Leviticus 9:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

And he said to Aaron: Approach to the altar, and offer sacrifice for thy sin. Offer the holocaust, and pray for thyself and for the people: and when thou hast slain the people's victim, pray for them, as the Lord hath commanded.
Douay-Rheims

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן קְרַ֤ב אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ וַעֲשֵׂ֞ה אֶת־חַטָּֽאתְךָ֙ וְאֶת־עֹ֣לָתֶ֔ךָ וְכַפֵּ֥ר בַּֽעַדְךָ֖ וּבְעַ֣ד הָעָ֑ם וַעֲשֵׂ֞ה אֶת־קָרְבַּ֤ן הָעָם֙ וְכַפֵּ֣ר בּֽ͏ַעֲדָ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֽה׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Augustine of Hippo

5th centuryChurch Father

According to the divine law, the priests were obligated to present a sacrifice for their own transgressions before atoning for the sins of the people. In a similar manner, in the present day, we lay bare our own sins through the sacrificial act of prayer, as we petition, "Forgive us our debts" (Matthew 6:12; Luke 11:4). Likewise, in ancient times, the priests acknowledged their sins through the offering of animal sacrifices, which they performed to atone for their own wrongdoings.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.