Vayikra 4:33 · unit 1 · Zevachim 9b

Complete Passuk

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

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Zevachim 9b.

Core Text

״וְשָׁחַט אֹתָהּ לְחַטָּאת״ — לְשֵׁם אוֹתָהּ חַטָּאת; אֲבָל אִם שָׁחַט חַטַּאת חֵלֶב לְשֵׁם חַטַּאת דָּם אוֹ לְשֵׁם חַטָּאת אַחֶרֶת — פְּסוּלָה.

“And he shall slaughter it as a chatas” — for the sake of that particular chatas; but if he slaughtered a chatas of forbidden fat for the sake of a chatas of blood, or for the sake of a different chatas, it is invalid.

In the sugya: The phrase “le-chatat” requires that the slaughter be performed with intention specifically for the chatas that was designated. Intention directed toward a different category of chatas (e.g., a chelev-chatas slaughtered for the sake of a blood-chatas) invalidates the offering.

Type of Learning

Diyuk of “le-chatat” — intention must match the specific chatas designation; mismatched intention invalidates.

What Is Learned

Slaughter of the individual’s ewe-chatas must be performed with intention for that specific offering. If the kohen (or the owner) intends a different type of chatas — for example, treating a chelev-chatas as if it were a blood-chatas — the offering is invalid. The Torah’s language “as a chatas” locks the intention to the particular designation of this animal.