ atonement is offered freely to all who come (Romans 3:22-24).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Lev 4:2“Tell the Israelites to do as follows with one who sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s commandments and does what is forbidden by them:
- Num 15:27Also, if one person sins unintentionally, he is to present a year-old female goat as a sin offering.
- Lev 4:13Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden,
- Num 15:29You shall have the same law for the one who acts in error, whether he is a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.
- Num 5:6“Tell the Israelites that when a man or woman acts unfaithfully against the LORD by committing any sin against another, that person is guilty
- Exod 12:49The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you.”
- Num 15:16The same law and the same ordinance will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing with you.”
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Christ at the center
Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 4:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.