📖 Biblical Definition
The chattat (חַטָּאת) is the Mosaic sin offering, prescribed in Leviticus 4 for unintentional sins committed by the priest, the congregation, the ruler, or the common person. The remarkable Hebrew detail is that the same word chattat names both "sin" and "sin offering" — the sin and the sacrifice that addressed it share the very same name. The blood was applied to the horns of the bronze altar (for the people) or to the horns of the golden altar within the veil (for the priest or congregation). Christ fulfills both meanings: "For he hath made him to be sin (chattat / hamartia) for us, who knew no sin" (2 Corinthians 5:21). He is both the sin-bearer and the sin-offering.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The Mosaic sin-offering for unintentional sin (Lev 4).
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The Mosaic sin-offering described in Leviticus 4. The same Hebrew word means both "sin" and "sin-offering" — the sin and the sacrifice that addressed it shared a name. The blood was applied to the horns of the altar; the rest of the animal was burned outside the camp (a detail Hebrews 13:11-13 develops Christologically). Paul's "made him to be sin for us" (2 Cor 5:21) likely echoes the chattat word-play.
📖 Key Scripture
Leviticus 4:3 — "If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin (chattat), which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering (chattat)."
2 Corinthians 5:21 — "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
Hebrews 13:11-13 — "For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
The chattat word-play (sin = sin-offering) is invisible in English; with it, the depth of Paul's "made him to be sin" is dimmer.
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English uses two words: sin and sin-offering. Hebrew uses one: chattat. Christ "made sin" in 2 Cor 5:21 likely echoes the chattat language directly — He became the sin-offering, identified so completely with the sin that the same word names them both.
Recover the Levitical-Pauline link: Christ as chattat is the gospel in Hebrew word-economy.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew chattat.
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['Hebrew', 'H2403', 'chattat', 'sin, sin-offering']
Usage
"Same Hebrew word: sin / sin-offering."
"Christ "made sin" echoes chattat."
"Burned outside the camp; Christ outside the gate."