Leviticus 4:6
The priest is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before the LORD, in front of the veil of the sanctuary.
The priest is to dip his finger in the blood

The priest acted on behalf of the people before God, handling the blood of the sin offering according to the Lord’s command. Because blood represented life, its use in sacrifice testified that sin required atonement and that forgiveness came only through God’s appointed means.

Exo 29:12 Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar…
Lev 8:15 Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood,…
Lev 16:14 And he is to take some of the bull’s blood…

and sprinkle some of it seven times

The sevenfold sprinkling marked the completeness of the purification required. Nothing was left to human preference; the rite was carried out precisely as God directed, showing that sin brought real defilement and required full cleansing.

Num 19:4 Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood…
Lev 14:51 Then he shall take the cedar wood, the hyssop,…
Lev 14:7 Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed…

before the LORD,

The offering was presented in God’s presence, not as a private ceremony or symbolic gesture. Israel’s sin was ultimately against the Lord, and the sacrifice acknowledged His holiness and His authority to forgive.

Exo 29:42 For the generations to come, this burnt offering…
Lev 1:3 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd,…
Deu 16:16 Three times a year all your men appear before the LORD…

in front of the veil of the sanctuary.

The veil stood between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, visibly reminding Israel that sinful people could not enter God’s immediate presence freely. The blood sprinkled before it pointed to the need for a mediator and anticipated Christ’s atoning death, through which access to God was opened.

Exo 30:6 Place the altar in front of the veil that is before the ark…
Exo 26:33 And hang the veil from the clasps and place…
Heb 9:3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy…

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Priest
The priest acts as a mediator between God and the people, performing the sacrificial rituals to atone for sins.

2. The LORD
Refers to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, who established the sacrificial system as a means for His people to maintain holiness and fellowship with Him.

3. The Veil of the Sanctuary
This veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle, symbolizing the barrier between God and humanity due to sin.

4. The Blood
Represents life and is used in the sacrificial system for atonement, symbolizing the seriousness of sin and the need for purification.

5. The Sanctuary
The sacred space where God's presence dwelt among His people, emphasizing the holiness required to approach God.
Teaching Points
The Seriousness of Sin
The detailed sacrificial rituals underscore the gravity of sin and the need for atonement. Sin separates us from God, and only through His prescribed means can we be reconciled.

The Role of the Mediator
The priest's role foreshadows Christ, our ultimate High Priest, who mediates on our behalf. We are reminded of the importance of intercession and the privilege of direct access to God through Jesus.

The Symbolism of Blood
Blood signifies life and purification. In the New Covenant, Christ's blood cleanses us from all sin, emphasizing the completeness of His sacrifice.

The Holiness of God
The sanctuary and its veil highlight God's holiness and the reverence required in approaching Him. We are called to live holy lives, set apart for His purposes.

The Fulfillment in Christ
The sacrificial system points to Jesus, the perfect sacrifice. Understanding this connection deepens our appreciation for His work on the cross and encourages us to live in gratitude and obedience.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of the priest in Leviticus 4:6 help us understand the work of Jesus as our High Priest?

2. In what ways does the tearing of the temple veil at Jesus' death relate to the veil mentioned in Leviticus 4:6?

3. How can understanding the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement impact our daily walk with God?

4. What does the symbolism of blood in the sacrificial system teach us about the nature of forgiveness and redemption?

5. How can we apply the concept of God's holiness, as seen in the sanctuary, to our personal lives and worship practices today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Hebrews 9
Discusses the limitations of the old sacrificial system and how Christ's sacrifice surpasses it, providing eternal redemption.

Exodus 30
Describes the construction and purpose of the tabernacle, including the veil, highlighting the separation between God and man.

Isaiah 53
Prophesies the coming of the suffering servant, whose sacrifice would ultimately fulfill the need for atonement.

Matthew 27
At Jesus' crucifixion, the temple veil is torn, symbolizing the removal of the barrier between God and humanity through Christ's sacrifice.
Unintentional TransgressionS.R. Aldridge Leviticus 4:1, 9
The Sin Offering Viewed as Typical of the Sacrifice of CalvaryJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 4:1-12
Atonement for the Penitent, as Illustrated in the Sin OfferingR.M. Edgar Leviticus 4:1-35
All Sin Must be AbhorredJ. Spencer.Leviticus 4:2-35
Errors and Oversights in All Our LivesT. Gataker.Leviticus 4:2-35
Ignorance in SinningW. H. JellieLeviticus 4:2-35
Involuntary OffencesLeviticus 4:2-35
Man's Incompetency to Deal with SinC. H. Mackintosh.Leviticus 4:2-35
On Sins Committed in IgnoranceThe Preacher's Hom. Com.Leviticus 4:2-35
Sins of IgnoranceJ. Cumming, D. D.Leviticus 4:2-35
Sins of InfirmityS. Mather.Leviticus 4:2-35
Sins of InfirmityA. Willet, D. D.Leviticus 4:2-35
Sins UnperceivedA. A. Bonar.Leviticus 4:2-35
The Best are not Free from ImperfectionSpurgeon, Charles HaddonLeviticus 4:2-35
The Bible Tells of Sin and its CureLeviticus 4:2-35
The Sin and Trespass-OfferingsJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 4:2-35
The Sin-OfferingSpurgeon, Charles HaddonLeviticus 4:2-35
The Sin-OfferingA. Jukes.Leviticus 4:2-35
The Sin-OfferingDean Law.Leviticus 4:2-35
The Sin-OfferingE. F. Willis, M. A.Leviticus 4:2-35
The Sin-OfferingB. W. Newton.Leviticus 4:2-35
The Sin-Offering; Or, Expiation and ForgivenessLeviticus 4:2-35
The Sin-Offering; Or, God Just and JustifierLady Beaujolois DentLeviticus 4:2-35
Rites Essential to an AtonementS.R. Aldridge Leviticus 4:3-12
The High Priest's Burnt OfferingR.A. Redford Leviticus 4:3-12
Access for All: Comparison and ContrastW. Clarkson Leviticus 4:3, 13, 22, 27
Gradations in GuiltW. Clarkson Leviticus 4:3, 13, 22, 27
Burn All SinBp. Babington.Leviticus 4:6-7
Repentance Insufficient Without AtonementT. R. Stevenson.Leviticus 4:6-7
Sprinkling the BloodLeviticus 4:6-7
Substitution Satisfying the ConscienceC. Simeon.Leviticus 4:6-7
The Sprinkling of the Blood of the SacrificeSpurgeon, Charles HaddonLeviticus 4:6-7
People
Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Blood, Curtain, Dip, Dipped, Drops, Finger, Front, Holy, Priest, Sanctuary, Seven, Shaking, Sprinkle, Sprinkled, Vail, Veil
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 4:6

     5152   fingers
     7454   sprinkling

Leviticus 4:1-35

     6750   sin-bearer

Leviticus 4:2-12

     7444   sin offering

Leviticus 4:3-35

     6183   ignorance, of God

Leviticus 4:6-17

     1653   numbers, 6-10

Library
John's First Testimony to Jesus.
(Bethany Beyond Jordan, February, a.d. 27.) ^D John I. 19-34. ^d 19 And this is the witness of John [John had been sent to testify, "and" this is the matter of his testimony], when the Jews [The term "Jews" is used seventy times by John to describe the ruling classes of Judæa] sent unto him [In thus sending an embassy they honored John more than they ever honored Christ. They looked upon John as a priest and Judæan, but upon Jesus as a carpenter and Galilæan. It is probable that
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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