Leviticus 5

King James Version

Full text for Leviticus Chapter 5

1¶ 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 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.

7¶ And 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.

14¶ And 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.

17And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Leviticus chapter 5 outlines various scenarios where an individual incurs guilt, often through inadvertent actions or omissions, and details the required sin or trespass offerings for such transgressions. It addresses failing to testify, touching unclean things, and making rash oaths. The chapter also provides a graduated scale of offerings, from a lamb to birds or fine flour, depending on the offerer's economic ability, and specifies offerings for sins against holy things or unknown commandments.

Medium Summary

Leviticus chapter 5 addresses specific instances of unintentional sin requiring atonement. It begins by listing transgressions such as failing to testify as a witness, inadvertently touching unclean carcasses or human uncleanness, and making rash, unfulfilled oaths. For these sins, the individual is to confess and bring a sin offering, typically a female lamb or kid. The chapter then introduces a provision for those of lesser means, allowing them to offer two turtledoves or young pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. If even birds are beyond their capacity, a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour, without oil or frankincense, is accepted as a sin offering. Furthermore, the chapter details trespass offerings for sins committed in ignorance against the holy things of the LORD, requiring a ram and restitution with an added fifth part. Finally, it extends the trespass offering to cover any unknown transgressions against the LORD's commandments, emphasizing that even unwitting sin incurs guilt and requires atonement.

Long Summary

Leviticus chapter 5 meticulously details various circumstances under which an individual incurs guilt and the corresponding sacrificial requirements for atonement. The chapter first addresses sins of omission and inadvertence, including failing to disclose knowledge as a witness to an oath, unknowingly touching unclean animal carcasses or human defilement, and making rash, unfulfilled oaths. In these cases, upon realizing their guilt, individuals are commanded to confess their sin. For such transgressions, the standard requirement is a sin offering of a female lamb or kid from the flock, which the priest offers to make atonement. Recognizing varying economic capacities, the chapter provides a tiered system of offerings. If a lamb is unaffordable, the individual may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons; one is presented as a sin offering, with its head wrung off and blood sprinkled, and the other as a burnt offering. For those unable to afford even birds, a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour is acceptable as a sin offering, notably without oil or frankincense, signifying its nature as a sin offering rather than a typical meal offering. The priest takes a handful of the flour to burn on the altar, and the remainder becomes the priest's portion. The latter part of the chapter shifts focus to trespass offerings. It specifies that if a soul sins through ignorance concerning the holy things of the LORD, a ram without blemish is required as a trespass offering, valued by silver shekels. In addition to the sacrifice, the offender must make full restitution for any harm done to the holy thing and add a fifth part to it, giving it to the priest. This offering also secures atonement and forgiveness. Lastly, the chapter covers general unintentional sins against any of the LORD's commandments, even if the individual was unaware of the transgression at the time. For such unknown sins, a ram is again prescribed as a trespass offering, emphasizing that even unwitting violations of divine law incur guilt and necessitate atonement before the LORD.

Core Concepts

  • Guilt for OmissionThe chapter establishes that a person can incur guilt not only through active transgression but also by failing to act, such as not testifying as a witness when aware of an oath or a matter requiring testimony.
  • Unintentional UncleannessIt addresses the defilement incurred by inadvertently touching unclean things, whether animal carcasses or human uncleanness, highlighting that even unknown contact requires purification and atonement.
  • Rash OathsThe text specifies guilt for making rash or thoughtless oaths, whether to do good or evil, which are later forgotten or unfulfilled, emphasizing the seriousness of vows made before God.
  • Graduated OfferingsA key principle introduced is the provision for different economic statuses, allowing individuals to bring a lamb, birds, or even fine flour as a sin offering, ensuring that atonement is accessible to all.
  • Trespass Against Holy ThingsThe chapter defines a specific trespass offering for sins committed in ignorance against the LORD's holy things, requiring both a ram sacrifice and restitution with an added fifth part.
  • Atonement for Unknown SinsIt clarifies that even sins committed unknowingly against the commandments of the LORD incur guilt and necessitate a trespass offering, underscoring the comprehensive nature of divine law and the need for atonement for all transgressions.
  • Confession and ForgivenessA recurring theme is the requirement for the guilty party to confess their sin (v.5) before bringing their offering, leading to the priest making atonement and the promise of forgiveness from the LORD.