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Leviticus 4:28 - Awareness demands atonement offering.

Leviticus 4:28 - ויקרא 4:28

Hebrew Text

אוֹ הוֹדַע אֵלָיו חַטָּאתוֹ אֲשֶׁר חָטָא וְהֵבִיא קָרְבָּנוֹ שְׂעִירַת עִזִּים תְּמִימָה נְקֵבָה עַל־חַטָּאתוֹ אֲשֶׁר חָטָא׃

English Translation

or if his sin, which he has sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has sinned.

Transliteration

O hoda elav chatato asher chata vehevi korbano seirat izim temima nekeva al-chatato asher chata.

Hebrew Leining Text

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

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Verse Context in Vayikra (Leviticus 4:28)

This verse appears in the Torah portion discussing the korban chatat (sin offering) brought by an individual who unintentionally transgresses a prohibition. The verse specifies the requirement to bring a female goat without blemish once the sinner becomes aware of their transgression.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi (Vayikra 4:28) explains that the phrase "or if his sin... come to his knowledge" refers to the moment when the person becomes aware of their unintentional sin, either through their own realization or being informed by others. The offering is only required once the sin is recognized, emphasizing the importance of teshuvah (repentance) through acknowledgment.

Nature of the Offering

The requirement for a "female goat without blemish" is addressed by the Rambam (Hilchot Maaseh HaKorbanot 1:3), who notes that the Torah prescribes different animals for different types of sin offerings based on the offender's financial capacity. A female goat represents a middle-tier offering, accessible to most people, as opposed to a bull (for more severe cases) or birds (for those of limited means).

Symbolism of the Female Goat

  • Midrash Tanchuma (Vayikra 6) suggests that the female goat alludes to the sin of the brothers selling Yosef, where they used a goat's blood to deceive Yaakov (Bereishit 37:31). This connects unintentional sins to the need for atonement from past familial mistakes.
  • Kli Yakar (Vayikra 4:28) adds that a female animal symbolizes humility, as the sinner must approach their atonement with a subdued spirit, recognizing their error.

Halachic Implications

The Mishnah (Horayot 2:6) and Gemara (Horayot 8a) discuss how this verse applies to cases where the sinner only later realizes their transgression. The offering serves as a kaparah (atonement) specifically for shogeg (unintentional sins), highlighting the Torah's distinction between deliberate and accidental violations.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Keritot 2a
The verse is referenced in the discussion about the types of sacrifices brought for unintentional sins, particularly focusing on the requirement for a female goat without blemish.
📖 Shevuot 7b
The verse is cited in the context of discussing the awareness and acknowledgment of one's sin as a prerequisite for bringing a sacrifice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Leviticus 4:28 mean?
A: Leviticus 4:28 discusses the process of atonement for a person who realizes they have sinned unintentionally. According to Orthodox Jewish interpretation, this verse teaches that when someone becomes aware of their sin, they must bring a specific offering—a female goat without blemish—as part of the repentance process. This is part of the Torah's system of korbanot (sacrifices) for unintentional sins.
Q: Why is bringing a sacrifice important for unintentional sins?
A: The Torah emphasizes that even unintentional sins require atonement because they still create a spiritual blemish. Rashi explains that this teaches us the importance of taking responsibility for our actions, even when we didn’t mean to sin. The korban (offering) serves as a way to reconnect with Hashem and correct the spiritual imbalance caused by the sin.
Q: Why does the verse specify a female goat?
A: The choice of a female goat for this sin offering is based on the Torah’s detailed laws of korbanot. Rambam (Hilchot Maaseh HaKorbanot) explains that different types of sins and individuals require different offerings. A female goat was a more accessible and common offering for regular people, making repentance achievable for everyone.
Q: How does this apply today without the Temple?
A: Since we no longer have the Beit HaMikdash (Temple), we cannot bring physical sacrifices. However, the Talmud (Berachot 17a) teaches that prayer, teshuvah (repentance), and acts of charity take the place of korbanot. The lesson remains relevant—recognizing our mistakes and taking steps to correct them is essential in serving Hashem.
Q: What can we learn from this verse about repentance?
A: This verse teaches that true repentance requires awareness of wrongdoing (hakarat ha'chet) and taking action to make amends. The Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah) emphasizes that Hashem values sincere repentance, even for unintentional sins. Today, this means reflecting on our actions, regretting mistakes, and committing to improvement.