Leviticus chapter six details further laws concerning offerings and priestly duties. It begins by outlining the restitution and trespass offering required for sins committed against a neighbour, emphasizing restoration of what was taken plus an additional fifth part. The chapter then provides specific instructions for the priests regarding the burnt offering, including the maintenance of the perpetual altar fire. Finally, it details the laws for the meat offering and the sin offering, specifying how they are to be prepared, consumed by the priests, and handled due to their extreme holiness.
“If anyone sins, and commits a trespass against the LORD, and deals falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or has oppressed his neighbor,
then it shall be, if he has sinned, and is guilty, he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he has gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found,
or any thing about which he has sworn falsely; he shall restore it even in full, and shall add a fifth part more to it. To him to whom it belongs he shall give it, in the day of his being found guilty.
He shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD, a ram without defect from the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest.
“Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering: the burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it.
The priest shall put on his linen garment, and he shall put on his linen breeches upon his body; and he shall remove the ashes from where the fire has consumed the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.
He shall take from there his handful of the fine flour of the meal offering, and of its oil, and all the frankincense which is on the meal offering, and shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma, as its memorial, to the LORD.
That which is left of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten without yeast in a holy place. They shall eat it in the court of the Tent of Meeting.
It shall not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as their portion forever throughout your generations, from the offerings of the LORD made by fire. Whoever touches them shall be holy.’”
“This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer to the LORD in the day when he is anointed: the tenth part of an efah of fine flour for a meal offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening.
It shall be made with oil in a griddle. When it is soaked, you shall bring it in. You shall offer the meal offering in baked pieces for a pleasant aroma to the LORD.
“Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the sin offering: in the place where the burnt offering is killed, the sin offering shall be killed before the LORD. It is most holy.
Whatever shall touch its flesh shall be holy. When there is any of its blood sprinkled on a garment, you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled in a holy place.
No sin offering, of which any of the blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be eaten: it shall be burned with fire.
Study Notes for Leviticus 6
Verse 2
This section concludes the law of the trespass offering (Asham), specifically addressing sins of misappropriation, theft, or deceit where a neighbor is financially harmed. The focus is on violating trust.
Verse 5
Crucially, atonement requires not only the restoration of the principal amount stolen or withheld, but also a penalty of one-fifth (20%) added. This ensures justice is served before spiritual forgiveness is granted.
Verse 7
The priest makes atonement only after the required restitution (v. 5) and the offering (v. 6) are presented. This sequence demonstrates that true repentance involves righting the wrong done to one’s neighbor.
Verse 8
This marks the beginning of a new major section (Lev 6:8–7:38), known as the 'Torah of the Offerings,' which details the specific procedures and priestly prerogatives for handling the sacrifices.
Verse 9
The burnt offering (Olah) must burn throughout the night. This continuous burning symbolized the complete, uninterrupted dedication of the worshiper to the LORD.
Verse 10
The priest must wear specific sacred linen garments when handling the holy ashes, emphasizing the necessity of ritual purity even during the mundane task of cleaning the altar.
Verse 12
The fire on the altar was considered sacred, having been initially ignited by divine fire (Lev 9:24). The priests were commanded to continuously maintain this sacred fire, symbolizing God’s constant presence and acceptance.
Verse 13
The requirement that the fire 'shall ever be burning' (perpetual fire) highlights the continuous readiness required of the priests and the constant need for atonement and communion with God.
Verse 16
Unlike the burnt offering (which was wholly consumed), the priests received the remainder of the grain offering as their sustenance. It had to be eaten in the sacred precincts due to its holiness.
Verse 17
The Grain Offering is designated 'most holy' (qodesh qodeshim), placing it on the same level of sanctity as the sin and trespass offerings, requiring strict handling and consumption only by consecrated priests.
Verse 20
This describes a mandatory perpetual offering required of the High Priest, offered daily (half in the morning, half at night). It served as a personal dedication ritual upon his anointing.
Verse 23
The Grain Offering of the priest must be entirely burned and not eaten. Priests were forbidden from consuming offerings made for their own behalf or atonement, ensuring integrity in their service.
Verse 25
The Sin Offering (Hattat) is also designated 'most holy.' It was slaughtered in the same location as the burnt offering, emphasizing the seriousness and immediate necessity of dealing with sin.
Verse 27
This verse addresses the 'contagious' nature of holiness. Anything that touches the sacrificial flesh becomes holy, necessitating careful washing or destruction of vessels to manage the sacred substance.
Verse 30
This provides a critical exception: if the blood of the sin offering was taken into the Holy Place (the Tent of Meeting) for reconciliation (as on the Day of Atonement), the flesh could not be eaten by the priests but had to be burned outside the camp.
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