The big picture
Sacrifices for unknowing wrongs have been described for leaders and ordinary people. God now gives Moses, Israel's leader, several specific cases requiring a response. Israel, the community living around the worship tent, must deal with withheld testimony, uncleanness, careless oaths, and misuse of sacred things. Priests, the men who conduct the altar service, receive the offerings. The rules also make provision for people who cannot afford an animal from the flock.
In this chapter
- Wrongdoing Must Be Named and Confessed Leviticus 5:1-6
Several kinds of guilt are brought together.
- Poor Worshippers Have Affordable Alternatives Leviticus 5:7-13
A person unable to afford a lamb can bring two turtledoves or young pigeons.
- Sacred Losses Must Be Repaid Leviticus 5:14-16
Misuse of something set apart for the Lord requires a ram without defect as a guilt offering.
- Unrecognised Wrong Still Carries Guilt Leviticus 5:17-19
God's command can be broken even when the person does not know it at the time.
Central truth
God requires people to admit particular wrongs and provides offerings that take account of poverty while addressing guilt.
Scripture beside the summary
Leviticus · King James Version · 19Leviticus 5:1-6
Wrongdoing Must Be Named and Confessed
Several kinds of guilt are brought together. A witness who refuses to speak when called to testify bears guilt. Contact with something ritually unclean, meaning unfit for sacred use, also requires action when recognised. So does a careless oath made without thinking through its terms. In these cases the person must confess the particular wrong. A female lamb or goat is then brought as an offering, and the priest makes atonement. The ritual does not replace admitting what happened.
In everyday life
A witness at a workplace hearing keeps silent about a missing safety guard, then returns to give the detail he withheld. He names what he saw before signing the corrected statement. A vague apology would leave the important fact hidden. These laws also cover ritual uncleanness and offerings to God.
Notice
Leviticus 5:5 Confession names the particular wrong. The person is not told to offer a general expression of regret while leaving the actual failure unspoken.
Leviticus 5:1-6
King James Version1And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
2Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.
3Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.
4Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.
5And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:
6And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.
Leviticus 5:7-13
Poor Worshippers Have Affordable Alternatives
A person unable to afford a lamb can bring two turtledoves or young pigeons. One serves as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. If even birds are too costly, the person can bring a measured amount of fine flour. No oil or incense is added because this is a sin offering, not an ordinary grain gift. The priest burns a handful and keeps the rest. The same promise of forgiveness applies to the poorest giver.
In everyday life
A legal aid clerk looks at an applicant's income and removes the fee that would stop her filing a claim. The applicant still completes the required form and gives the facts. Lack of money does not close the door. God provides forgiveness through offerings here, rather than access to a legal claim.
Notice
Leviticus 5:11 The flour receives neither oil nor incense. Although its material resembles a grain gift, its purpose as a sin offering determines how it is prepared.
Leviticus 5:7-13
King James Version7And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.
8And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder:
9And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering.
10And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.
11But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.
12Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it is a sin offering.
13And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest’s, as a meat offering.
Leviticus 5:14-16
Sacred Losses Must Be Repaid
Misuse of something set apart for the Lord requires a ram without defect as a guilt offering. Its value is assessed by the sanctuary's silver standard. The person must also make good the loss and add one fifth, then give that payment to the priest. The priest offers the ram and makes atonement, with forgiveness promised. The wrong has two connected parts to its repair: the offering before God and repayment for the sacred property that was harmed.
In everyday life
A volunteer finds that he used a charity's stored fuel for a private trip. He brings replacement fuel and an added payment, then admits the mistake to the treasurer. Saying sorry alone would leave the charity short. The ram offering addresses guilt before God as well as the material loss.
Notice
Leviticus 5:16 An added fifth accompanies the repayment. Restoring the original amount is required, but it is not the whole response to the damage done.
Leviticus 5:14-16
King James Version14And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
15If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:
16And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.
Leviticus 5:17-19
Unrecognised Wrong Still Carries Guilt
God's command can be broken even when the person does not know it at the time. The law says that such a person remains responsible. An unblemished ram, properly assessed, is brought to the priest as a guilt offering. The priest makes atonement for the error committed without knowledge, and forgiveness is promised. Ignorance explains how the wrong happened, but does not turn it into obedience. God also provides a response rather than leaving the person with guilt alone.
In everyday life
A courier discovers that a parcel he left in the wrong lobby contains urgently needed documents. He returns to recover it and reports the error, though he believed the address was correct. His lack of intent does not restore the delivery. The guilt offering concerns God's command, not a courier's mistake.
Notice
Leviticus 5:19 The closing words insist that a real trespass occurred. The earlier lack of knowledge does not erase the need for the offering and forgiveness.
Leviticus 5:17-19
King James Version17And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.
18And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.
19It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Leviticus 5:1 begins with “And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his…”
Where the chapter turns
Leviticus 5:11 forms a natural hinge: “But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine…”
The final note
Leviticus 5:19 leaves the reader with “It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words offering, priest, LORD, trespass, atonement, guilty help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- wist
- Was aware of something or knew it at the time.
- trespass
- A wrong against God or another person requiring a response.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
