Leviticus 5:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Or 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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

If a person touches something unclean, whether the carcass of an unclean wild animal, a domestic animal or a reptile, he is guilty, even though he may not be aware that he is unclean.

Berean Standard Bible:

Or if a person touches anything unclean—whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature—even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and guilty.

American Standard Version:

Or if any one touch any unclean thing, whether it be the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it be hidden from him, and he be unclean, then he shall be guilty.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Or if a soul^{H5315} touch^{H5060} any unclean^{H2931} thing^{H1697}, whether it be a carcase^{H5038} of an unclean^{H2931} beast^{H2416}, or a carcase^{H5038} of unclean^{H2931} cattle^{H929}, or the carcase^{H5038} of unclean^{H2931} creeping things^{H8318}, and if it be hidden^{H5956} from him; he also shall be unclean^{H2931}, and guilty^{H816}.

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Commentary for Leviticus 5:2

Leviticus 5:2 is part of the Holiness Code in the Book of Leviticus, which outlines various laws and rituals for the ancient Israelites to maintain purity and right relationship with God. The verse addresses situations where an individual comes into contact with something ritually unclean, such as the carcass of an animal considered impure according to Mosaic Law. The animals mentioned—unclean beasts, cattle, and creeping things—would have been defined in earlier chapters of Leviticus (e.g., Leviticus 11) and included animals that did not chew the cud or did not have cloven hooves, as well as certain insects and reptiles.

In the historical context, maintaining ritual purity was crucial for the Israelites, as uncleanness could render a person temporarily unfit to participate in religious life, including access to the sanctuary and the presence of God. The verse emphasizes that even unintentional contact with an unclean carcass results in the person becoming ritually impure. Moreover, the individual is considered "guilty" or at fault, which in the context of Leviticus implies a religious or ritual fault rather than a moral or criminal guilt. This guilt necessitates a process of purification, which often involved waiting a certain period of time, washing with water, and in some cases, offering a sacrifice to atone for the transgression.

The themes of Leviticus 5:2 include the importance of ritual purity, the idea that ignorance does not automatically absolve one from the consequences of ritual impurity, and the need for atonement when one inadvertently breaks the purity laws. This verse reflects the broader ancient Israelite understanding of holiness, where the people were called to mirror God's holiness in their everyday lives, including their interactions with the natural world. The strict regulations served to set the Israelites apart as a holy nation, distinct from their neighbors, and to remind them of their covenantal obligations to the Lord.

*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: H5060
   There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָגַע
   Transliteration: nâgaʻ
   Pronunciation: naw-gah'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.); beat, ([idiom] be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2931
   There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טָמֵא
   Transliteration: ṭâmêʼ
   Pronunciation: taw-may'
   Description: from טָמֵא; foul in a religious sense; defiled, [phrase] infamous, polluted(-tion), unclean.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5038
   There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נְבֵלָה
   Transliteration: nᵉbêlâh
   Pronunciation: neb-ay-law'
   Description: from נָבֵל; a flabby thing, i.e. a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol; (dead) body, (dead) carcase, dead of itself, which died, (beast) that (which) dieth of itself.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2416
   There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חַי
   Transliteration: chay
   Pronunciation: khah'-ee
   Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
   
7. Strong's Number: H929
   There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בְּהֵמָה
   Transliteration: bᵉhêmâh
   Pronunciation: be-hay-maw'
   Description: from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective); beast, cattle.
   
8. Strong's Number: H8318
   There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֶׁרֶץ
   Transliteration: sherets
   Pronunciation: sheh'-rets
   Description: from שָׁרַץ; a swarm, i.e. active mass of minute animals; creep(-ing thing), move(-ing creature).
   
9. Strong's Number: H5956
   There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָלַם
   Transliteration: ʻâlam
   Pronunciation: aw-lam'
   Description: a primitive root; to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively); [idiom] any ways, blind, dissembler, hide (self), secret (thing).
   
10. Strong's Number: H816
    There are 145 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָשַׁם
    Transliteration: ʼâsham
    Pronunciation: aw-sham'
    Description: or אָשֵׁם; a primitive root; to be guilty; by implication to be punished or perish; [idiom] certainly, be(-come, made) desolate, destroy, [idiom] greatly, be(-come, found, hold) guilty, offend (acknowledge offence), trespass.