Leviticus5

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.
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Cases Requiring a Sin Offering

1
“If someone sins by failing to testify when he hears a public charge about something he has witnessed, whether he has seen it or learned of it, he shall bear the iniquity. ​
2
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. ​
3
Or if he touches human uncleanness—anything by which one becomes unclean—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty.
4
Or if someone swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do anything good or evil—in whatever matter a man may rashly pronounce an oath—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty in the matter. ​
5
If someone incurs guilt in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has committed, ​
6
and he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin he has committed: a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering. And the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin.

Graduated Offerings for the Poor

7
If, however, he cannot afford a lamb, he may bring to the LORD as restitution for his sin two turtledoves or two young pigeons—one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. ​
8
He is to bring them to the priest, who shall first present the one for the sin offering. He is to twist its head at the front of its neck without severing it;
9
then he is to sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood is drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.
10
And the priest must prepare the second bird as a burnt offering according to the ordinance. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.
11
But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he may bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering. ​
12
He is to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful from it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar atop the offerings made by fire to the LORD; it is a sin offering.
13
In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven. The remainder will belong to the priest, like the grain offering.”

Trespass Offering for Offenses Against Holy Things

14
Then the LORD said to Moses, ​
15
“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. ​
16
Regarding any holy thing he has harmed, he must make restitution by adding a fifth of its value to it and giving it to the priest, who will make atonement on his behalf with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven. ​

Trespass Offering for Unknown Sins

17
If someone sins and violates any of the LORD’s commandments even though he was unaware, he is guilty and shall bear his punishment. ​
18
He is to bring to the priest an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock as a guilt offering. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the wrong he has committed in ignorance, and he will be forgiven.
19
It is a guilt offering; he was certainly guilty before the LORD.”

Study Notes for Leviticus 5

Verse 1

This verse addresses the failure to testify after hearing a public adjuration (a curse or oath) requiring witnesses to come forward. Withholding information in such a scenario brought guilt upon the silent witness.

Verse 2

This section defines unintentional ritual defilement—touching a carcass or other unclean things without immediate knowledge. The person becomes guilty only when the contamination is later realized.

Verse 4

This refers to rash or forgotten oaths made concerning future actions ('to do evil, or to do good'). Failure to fulfill the vow, even if unintentional, required atonement.

Verse 5

Confession (acknowledgment of the sin) is a mandatory step, preceding the bringing of the sacrificial animal. This highlights the internal and external requirements for true forgiveness.

Verse 7

This passage introduces the principle of the graduated scale, demonstrating God's mercy and ensuring that atonement was accessible even to the poorest members of the community.

Verse 11

The most minimal offering is fine flour, specifically lacking oil and frankincense. This lack of festive elements distinguishes it as a solemn offering for sin, not a standard celebratory grain offering.

Verse 14

This verse marks the formal introduction of the 'Asham' (Trespass/Guilt Offering), which is distinguished from the Sin Offering by the requirement of mandatory restitution.

Verse 15

Sins 'in the holy things' include the unintentional misuse of consecrated property, tithes, or priestly dues. The sacrificial ram is required alongside monetary compensation based on priestly estimation.

Verse 16

Restitution for damage done to holy things requires payment of the full value plus a penalty of one-fifth (20%). This requirement emphasizes justice and practical restoration alongside ritual atonement.

Verse 17

This addresses general unintentional transgressions where the specific commandment violated is unknown to the offender. The trespass offering covers the certainty of guilt before God, even in ignorance.

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