וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֘ל לֵאמֹר֒ נֶ֗פֶשׁ כִּֽי־תֶחֱטָ֤א בִשְׁגָגָה֙ מִכֹּל֙ מִצְוֺ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֣א תֵעָשֶׂ֑ינָה וְעָשָׂ֕ה מֵאַחַ֖ת מֵהֵֽנָּה׃

Speak to the children of Israel, saying: When a person sins unwittingly with regard to any of the commandments of the Lord that may not be performed, and he performs one of them, he shall bring a sin offering in accordance with the laws set down below. An unwitting sin is a sin performed due to forgetfulness or by confusing a prohibited matter with a permitted matter. The transgression was not performed intentionally, but neither was it performed under duress or with complete lack of cognizance, as in the case of a transgression performed by one who was completely drunk.

אִ֣ם הַכֹּהֵ֧ן הַמָּשִׁ֛יחַ יֶחֱטָ֖א לְאַשְׁמַ֣ת הָעָ֑ם וְהִקְרִ֡יב עַ֣ל חַטָּאתוֹ֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָטָ֜א פַּ֣ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֥ר תָּמִ֛ים לַיהוָ֖ה לְחַטָּֽאת׃

The laws of the sin offering vary depending on the identity of the transgressor. The Torah describes the first type of sin offering: If the anointed priest, the High Priest, who was appointed during most of the First Temple period by anointing with the anointing oil, erroneously rules that a forbidden matter is permitted and subsequently follows that ruling, he thereby sins to bring guilt on the people. The transgression of the chosen individual, who was elevated from among all his brethren, is indicative of the guilt of the nation as a whole. This is not merely because the High Priest represents the people, but because his actions are a reflection of the spiritual level of the nation. Furthermore, the actions of the High Priest have far-reaching influence on the nation. He shall present for his sin that he sinned, an unblemished young bull, to the Lord as a sin offering.

וְהֵבִ֣יא אֶת־הַפָּ֗ר אֶל־פֶּ֛תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְסָמַ֤ךְ אֶת־יָדוֹ֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַפָּ֔ר וְשָׁחַ֥ט אֶת־הַפָּ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

He shall bring the bull to the Tabernacle courtyard, opposite the entrance of the Tent of Meeting before the Lord ; he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull, and slaughter the bull before the Lord.

וְלָקַ֛ח הַכֹּהֵ֥ן הַמָּשִׁ֖יחַ מִדַּ֣ם הַפָּ֑ר וְהֵבִ֥יא אֹת֖וֹ אֶל־אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

The anointed priest shall take from the blood of the bull, and bring it to the Tent of Meeting. In this unique case, the sinner and the priest who performs the service that brings him atonement are the same individual; the High Priest performs the rites on the offering brought for his own transgression. It is possible that the reason for this unusual policy is that the blood of this sin offering is sprinkled toward the Holy of Holies, and therefore the rite must be performed by the priest of the greatest sanctity. In a case where the rites were performed by another priest, there is a dispute among the Sages as to whether the offering is fit.

וְטָבַ֧ל הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶת־אֶצְבָּע֖וֹ בַּדָּ֑ם וְהִזָּ֨ה מִן־הַדָּ֜ם שֶׁ֤בַע פְּעָמִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה אֶת־פְּנֵ֖י פָּרֹ֥כֶת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃

The priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle from the blood seven times before the Lord, before the Curtain of the Sanctuary. Whereas the blood of most offerings is cast or sprinkled only on the external altar, in this case the High Priest enters the Sanctuar y and sprinkles the blood toward the Curtain that separates the Holy of Holies from the Sanctuary.

וְנָתַן֩ הַכֹּהֵ֨ן מִן־הַדָּ֜ם עַל־קַ֠רְנוֹת מִזְבַּ֨ח קְטֹ֤רֶת הַסַּמִּים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְאֵ֣ת ׀ כָּל־דַּ֣ם הַפָּ֗ר יִשְׁפֹּךְ֙ אֶל־יְסוֹד֙ מִזְבַּ֣ח הָעֹלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

The priest shall place from the blood on the horns of the altar of the incense of the spices, before the Lord, which is in the Tent of Meeting. No offerings are burned on the incense altar, and generally, the blood of offerings is sprinkled on the incense altar only on the Day of Atonement. Nevertheless, the High Priest uses his finger to place some of the blood of his sin offering on the incense altar. All the blood of the bull remaining in the bowl, which is fairly large, he shall pour at the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. The blood is poured at the west side of the altar, which is the side facing the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The rites performed with the blood of offerings vary depending on the offering. The blood of burnt offerings and peace offerings are cast upon the external altar, whereas the blood of the High Priest’s sin offering is sprinkled toward the Curtain and placed upon the incense altar.

וְאֶת־כָּל־חֵ֛לֶב פַּ֥ר הַֽחַטָּ֖את יָרִ֣ים מִמֶּ֑נּוּ אֶת־הַחֵ֙לֶב֙ הַֽמְכַסֶּ֣ה עַל־הַקֶּ֔רֶב וְאֵת֙ כָּל־הַחֵ֔לֶב אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַקֶּֽרֶב׃

However, with regard to the sacrificial portions of the offering, there is no difference between the peace offering and the sin offering: All the fat of the bull of the sin offering he shall

וְאֵת֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י הַכְּלָיֹ֔ת וְאֶת־הַחֵ֙לֶב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲלֵיהֶ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַכְּסָלִ֑ים וְאֶת־הַיֹּתֶ֙רֶת֙ עַל־הַכָּבֵ֔ד עַל־הַכְּלָי֖וֹת יְסִירֶֽנָּה׃

and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them that is on the flanks, extending to the hindquarters; and the diaphragm above the liver with the kidneys, he shall remove them,

כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יוּרַ֔ם מִשּׁ֖וֹר זֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים וְהִקְטִירָם֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן עַ֖ל מִזְבַּ֥ח הָעֹלָֽה׃

as it, the sacrificial portion consisting of the fat and internal organs, is separated from the bull of the peace offering to be burned on the altar (see 3:3); the priest shall burn them on the altar of the burnt offering.

וְאֶת־ע֤וֹר הַפָּר֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־בְּשָׂר֔וֹ עַל־רֹאשׁ֖וֹ וְעַל־כְּרָעָ֑יו וְקִרְבּ֖וֹ וּפִרְשֽׁוֹ׃

Once the sacrificial portions have been separated from the offering, there remains the bulk of the animal, and this includes the hide of the bull, and all its flesh, with its head, and with its legs, and its innards, and its dung.

וְהוֹצִ֣יא אֶת־כָּל־הַ֠פָּר אֶל־מִח֨וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֜ה אֶל־מָק֤וֹם טָהוֹר֙ אֶל־שֶׁ֣פֶךְ הַדֶּ֔שֶׁן וְשָׂרַ֥ף אֹת֛וֹ עַל־עֵצִ֖ים בָּאֵ֑שׁ עַל־שֶׁ֥פֶךְ הַדֶּ֖שֶׁן יִשָּׂרֵֽף׃ (פ)

He shall take the entire bull outside the camp, outside the settled area, to a pure place, to the place where the ashes of all the offerings burned on the altar are poured (see 6:1–4). He shall burn it on wood in the fire; on the place where the ashes are poured it shall be burned. All the parts of the bull that are not burned on the altar are burned outside, not as an offering, but because it is not permitted to use these parts of the bull in any way.

וְאִ֨ם כָּל־עֲדַ֤ת יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יִשְׁגּ֔וּ וְנֶעְלַ֣ם דָּבָ֔ר מֵעֵינֵ֖י הַקָּהָ֑ל וְ֠עָשׂוּ אַחַ֨ת מִכָּל־מִצְוֺ֧ת יְהוָ֛ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תֵעָשֶׂ֖ינָה וְאָשֵֽׁמוּ׃

The Torah now presents the second type of sin offering: If the entire congregation of Israel errs unwittingly, a sin offering must be brought. It is unlikely that the entire community would violate a prohibition due to forgetfulness. Consequently, this is explained as referring to a case where the High Court unwittingly issued an erroneous ruling permitting a certain aspect of a severe transgression. The High Court is sometimes referred to as the congregation, since its members are the representatives of the community. Due to the court’s erroneous ruling the matter is concealed from the eyes of the assembly, and they, the community as a whole, perform one of all the commandments of the Lord that may not be performed, one of the severe prohibitions that incurs a sin offering. The entire community erred, as they adhered to the court’s ruling, and they, the court, are guilty, as they ruled erroneously due to lack of understanding or lack of knowledge.

וְנֽוֹדְעָה֙ הַֽחַטָּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָטְא֖וּ עָלֶ֑יהָ וְהִקְרִ֨יבוּ הַקָּהָ֜ל פַּ֤ר בֶּן־בָּקָר֙ לְחַטָּ֔את וְהֵבִ֣יאוּ אֹת֔וֹ לִפְנֵ֖י אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

When the sin in which they sinned subsequently becomes known, the assembly shall present a young bull as a sin offering, and bring it before the Tent of Meeting.

וְ֠סָמְכוּ זִקְנֵ֨י הָעֵדָ֧ה אֶת־יְדֵיהֶ֛ם עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ הַפָּ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְשָׁחַ֥ט אֶת־הַפָּ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

The elders of the congregation, who bear the responsibility for the transgression, shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the Lord; and one shall slaughter the bull before the Lord.

וְהֵבִ֛יא הַכֹּהֵ֥ן הַמָּשִׁ֖יחַ מִדַּ֣ם הַפָּ֑ר אֶל־אֹ֖הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

The anointed priest shall bring from the blood of the bull to the Tent of Meeting. As in the case of the High Priest’s sin offering, it is the High Priest who brings the blood into the Sanctuary and sprinkles it, and not any other priest. In this regard these sin offerings differ from other offerings, whose blood may be sprinkled on the external altar by any priest.

וְטָבַ֧ל הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶצְבָּע֖וֹ מִן־הַדָּ֑ם וְהִזָּ֞ה שֶׁ֤בַע פְּעָמִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה אֵ֖ת פְּנֵ֥י הַפָּרֹֽכֶת׃

The priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord, before the Curtain.

וּמִן־הַדָּ֞ם יִתֵּ֣ן ׀ עַל־קַרְנֹ֣ת הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַ אֲשֶׁר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְאֵ֣ת כָּל־הַדָּ֗ם יִשְׁפֹּךְ֙ אֶל־יְסוֹד֙ מִזְבַּ֣ח הָעֹלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

From the blood, he shall also place some on the horns of the incense altar that is before the Lord, that is in the Tent of Meeting; and all the blood remaining in the bowl he shall pour at the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

וְאֵ֥ת כָּל־חֶלְבּ֖וֹ יָרִ֣ים מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וְהִקְטִ֖יר הַמִּזְבֵּֽחָה׃

All its fat he shall separate from it, as explained above (verses 8–10), and burn it on the altar.

וְעָשָׂ֣ה לַפָּ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשָׂה֙ לְפַ֣ר הַֽחַטָּ֔את כֵּ֖ן יַעֲשֶׂה־לּ֑וֹ וְכִפֶּ֧ר עֲלֵהֶ֛ם הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְנִסְלַ֥ח לָהֶֽם׃

He shall do to the bull as he did to the bull of the High Priest’s sin offering; so shall he do to it; and the priest shall atone for them, for the entire community, and it shall be forgiven for them.

וְהוֹצִ֣יא אֶת־הַפָּ֗ר אֶל־מִחוּץ֙ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וְשָׂרַ֣ף אֹת֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׂרַ֔ף אֵ֖ת הַפָּ֣ר הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן חַטַּ֥את הַקָּהָ֖ל הֽוּא׃ (פ)

He shall take the bull outside the camp, and burn it in the same place and in the same manner as he burned the first bull, the bull of the anointed priest; it is the sin offering of the assembly.

אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָשִׂ֖יא יֶֽחֱטָ֑א וְעָשָׂ֡ה אַחַ֣ת מִכָּל־מִצְוֺת֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהָ֜יו אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־תֵעָשֶׂ֛ינָה בִּשְׁגָגָ֖ה וְאָשֵֽׁם׃

The Torah describes the third type of sin offering: When a ruler, a king or whoever holds the most elevated position among the Jewish people, sins, and he unwittingly performs one of all the commandments of the Lord his God that may not be performed, and he subsequently recognizes that he is guilty.

אֽוֹ־הוֹדַ֤ע אֵלָיו֙ חַטָּאת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָטָ֖א בָּ֑הּ וְהֵבִ֧יא אֶת־קָרְבָּנ֛וֹ שְׂעִ֥יר עִזִּ֖ים זָכָ֥ר תָּמִֽים׃

Or if his sin that he sinned becomes known to him because he is informed of it by others, he shall bring his unique offering, an unblemished male goat, old enough to no longer be considered a young kid.

וְסָמַ֤ךְ יָדוֹ֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַשָּׂעִ֔יר וְשָׁחַ֣ט אֹת֔וֹ בִּמְק֛וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִשְׁחַ֥ט אֶת־הָעֹלָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה חַטָּ֖את הֽוּא׃

He shall lay his hand on the head of the goat, and slaughter it in the place where he shall slaughter the burnt offering, to the north of the altar (1:11), before the Lord; it is a sin offering.

וְלָקַ֨ח הַכֹּהֵ֜ן מִדַּ֤ם הַֽחַטָּאת֙ בְּאֶצְבָּע֔וֹ וְנָתַ֕ן עַל־קַרְנֹ֖ת מִזְבַּ֣ח הָעֹלָ֑ה וְאֶת־דָּמ֣וֹ יִשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ אֶל־יְס֖וֹד מִזְבַּ֥ח הָעֹלָֽה׃

The priest shall take from the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and place it on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering. While the blood of other offerings is cast or poured upon the altar directly from the bowl, the blood of the sin offering is sprinkled or smeared by the priest on the altar with his finger. This is performed four times, once on each horn of the altar. Since the blood is smeared rather than cast, a large quantity of blood remains in the bowl, and the remainder of the blood he shall pour at the base of the altar of the burnt offering.

וְאֶת־כָּל־חֶלְבּוֹ֙ יַקְטִ֣יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה כְּחֵ֖לֶב זֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלָ֧יו הַכֹּהֵ֛ן מֵחַטָּאת֖וֹ וְנִסְלַ֥ח לֽוֹ׃ (פ)

All its fat he shall burn on the altar, like the fat of the peace offering; the procedure is the same as with regard to the peace offering. The priest shall atone for him for his sin, and it shall be forgiven for him.

וְאִם־נֶ֧פֶשׁ אַחַ֛ת תֶּחֱטָ֥א בִשְׁגָגָ֖ה מֵעַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ בַּ֠עֲשֹׂתָהּ אַחַ֨ת מִמִּצְוֺ֧ת יְהוָ֛ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תֵעָשֶׂ֖ינָה וְאָשֵֽׁם׃

The Torah describes the fourth type of sin offering, the sin offering of the common person: If one person from the common people sins unwittingly, in his performance of any of the commandments of the Lord that may not be performed, and is guilty, he shall bring a sin offering. Although one cannot be prosecuted criminally for an unwitting transgression, there is nevertheless a certain level of guilt even for transgressions that were committed due to forgetfulness or because one is not paying attention to his actions. One is held responsible not only for his conscious actions and for his conscious thoughts, but also for actions that he performs subconsciously and for information that has receded into the subconscious realm of his mind.

א֚וֹ הוֹדַ֣ע אֵלָ֔יו חַטָּאת֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָטָ֑א וְהֵבִ֨יא קָרְבָּנ֜וֹ שְׂעִירַ֤ת עִזִּים֙ תְּמִימָ֣ה נְקֵבָ֔ה עַל־חַטָּאת֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָטָֽא׃

Or if his sin that he sinned becomes known to him because he is informed of it by others (see verse 23), he shall bring his offering, an unblemished female goat for his sin that he sinned. Whereas the ruler brings a male goat, the common person brings a female goat.

וְסָמַךְ֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ עַ֖ל רֹ֣אשׁ הַֽחַטָּ֑את וְשָׁחַט֙ אֶת־הַ֣חַטָּ֔את בִּמְק֖וֹם הָעֹלָֽה׃

He shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slaughter the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.

וְלָקַ֨ח הַכֹּהֵ֤ן מִדָּמָהּ֙ בְּאֶצְבָּע֔וֹ וְנָתַ֕ן עַל־קַרְנֹ֖ת מִזְבַּ֣ח הָעֹלָ֑ה וְאֶת־כָּל־דָּמָ֣הּ יִשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ אֶל־יְס֖וֹד הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

The priest shall take from its blood with his finger, and place it on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and all of the remainder of its blood he shall pour at the base of the altar.

וְאֶת־כָּל־חֶלְבָּ֣הּ יָסִ֗יר כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר הוּסַ֣ר חֵלֶב֮ מֵעַ֣ל זֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֒ וְהִקְטִ֤יר הַכֹּהֵן֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה לְרֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהוָ֑ה וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְנִסְלַ֥ח לֽוֹ׃ (פ)

All its fat he shall remove, as the fat was removed from the peace offering; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a pleasing aroma to the Lord; and the priest shall atone for him, and it shall be forgiven for him.

וְאִם־כֶּ֛בֶשׂ יָבִ֥יא קָרְבָּנ֖וֹ לְחַטָּ֑את נְקֵבָ֥ה תְמִימָ֖ה יְבִיאֶֽנָּה׃

And if he brings a lamb, rather than a goat, as his offering for a sin offering, an unblemished female he shall bring it.

וְסָמַךְ֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ עַ֖ל רֹ֣אשׁ הַֽחַטָּ֑את וְשָׁחַ֤ט אֹתָהּ֙ לְחַטָּ֔את בִּמְק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשְׁחַ֖ט אֶת־הָעֹלָֽה׃

He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and slaughter it as a sin offering in the place where he shall slaughter the burnt offering.

וְלָקַ֨ח הַכֹּהֵ֜ן מִדַּ֤ם הַֽחַטָּאת֙ בְּאֶצְבָּע֔וֹ וְנָתַ֕ן עַל־קַרְנֹ֖ת מִזְבַּ֣ח הָעֹלָ֑ה וְאֶת־כָּל־דָּמָ֣הּ יִשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ אֶל־יְס֖וֹד הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

The priest shall take from the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and place it on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and all the remainder of its blood he shall pour at the base of the altar.

וְאֶת־כָּל־חֶלְבָּ֣ה יָסִ֗יר כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יוּסַ֥ר חֵֽלֶב־הַכֶּשֶׂב֮ מִזֶּ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֒ וְהִקְטִ֨יר הַכֹּהֵ֤ן אֹתָם֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עַ֖ל אִשֵּׁ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלָ֧יו הַכֹּהֵ֛ן עַל־חַטָּאת֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־חָטָ֖א וְנִסְלַ֥ח לֽוֹ׃ (פ)

He shall remove all its fat, as the fat of the lamb is removed from the peace offering, including the sheep’s fatty tail. The priest shall burn them on the altar, on the fire offerings of the Lord; and the priest shall atone for his sin that he sinned, and it shall be forgiven for him. 1 Alternatively, some interpret the verse as stating that the priest shall burn them on the altar, on the fires of the Lord, rather than on the fire offerings of the Lord.