Leviticus 5:15

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

If 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:

Complete Jewish Bible:

"If anyone acts improperly and inadvertently sins in regard to the holy things of ADONAI, he is to bring as his guilt offering for ADONAI a ram without defect from the flock or its equivalent in silver shekels (using the sanctuary shekel as the standard), according to your appraisal of its value; it is a guilt offering.

Berean Standard Bible:

“If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering.

American Standard Version:

If any one commit a trespass, and sin unwittingly, in the holy things of Jehovah; then he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation in silver by shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass-offering:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

If a soul^{H5315} commit^{H4603} a trespass^{H4604}, and sin^{H2398} through ignorance^{H7684}, in the holy things^{H6944} of the LORD^{H3068}; then he shall bring^{H935} for his trespass^{H817} unto the LORD^{H3068} a ram^{H352} without blemish^{H8549} out of the flocks^{H6629}, with thy estimation^{H6187} by shekels^{H8255} of silver^{H3701}, after the shekel^{H8255} of the sanctuary^{H6944}, for a trespass offering^{H817}:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Leviticus 5:15

Leviticus 5:15 is part of the Holiness Code in the book of Leviticus, which outlines various laws and rituals to maintain the ritual purity and holiness of the Israelite community. The verse addresses the situation where an individual has unintentionally sinned against the sanctity of God's holy things (items or offerings dedicated to the Lord).

**Themes:**
1. **Atonement and Forgiveness:** The verse emphasizes the importance of making amends for unintentional sins against sacred objects. It illustrates the principle that even inadvertent offenses against God require some form of restitution and purification.
2. **Sin and Ignorance:** It acknowledges that ignorance does not absolve one from the responsibility of sin. There is a recognition that sin can occur unintentionally, and such sins still need to be addressed.
3. **Restitution and Sacrifice:** The requirement of offering a ram without blemish reflects the necessity of presenting the best to God. The additional payment of silver shekels according to the sanctuary's standard suggests a monetary value is associated with the sin against holy things.
4. **Valuation of Sin:** The verse introduces the concept of evaluating the severity of sin, with the corresponding restitution reflecting the gravity of the offense.

**Historical Context:**
The book of Leviticus is traditionally attributed to Moses and is set during the time of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. The laws and rituals were given to the newly formed nation of Israel to guide them in their religious and social life, distinguishing them from their pagan neighbors.

In the ancient Near Eastern context, it was common for societies to have complex systems of sacrifices and offerings to appease deities. Leviticus 5:15 reflects the unique Israelite understanding that sins against God's holiness, even if committed in ignorance, disrupt the relationship between God and His people and require reconciliation through a specific sacrificial process.

During the Second Temple period, the system of sacrifices was central to Jewish religious practice. However, after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the sacrificial system came to an end, and rabbinic Judaism shifted focus to prayer, repentance, and good deeds as means of atonement. In Christian theology, this verse is often interpreted in light of Christ's sacrificial death, which is seen as the ultimate atonement for sin, rendering the Old Testament sacrificial system obsolete.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5315
   There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
   Transliteration: nephesh
   Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
   Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4603
   There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָעַל
   Transliteration: mâʻal
   Pronunciation: maw-al'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to cover up; used only figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. treacherously; transgress, (commit, do a) trespass(-ing).
   
3. Strong's Number: H4604
   There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַעַל
   Transliteration: maʻal
   Pronunciation: mah'-al
   Description: from מָעַל; treachery, i.e. sin; falsehood, grievously, sore, transgression, trespass, [idiom] very.
   
4. Strong's Number: H2398
   There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָטָא
   Transliteration: châṭâʼ
   Pronunciation: khaw-taw'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn; bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7684
   There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁגָגָה
   Transliteration: shᵉgâgâh
   Pronunciation: sheg-aw-gaw'
   Description: from שָׁגַג; a mistake or inadvertent transgression; error, ignorance, at unawares; unwittingly.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6944
   There are 382 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קֹדֶשׁ
   Transliteration: qôdesh
   Pronunciation: ko'-desh
   Description: from קָדַשׁ; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity; consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
8. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
9. Strong's Number: H817
   There are 388 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָשָׁם
   Transliteration: ʼâshâm
   Pronunciation: aw-shawm'
   Description: from אָשַׁם; guilt; by implication, a fault; also a sin-offering; guiltiness, (offering for) sin, trespass (offering).
   
10. Strong's Number: H352
    There are 256 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַיִל
    Transliteration: ʼayil
    Pronunciation: ah'-yil
    Description: from the same as אוּל; properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree; mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.
    
11. Strong's Number: H8549
    There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תָּמִים
    Transliteration: tâmîym
    Pronunciation: taw-meem'
    Description: from תָּמַם; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth; without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright(-ly), whole.
    
12. Strong's Number: H6629
    There are 247 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צֹאן
    Transliteration: tsôʼn
    Pronunciation: tsone
    Description: or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men); (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds).
    
13. Strong's Number: H6187
    There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֵרֶךְ
    Transliteration: ʻêrek
    Pronunciation: eh'rek
    Description: from עָרַךְ; a pile, equipment, estimate; equal, estimation, (things that are set in) order, price, proportion, [idiom] set at, suit, taxation, [idiom] valuest.
    
14. Strong's Number: H8255
    There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֶׁקֶל
    Transliteration: sheqel
    Pronunciation: sheh'-kel
    Description: from שָׁקַל; probably a weight; used as a commercial standard; shekel.
    
15. Strong's Number: H3701
    There are 343 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כֶּסֶף
    Transliteration: keçeph
    Pronunciation: keh'-sef
    Description: from כָּסַף; silver (from its pale color); by implication, money; money, price, silver(-ling).